Every NBA Team's Top 3 Trade Targets Right Now
Anthony Davis and Trae Young are teammates...on the Washington Wizards...who play in the same conference as the James Harden-led Cleveland Cavaliers. Frankly, that says all you need to know about the bedlam raining down upon NBA trade deadline week.
Naturally, we feel the need to incite more, with a thoroughly spruced up big board of last-minute targets for every team.
These have been refreshed to account for all trades completed by end-of-day Wednesday. So, if you've already scrolled through this before, well, it's time to do it again.
Rankings within the trios will be determined by team needs and potential player impacts. The top spot will almost always be dedicated to the most ambitious possibility, and these lists are assembled while taking into account franchise directions, cap situations and movable assets at their disposal.
Atlanta Hawks
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So, uh, yeah. The Atlanta Hawks need another big after trading Kristaps Porziņģis. It wouldn't kill them to nab another floor general, either.
Healthy Ivica Zubac does most of what the Hawks need. He can play beside either Jalen Johnson or Onyeka Okongwu and is on the books for roughly one-third of what Anthony Davis, a former Atlanta target, earns.
Robert Williams III will be more the Hawks' speed if they're not looking to unbottle any serious assets. He retains his vertical gravity and defensive mobility and disruption if he's healthy. While that's a gargantuan if, he's worth prioritizing if they can convince the Portland Trail Blazers to take on Buddy Hield, Luke Kennard or even Corey Kispert in a straight-up swap.
We interrupt this big-man talk to bring you Tre Jones. He's a solid game-manager with a speckling of crafty inside-the-arc snaking to his game. Best of all, with the Chicago Bulls now drowning in guards, he shouldn't cost the Hawks much to get.
Boston Celtics
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Getting another big man no longer tops the Boston Celtics' to-do list following the acquisition of Nikola Vučević. Skirting the tax line is the new No. 1 priority.
Boston is now within $6 million of dipping beneath the luxury-tax threshold. It can wait until draft night to finish the cost-cutting, but there's merit to getting it out of the way, particularly if team president Brad Stevens can do so without incurring a talent drain.
Rerouting Vooch for a cheaper big is one way to accomplish the job, but flipping Sam Hauser feels more likely.
Calling up the new-and-improved Utah Jazz and inquiring about Svi Mykhailiuk or Brice Sensabaugh is the easy way to go. They still have the flexibility to take in Hauser's money and send out one of their two cost-controlled players. Mykhailiuk's size makes him more attractive, but Sensabaugh is tantalizing for a squad that just jettisoned Anfernee Simons.
Failing that, the Washington Wizards have one of the most under-the-radar three-and-D wings in Justin Champagnie. His offense is up-and-down, but he's someone who can knock down wide-open jumpers while handling far more on defense than Hauser (or Simons).
Brooklyn Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets should be in full-on second-draft mode as they continue their pursuit of top-four lottery odds. With unparalleled flexibility ahead of the deadline, they are perfectly positioned to swoop in and get compensated for helping to complete other deals.
Ron Holland II is wildly ambitious. His offensive range in the half-court is currently limited, but he plays with oomph on drives and in transition and remains an intuitive ball-mover. The energy he brings on defense, meanwhile, is infectious.
With two years left on his rookie-scale deal, Holland isn't someone the Detroit Pistons give up for just anyone. Fortunately for the Nets, Michael Porter Jr. proving to be someone—and is a great fit for the first-place Pistons.
Jeremy Sochan would be an interesting get for a team with Noah Clowney and (for now) Nicolas Claxton up front. The defensive partnership with Claxton could be wild, and Brooklyn can mimic some of the San Antonio Spurs' Sochan-at-the-5 looks with Clowney spacing around him. Landing the 22-year-old should take nada. He's already been given permission to seek out a new home.
Freshly minted Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey would vault up the big board if he wasn't headed for RFA. Brooklyn has the stomach to give him more lead ball-handler reps, and his (limited) partnership with Cade Cunningham has at times suggested he can play off other creators.
Plus, the Nets already do a good job diversifying who works on-ball inside the offense. (See: The development of Egor Dёmin.) Whether the Bulls want to move him remains to be seen. But they do have a trillion guards, so...
Charlotte Hornets
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Despite the Charlotte Hornets' crop of centers exceeding expectations, they should remain in the market for frontcourt help. With that said, the ascent of Moussa Diabaté and playability of Ryan Kalkbrenner allow them to focus more on the 4 or a combo 4-5. And recent play from Tidjane Salaün might even have them leaning combo wing.
Oh, hello, Herb Jones.
Charlotte isn't conventionally good enough to throw first-round picks on the table for, well, anyone. Jones isn't just anyone. He is under contract through 2029-30 (player option) and would give the Hornets, who are already improving defensively, their first legitimately terrifying disruptor.
With a couple of 2027 picks to spare, Charlotte should be open to a package built around Pat Connaughton, one first and seconds if the New Orleans Pelicans drop their asking price. Failing that, distressed-prospect swings and buy-low impact players should remain the Hornets' bread and butter.
Naji Marshall would shrink some of Charlotte's spacing. The defensive malleability he promises on the perimeter is worth it. Ditto for his driving. He's already shooting 60-plus percent on downhill attacks for the year while playing in a Dallas Mavericks offense that doesn't provide much breathing room. Getting to work in tandem alongside Kon Knueppel, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller would further open up his driving game.
GG Jackson II is (almost) a pure mystery-box play. He has the physical tools to be everything Charlotte needs at the 3 and 4 spots if he can ever put any of it, at all, together.
Chicago Bulls
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It seems the Chicago Bulls are maybe, possibly, potentially, thinking about the bigger picture. A team desperate to fortify its place in the middle doesn't take on money in three separate deals for draft picks and second-draft candidates (Jaden Ivey).
This big board reflects a version of Chicago thinking beyond this season—in addition to its depth chart having way too many guards and not enough wings or centers.
Peyton Watson has likely played his way off of trade speculation during his latest stretch without Nikola Jokić. He has flashed more ball-handling and playmaking than ever. People are already wondering if he's more important to the team than Christian Braun.
Yet, with these flashes, comes a higher price tag. People around the league are already wondering whether the Denver Nuggets have pockets deep enough to pay Watson. It can't hurt Chicago to see if getting rid of Zeke Nnaji and acquiring someone like Ayo Dosunmu or Jalen Smith piques curiosity in the Mile High.
Dereck Lively II is out for the rest of the season following right foot surgery and has an encyclopedic list of injury concerns. If they're thinking rationally, the Bulls don't have to concern themselves with this year. Lively can be someone they evaluate against the future next season, ahead of restricted free agency. Perhaps the Dallas Mavericks consider offers built around shedding long-term payroll.
Justin Edwards is just 22 and has seen the scope and scale of his role dip with the Philadelphia 76ers. This bodes well for the Bulls. Edwards' offensive efficiency has fallen off a cliff, but he is plug-and-play and showed last season he could down threes at a reasonable clip.
Even if he remains an offensive wild card, he can ferry a pretty extensive defensive workload on the perimeter, making him a bargain at $2 million this year, $2.4 million next season and $2.6 million in 2027-28 (team option). With Philly inside $2 million of ducking the tax, he might also be someone it gives away for free.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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The Cleveland Cavaliers' biggest issue doesn't change after shipping out De'Andre Hunter in a three-team deal for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder. Or on the heels of the Darius Garland-for-James Harden trade that really, actually happened. Or after cutting costs further by moving Lonzo Ball. If anything, the need for frontcourt help is only amplified.
As the only team inside the second apron, the Cleveland Cavaliers can neither take back more money than they receive nor aggregate salaries. They do, however, have the ability to trade a 2031 or 2032 first-round pick and up to two swaps. They also have a handful of mid-end salaries that can open worthwhile one-for-one possibilities.
The Memphis Grizzlies burning it all down doesn't mean Jaylen Wells is available. He is young and cheap enough for them to keep. He's also not future-star material, so it'd be a reach to say he's untouchable. If the Cavs put a first or maybe a swap on the table, who knows what could happen? (Aside: I apologize for including Jaylon Tyson's name in a previous Wells-to-Cleveland hypothetical while he was schlepping through a shooting slump. The dude can ball, and I regret my error.)
Herb Jones would be a dream addition for those moments when the Cavs nudge Evan Mobley to the 5. Spacing could be tight inside lineups featuring all three, but the defense would be divine. Mobley's spot-up range and Jones' understated live-dribble decision-making can offset most offensive wrinkles.
Kenrich Williams' defensive malleability would serve Cleveland well in minutes with Mobley at the 5. He can even play center himself. If his threes are falling, the Cavs could consider using him alongside both Mobley and Allen, too.
Dallas Mavericks
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- Its own 2027 first-round pick
- Its own 2028 first-round pick
- Scotty Pippen Jr.
Anthony Davis has left the building, and after failing to acquire a single first-rounder that will convey before pick No. 21 as part of his exit, the Dallas Mavericks should be even more interested in re-acquiring their own draft equity.
Not having control over their own first-rounders in 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2030 kinda sucks. The Charlotte Hornets own their 2027 selection (top-two protection) while the Oklahoma City Thunder have swap rights on their 2028 first. Nothing and no one (except for Flagg) should be off the table in those hypothetical negotiations. Dallas' firsts are more valuable to them than anyone else in the league.
After that, scoping out the ball-handler market for a buy-low proposition who can help run the offense beyond this season is the way to go.
Scotty Pippen Jr. has proven to be an excellent game manager and feisty defender whether starting or coming off the bench. A toe injury has sidelined him all year, but that fits the Mavs' timeline. And with the Grizzlies blowing their roster to kingdom come, he might actually be available.
Denver Nuggets
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Nikola Jokić's hyper-extended left knee has not exposed the Denver Nuggets as uncomfortably shallow. It's done just the opposite. Especially for people named Peyton Watson.
Guards and wings who can register as net positives at both ends of the floor nonetheless remain needs when measured against the playoff rotations. They're just a little less pressing.
Ayo Dosunmu is a lofty target if the Nuggets aren't shipping out any of their core guys. His finishing at the rim has slid, but he's knocking down the three-ball and capable of guarding up. Denver might as well add Jalen Smith to the wish list if it's calling the Chicago Bulls. He's basically the player Zeke Nnaji is supposed to be, as someone who can space the floor and provide an iota of resistance at the rim from the 4 or 5 spot.
The Nuggets can technically get both if the Bulls are willing to soak up the two years remaining on Nnaji's deal. Whether sweetening that package with a combination of DaRon Holmes II, Julian Strawther, a 2032 second and first-round swaps will be enough is a separate matter.
Justin Champagnie is a Nuggets fever dream, provided he's hitting his threes. He can defend across the 2, 3 and 4 spots and provides help activity around the basket. His uber-cheap contract instantly becomes near-essential to a team up against the second apron next summer.
Detroit Pistons
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Virtually nothing changed for the Detroit Pistons after moving Jaden Ivey for Dario Šarić and Kevin Huerter. Their biggest need remains the same: punching up the half-court offense. Yet, the method by which they can address it has changed.
Adding Huerter lets them treat Duncan Robinson as expendable. Combined with continued flexibility beneath the tax, they can package him with Caris LeVert to take back bigger money rather than unload the sneakily important Tobias Harris.
Opening up the floor in the half-court and alleviating some of Cade Cunningham's on-ball responsibilities are priorities Nos. 1 to 1,984,025. Trey Murphy III and Michael Porter Jr. would be ideal fits.
Porter gets the first-place nod because, while pricey, his contract only runs through next season. He shouldn't cost nearly as much draft or prospect equity as Murphy and currently ranks in the 92nd percentile of self-created shot-making efficiency, per BBall Index.
Murphy sticks at No. 2 because if you're going to mortgage your future draft stash, it's better to do it for someone who won't force you to move on from other core players as they get more expensive. He's earning an average of 16.5 percent of the salary cap through 2028-29.
What Andrew Wiggins doesn't offer in cost-effectiveness he makes up for in gettability. Landing him might require fewer assets than it'd take to get MPJ. Even if they're on par with each other, Wiggins is worth a look. He remains a solid positional defender, and while he's not the most efficient self-starter, he's shooting over 38 percent from three since 2020.
Golden State Warriors
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Trading away Jonathan Kuminga nukes scenarios in which the Golden State Warriors acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo without including Jimmy Butler. This could signal that the Dubs are out of the running for the two-time MVP.
On the flip side, landing a floor-spacing rim protector who's the perfect fit alongside Giannis such as Kristaps Porziņģis might also suggest Golden State is ready and willing to use Butler as the outgoing salary in any mega trade.
Regardless, Giannis should remain the Warriors' primary target until he's off the board.
Golden State is in a weird spot otherwise. It no longer has the incentive to go all-out for sub-All-NBA names, like Trey Murphy III, who will cost more than this year's first-rounder. It's now also hard to match money for names like Murphy, Michael Porter Jr. and Andrew Wiggins with Kuminga's money off the ledger unless Draymond Green is part of the deal.
Surfing the not-too-expensive three-and-D market should be the default now. Jaylen Wells and Tari Eason both qualify.
Wells is more appealing because he has one cost-controlled year left on his deal, and because the Memphis Grizzlies are blowing it up. But if the Houston Rockets want another big following Steven Adams' injury and are worried about paying Eason beyond this season, a package built around Al Horford and a first-rounder might be a good starting point.
Houston Rockets
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Losing Steven Adams for the rest of the season could prompt the Houston Rockets to prowl the market for a big man. They should resist the temptation. Consistently generating offense is starting to become a problem, and exploring ways to remedy that by emphasizing "grab our own misses" should do more for their playoff ceiling.
After hovering around the top five in first-chance efficiency for much of the year, Houston has dropped down to 13th. It's also 22nd in three-point efficiency since Dec. 1
Having Alperen Şengün, Kevin Durant and Reed Sheppard inoculates the Rockets against needing a bigger-time acquisition to truly contend. But it is clear now they need an infusion of shooting and, preferably, ball-handling.
Ryan Rollins is breaking out in a big way with the Milwaukee Bucks and in the first season of a three-year, $12 million deal (2027-28 player option) that looks like highway robbery. His defensive activity fits Houston's system, and he's no stranger to playing off the ball. He might have reached premier-asset territory, but it doesn't hurt to ask, particularly if Giannis Antetokounmpo ends up getting moved.
Payton Pritchard is another lethally efficient guard who doesn't need the ball in his hands. His three-point clip has dipped this year but is exploding since the turn of the calendar.
Cam Spencer plays with a mini-mean streak at both ends, in addition to drilling threes with gaga accuracy. Like Rollins, he's in the first season of a new contract–four years, $10.4 million—over which Houston should be drooling as the rest of its core gets more expensive.
Indiana Pacers
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- Ivica Zubac
- Yves Missi
- Dereck Lively II
Anything the Indiana Pacers do at the trade deadline should be geared toward planning around next year's rotation. And preferably, they'd scope out the market for big-man options.
Going after Ivica Zubac is somewhat counterintuitive. He will cost first-round equity. That's typically taboo territory for the league's worst team.
Indiana isn't your run-of-the-mill league-worst team, though. It will look to resume contention in earnest next season upon Tyrese Haliburton's return. If they can nab Zubac's rebounding, rim presence, understated footwork and overall physicality without coughing up their 2026 first, the front office would do well to strike.
Yves Missi isn't necessarily a building-block big, but he's more than a placeholder. He can run the floor, provide around league-average rim protection, adds an offensive-rebounding element the Pacers don't currently employ and should be able to improve his finishing around the basket inside this offense.
Dereck Lively II is officially back on the board for the Pacers. His season-ending right foot surgery isn't as concerning for Indy's timeline as his overall checkered health bill. If the Dallas Mavericks want multiple firsts for him, the conversation should end. But if they're scared silly by his injury history and open to buy-medium offers, the Pacers should be among the first in line to investigate.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Swapping James Harden for Darius Garland changes things for the Clippers. If he's ready to roll following his toe injury, it's business-as-it-was-before. If he's not on the verge of returning, the need for another ball-handler becomes more urgent.
Going after Anfernee Simons could be simpler now that he's on the Chicago Bulls. They have more flexibility than the Boston Celtics and roughly nine kajillion more guards.
A three-for-one swap that sends Brook Lopez and Bogdan Bogdanović to the Windy City, Bradley Beal's small salary to a third team and Simons to L.A. is right up the Clippers' alley. Whether they have the sweeteners necessary to coax a team into taking on Beal's 2026-27 player option is the primary question they'll need to answer.
Ayo Dosunmu would be a nice middle ground. Pivoting to Coby White doesn't make much sense with Garland on the docket. Dosunmu doesn't deliver as much on-ball creation or wiggle, but he can make live-dribble reads when going downhill. He'll probably cost less to re-sign in free agency than White, too.
Terrence Shannon Jr. isn't living up to expectations with the Minnesota Timberwolves amid a lingering left foot injury. And he definitely doesn't check the ball-handler box.
Fully healthy, though, he checks the "more oomph" box by providing a dab of shooting, downhill pop and feisty defense. With two years left on his rookie scale, he's exactly the type of flier who can make an immediate difference while keeping the Clippers' long-term plans intact.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Lofty offseason aspirations must factor into the Los Angeles Lakers' trade-deadline approach. Is it really worth targeting players who, at minimum, will cost the one first-round pick they can deal (2031 or 2032)?
Spray-paint me every shade of indecisive. I lean slightly toward yes, because Luka Dončić is Luka Dončić. Just don't be surprised if this list gets less ambitious the next time around.
Upgrading the defense remains the principal priority. The Lakers must be careful how they go about it. They have a roster teeming with one-way players. Any defense-first bodies they go after shouldn't be threats to undermine the scoring attack.
Herb Jones outfits this team with the type of stopper who can propel it to a deeper playoff push—and is the lone big-board member for whom you consider dealing a first-rounder. He's also a shaky spacer who will cost first-round goodies. He shouldn't torpedo the offense, but the Lakers aren't a high volume or particularly efficient three-point-shooting squad. They have to consider that variable.
A "very limited" wing market should have L.A. journeying off the beaten path. Dean Wade isn't going to land team president Rob Pelinka another extension, but when healthy, he's the exact type of two-way combo forward for which this roster is starved. Though the Cleveland Cavaliers don't profile as sellers, a wholly uninspiring season appears to have them chasing a smaller luxury-tax bill. (See: The De'Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball trades.)
Feel free to round out the board with another wing. Yet, even with Jaxson Hayes exceeding expectations, a higher-end big man behind Deandre Ayton is a need, too. Robert Williams III retains his vertical gravity along with his defensive mobility and disruption if he's healthy. This is a big if, but that uncertainty should permit L.A. to make a play for him without surrendering any serious draft equity.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Scrap whatever plans you had for the Memphis Grizzlies. Jaren Jackson Jr. is already gone. Ja Morant may not be far behind. This team has reset written all over it.
First-round picks and youngsters are their new trade-deadline currency. The issue? Much like Trae Young before him, Morant's trade value is in the gutter. Memphis needs a desperate suitor to emerge from the woodwork.
Never count the Kings out of doing anything irrational, not even when reports say otherwise.
We deviate ever so slightly from first-round pick territory with Murray-Boyles. That said, he basically counts as one. The Toronto Raptors just drafted him at No. 9 last June, and he's a defensive menace. The folks in charge up north seem more determined to get a big man, but they reportedly made a pitch for Trae Young.
Memphis should see whether that interest extends to Morant. If it does, chances are CMB won't be on the table. Does that change if the Grizzlies are willing to take on some bad money? It can't hurt to ask.
Henderson has yet to play this season, but that might render him gettable. Whether the Blazers have interest in Morant is a separate matter.
Deni Avdija is killing it, and Damian Lillard will be available next season. Perhaps Dame's brand of leadership is what Ja needs. Or maybe this is a three-team scenario that sends Morant to someone else. At any rate, a flier on Henderson makes a ton of sense if Ja is on his way out.
Miami Heat
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As a founding member of the "Hoping Giannis Antetokounmpo Requests Out" club, the Miami Heat need to base anything they do at the trade deadline around his availability. They can't come close to building the best package, but Kel'el Ware's ascent plus the prospect of asset-rich teams sitting out any midseason sweepstakes could work in their favor.
After that, the Heat should gravitate toward higher-profile players who fit their drive-without-screens modus operandi and don't bankrupt their asset stores or future flexibility.
Zion Williamson is perfect for Miami's offense, particularly if you trust Ware's and Bam Adebayo's ability to space beyond the arc. Between his checkered availability and a contract that protects his incumbent team from said checkered availability, the Heat might be able to swing a star-sized dice roll without forfeiting many assets or much flexibility.
Miami has diversified its offensive approach in recent weeks, but Bennedict Mathurin's leanings jibe with its underlying no-screen philosophy. He is an iffier fit relative to the speed at which they play.
The 23-year-old is nevertheless healthy again and back to getting buckets for an Indiana Pacers squad that still likes to run, and a change-of-pace weapon will come in handy during the postseason. Landing him will cost Miami…something. But Mathurin's market value shouldn't be astronomical when he's headed for restricted free agency.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Following the latest trade request that we're not allowed to call a trade request, we can now put the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo era to bed. His exit is no longer a matter of if. It's instead an issue of when: before Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. EST or over the offseason.
Regaining ownership over as many of their first-rounders as possible should be the Bucks' top priority. They don't control the rights of their pick again until 2031. Flat-out selections and swaps are controlled by the Atlanta Hawks (2026), New Orleans Pelicans (2027), Portland Trail Blazers (2028, 2029, 2030) and Washington Wizards (2028), to whom the Bucks horcruxed their swap with New Orleans in 2028.
Reacquiring enough of their own firsts mandates truly complicated frameworks. If it proves to be an impossible mission, they should pivot to shooting for the stars with cornerstone prospects.
Dylan Harper would be the ultimate guiding light. He profiles as the engine of an entire offense and has another three years left on his rookie scale. Amen Thompson is approaching extension eligibility but plays with an air of undeniability at both ends of the floor.
Granted, the Bucks need the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, respectively, to be pursuing Giannis for this to work. Even then, both Harper and Thompson could be off limits. That's fine. Milwaukee can move on to the next best options (Stephon Castle, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Şengün, etc.) if that's the case.
Or it can wait until the summer, in hopes one of its primary targets will shake loose after a disappointing playoff run.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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Posting a top-seven offense and defense since Thanksgiving should not trick the Minnesota Timberwolves into thinking everything is hunky-dory. They need another ball-handler more than ever after moving Mike Conley. Trusting any combination of Bones Hyland, Jaylen Clark and Rob Dillingham is laden with downside.
I suppose someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo would qualify. While the Timberwolves do not have any first-round picks to trade, their pursuit of the two-time MVP has reportedly been more aggressive than anyone else's push. Blowing up your roster and its depth midseason is beyond risky. But, like, it's Giannis.
Ayo Dosunmu works as a contingency if the Wolves can't actualize the Antetokounmpo fantasy. He doesn't have the same on-ball wiggle as Dillingham or Hyland, but he provides more of a scoring and playmaking punch than Clark, with better defensive range than any of Minnesota's point men.
Cam Spencer is probably someone the blown-up Memphis Grizzlies want to keep. That shouldn't stop the Wolves from inquiring about him anyway. He does a better job melding ball-handling, playmaking, shooting and defense than anyone on Minnesota's roster aside from Anthony Edwards.
New Orleans Pelicans
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None of us should pretend to know what the New Orleans Pelicans will do entering the trade deadline. They are the NBA's wild card supreme now they don't have a first-round pick in this June's draft. Case in point: Lead executive Joe Dumars is reportedly turning away teams who want, like, any of the Pelicans' players.
This does not give them the agency to discriminately buy. But the offense has looked spiffier under head coach James Borrego. And given its reliance on Derik Queen, Zion Williamson and Jeremiah Fears, the trade-deadline mandate boils down to two words…still: wing shooting.
Michael Porter Jr. would be great...and has been left behind. He's costing assets the Pelicans shouldn't give up.
Sam Hauser is taking MPJ's place. He doesn't have the same on-ball chops, but he's a fellow volcanic shooter with rebounding ability. New Orleans doesn't have the flexibility to shave a bunch of money off the Boston Celtics' tax bill, but it can swoop in with a multi-team construction and non-first-round assets to make it work.
Moses Moody is the quintessential plop-and-play three-and-D wing and on a contract Pelicans governor Gayle Benson won't mind bankrolling. His method of arrival is less straightforward.
New Orleans can fold him into the construction of a larger deal if the Golden State Warriors want to go the Williamson route, or this could be a "Moody plus Brandin Podziemski and/or picks for Herb Jones" situation.
Corey Kispert is less D and more three. He makes up for his deficiencies at the less-glamorous end with good positional size, excellent off-ball movement, better-than-you realize finishing at the rim and a team-friendly contract.
New York Knicks
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The New York Knicks' lust for Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly cooling amid a winning streak and, oh, I don't know, the complete absence of assets necessary to acquire him. I'm sure the Milwaukee Bucks are gutted they won't be able to accept an offer built around zero first-round picks.
In all seriousness, Giannis clearly has eyes for the Big Apple. If he's willing to exert the leverage his 2027-28 player options affords him, the Knicks are obligated to chase him until he's no longer in play.
Cases can be made for backup bigs and ball-handling. But going after another center would be a hedge against trading Karl-Anthony Towns or losing Mitchell Robinson to free agency or injury.
Most of the same can be said for a backup ball-handler. Yes, the Knicks could use one. But who are they getting that'll play over Deuce McBride? A Jose Alvarado-type seems like another hedge against having to move the latter himself. New York shouldn't be emphasizing insurance policies unless other moves are lined up.
Wings who can move around the defensive spectrum would go so much further. The Knicks have zero of them logging consistent minutes off the bench.
Naji Marshall's iffy shooting doesn't perfectly align with New York's offensive tenets. The downhill jet fuel absolutely does—potentially even checking the ball-handler box. More critically, the range of archetypes he can tackle on the defensive end covers off-ball shooters, bigger wings and even some advantage creators. Acquiring him without forking over Robinson or Deuce McBride would be difficult. It's not (mathematically) impossible.
Justin Champagnie is a roller coaster on offense but can soak up bigger-wing reps on defense—and even add a dash of shot-snuffing activity around the basket. The team control he's under through 2027-28, at under 2 percent of the salary cap, is an ideal fit for an increasingly expensive core.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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I resisted the urge to squeeze "another on-ball scorer" into the Oklahoma City Thunder's trade-deadline plans. They went out and got one anyway—and a nifty one at that: Jared McCain.
Do not read too much into the Thunder's seemingly human stretch over the past month-plus. They remain the title favorites and shouldn't push too hard for further personnel changes unless they're worried about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (hip) getting and staying healthy.
Keeping the long-term-pick armory stocked is more important, at this point, than anything to the Thunder. That's what will allow them to load up the internal pipeline with cost-controlled players on the ascent who help juggle rising roster costs and leave their window to win open for another decade or more.
The Los Angeles Clippers are doing their part through 2027. Oklahoma City has the right to swap with the Dallas Mavericks in 2028. A Denver Nuggets first-rounder should convey to the Thunder in 2029 or 2030 (not to mention 2027).
Executive vice president Sam Presti should have his eyes on the outer years. The Thunder don't currently have any inbound first-round picks or swaps in 2030, 2031 or 2032.
Can they deal a player less than critical to get one? Or turn some of their more imminent firsts into longer-term investments? They should feel obligated to find out.
Orlando Magic
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- Collin Sexton
- Svi Mykhailiuk
- Brice Sensabaugh
Injuries galore coupled with a tepid Tyus Jones experience has left the Orlando Magic flittering around the bottom-10 in offensive efficiency once again. After shipping Jones to the Charlotte Hornets, their needs are the same as ever, only more so: ball-handling and shooting, with a heavier emphasis on the latter.
Collin Sexton, now of the guard-obsessed Chicago Bulls, provides both. His driving will allow Bane to get off the ball more, and he's a quality spot-up option himself.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley won't love his defense, but the Magic have more than enough to insulate him when Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs are both available. Acquiring a $19 million player also gets easier now that Orlando has skirted the tax line.
Netting useful complements at discounts will be crucial for Orlando as its core expenses balloon. It can begin the process by going after Svi Mykhailiuk.
The 28-year-old has spent large swathes of this season on a heater from distance. At 6'7", he's bigger than you think, and his contract keeps him on the books through 2027-28 at an average annual value of less than 2.5 percent of the cap.
If the Utah Jazz won't part with him, the Magic should pivot to Brice Sensabaugh. His defense is all over the place, to put it kindly. But he can set the world on fire from the perimeter and has another cost-controlled year left on his rookie scale.
Philadelphia 76ers
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- Saddiq Bey
- Ayo Dosunmu
- Tari Eason
Congratulations to the Philadelphia 76ers on cheaping out ducking the tax, just like we all knew they would. All it required was Paul George getting a 25-game suspension and...salary-dumping Jared McCain.
Now, for the love of everything, go out and get another combo wing.
It also necessitates them landing another combo wing. Saddiq Bey verges on ideal for a Sixers squad unlikely to chase a big splash because it doesn't have the readily movable or expendable mid-end matching salary to do so.
His threes aren't falling at a high clip, but he plays with a refreshing physicality inside the arc and could see his triples fall at a higher rate when catching passes from Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecome. And though Bey isn't a staunch defender, he has the size and strength to be moved around the positional spectrum in PG's absence.
Ayo Dosunmu isn't a combo wing, but he plays with the tenacity necessary to defend some of them. The size he provides as a guard is valuable, and after jettisoning McCain, it couldn't hurt to add someone with extensive experience handling the ball.
Tari Eason remains an agent of defensive chaos when healthy. He is pure anarchy when his threes are falling at a league-best clip, as they are right now. Philly should not go all-out to get him, but injuries, next summer's foray into restricted free agency and the Houston Rockets' proximity to ducking the tax could pave the way for a more reasonable price tag.
Phoenix Suns
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- Zion Williamson
- Rui Hachimura
- Keegan Murray
Short of someone holding a Super Soaker to my head, I don't want the Phoenix Suns making any sort of move. Sidestepping the tax by moving Nick Richards is fine. Anything more seismic than that risks the immaculate vibes they've established under head coach Jordan Ott.
Empty big boards are no fun, though, so we press on in search of a bigger forward with more offensive juice to squeeze. Someone like John Collins verges on ideal, but if you're giving up one or more of Grayson Allen, Dillon Brooks and Royce O'Neale, you need to aim higher.
Enter Zion Williamson.
Mortgaging the farm for his services is a no-no. Fortunately, the Suns don't have much left to mortgage. Zion is the star-sized gamble you make if the New Orleans Pelicans are looking for matching money and not much else.
The Suns are uncomfortably reliant on Dillon Brooks teeing up shots right now. Zion takes care of that. So does Rui Hachimura, albeit to a smaller degree. He has morphed into one of the game's most efficient perimeter scorers. Phoenix has the ball-movers to capitalize on his preferred shot types, along with the peppy defenders to keep him insulated on the less-glamorous end.
Obtainability is Hachimura's biggest downside. Phoenix probably isn't getting him unless it's latching on as a third-party facilitator in a larger deal the Los Angeles Lakers are swinging.
Keegan Murray would represent a bigger swing and only finishes third because of the logistical hurdles. He remains out with an ankle injury, and even if the Sacramento Kings want to get out from underneath the five-year, $140 million extension they gave him, base-year-compensation complicates any potential exit.
Murray counts as $11.1 million in outgoing salary to Sacramento but represents $25.2 million of inbound money to Phoenix. At least one other team will be needed to make it work (sup, Brooklyn?), and this idea is predicated on the Kings no longer wanting to foot the bill for what Murray could be as a shooter-defender extraordinaire.
Portland Trail Blazers
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On a recent live stream here at Bleacher Report, NBA Insider Jake Fischer reported that Damian Lillard is working behind the scenes to sell Giannis Antetokounmpo on a future with the Portland Trail Blazers. Yours truly isn't in love with the idea of this team adding a ball-dominant non-spacer, but hey, what the heck?
Giannis no doubt makes the Blazers better, and because they control the rights to three Milwaukee Bucks firsts (2028, 2029, 2030), they can feasibly land him while incurring less collateral damage than other suitors. If a combination of those picks and swaps plus salary is all it takes, the dice roll is intriguing.
Generally speaking, the Blazers aren't yet at the stage of their competitive lifecycle in which they should reach deep into the draft-pick stores. Just as they're making an exception for Giannis, they are permitted to make an exception for Trey Murphy, who's working defenses into tizzies both on and off the ball. A lineup of him, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Jrue Holiday or Insert-Whoever-The-Hell-You-Want-Here would be dynamite.
Sam Merrill is an absolute flamethrower and not afraid to let 'em rip from deep. At 6'5", he's a sneaky scrapper on the defensive end, too. If Cleveland Cavaliers want to keep cutting costs, the Blazers, who are within $2 million of the tax themselves, should be on the prowl for three-team constructions that help put tax payments back in their pocket.
Sacramento Kings
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After jettisoning Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder for De'Andre Hunter, the Sacramento Kings are officially Flier Central, as they presumably, hopefully try angling for a total overhaul.
Terrence Shannon Jr. has struggled during what was supposed to be a breakout season. A nagging left foot injury feels (mostly) to blame. This works in the Kings' favor. It could mean the Minnesota Timberwolves are more open to parting with him in a trade for another ball-handler, like Malik Monk.
The Kings should pounce if Shannon is on the table. His median outcome, when healthy, features complementary shooting, more-than-occasional bulldozing drives and a defensive motor so contagious it might actually infect LaVine.
The Toronto Raptors appear interested in trading for Domantas Sabonis. The Kings aren't getting Collin Murray-Boyles in any hypothetical, but RJ Barrett is a reasonable consolation prize. Though he's not cornerstone material, he's developed into a scalable pace-pushing wing. Sacramento could use that kind of player if it's attempting a faster-tracked reboot, or he's someone who could be flipped for more value over the offseason.
Jarace Walker would be higher if he wasn't starting to play well for the Indiana Pacers. They're nowhere near give-him-away mode anymore, if they ever were, and the Kings shouldn't be shipping out too many assets of their own. Walker's combo-forward arsenal would be worth plumbing if the opportunity cost is seconds.
San Antonio Spurs
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Inquiring about Giannis Antetokounmpo now that he's officially available is something to which the San Antonio Spurs should feel beholden. But let's call that, like, Plan D. Or Plan E.
Prying Giannis from the Milwaukee Bucks will almost assuredly cost one of Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper. The Spurs as currently constructed are frisky enough to wait and see how they hang in the playoffs before going ultra-nuclear.
Swerving to ambitious targets who should be gettable without including one of those two tent-pole prospects is a more reasonable course.
Trey Murphy is Nirvana to any team with as many downhill attackers as San Antonio. The gravity he'll have away from the ball will turn the Spurs offense into a cheat code, and he's shown off-the-bounce chops to boot.
Jaylen Wells slides nicely into the "San Antonio needs more shooting and perimeter defense" bucket without breaking the bank. Literally. He is under contract through 2027-28 (team option) and tops out at $2.5 million.
Extricating him from the Memphis Grizzlies will eat into the Spurs' draft stash—assuming the Grizz even pick up the phone. That's fine. He won't come close to costing Castle or Harper, who are San Antonio's two tickets to any future megastar trades it might explore later.
Most teams will fear facilitating Giannis' relocation somewhere else. The Spurs aren't one of them. Furnishing the New York Knicks with first-round equity to fortify their Giannis pursuit in exchange for OG Anunoby would add the perfect amount of shooting, defense and physicality to the primary frontcourt slot alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Toronto Raptors
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Grabbing Trayce-Jackson Davis from the Golden State Warriors doesn't necessarily take the Toronto Raptors out of the big-man market. It instead signals they won't go after someone who's making too much money.
Investigating the cost of Onyeka Okongwu merges a bigger-time swing with a reasonably priced talent. He is not traditionally huge, but he fits Toronto's defensive ethos, sufficiently spaces the floor on offense and can decision-make with the ball in his hands.
Rebounding can be a concern when he's the lone big. Toronto papers over some of it thanks to Scottie Barnes. Okongwu's presence on the glass is also easier to overlook when he's owed a highway robbery-esque $33 million over the next two years—and when the Atlanta Hawks' investment in Jalen Johnson could leave them prioritizing draft equity and other players over Collin Murray-Boyles as part of any deal.
Day'Ron Sharpe isn't just a more affordable alternative; he's someone the Raptors could try snagging and playing in tandem with JJJ or Okongwu. His defensive disruption, rebounding and general enormity fill persisting voids, and the Brooklyn Nets have the flexibility to take Ochai Agbaji, another salary and whatever compensation back to facilitate Toronto slinking beneath the tax.
OK, time to zig. Or zag. Or whatever. Klay Thompson isn't caps-lock KLAY THOMPSON anymore. But he's downing nearly 38 percent of his triples on nearly eight attempts per game, and this offense needs high-volume assassins. With Anthony Davis now in Washington and Daniel Gafford on the block, perhaps the Dallas Mavericks would be more open taking on Jakob Poeltl's contract in a deal for Klay.
Utah Jazz
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Well, the Utah Jazz through us all for a loop by going after Jaren Jackson Jr.—a move that makes way more sense than their place in the standings suggests. This will be the most consequential move they make at the deadline, but they have the assets to keep buying as well as the flexibility to take some cheapo dice rolls.
Quality on-ball wing defenders remain the Jazz's biggest need. Hello, Max Christie! At just 22, he needn't be collateral damage of the Dallas Mavericks leaning further into a reset. But he has just one more team controlled year left on his deal 2027-28 player option). Selling high on his two-way performance this season shouldn't be out of the question.
Utah would probably prefer someone bigger than 6'5" on the wings. Christie's defensive motor makes up for it, and a full-strength Jazz squad with Jackson, Markkanen, Bailey and Kessler next season won't want for size. Pair those four with George and Christie, and you've got the skeleton of Western Conference menace.
Jalen Suggs could be untouchable for the Orlando Magic. But they're getting more expensive after maxing out Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and acquiring Desmond Bane. Anthony Black's breakout ahead of his extension eligibility only complicates matters.
The Jazz are uniquely equipped to tempt the Magic. An offer built around expendable first-round picks, a floor-spacer or two (Brice Sensabaugh, Kyle Filipowski, Svi Mikhailiuk, etc.) and tax relief might get Orlando thinking. And, in turn, it could get Utah a defensive dynamo on a pricey-but-declining contract.
Ben Sheppard is also tad smaller, at 6'6", than the Jazz might prefer. His body of defensive work tells a different story. The Indiana Pacers have used him against everyone from Donovan Mitchell and LaMelo Ball to Cooper Flagg and Brandon Ingram.
Washington Wizards
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Now that the Washington Wizards have Trae Young and clearly plan on playing Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr together, their trade-deadline mission can be boiled down to two words: more shooting.
Washington still shouldn't be dangling its own draft picks in any deals. Matching salary and plenty of flexibility beneath the luxury tax are its primary currency.
Of course, the Wizards do run into some aggregation issues following their flurry activity. Jaden Hardy is now their sixth-highest paid player and can't be traded in tandem with other salary. Unless Washington is open to moving core pieces, it'll have to prioritize medium-sized contracts.
Sam Hauser fits the bill and should be gettable if the Boston Celtics are looking to duck the tax. Luke Kennard is suddenly expendable with both Buddy Hield and Corey Kispert in Atlanta, too.
Gradey Dick's performance lags behind his reputation as a knockdown shooter. Defenses often treat him like a five-alarm fire anyway. The Toronto Raptors' rim frequency has increased with him on the floor every year. His gravity is real, but the efficiency needs to tick up.
The 22-year-old currently finds himself below Ja'Kobe Walter in the Raptors' pecking order. Washington could do worse than taking a developmental swing on him.
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes.
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