1 Trade Every Team Would Make If the Deadline Was Before 2025-26 NBA Season
Trade season lasts most of the calendar year in the NBA, but there are certainly times when activity is more common than it is in others.
The days and weeks leading up to the trade deadline comprise one of those times, and we're going to artificially bump that up for today's exercise.
If the league pushed the trade deadline to October 20—a day before the regular season—these are the realistic moves each team would be hoping to make.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, Asa Newell, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
After this week's reporting from Shams Charania, in which he detailed the New York Knicks' offseason interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's clear this story isn't going anywhere.
In the real world, we're going to hear about potential trades and rumored suitors for the next several months. In this fake one, with the October trade deadline, the Atlanta Hawks can put together one of the league's most compelling Giannis trade packages.
This is a lot to give up, but a core with Trae Young, Giannis, Dyson Daniels and Kristaps Porziņģis would give Atlanta as good a chance as anyone to win the East.
Boston Celtics
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Anfernee Simons and a 2031 second-round pick for Jusuf Nurkić
The Boston Celtics' flurry of activity this summer has them within $12.1 million of ducking the luxury tax (and resetting the repeater tax). It wouldn't be shocking to see them rattle off a couple more moves to get there.
This one doesn't do it in one fell swoop, but it shaves another $8.3 million off the books, gives the team someone closer to a starting-caliber center and opens up some developmental minutes in the backcourt for Hugo Gonzalez.
It also doesn't create a burden for Boston beyond this season. Like Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkić is on an expiring contract.
Checking all those boxes for a player who isn't likely to be a long-term part of the plan and a single second-round pick would be worth it.
Brooklyn Nets
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Michael Porter Jr. for Jerami Grant and a top-five protected 2031 first-round pick
The Brooklyn Nets already picked up a valuable first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets as part of the Cameron Johnson-Michael Porter Jr. trade.
Now, trading MPJ for a worse contract (Jerami Grant's expires a year later, thanks to his 2027-28 player option) could get them another pick.
Grant is undoubtedly a worse player than MPJ. He's also four years older. Since neither player will make Brooklyn competitive in the short term, the Nets might as well try to turn Porter into another asset.
Charlotte Hornets
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Miles Bridges for Tobias Harris and a lottery protected 2031 first-round pick
The Charlotte Hornets are another team that isn't likely to push for a postseason berth any time soon, so they could pursue the same goal as Brooklyn: Turn a vet into a future pick.
In this case, Charlotte also gets the added benefit of picking up an expiring contract that won't encumber the team's books beyond this season.
The Detroit Pistons, meanwhile, get a little more explosive offensive option at the 4 who can play some two-man game with Cade Cunningham.
Chicago Bulls
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Nikola Vučević and a lottery-protected 2031 first-round pick for Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors may have added Al Horford this offseason, but they're still one of the smallest teams in the league. And the Chicago Bulls have a veteran center who could supercharge their second unit.
Nikola Vučević is a floor-spacer and ball-mover whose offensive game would fit right into the Warriors system. And sharing the floor with players like Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green or Gary Payton II could go a long way toward hiding his defensive flaws.
Fans may wince at the idea of giving up a first-rounder for Jonathan Kuminga, but his athleticism and physical profile are still intriguing, especially if, in a bigger role and with consistent opportunities set up by Josh Giddey, he could thrive.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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Jarrett Allen for Obi Toppin, Ben Sheppard and a top-five protected 2029 first-round pick
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of a handful of teams that don't need to make a trade right now, but if they were feeling a little antsy, this is one that would bring a bit better balance to the roster and commit to Evan Mobley as the long-term answer at the 5.
With him there, Cleveland could deploy more shooting in a lineup that already includes Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. It could also be a bit more switchable on defense with players like De'Andre Hunter and Obi Toppin playing the 4 and Ben Sheppard playing on the wing.
For Indiana, giving up a first-rounder ahead of a year in which Tyrese Haliburton won't be available may feel a tad hasty, but Allen is under contract through 2028-29 and would make for more than a replacement for Myles Turner.
Allen doesn't space the floor like the former Pacer, but he's a better rim runner and more mobile defender.
Dallas Mavericks
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Caleb Martin and a 2030 second-round pick for Kyle Anderson
The Dallas Mavericks could use a bit more playmaking while they wait for the return of Kyrie Irving from his torn ACL.
And though Kyle Anderson hasn't been a traditional point guard in the NBA, he was at UCLA, and he's shown at several stops in the league that he can initiate or boost an offense.
He also brings the added benefit of defensive versatility to whatever team he's on. And if there's one thing Dallas general manager Nico Harrison has made clear over the last eight months, it's that "defense wins championships."
For Utah, Anderson doesn't fit the timeline of their rebuild. And turning him into a second-round pick would be worthwhile.
Denver Nuggets
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Zeke Nnaji and a 2031 first-round pick swap for Ayo Dosunmu
Like the Celtics, the Denver Nuggets are on the verge of ducking the luxury tax in 2025-26. Unlike Boston, the Nuggets can get there in just one move.
Right now, they're just over $400,000 over that threshold, with a player on the roster making over $8 million and not likely to be in the rotation.
That player, of course, is Zeke Nnaji, who may not make a ton of sense for Chicago (though there may still be a hint of floor-spacing-big upside there), but would be worth it if moved with that pick swap.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, would get comfortably under the tax with this move, while providing a boost to a second unit that looks to be in need of a bit more playmaking.
Detroit Pistons
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Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Bobi Klintman, a 2030 first-round pick and a top-five protected 2032 first-round pick for Lauri Markkanen
In the event the Utah Jazz make Lauri Markkanen available (which maybe should have happened a while ago), there should be plenty of suitors around the league for one of its best and most unique finishers.
The Finn's ability to dominate as either a catch-and-shoot three-point threat or an above-the-rim cutter, and his willingness to do it without dominating the ball or over-dribbling, would be put to good use by Cade Cunningham.
Those two, along with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, would give the Detroit Pistons a team that could win the East as early as this season.
On the Jazz side, fans may be hoping for more draft capital for Markkanen, but prying Jaden Ivey from the Pistons would be no small feat.
There's always mild concern when a player is coming back from a season-ending injury, but Ivey is still just 23, averaged 17.6 points in 2024-25 and has shown more star-level upside than Keyonte George or Isaiah Collier.
Golden State Warriors
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Jonathan Kuminga for Corey Kispert and a 2030 first-round pick (via Golden State)
The offseason-long stalemate between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors may have come to a close, but the reporting on the deal made it pretty clear he could still be on the move soon.
"Now, both sides understand the likelihood of exploring trades when Kuminga is eligible to be moved in mid-January," ESPN's Shams Charania wrote. "As part of the deal, he is waiving his inherent no-trade clause."
As long as we're moving the trade deadline, we might as well lift that trade restriction too. And with that gone, the Warriors (or at least those outside the owner's box) would be thrilled to end the headache that Kuminga's tenure has become, add a good shooter and off-ball mover in Corey Kispert and regain full control of their own 2030 first-round pick.
The Wizards, on the other hand, would add another intriguing young talent to a roster already loaded with them, giving the team one more chance at a legitimate future star.
Houston Rockets
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Bucks Receive: Fred VanVleet, Josh Hart, Reed Sheppard, a 2028 first-round pick from Houston, a 2030 first-round pick from Houston and four second-round picks from New York
Knicks Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Rockets Receive: Jalen Brunson
For this one, we're stealing a deal from a piece published earlier this week, detailing some potential trade packages the New York Knicks could throw at the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis.
The aim there was getting Antetokounmpo to New York, but Houston swooping in as the third team and landing Jalen Brunson to replace the recently injured Fred VanVleet would be a coup for the Rockets.
And while there's plenty of upside represented by Reed Sheppard and multiple future first-round picks, Houston's Kevin Durant trade instantly put them in win-now mode.
Acquiring Brunson would make it easier to head that direction, and this framework doesn't cost the Rockets Amen Thompson.
Indiana Pacers
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Obi Toppin, Bennedict Mathurin a 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 top-five protected first-round pick for Trey Murphy III
Right from the jump, we'll acknowledge that pulling Trey Murphy III from the New Orleans Pelicans could be tough. They might insist on a little more draft consideration, but the Indiana Pacers should probably be willing to pay it.
Murphy is under contract through 2028-29 and would be a dynamic receiver, both at the rim or at the three-point line, for Tyrese Haliburton. Those two and Pascal Siakam would make for one of the East's best trios.
This deal would also allow Indiana to skip out on Bennedict Mathurin's restricted free agency. And while the Pelicans may not be eager to deal with that, he does have some upside as a heat-check scorer.
There were moments in the NBA Finals when Mathurin looked as game as anyone on the roster to take on the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder (he combined for 51 points in Games 3 and 7).
Los Angeles Clippers
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Bogdan Bogdanović and Derrick Jones Jr. for DeMar DeRozan
The Los Angeles Clippers already have plenty of talent. And plenty of older talent. But if they wanted to consolidate a bit, DeMar DeRozan would make for a heck of a secondary playmaker and/or heat-check scorer for the second unit.
His brand of mid-range-heavy offense hasn't always positively impacted his teams, but backup defenders would have a terrible time trying to stop him. And when sharing the floor with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and another starter or two, he'd have the opportunity to attack defenses scrambled by the superstars.
For the Sacramento Kings, this breaks up the DeRozan-Zach LaVine pairing that never worked for the Chicago Bulls, adds a defensive playmaker in Derrick Jones Jr. and gives the second unit a playmaking and three-point shooting boost from Bogdan Bogdanović.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2032 first-round pick for Lauri Markkanen
The Los Angeles Lakers aren't often listed among the potential Markkanen suitors, but they probably should be.
Combining his finishing ability with Luka Dončić's playmaking would make him one of the most dangerous scorers in the league.
His skill set is also nowhere near as redundant alongside Luka and LeBron James as Austin Reaves' is. And, at 28 years old, with a contract that runs through 2028-29, Markkanen will almost certainly outlast LeBron in L.A. He's a natural fit as Luka's long-term No. 2.
The Jazz, meanwhile, getting a young-ish wing in 24-year-old Dalton Knecht, two expiring contracts in Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber and a fringe All-Star in Austin Reaves.
Reaves has outplayed his current contract and could leave in free agency next summer, but he's far from the prize of this deal. That would be the haul of picks.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Ja Morant for Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, a 2030 first-round picks and a top-five protected 2032 first-round pick
When healthy and not serving any kind of league-mandated suspension, Ja Morant is one of the most dynamic lead playmakers in the NBA. His highlight plays are often gasp-inducing.
However, the injuries and non-basketball issues that necessitate those two qualifiers have become far too common. And if the Memphis Grizzlies could talk a team into giving up multiple young prospects and/or future first-round picks for him, they would have to seriously consider moving him.
That's exactly what this deal does for Memphis. Forget Terry Rozier. He's an expiring contract who's just here for salary-matching purposes. The rest of this package is a solid return for a player who's struggled as much as Morant has with availability.
As for Miami, this is a pretty penny, but it should be desperate for star power after losing Jimmy Butler last season.
The sample wasn't huge, but in the wake of the Butler trade, neither Tyler Herro nor Bam Adebayo looked ready to carry the franchise back to title contention.
Morant, with an assist from #HeatCulture, has enough talent to fill that role.
Miami Heat
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Terry Rozier, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a top-five protected 2030 first-round pick and a 2032 lottery-protected first-round pick for Zion Williamson
The injury concerns for Zion Williamson might be even greater than Morant's, but he looks to be in great shape this preseason. And when he's healthy, there's only a handful of players in the world who make a bigger impact than Zion on offense.
That's why the haul on this one is bigger than the Ja deal. And while it comes with a lot of risk, a disciplined, in-shape version of Williamson (potentially molded by the Heat's no-nonsense approach) could lead Miami right back to contention.
He, Herro and Adebayo would be a young, dangerous trio that could be a major player in the East for years to come.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Kyle Kuzma and a lottery-protected 2031 first-round pick swap for Collin Sexton
Even with one of the four or five best basketball players in the world on the roster, the Milwaukee Bucks' whole situation just feels dire.
Their second-best player is Myles Turner, who's probably more suited to be a third or fourth option. Their third-highest paid player is Kyle Kuzma, who was 265th among the 270 players with 1,000-plus minutes in box plus/minus last season.
The only other player making over $10 million in 2025-26 is Bobby Portis, while most of the rest of the roster might not crack the rotations of several teams around the league.
Oh, and for each of the next five years, there will be $22.5 million in dead money against the cap because of the decision to waive and stretch Damian Lillard's contract.
This team's depth chart is thin. Its trade assets, outside of Giannis, are almost nonexistent. And there isn't an up-and-coming young talent to generate some hope.
All that is to say you're right. That isn't a very inspiring trade package up there, but it's hard to find a realistic, non-Giannis deal that is.
This, at the very least, would give Milwaukee a player closer to starting point guard-level talent.
Collin Sexton is a competitor who's averaged over 20 points per 75 possessions and made almost 39 percent of his three-point attempts over the course of his career.
He would push this team closer to a playoff lock than it can be with the current roster.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Collin Sexton, Pat Connaughton and three second-round picks for Julius Randle
Full disclosure: It's impossible to find an exciting trade for the Minnesota Timberwolves right now. It's hard to even find something reasonable.
I searched far and wide for Rudy Gobert suitors. Indiana was an interesting destination for him, but it simply took too many rotation players to make the math work. Ditto for the Lakers, and that one required Bronny James too. Imagine the fallout from that.
It might be even trickier to find a new home for Julius Randle. The one I settled on feels like a wonky fit. There's a lot of overlap between him and Miles Bridges.
He's a talent upgrade for Charlotte, though, and splitting his salary into a playmaker and a wing helps Minnesota's depth a bit. The Wolves certainly need the former, with Mike Conley nearing 40. And everyone could use more of the latter.
If Sexton was able to perform like he did in 2023-24, this could wind up being a win for the Timberwolves, but that's far from a given.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Herb Jones, Jeremiah Fears, Micah Peavy and a 2031 first-round pick for Derrick White
The Celtics would have to pretty desperate to shed additional salary to move on from Derrick White, but this deal would do just that for them. It would trim Boston's payroll by about $5.4 million, getting it closer to ducking that tax line.
And the players going back don't represent a total loss. Following this season, lineups with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Herb Jones would be a nightmare defensively. Jeremiah Fears has some upside as a scoring guard. And that future first-rounder from an organization with as little success as New Orleans could hold plenty of value.
For the Pelicans, assuming Zion could stay relatively healthy, a top trio of Williamson, White and Murphy would be loaded with talent and versatility.
It would be a nice follow-up to find another trade that potentially breaks Dejounte Murray's salary into a couple of role players.
New York Knicks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo for Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacôme Dadiet, a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2030 first-round pick swap, a 2032 first-round pick swap and seven second-round picks
We're going to borrow another deal from the reaction to the news that Giannis may have wanted to join the Knicks this summer here.
And it's really only a possibility if Giannis forcefully, and maybe even publicly, tells Milwaukee that he specifically wants this destination.
That play might take a bit of leverage away from the Bucks and allow New York's best offer, which isn't nearly as good as what several other teams could put on the table, to win the day.
If it did, the Knicks would instantly become the favorite to win the East, while the Bucks might be able to redirect KAT in a future, rebuild-focused trade before his contract expires.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Giannis Antetokounmpo for Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort, a 2026 first-round pick (via Houston), a 2028 first-round pick (via Dallas), a 2030 first-round pick, a 2032 first-round pick and eight second-round picks
Let's acknowledge, right off the bat, that there may not be a team in NBA history that needed a trade less than the 2025-26 Oklahoma City Thunder.
They just won the title, despite entering last season as the league's youngest team. And this past summer, they signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to lucrative extensions.
Barring catastrophe, OKC is going to play like a juggernaut for the foreseeable future, regardless of whether it makes any big moves right now.
But, if they wanted to join a Giannis sweepstakes, few teams could sweeten the pot with draft assets quite like the Thunder. And while Milwaukee would almost certainly insist on one of Williams or Holmgren being in the deal, OKC might be able to overwhelm other teams' offers with picks.
Orlando Magic
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Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, a 2029 first-round pick swap, a 2031 first-round pick swap and a 2032 first-round pick for Trae Young
The Hawks have built what appears to be a near-ideal roster around Trae Young, with loads of defensive versatility and catch-and-shoot options. Prying the offensive engine away may be tough.
However, this deal gives Atlanta a culture-setting defender in Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac's very movable contract (it runs through 2028-29 and never pays him more than $15 million in a year) and potentially three first-round picks.
Atlanta, meanwhile, would pair one of the game's best playmakers with its dynamic duo of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, which would take pressure off the forwards and give them significantly more open looks in the halfcourt.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Joel Embiid for Nikola Vučević, Zach Collins, Noa Essengue and a 2029 first-round pick
What if the Philadelphia 76ers could just get out of the Joel Embiid business right now?
He may be the single biggest injury risk in the league. His massive contract runs through 2028-29, when he has a $67.4 million player option. And during his 11 years with the Sixers, they've never advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
If Philadelphia could get off that money, pick up two expiring contracts, add an interesting young big man and secure a future first-round pick, it would have to seriously consider doing it.
For the Bulls, this would be a gargantuan risk for a team that should probably be slow-playing a build around Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Coby White. But if Embiid could give them even 50 games a season, he would transform them from a perennial play-in team to a potential contender.
Phoenix Suns
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Grayson Allen and a top 11-protected 2026 first-round pick for Jonathan Kuminga
The Phoenix Suns were among the teams reportedly interested in Kuminga this summer, and acquiring him outside the bounds of a sign-and-trade is less complicated (since we've also nixed the restriction on trading recently signed players).
Grayson Allen doesn't have the upside Kuminga does, but he would instantly fit Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's system better, is a career 41.4 percent three-point shooter and has even shown a little playmaking pop in his last couple years.
For the Suns, though there's no guarantee Kuminga becomes a building-block level talent, he's seven years younger than Allen and certainly has a better chance at that than the Suns' sharpshooter.
A two-man game with Devin Booker and Kuminga has as much potential as anything else currently on the roster.
Portland Trail Blazers
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Jerami Grant and two second-round picks for Kyle Kuzma and Andre Jackson Jr.
Getting out from under Jerami Grant's contract, which runs through 2027-28, when Grant has a $36.4 million player option, should be Portland's top priority.
And while Kuzma was wildly ineffective last season, he does make nearly $10 million less in 2025-26, and his contract expires a year earlier (and without any options to complicate things).
Andre Jackson Jr. has to be added to make the math work, so Portland might even be willing to part with a third second-rounder to make the deal work.
On the other side of the deal, Milwaukee would have to be banking on Grant returning to pre-2024-25 form. Over the four prior seasons, he averaged 20.8 points and 2.1 threes, while shooting 37.8 percent from deep.
Sacramento Kings
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DeMar DeRozan and a 2026 second-round pick for Anfernee Simons
This is another salary-shedding move for the Celtics, though it doesn't quite move them as close to the tax line as some of the previous ones (DeRozan makes $2.9 million less than Simons).
And while Boston may balk at the fact that DeRozan's contract ends in 2027 (while Simons' ends in 2026), the veteran scorer could still have some trade value in 12 months. If things go well, he might even be a solid sixth man for the 2026-27 team that would presumably have Tatum back.
For the Kings, their point guard depth chart gets awfully thin after Dennis Schröder, who may be best suited to play backup himself. Simons isn't a natural creator, but he's a much better outside shooter than DeRozan. And Sacramento already has plenty of playmaking from Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis.
San Antonio Spurs
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Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick, a 2032 first-round pick and six second-round picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo may want to find his way to the Knicks, but the San Antonio Spurs are the most interesting possible destination.
Just imagine a frontcourt with Giannis and Wemby. It would be the most terrifying combination of length and athleticism the league has ever seen.
And though things might be a tad cramped with De'Aaron Fox's penchant for slashing, Wemby's developing outside shot could create enough space to overcome that.
For the Bucks, this framework gives them a potential cornerstone talent in Stephon Castle, multiple young-ish wings who might have trade value down the line and loads of draft capital.
Toronto Raptors
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RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Ochai Agbaji and a 2030 top three-protected first-round pick for Joel Embiid
Another team that might be able to justify a gamble on Embiid, the Toronto Raptors could give Philly three players on contracts that are easier to move than the 76ers superstar's.
RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji are good enough to help Philadelphia stay relatively competitive right now, too.
Toronto, meanwhile, would get one of the best scorers of all time (when he's available) and a floor-spacing big who could open up the middle of the floor for Scottie Barnes' slashing and Brandon Ingram's mid-range attack.
Utah Jazz
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Lauri Markkanen for Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick swap
If the Spurs were scared off of the Giannis chase by his reported interest in New York, they could perhaps offer a variation of that package for Markkanen, who might fit in San Antonio a bit better.
Giannis can be ball-dominant, which takes the ball out of Wemby's hands. Markkanen, on the other hand, has one of the most streamlined offensive games in the league. He barely dribbles and is a high-end finisher as both an outside shooter and dunker.
The Jazz, meanwhile, get multiple first-rounders, an expiring contract they could flip in a subsequent trade (Barnes) and a 25-year-old three-and-D wing who's not far off the timeline of the rest of Utah's young core.
Washington Wizards
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CJ McCollum for Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr. and a top-five protected 2032 first-round pick swap
This is a desperation move to make, potentially, one last run at a title with Giannis.
CJ McCollum, though he's not a natural point guard, is a significant upgrade over Kevin Porter Jr. and Cole Anthony at that spot. And his 2-guard skills would come in handy in possessions run by Giannis.
If things didn't go well, Milwaukee could simply let McCollum walk in 2026 (when he's a free agent), something it can't do with Kuzma (whose deal expires a year later).
As for the Wizards, getting any draft consideration, even a pick swap, is a decent haul for a 34-year-old, 6'3" guard. Andre Jackson Jr. could be an interesting addition to Washington's young core. And Kuzma might be movable a year from now, when he's on an expiring contract.
