1 Trade Every NBA Team Would Make If the Deadline Was Today
NBA teams typically need at least one quarter of a new campaign to start with the kind of self-assessments that could steer them toward the trade market.
We're not obliged to follow that schedule, though.
Between the preseason assumptions we carried into the 2025-26 season and the way they've been strengthened (or reshaped) by roughly 10 games of action, we've seen enough to not only conduct those evaluations, but also use them to broker hypothetical trades.
From teams pushing all-in to others embarking down the long road of rebuilding and everything in between, we're finding a trade for every team in the Association.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
The trade: Asa Newell to the Miami Heat for Kasparas Jakučionis
If Atlanta's offense ever clicks—and based on the look of the roster, you'd think that's more of a when type of deal—this club might have enough to capitalize on an injury-riddled Eastern Conference. Major moves shouldn't be needed in other words, but effectively backing up Trae Young remains an ongoing challenge.
This trade, which almost functions like a draft do-over (Jakučionis was the 20th pick, while Newell went 23rd), could do the trick.
While Jakučionis' NBA debut has been delayed by a groin strain, his shot-creation and scoring punch should be the kind of skills that would allow him to play both behind and alongside Young. Effectively, he could scratch more itches for this club than Newell, who's struggled to carve his niche within Atlanta's frontcourt congestion.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
The trade: Anfernee Simons and a 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected) to the Brooklyn Nets for Nic Claxton
The Celtics are clearly (and predictably) feeling the effects of their financially driven summer subtractions, but there's a reason they stopped short of a full-scale fire sale. At some point late this season or next, they'll get Jayson Tatum back from his torn Achilles and have a real shot to rejoin the East's elites as soon as that happens.
It could make sense, then, to address their interior deficiencies before that happens. Because as good as the Tatum-Jaylen Brown-Derrick White trio is, even it can't overcome such an underwhelming group of centers.
Claxton could immediately address that problem. His above-the-rim finishing and underrated playmaking would be assets in this offense, and his ability to both protect the paint and survive perimeter switches could help transform the Celtics back into being the proverbial immovable object.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
The trade: Nic Claxton to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected)
The Nets, who are as future-focused as anyone, should have two clear directives for this season: developing their young talent and converting their established players into roster-building assets.
This deal might accomplish a little of both—assuming they see the 26-year-old Simons as being young enough to keep around. Maybe the prospect of paying him next summer is more attractive than ironing out a new deal with Cam Thomas, who's only two years younger.
In all honesty, though, Simons would be either an added bonus or merely salary-filler to fetch the real prize: that incoming first-round pick. Even if it lands later in the round, the Nets need as many throws at the draft dart board as they can get.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
The trade: Miles Bridges to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kyle Kuzma and a 2032 first-round pick swap (top-three protected)
Things are off to a brutal start in Buzz City. They just aren't turbulent enough for the Hornets to yet consider moving on from franchise centerpiece LaMelo Ball. As one Western Conference scout told ESPN's Tim Bontemps, other teams might consider taking a flier on Ball, "but Charlotte isn't taking a flier price for him."
The Hornets don't have many other movable players, but maybe a desperate suitor could see value in Bridges, who has leveled-up as a three-point shooter (3.2 makes per night with a 38.1 percent splash rate) while posting career-highs in points (22) and assists (4.0).
If those numbers pique the interest of a Milwaukee team perpetually attempting to appease Giannis Antetokounmpo and his wandering eye, Charlotte should pounce. A lightly-protected future first-round swap from a franchise with that much long-term uncertainty could be incredibly valuable. And who knows, maybe getting back into a lower-stakes situation could up Kuzma's production to the point that a different desperate suitor winds up seeking him out down the line.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
The trade: Nikola Vučević to the Dallas Mavericks for Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy, a 2030 second-round pick (via PHI) and a 2032 second-round pick
Chicago's 5-0 start was fun, but the foundation has always felt flimsy. The Bulls have gone a forgettable 1-4 since, and their plus-0.6 net rating (18th overall) suggests this group is doing little beyond logging more mileage on the treadmill of mediocrity.
That's all a long-winded way of saying that if there's an opportunity to convert Vučević into assets, the Bulls should take it.
His market value won't measure up to his numbers, since he's 35 with defined limitations on defense, but maybe Dallas comes calling due to its glaring deficiencies on offense. If that happens, Chicago could finally land the kind of rim-running center who'd better fit its young talent (Gafford, who actually spent his first season-plus in the Windy City) while also adding a couple of future seconds and an ignitable 23-year-old scorer in Hardy.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
The trade: Darius Garland to the Orlando Magic for Franz Wagner
Admittedly, a Garland blockbuster is almost certainly more dramatic than anything Cleveland is considering. That said, a marginal move wouldn't change much for the Cavaliers, so if they're forced to make a move—as this exercise demands—why not go for broke with the ultimate challenge trade?
Garland is a really good player, but is he the ideal backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell? It's an uber-talented twosome, sure, but there's a lot of overlaps in both their strengths and their weaknesses.
So, maybe Cleveland would instead pivot to Wagner, a 6'10" swingman who checks a slew of boxes on both ends of the court. His shooting would have to sustain to fit the same frontcourt as Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, but Wagner is off to a promising start on that front, canning 17 of his 46 long-range looks (37 percent) so far.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
The trade: Anthony Davis to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, a 2026 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick (via MIL) and a 2031 second-round pick (DAL own)
With embattled general manager Nico Harrison out, the Mavericks just became the must-watch team of trade season. If nothing else, Dallas' next lead executive should be less inclined to try proving last season's Luka Dončić deal wasn't a total disaster and instead focused on brightening the future around No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
This would be a swift about-face, obviously, but sunk costs are called that for a reason. The Mavericks can't reverse that massive misfire, but they can start taking steps toward anything other than this putrid present.
Davis, at least, still has some marketability, although his ongoing availability issues clearly cut into that. Still, if a team like Detroit views him as the missing piece, the Mavs could collect a decent number of assets. The draft picks would be the obvious draw, but Ivey, when healthy, could give some overdue attention to the point guard spot, while Stewart—and other Dallas veterans—would have suitors if (should be when) the Mavs circle back to the market in search of more picks and young players.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
The trade: Zeke Nnaji, DaRon Holmes II and a 2030 first-round pick swap (top-three protected) to the Boston Celtics for Sam Hauser
Last season, the Nuggets had quality in their perimeter shooting but lacked quantity. Now, they're missing both. Maybe that won't be the case forever—Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun and Julian Strawther are all atypically frigid—but it's a pressing enough concern at the moment to think Denver would consider addressing it.
Having another designated marksman like Hauser would at least offer some insurance. He's also having some uncharacteristic early struggles (36.6 percent), but four consecutive campaigns with a 40-plus percent conversion rate strongly hints that he'll snap out of this soon.
And if he did that in Denver, he'd be another player capable of pulling attention away from the unstoppable force that is the Nikola Jokić-Jamal Murray two-man game. Anything that accentuates a team's greatest strength is hugely helpful to have, and the cost here feels entirely reasonable since Nnaji and Holmes are both struggling to crack the nightly rotation.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
The trade: Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II and a 2029 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen
If the Pistons believe they're in the final stages of organically growing a contender, then this is too dramatic to consider. That could be an extremely optimistic read on the situation, though, since they're still lacking in creation outside of Cade Cunningham, and it's holding back their 15th-ranked offense.
It could take one more aggressive move, then, to get them over the proverbial hump, and maybe that's being the win-now shopper who successfully pries Markkanen out of Salt Lake City.
The 7-footer is both a fully self-sufficient scorer and someone with the shooting chops needed to serve in a co-starring capacity. Opponents who are currently throwing all kitchen fixtures at Cunningham would see that option immediately taken off the table, as there'd be obvious (and enormous) risk in leaving alone a former All-Star who is averaging a career-high 27.6 points and owns a career 37.1 three-point percentage.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
The trade: Trayce Jackson-Davis and a 2030 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Justin Champagnie
Should this be a Jonathan Kuminga trade idea instead? There's definitely an argument for that, especially with his shot going cold and his assists slowing down of late. Still, unless the Warriors are dead-set on finding a cleaner system fit, it's hard to imagine his trade value would bring back something more beneficial than the form he flashed early in the season.
So, Golden State could instead reserve judgment on Kuminga and try adding another three-and-D forward to the mix. To be frank, that's a label that Champagnie hasn't fully earned just yet, but he might fit in a more stable environment.
The Warriors, when healthy, aren't finding much floor time for Jackson-Davis, so if they could turn their fourth center and a future second-round pick into a potential rotation player, that would almost certainly be a win.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
The trade: Tari Eason to the Philadelphia 76ers for Jared McCain
The Rockets are another team that doesn't need to make a deal, but every time their offense sputters even a bit—which, admittedly, isn't often—folks will keep wondering whether they might have to make a move to address Fred VanVleet's absence.
Houston fans might say Eason is too valuable to give up in such an exchange, and that viewpoint has its merits. That said, his upcoming restricted free agency could prove a massive headache. He's eyeing a big payday, and he might be a little miffed that his wish for an expanded role has gone ungranted: he's averaging the same minutes and fewer shots with a lower usage rate than last season.
If the Rockets want to sidestep those negotiations and address that backcourt vacancy, this trade could zip a stone through both birds. McCain has had trouble staying healthy (25 games played this season and last), but when he's on the floor, he's an electric offensive talent. As a rookie, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 three-pointers per 36 minutes while posting a 46/38.3/87.5 shooting slash.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
The trade: Jarace Walker to the New Orleans Pelicans for Yves Missi
Between Tyrese Haliburton's season-long absence (Achilles) and Indiana's injury report nearing a novel's length, the Pacers could already be chalking this up as a lost campaign. And if they are, they might see this as the perfect opportunity to finally try developing Walker, who's found minutes hard to come by since arriving as the No. 8 pick of the 2023 draft.
Then again, his early (expanded) run this season has proved mostly disastrous. And maybe Indy remains unconvinced that he'll be able to help when Haliburton is once again piloting this team next season.
If the Pacers are weary about Walker being a keeper, they could try flipping him for Missi, since their center rotation might be the worst in basketball. There may not be many branches jutting out of Missi's skill tree, but an active, bouncy rim-runner could be plenty productive when paired with a playmaker of Haliburton's caliber.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
The trade: John Collins and a 2030 first-round pick (top-10 protected) to the Sacramento Kings for DeMar DeRozan
There's surely a joke to be made here about having the Clippers get even older and less dynamic athletically. Still, if L.A. was worried about having too many 30-somethings on the roster, then why did it spend all offseason bringing in the likes of Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal and Chris Paul?
The Clippers clearly have a finite window to win with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, so they wouldn't mind the lack of longevity with a 36-year-old DeRozan. What they would appreciate, though, is his ability to still consistently get buckets.
And in slower-paced playoff games, an offense featuring Leonard, Harden, DeRozan, Beal and Ivica Zubac should be hard to handle. That top-10 protection would be vital to have on the pick, though, because L.A.'s vets could all be long gone by then.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
The trade: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and a 2031 first-round pick (top-four protected) to the Dallas Mavericks for Daniel Gafford
The vibes feel pretty great in Laker Land so far, but some numbers suggest this squad might be playing above its heads. After all, it's hard to buy into a championship ending for a team ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency. And it's borderline impossible to imagine L.A.'s center search has concluded when Deandre Ayton has a wholly abysmal minus-14.4 net differential.
The Lakers should remain on the lookout for upgrades. Or rather, they should be tightening their focus on Gafford, whom they've reportedly had "strong interest in...dating back to last season," per ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel.
Gafford, whose lob-finishing and interior activity are exactly what L.A. needs in the middle, has already embarked on one NBA Finals journey with Luka Dončić (on the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks). Reunite that pair on a roster that also features LeBron James and an ascending Austin Reaves, and you may have just paved the Purple and Gold's path to the championship round.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
The trade: Ja Morant to the Sacramento Kings for Malik Monk, Dennis Schröder, Devin Carter, a 2026 first-round pick (top-three protected) and a 2030 first-round pick swap
While a Morant megatrade hardly feels inevitable, you wonder whether that'd be the case if his trade market was in better shape. His numbers are down, he's already been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team and hearing him say he's not feeling the "joy" of playing basketball gave this situation a sequel feel to Jimmy Butler's messy split from Miami last season.
Now, throw in the fact the Grizzlies aren't guaranteed so much as a play-in spot in the fully loaded West, and you start to think that a breakup would be best for everyone involved. Especially when Memphis already started shifting its focus forward with the Desmond Bane blockbuster this offseason.
This trade return won't wow the Grizzlies faithful, but it might be a reflection of Morant's value around the league. A lightly protected first-rounder from a non-lock for the playoffs is still a good asset, and the unprotected future swap might be even better. Monk and Schröder would probably just be placeholders in Memphis, but maybe the Grizzlies would have better developmental luck with Carter, the 13th pick in last year's draft.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
The trade: Tyler Herro and Simone Fontecchio to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant
The Heat feel like one of the more logical Morant suitors in the league. Team president Pat Riley is forever searching for a star, particularly if that player could be had for less than full price. Plus, Miami has lacked a high-end perimeter playmaker for years.
That said, the Heat would be a bit of a strange suitor for Morant for one specific reason: The principles of the offensive changes fueling their strong start are the very ones Morant seemed to dislike in Memphis last season. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra even consulted with the architect of that offense, Noah LaRoche, when designing this one.
Still, the Heat can never be ruled out in a star pursuit, and maybe they'd run more pick-and-rolls if they had an on-ball talent like Morant. That Riley could conceivably get this done at the expense of only Herro (who hasn't played yet this season and wasn't offered an extension this summer) and a rotational role player feels right up his alley.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
The trade: Kyle Kuzma, Andre Jackson Jr. and a 2031 first-round pick swap (top-two protected) to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant
The Bucks will carry a limited budget into trade season, as they've exhausted much of their asset collection in an attempt to construct a contending-caliber roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Don't expect that to have them deviating from the strategy, though.
With Antetokounmpo still holding his own in the best-player-on-the-planet debates, Milwaukee should keep pushing in chips for even marginal upgrades. Grant might not be a difference-maker, but he feels at least a half-step ahead of Kuzma as a scoring threat, distance shooter and versatile defender.
At some point, the Bucks will pay the price for sacrificing all of these assets, and things will get grim in a hurry. And yet, it will all be worth it if this effort is enough to keep Antetokounmpo satisfied with his current digs.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
The trade: Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham and a 2029 second-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant
While the Timberwolves have made the Western Conference finals each of the past two seasons, both of those ventures ended the same way: with a 4-1 defeat. They feel as close to a breakthrough as ever with Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels both off to sizzling starts, but if they don't solve their point-guard problem, they could end up suffering a similar fate.
And this doesn't need to be explained to Minnesota, as it already has eyes on Morant. While not quite a picture-perfect backcourt partner for Anthony Edwards, filling a problem position with an established star is almost always something worth pursuing.
The downhill pressure presented by an Edwards-Morant backcourt would be incredible, and Edwards' growth as an outside shooter would ease some of the fit concerns. The Wolves would sacrifice depth here, but they'd also land a marquee talent without giving up a first-round pick or a top-four player on their roster.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
The Trade: Yves Missi to the Indiana Pacers for Jarace Walker, a 2027 second-round pick (via UTA) and a 2028 second-round pick (via DAL)
Eagle-eyed readers might notice this Missi-for-Walker pitch is a bit richer here than it was on the Pacers' slide. That's because if I'm New Orleans, I'm looking to leverage Indiana's interior challenges against it in hopes of the team sweetening the pot with a couple of second-round picks added to the offer.
There's a couple reasons for that. One, Walker has not looked good this season, and while there's obviously time to turn that around, it's still worth reflecting in the trade price. Two, the Pelicans might have a lot of problems, but depth at forward really isn't one of them.
They should still take the flier on Walker, who has both enviable physical tools and high-level flashes. Plus, the fact they keep bringing in centers suggests they're maybe less than enamored with Missi or could at least manage to get by without him.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
The trade: Guerschon Yabusele, Pacôme Dadiet, Tyler Kolek and a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected) to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ty Jerome
New Knicks coach Mike Brown has done what it can to lighten the workload carried by the starters, which had perhaps reached an untenable amount under previous skipper Tom Thibodeau. That said, the New York's second-teamers aren't exactly capitalizing on their expanded workloads.
Things still spiral whenever the 'Bockers turn to their bench. Among rotation regulars, Miles McBride is the only non-starter with a net differential better than minus-7.1.
Having a reliable leader for the reserve unit could do wonders for this club, and maybe Jerome can fill that void. A calf strain has delayed his start to the season, but last year, he was a Sixth Man of the Year finalist while averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists to go along with a 51.6/43.9/87.2 shooting slash. And while the Grizzlies just signed him this offseason, maybe they'll feel this season is already broken beyond repair when he becomes trade-eligible on Dec. 15.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
The trade: Nikola Topić and Kenrich Williams to the Phoenix Suns for Grayson Allen and a 2027 first-round pick (via UTA, CLE or MIN)
Identifying trade needs is tough for the Thunder. Even wants are hard to find. They're the defending champs, after all, and they might be even better this season than last. They've managed a ridiculous plus-13.5 net rating so far, and that's without getting a second out of All-Star swingman Jalen Williams, who's still recovering from wrist surgery.
Oklahoma City can justifiably sit out trade season, but if it doesn't, maybe it will look to address its shooting struggles. The Thunder are a better shooting team than they've shown, but when they looked vulnerable during this past postseason, it was usually because their shots fell flat.
It might be worth a phone call, then, to see what it would take to land Allen and his career 41.6 percent conversion rate. If the Suns see Topić, who's being treated for testicular cancer, as their floor general of the future, maybe they'd be willing to fork over both Allen and a first-round pick to get him.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
The trade: Jonathan Isaac, Jett Howard, a 2026 second-round pick (via ORL, DET or MIL) and a 2028 second-round pick (via LAL or WAS) to the Sacramento Kings for Malik Monk
Orlando spent heavily this offseason on offensive improvements. There's clearly more work to be done. The Magic rank just 19th in offensive efficiency and remain bottom-third in both three-point makes and percentage.
While they can't really afford another big splurge, a discounted deal for Monk might work. He's streaky and overpaid a bit, but he could get hot enough to tilt a playoff outcome or two.
Assuming there isn't just something in the Orlando water behind all of this brick-laying—Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones can't shoot now?—Monk could help open things up for this oft-congested offense.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
The trade: Jared McCain to the Houston Rockets for Tari Eason
The Sixers have seemingly already formed a top-shelf backcourt combo with Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, and, on a per-minute basis, Joel Embiid still has centerpiece talent. Things get a little wobbly at the forward spot, though, which could steer Philly toward testing Houston's resolve on keeping Eason.
If the Rockets aren't fully prepared to pay the versatile forward next summer, maybe there's a deal to be made.
The Sixers have stumbled onto a pleasant surprise in Trendon Watford, but Eason is basically the turbo-charged version of what Philly hopes Watford could become. Plus, Eason, who's a year younger than Watford, still has ample room for growth as a fourth-year player with only 170 NBA games under his belt.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
The trade: Nick Richards and a 2027 first-round pick (via UTA, CLE or MIN) to the New Orleans Pelicans for Jose Alvarado
The Suns can't possibly plan to be point guard-less for the foreseeable future, can they? Devin Booker is giving everything he has, but pulling double-duty as a team's top scorer and table-setter takes a toll. Phoenix has predictably run into turnover trouble (fifth-most) and generated the fewest shots at the rim.
The Suns have to address this position sooner than later, but whenever that happens, they'll want someone who can fill the spot without taking too many touches away from Booker. Alvarado, a high-energy, low-maintenance, two-way playmaker could do the trick.
New Orleans needs assets in the worst kind of way, and moving Alvarado could help fetch a few, particularly if he can sustain his improvement as a deep threat (career-high 46.7 percent). While the Pels clearly don't have a need at center, they might still view Richards as more stable than their current options or see him as someone they could flip for additional draft considerations.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
The trade: Jerami Grant, Scoot Henderson, Kris Murray, a 2028 first-round pick (via ORL) and a 2031 first-round pick (top-10 protected) to the Utah Jazz for Lauri Markkanen
Could last season's frisky finish and this season's solid start convince the Trail Blazers to add more win-now talent? If they found a player they could keep around a while, it might.
Markkanen could either assume focal-point duties in Portland or form a 1A-1B partnership with Most Improved Player candidate Deni Avdija.
Between those two, Toumani Camara, Jrue Holiday and Donovan Clingan, Portland would be ferocious on defense. Widen the lens a bit to account for Damian Lillard's eventual return and more developmental seasoning for Yang Hansen, and you might have the recipe for top-10 efficiency ranks on both ends.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
The trade: Malik Monk, Dennis Schröder, Devin Carter, a 2026 first-round pick (top-three protected) and a 2030 first-round pick swap to the Sacramento Kings for Ja Morant
Unless Sacramento senses a big turnaround sits just on the horizon, the best deadline deal might be one that ships out veteran talent for draft picks and prospects. With the Kings continuing to pursue win-now attempts, though, that probably isn't what they're thinking.
Rather, they might still be trying to figure out the problems at point guard created by past subtractions of Tyrese Haliburton and De'Aaron Fox. Because for all of the raw numbers they're getting out of Russell Westbrook, he isn't changing their fate—they've been pretty awful both with (minus-6.8 net rating) and without him (minus-10.3).
Sacramento seems the most desperate of all of Morant's potential suitors. This roster needs to get younger and more dynamic, and it has to come out ahead on an upside swing to change its fortune. Maybe that's asking too much of the two-time All-Star, but at 26 years old, it's at least feasible that his best basketball is still in front of him.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
The trade: Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, a 2027 first-round pick (via ATL), a 2030 first-round pick (via SAS, DAL or MIN) and a 2032 first-round pick to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Let's get freaky! While the Spurs might be sensing their young roster is coming together, they could also just be reaping the rewards of having an All-Galaxy megastar like Victor Wembanyama. That's not to say his supporting cast is necessarily lacking, but it's obvious no one else on the roster is remotely close to his orbit.
To be fair, few players in the league even are at this point. But since San Antonio could potentially afford one that is, why not go for broke and build the most physically imposing frontcourt powering that this league has ever seen? Because the Spurs can afford that. Heck, they could do deeper into their pick collection or put even better prospects on the table if they had to without totally depleting what they've built.
A Wembanyama-Antetokounmpo pairing would be impossibly long, unfairly agile and absurdly skilled. Beyond that, their games should complement one another. Collectively, they could silence opposing scorers of nearly all sizes and play styles, and on offense, Wemby's shooting and Antetokounmpo's relentless rim attacks would buy the other all the breathing room they needed. This would be a can't-miss combo, and one with a legitimate chance to rule the basketball world for the next half-decade-plus.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The trade: RJ Barrett, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji and a 2028 first-round pick (top-five protected) to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant
The Raptors have shown they have what it takes to form a rock-solid roster. But in a league where teams hope to be anywhere but the middle, can this core ever rise above being pretty OK? Their key contributors are either in the heart of their primes or right on the cusp of them, and they're all locked into pricey, long-term pacts.
Toronto, then, should be ready and willing to explore all possibilities of acquiring a star. Even if that player is, like Morant, a star more by name recognition than actual production and not in a hand-in-glove fit for this roster.
If the Raptors think a change of scenery could help Morant rediscover his elite form, they could benefit from his downhill attacking and playmaking. There might be some risk of sending out Barrett, a Toronto native, just as he could be coming into his own, but given his track record, it might be more risky to miss out on the chance to sell high here.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
The trade: Lauri Markkanen to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Ron Holland II and a 2029 first-round pick
If the Jazz weren't already fully focused on the 2026 draft, you'd have to think Walker Kessler's season-ending shoulder surgery ensured the tank is on in Utah.
And that, in turn, should push two priorities to the forefront: developing the young talent on-hand and converting Markkanen into long-term assets. Even if he's not pushing to leave, Utah should be plotting his exit, because he's such a bad timeline fit for the rest of this team.
While it's possible the Jazz could find richer offers, this feels about as good as it can get for a 28-year-old with one All-Star selection on his resume and $195.9 million coming his way between now and the 2028-29 season. Holland has a skyscraping ceiling, Ivey has the rest of the season to show if he's worth keeping and an unprotected first is always valuable, even if it's coming from a team with a future as encouraging as Detroit's appears.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
The trade: CJ McCollum, Bub Carrington, Cam Whitmore, a 2029 first-round pick (via POR, BOS or MIL), a 2030 first-round pick (via WAS or PHO), a 2026 second-round pick (via PHO) and a 2027 second-round pick (via BRK or DAL) to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball
The Wizards have rightfully stockpiled prospects at every opportunity of late, but have they managed to reel in a future star? That'd be an optimistic take, and that's coming from someone who likes a lot of their young talent.
If they've found a number of solid-to-good prospects, that's a good thing. It's just not good enough to win in this league. Stars dominate the NBA, and while Ball has his warts, his upside is unlike anything in Washington's collection.
Plus, the Wizards have built up the kind of draft-pick and prospect capital that would allow them to splurge on a star without decimating either collection. And if they ever figured out the key to keeping Ball on the floor, they might have the offensive leader and gravitational force needed to elevate this roster and maximize all the young talent they've assembled.
Statistics used courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com and current through games played on Monday, Nov. 10.
