Trade Packages and Landing Spots for Every NBA Team's Best Asset
Both the quantity and quality of NBA trade asset collections vary wildly across the league.
What every franchise does have, though, is one asset that stands above the rest.
Some are easily identifiable. Others are tougher to gauge, whether that's due to an abundance of them or a severe shortage. And remember, when we're talking about trade assets, we're discussing players or draft picks that could be realistically moved. Even with a liberal application of that idea, that still takes a lot of premier players off the board.
That said, there are teams with difference-makers and coveted draft picks that could be had in the right trade. There are also, of course, clubs with moderately interesting prospects who caught our attention amid rosters otherwise full of no-brainer keepers.
To simplify things—and avoid some repetition—we're keeping franchise's own draft picks out of it. Rebuilders wouldn't want to send them out, and win-now clubs generally don't have good ones to deal. The only exception to this is where swap rights come into play, since that could enhance the value of those picks.
With these general guidelines in place, let's fire up the trade machine and find new homes for each franchise's top trade asset.
Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu
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Atlanta Hawks receive: Royce O'Neale, Nick Richards and a 2027 first-round pick (via UTA, CLE or MIN)
Phoenix Suns receive: Onyeka Okongwu
While the Hawks don't have an obvious reason to pivot away from Okongwu, that didn't stop other teams from making phone calls about him this offseason. That suggests at least a perception that he could be available for the right price.
His 2024-25 campaign was all kinds of encouraging, and yet, Atlanta still placed an opportunistic wager on Kristaps Porziņģis. Maybe that was driven mostly by the clearance cost (Terance Mann, Georges Niang and the No. 22 pick), but there's also obvious appeal in having a floor-spacing, shot-blocking unicorn big man out there with Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.
If Porziņģis appears fully healthy, maybe Atlanta starts to wonder about whether an Okongwu trade might help strengthen other areas of the roster. In this deal, the Hawks would nab a proven three-and-D wing in O'Neale, a productive backup big in Richards and a future first-round pick to perhaps enhance an offer in a later trade.
Boston Celtics: Hugo González
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Boston Celtics receive: Justin Champagnie
Washington Wizards receive: Hugo González and a 2026 second-round pick (via MIN, NYK, NOP or POR)
Boston is preparing to backtrack this season, but it won't want to stay down for long. Whenever Jayson Tatum is ready to return from his ruptured Achilles, the Celtics should once again challenge for control of the Eastern Conference.
That's a long-winded way of saying Boston is probably done making meaningful cuts to this roster. Maybe the Shamrocks can sniff out an Anfernee Simons swap to further trim their payroll, but given how the trade market has treated undersized scoring guards this offseason, it might not amount to more than a salary dump.
González, on the other hand, could hold some appeal to the right shopper. The 19-year-old, who went 28th in this year's draft, offers plenty of athleticism, good playmaking instincts for his size (6'6", 205 lbs) and interesting long-term potential on both ends. The rebuilding Wizards might chase his upside at the expense of Champagnie, whom the Celtics could prefer for his low maintenance offense and defensive energy.
Brooklyn Nets: 2032 1st-Round Pick (via DEN)
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Brooklyn Nets receive: Jalen Green
Phoenix Suns receive: Michael Porter Jr., a 2027 first-round pick (via NYK) and a 2032 first-round pick (via DEN)
While the Nets appear nowhere near seeking out an acceleration deal, at some point they'll need to start collecting some building blocks. And since they just overloaded their young core with playmakers at the 2025 draft, it'd probably help if their next centerpiece had some serious scoring chops.
Why not Green? At 23, he's young enough to build around and is an explosive athlete with a clear bent for buckets. Like most parts of his game, his efficiency needs buffing, but the volume still impresses. His 6,173 points are the 13th-most netted by a player over his first four NBA seasons since 2000.
As for the Suns, they might wonder like the rest of us how a Green-Devin Booker backcourt will function and could imagine better balance with a bigger, better-shooting costar like Porter. Plus, this would deliver Phoenix real trade ammunition in the form of two unprotected future firsts, largely meant to cover for the difference in age, salary and injury history from Green to Porter.
Charlotte Hornets: 2027 1st-Round Pick (via MIA)
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Charlotte Hornets receive: Yves Missi
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Nick Smith Jr. and a 2027 first-round pick (via MIA)
You wouldn't know it based on the 179 losses the Hornets have piled up over the past three seasons, but this is a group that could be closing in on a sizable step forward. Granted, the Hornets need much better fortunes on the health front to make that happen, but they had the kind of smart summer that could allow them to climb the ladder in the wide-open Eastern Conference.
They still have a pretty glaring hole at the 5, though, where Mason Plumlee projects to warm the seat until Ryan Kalkbrenner or Moussa Diabate is ready to fill it. Or Charlotte could seek out a surer thing like Missi, who flashed NBA-ready rim-running skills as a rookie but could still be expendable after New Orleans added both Derik Queen and Kevon Looney at significant costs this offseason.
Missi's offensive production could perk up alongside a playmaker of LaMelo Ball's ilk, while his paint protection would be invaluable at the center of this young defense. The Pels, meanwhile, might see Smith as backcourt insurance in case their Jordan Poole gamble doesn't pay off, plus they could be attracted to this pick, which holds lottery protection in 2027 but becomes unprotected in 2028 if it hasn't conveyed.
Chicago Bulls: Coby White
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Chicago Bulls receive: Nikola Jović and Simone Fontecchio
Miami Heat receive: Coby White
Prior to the additions of Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, White arguably looked like Chicago's most promising building block. Yet, the 25-year-old no longer seems cemented into the long-term plans, due in no small part to the fact unrestricted free agency awaits him after the upcoming season.
Maybe that motivates the Bulls' brass to get something for White now and not risk losing him for nothing later. They could be getting quite a bit here, as Jović has flashed a really interesting mix of size (6'10"), shot-making and ball-handling, and Fontecchio holds obvious bounce-back potential after losing more than six points off of his three-point percentage (33.5, down from 40.1 in 2023-24).
Miami, meanwhile, might balk at covering the cost of Jović's next contract—he'll be a restricted free agent if he isn't extended by Oct. 20—particularly if it plans on starting Kel'el Ware alongside Bam Adebayo again. The Heat had an opportunistic offseason, but they could still use the kind of on-ball creation that White brings.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson
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Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Trayce Jackson-Davis and a 2026 first-round pick (lottery-protected)
Golden State Warriors receive: Jaylon Tyson
Tyson, the 20th pick of the 2024 draft, showed some encouraging flashes in limited minutes during his rookie season. With Cleveland still being measured on the championship-or-bust scale and being sufficiently stocked with wings, though, his path to playing time still looks loaded with obstacles.
It's possible, then, the Cavs could covet someone more likely to fill a regular rotation role. While Jackson-Davis wouldn't necessarily be guaranteed floor time, he'd basically only be fighting Larry Nance Jr. for the backup big spot. They could end up sharing the role—Nance adding more versatility, Jackson-Davis doing more of the interior work—but Nance's injury history suggests there'd be stretches when Jackson-Davis would have the gig all to himself.
Golden State, meanwhile, could prefer a potential two-way wing over another backup big man, especially if the long-rumored partnership with Al Horford ever comes to fruition. Tyson has some Swiss Army knife appeal, especially if he can bring his defensive impact up to the level where his physical talents say it should be.
Dallas Mavericks: 2029 1st-Round Pick (via LAL)
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Dallas Mavericks receive: Trey Murphy III
New Orleans Pelicans receive: P.J. Washington, Max Christie, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a 2029 first-round pick (via LAL) and a 2032 first-round pick (top-three protected)
The Mavericks aren't a big-trade candidate at the moment, since they'll want to see how No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg acclimates and when Kyrie Irving might be ready to return from his ACL injury. If they get good news on both situations, though, they could be ready for an all-in push for a championship.
This price probably looks steep to some, but the Mavs could pay it if they think Murphy is the missing piece of their championship puzzle. And maybe they would. He's almost a turbo-charged three-and-D support piece, boasting both a 38.3 percent career splash rate and the physical tools to be an all-purpose defender. Plus, he just shattered his previous bests in points (21.2) and assists (3.5) this past season.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, appear up for just about anything, and maybe another slow, injury-impacted start would finally send them down the rebuilding road. Or perhaps they'd like this package even if they weren't shifting toward the future, since Washington is a proven, plug-and-play support forward and Christie can walk into an off-ball role in the backcourt.
Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson
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Denver Nuggets receive: Devin Carter and a 2027 second-round pick (via CHO)
Sacramento Kings receive: Peyton Watson
Watson's case as a trade asset is tricky. His defense is disruptive enough that he's getting regular rotation minutes, and the championship-chasing Nuggets might feel they need that defense to help realize their full potential.
Then again, they also know his offense is underdeveloped and playoff defenses can and will exploit that. Moreover, they know both he and Christian Braun need new deals between now and next offseason, and they probably don't have the funds to pay both. And if they're forced to choose between them, there wouldn't be a debate—Braun is the clear keeper of the two.
Should Denver want to get something now for Watson, then, it could call up the Kings and give Carter, last year's 13th pick, a shot to fill the backup point guard role. His rookie season was choppy, but Sacramento hasn't exactly been the most fertile developmental environment, so maybe a scenery change and roster upgrade could get his career going.
Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland II
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Detroit Pistons receive: Tyler Herro
Miami Heat receive: Tobias Harris, Ron Holland II and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three protected)
It'd be awfully quick for the Pistons to ship out Holland after making him the No. 5 pick of the 2024 draft—especially after he crushed it in summer league—but maybe they want to keep momentum climbing after last season's playoff breakthrough.
Cade Cunningham still needs a co-star after all, and perhaps Detroit senses an opportunity to strike with Herro's future with the Heat up in the air. He'd be the second scorer and shot-creator this roster lacks, plus his efficiency could find another level yet by slotting alongside an offensive hub of Cunningham's caliber.
Miami, meanwhile, would maximize its longterm flexibility by avoiding Herro's next contract and getting Harris' expiring $26.6 million salary instead. Holland's hard work feels like a simple culture fit for the Heat, and the lightly protected future first would give them more ammunition for their next whale hunt.
Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski
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Golden State Warriors receive: Stephon Castle
San Antonio Spurs receive: Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos and a 2028 first-round pick (top-three protected)
It won't be the case forever, but the Warriors should still weigh all decisions by their expected impact on Stephen Curry. It's possible they'll only get two more cracks at the crown with him, and it might be another lifetime before their next generational great walks through the door.
If it's all about Curry, Golden State should be asking questions about whether Podziemski is the right backcourt partner for him. He's an ignitable outside shooter, quick processor and capable playmaker, but he's also limited on defense and offensively inconsistent.
The Dubs might see a cleaner fit with Castle, who's bigger, stronger, more athletic and far more resistant on the defensive end. He's also a shakier shooter, but maybe that's a concession Golden State would be willing to make to get its hands on the reigning Rookie of the Year.
Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard
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Houston Rockets receive: Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns receive: Fred VanVleet, Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Steven Adams and a 2027 first-round pick (their own)
Back in May, Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic brought word the Rockets "no longer" held "serious interest" in Booker. Of course, that report also noted Houston had "significant reservations" about Kevin Durant and how team officials "still have faith" in Jalen Green, so things can change.
Booker still looks like a hand-in-glove fit for Houston. He can share the floor with Durant and is a better timeline fit for the young core. And the Rockets are so stacked with assets, they could conceivably get Booker without decimating their collection. It'd be a pricey pickup, sure, but they'd still push forward with both Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengün.
Phoenix, meanwhile, would ditch this idea of readjusting on the fly around Booker and instead get fully focused on its future. Sheppard, last year's No. 3 pick, would be a pivotal piece of that plan, as would the versatile Eason (who could be swapped out for Jeff Green if Phoenix preferred more picks instead).
Indiana Pacers: Jarace Walker
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Indiana Pacers receive: Donovan Clingan
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Jarace Walker, a 2026 first-round pick (top-five protected) and a 2027 second-round pick (via UTA)
The Pacers took Walker eighth overall in 2023 and have slow-played him ever since. When you're chasing championships as they suddenly were—a conference finals trip in his rookie year and a Finals appearance during his second go-round—developmental minutes can be hard to find.
The lack of floor time, though, is not a reflection of Walker's ability or a sign of disbelief in his long-term potential. The 21-year-old still looks like a two-way connector in training.
Is there enough potential here to help get a deal done for Clingan? With the right draft sweeteners, there might be. Clingan had his own challenges finding major minutes as a rookie and then saw the Blazers make a bold move on draft night for another center (Yang Hansen). You'd have to imagine the Pacers would love to have Clingan anchoring their Myles Turner-less interior.
Los Angeles Clippers: Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
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Los Angeles Clippers receive: Jaylon Tyson
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Yanic Konan Niederhäuser
The Clippers better hope they have what they need for the 2024-25 season, because the trade market will be tricky for them to navigate. They won't want to trade from their veteran core, because the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden combo could give them at least a puncher's chase in any postseason series. But they also shouldn't trade more future picks than they already have, because that twosome might only have two seasons together left.
So, if you're wondering how Niederhäuser went from being this summer's 30th pick to already L.A.'s top trade asset, that's your answer. It's basically a by-default kind of status, although the rookie does offer an interesting mix of size, athleticism and legitimate ball skills.
The Cavaliers could see him as a capable backup for Jarrett Allen right now and maybe a lot more down the line. The Clippers, on the other hand, could see a two-way wing like Tyson as more valuable than a developmental big man trapped behind Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez.
Los Angeles Lakers: Austin Reaves
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Los Angeles Lakers receive: Dereck Lively II and Caleb Martin
Dallas Mavericks receive: Austin Reaves and a 2031 first-round pick
Lakers fans probably won't like this suggestion. Maybe their decision-makers wouldn't, either. That's fine. They all seem like big fans of Reaves, and he's given them plenty of reasons to feel that way—like the 20.2 points and 5.8 assists he averaged as a third option this past season.
He's a really good player. He's also not a great trade asset. His growth potential is probably limited by his age (27), and he might be super expensive by this time next year. One executive recently told ESPN's Tim Bontemps that Reaves "will get $30 [million] plus" on his next contract.
The Lakers could cross their fingers and give him that kind of coin, but they could also flip him and a future first for Lively, who has established chemistry with Luka Dončić and cornerstone potential on defense, and Martin, a reliable role-playing wing with a proven ability to perform on the postseason stage.
Memphis Grizzlies: 2030 1st-Round Pick (via ORL)
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Memphis Grizzlies receive: RJ Barrett and Ja'Kobe Walter
Toronto Raptors receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Brandon Clarke, a 2026 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and a 2030 first-round pick (via ORL)
Memphis might need some time to monitor its roster after brokering the Desmond Bane blockbuster this offseason. Maybe it will reveal that Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. still comprise one of the league's best duos and also could really use a wing scorer with Bane's production removed from the equation.
Barrett is a different player than Bane, but their numbers are strikingly similar. This past season, Barrett averaged 21.1 points and 5.4 assists while Bane checked in at 19.2 and 5.3, respectively. Barrett's shooting and off-ball value aren't the same, but maybe Memphis would appreciate his downhill pressure and ability to get to the foul line.
Walter, included to offset some of the long-term costs of the two draft picks, looks like a three-and-D swingman who could shine with his movement shooting.
Miami Heat: Kel'el Ware
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Miami Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier, a 2030 first-round pick, a 2032 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick swap
After keeping Ware out of the Kevin Durant trade talks, the Heat would clearly need a superstar to let their second-year center go. Since they also have a clear (and longstanding) fascination with Antetokounmpo—which, to be fair, most teams do—it might take a megatrade with Milwaukee to get Ware out of Miami.
Is that overrating Ware? Maybe. It certainly wasn't encouraging to hear him getting called out this summer. Then again, he opened his rookie season out of the rotation and finished it as a starter for a playoff team. And he happens to be a 7-footer who seems wholly capable of blocking shots and spacing the floor, which might be the single most impactful combo a modern center can have.
Ware looks like a legitimate building block, Jaquez would've been considered as such as recently as last summer and Herro just booked his first All-Star season as a 25-year-old. Add the draft picks here, and that feels like enough for the Heat to at least entertain dreams of adding Antetokounmpo, whose resume features a couple of MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year honor and a Finals MVP.
Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Smith
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Milwaukee Bucks receive: Jerami Grant
Portland Trail Blazers receive: Kyle Kuzma, Tyler Smith and Andre Jackson Jr.
If you're surprised to see Smith listed here, you're surely not alone. But who else is seriously challenging for this spot?
This roster is old and mostly devoid of upside. The other players seriously considered were Jackson, a 23-year-old who can't shoot, and A.J. Green, a 25-year-old (26 in September) who doesn't do much other than shoot.
Smith, for the record, maybe can't do anything at this level—he saw 122 NBA minutes as a rookie—but there's at least the idea of him becoming a 6'11" floor-spacer who can handle and dish a bit, too. That combo could be just exciting enough for Milwaukee turn the disappointing Kuzma into the overpaid-but-useful-on-a-good-team Grant.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham
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Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Coby White
Chicago Bulls receive: Donte DiVincenzo and Rob Dillingham
When the Wolves made an aggressive move up for Dillingham at the 2024 draft, it was hard not to appreciate their foresight. They had a nagging need for non-Anthony Edwards shot-creation and a long-term need for a Mike Conley replacement. In a perfect world, Dillingham would check both boxes.
While it's too early to say that he definitely won't, he doesn't seem ready for a major role. Well, that or Minnesota isn't comfortable tasking him with one. Functionally, it's no different from the team's perspective. The Wolves have needs that he isn't really addressing.
Cutting bait now would cost Minnesota some upside—Dillingham, while undersized, has slippery handles, joystick shiftiness and a competitive edge on defense—but that probably isn't the primary concern of a back-to-back conference finalist. If the Wolves see White's creation and self-sufficient scoring as potential missing pieces, they probably do this deal without a second thought.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trey Murphy III
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New Orleans Pelicans receive: P.J. Washington, Max Christie, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a 2029 first-round pick (via LAL) and a 2032 first-round pick (top-three protected)
Dallas Mavericks receive: Trey Murphy III
It'll be a sad day in New Orleans when this franchise accepts its snakebitten fate and bails on this core. On paper, a roster featuring Murphy, Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole and Herbert Jones seems capable of some really fun and maybe really successful basketball.
But this about to be season seven of the Williamson era, and the Pels' tally to this point is two playoff trips and zero series wins. And they arguably had a better co-star for those campaigns than they will for this one in Brandon Ingram. Maybe their luck is just never changing.
New Orleans felt like it could pivot any direction this offseason, and maybe a slow start is all it takes to plunge this organization into an overhaul. Murphy, who's either a star role player or perhaps simply a rising star, would fetch a small mountain of assets. The picks are the obvious prizes, but Christie took a big step this past season and Washington works as either a solid starter or a potential bridge to additional assets closer to the trade deadline.
New York Knicks: Miles McBride
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New York Knicks receive: Keon Ellis
Sacramento Kings receive: Miles McBride and a 2026 first-round pick (top-eight protected, via WAS)
The Knicks are heavily invested in this core and fully believe it holds championship potential. When the club split from coach Tom Thibodeau following its first conference finals appearances in 25 years, team president Leon Rose explained they were "singularly focused on winning a championship."
It's possible they'd view McBride as being too meaningful to move, but there's a bit of "If not him, then who?" factoring into this selection. The starters are cemented, Mitchell Robinson can't stay healthy and there'd be nothing beyond blind faith drawing suitors toward Pacôme Dadiet or Tyler Kolek, who logged a combined 407 minutes last season.
So, McBride it is, but only if the Knicks feel like they're getting an upgrade. Ellis probably fits the bill. He doesn't provide the same playmaking, but he's more consistent from three and bigger and more versatile on defense. It'd be easier to get him on the floor with Jalen Brunson, and it's hard to think of a more helpful skill than supporting the club's best player.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Topić
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Oklahoma City Thunder receive: Collin Murray-Boyles
Toronto Raptors receive: Nikola Topić
The Thunder are probably the least likely team to do a trade right now. They were careful not to rock the boat while working their way up the hoops world's hierarchy, so they might have frozen all transaction talk now that they've reached the apex. They're great right now, and they have a frightening amount of options when it comes to internal improvement.
This exercise requires a selection and a swap, though, so why not spotlight the one player who didn't contribute to their championship run? Topić, last summer's No. 12 pick, lost his entire rookie season to the same ACL injury that bumped him down the draft board. When healthy, he's a 6'6" playmaker who can pressure opponents off the dribble and exploit driving lanes and passing windows.
He's a fun piece to work into the puzzle, but he's also, by definition, obviously non-essential. It's possible, then, OKC could envision an easier path to 2025-26 playing time for Murray-Boyles, this year's No. 9 pick who gives off Draymond Green vibes as a two-way playmaker.
Orlando Magic: Anthony Black
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Orlando Magic receive: Nikola Jović
Miami Heat receive: Anthony Black
The Magic paid a fortune to add Desmond Bane this offseason. It remains to be seen whether they did enough to get their offense ready to contend.
If they're still a bit short on spacing and support scoring, Black probably isn't helping with that. The 6'7" playmaker has enviable physical tools and tons of defensive value, but he's also the kind of lead guard who squeezes his own offense as a non-shooter. Some teams can work around that, but the shooting-starved Magic probably aren't one of them.
Jović, on the other hand, wouldn't have trouble finding the floor in Orlando. He's a 6'10" sharpshooter who flashes some high-end creation and three-level scoring. These Southeast Division rivals may not want to help the other, but this feels like a win-win swap with both teams directly addressing some of their most glaring needs.
Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain
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Philadelphia 76ers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Paul George, Jared McCain, a 2028 first-round pick (via LAC), a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 first-round pick
No team will carry a wider range of possible outcomes into the upcoming campaign than Philadelphia. Squint, and you can still see the Sixers as at least second-tier contenders if everything breaks right. Take the slightest dip into the memory banks, though, and you'll see last season highlighting how many things can go wrong.
It's hard to say, then, how Philadelphia views its assets or even what it would try to get with them. There's certainly a universe in which rebuilding becomes the chosen path forward, in which case the Sixers hope Joel Embiid stays long enough for them to showcase his MVP-caliber work and convince someone he's still worth a fortune.
Then again, if Embiid is flashing MVP form, maybe that's reason for Daryl Morey and Co. to throw caution to the wind and try capitalizing on whatever remains of the big fella's prime. Losing McCain, the biggest breakout of the 2024 draft class despite having his rookie year cut short, would sting a lot and maybe qualify as full-on reckless if he was attached to these picks, but a clean bill of health may be all that an Embiid-Antetokounmpo-Tyrese Maxey trio would need to take over the NBA.
Phoenix Suns: Jalen Green
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Phoenix Suns receive: RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji
Toronto Raptors receive: Jalen Green
Green was one of the primary assets the Suns snagged in the Kevin Durant deal. Green is also one of the most polarizing players on the roster, since he has the scoring volume of a rising star but the shooting slash of a chucker (career 42.2/34.2/79.9). And that's without digging into what figures to be a delicate pairing with Devin Booker.
The Suns might not even want to try making it work with Green. He might be young, bouncy and supremely confident, but his numbers haven't changed much over his first four NBA seasons, and a lot of them call into question his ability to contribute to winning. Maybe he'll figure that out in time, but it definitely isn't in his bag right now, as his teams have fared a full 5.0 points worse per 100 possessions with him than without.
Or maybe Phoenix would just view a couple of wings like Barrett and Agbaji as better fits with Booker. Barrett can be a bit ball-dominant, but if he's finding good lucks for Booker and the other shooters around them, Phoenix wouldn't complain.
Portland Trail Blazers: 2030 1st-Round Pick (own or MIL)
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Portland Trail Blazers receive: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin and Obi Toppin
Indiana Pacers receive: Jerami Grant, Donovan Clingan, a 2028 first-round pick (via ORL) and a 2030 first-round pick (via POR or MIL)
It's tough to say exactly what the Trail Blazers are hoping to accomplish and when, but the acquisition of Jrue Holiday and return of Damian Lillard indicate a desire to compete sooner than later. If this young core experiences enough development to make that competitiveness possible already this season, Portland has the assets to pursue something major.
Bringing in three key contributors from Indiana's Finals team would qualify. The Pacers would have to be blown away to let them go—Nembhard in particular—but two unprotected future firsts and 2024's No. 7 pick (Clingan, who'd fill a position of dire need for the Pacers) feels like a healthy haul for three non-stars.
If Portland could get Nembhard, it would have to broker another big trade to clear up some backcourt congestion, but that should either help replenish the asset collection or add something the roster is missing.
Sacramento Kings: 2031 1st-Round Pick (via MIN)
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Sacramento Kings receive: Anthony Black and Jett Howard
Orlando Magic receive: Malik Monk and a 2031 first-round pick (via MIN)
Sacramento's fall from point guard graces will one day bewilder hoops historians. A backcourt group that once featured both Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox is now down to Dennis Schröder, who played for three different teams last season, and Monk, who opened this offseason on the trade block.
There are questions about Sacramento's present and future at the position, which should steer this club toward a stabilizer like Black. His career could still go a number of different directions, but the Kings could use some mystery. They aren't lacking proven commodities, it's just that those players have proven they make for shaky-at-best building blocks.
As for Orlando, there might be questions about what Black's shooting limitations mean for his long-term fit with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. If the Magic aren't convinced they can make it work, maybe they'd move Black before everyone else figures that out. Monk should find a fit as a spacer and quick-strike scorer, and the draft pick would be helpful to have after shipping out so many for Desmond Bane.
San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle
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San Antonio Spurs receive: Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat receive: Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, a 2028 first-round pick (via SAS or BOS) and a 2030 first-round pick (via SAS, DAL or MIN)
The Spurs have one of the Association's richest asset collections. And while it's unclear when they'll look to cash some part of that in, it's obvious they'll find a full-fledged needle-mover when they do.
Adebayo isn't quite a tier-one superstar, but he's one of the NBA's best defenders and a near-20-point scorer who can finish, handle and create. A frontcourt featuring him and Victor Wembanyama would cover all bases, since Adebayo could handle all of the interior banging while Wembanyama would punish defenses that don't follow him out to the perimeter.
The loss of Castle would sting in the moment, but it seems inevitable one of him, De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper will have to go. And since San Antonio just drafted Harper second overall and gave Fox a max extension this offseason, Castle looks like the odd man out.
Toronto Raptors: RJ Barrett
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Toronto Raptors receive: Jalen Green
Phoenix Suns receive: RJ Barrett and Ochai Agbaji
Barrett's trade value is hard to pin down. It can't be enormous, since his volume typically outshines his efficiency, but it should be fairly significant. He's basically been good for 20 points and five boards each of the past four seasons, and in 2024-25, he added 5.4 assists to the stat line.
Those are impressive numbers, and since he just turned 25 in June, they still have room to grow. He maybe isn't a franchise centerpiece-type talent, but he could be in the blueprint for the right team.
If the Suns are one of those teams, then the Raptors should try swinging a deal for Green. They need a perimeter scorer, and he is certainly that, while also having the time (as a 23-year-old) and physical tools to still become more.
Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler
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Utah Jazz receive: Jarace Walker and a 2026 first-round pick (top four-protected)
Indiana Pacers receive: Walker Kessler
The Jazz might be asking for more for Kessler, but if the market was going to meet their lofty demands, it would have already. He's an impactful interior center, but that's kind of all he is. There's obviously interest in the archetype, but not enough unload the piggy bink.
This feels like the right middle ground. Indiana would solidify its center spot with Kessler, while Utah would gain a recent lottery pick in Walker and a lightly protected first-round pick from a team that will spend the season without its franchise face.
With the Jazz overhauling their young core and clearly not worrying about winning any time soon, they could be more patient with Walker and give him the developmental reps he's struggled to find in Indiana.
Washington Wizards: 2030 1st-Round Pick (own or PHO)
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Washington Wizards receive: Jared McCain
Philadelphia 76ers receive: Kyshawn George, a 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected) and a 2030 first-round pick (via WAS or PHO)
It'll be a while before the Wizards are dipping into their own asset collection and not seeking out assets from others. Whenever they do, though, they should be making a targeted move toward a young player who can fit with and grow alongside their core.
Since so many of their building blocks are defensive-minded players, they'd have to be drawn to a net-shredder like McCain. There'd be some overlap with No. 6 pick Tre Johnson, but Washington might be early enough into its overhaul to not worry about fit or feel perimeter scoring is a big enough need to justify having both.
The trade cost is significant—even though early reports on the 2027 draft are not favorable—but worth it if Washington sees McCain as a rising star. And given how he looked before a knee injury sidetracked his rookie season, that'd be a reasonable way to view him.
