Bold NBA Trades That Should Happen This Offseason
There's a lot of uncomfortable player-team situations bubbling in the NBA that need to be settled via trade this offseason.
Giannis Antetokounmpo reigns above all. While the New York Knicks have been the hottest team attached in rumors, why not join the East team that's most recently reached the NBA Finals instead?
There's a franchise out West that should explore a Ja Morant trade to reunite him with a former teammate, and Anthony Edwards is still looking for an answer beside him at point guard.
The following are bold offseason trade ideas that should happen.
Irving to Wolves, Gobert to Clippers in 3-Team Deal
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Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: PG Kyrie Irving, C Brook Lopez
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: C Rudy Gobert
Dallas Mavericks Receive: F Derrick Jones Jr., F Bogdan Bogdanović, C Joan Beringer, 2029 first-round pick (unprotected from Clippers via Indiana Pacers)
The Mavs have pivoted to a rebuild around Cooper Flagg, meaning the franchise and Kyrie Irving should work together to find a new home for the 34-year-old point guard.
Irving missed this season due to a torn ACL, but will have had a full year-and-a-half of recovery time when training camp kicks off in September. He should be more than 100 percent ready.
Last year, Irving was an All-Star who averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.3 steals and shot 40.1 percent from three. Adding him to a T-Wolves team with Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and others would give Minnesota an answer to its point guard dilemma while Lopez helps fill the void left from Gobert's departure.
The Clippers are now searching for a center since trading Ivica Zubac to the Pacers at the deadline. Even at 33, Gobert remains an elite defender, as the Timberwolves have held opponents to 11.4 fewer points per 100 possessions with him on the floor (99th percentile, via Cleaning the Glass). Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland, Gobert, Benedict Mathurin, Bradley Beal and Kris Dunn could be a special core in Los Angeles.
Dallas primarily does the trade to acquire the future unprotected first-rounder, as they've already sent away many of their own when building teams around Luka Dončić. Jones and Bogdanović can be kept as rotation pieces or shopped to contenders and Beringer, 19, was the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Ja Morant, Devin Booker Form New Phoenix Suns Backcourt
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Phoenix Suns Receive: PG Ja Morant, SF Jaylen Wells
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: SG Jalen Green
A year ago, the Suns were too unstable of a situation to take on Morant. Now under head coach Jordan Ott, Phoenix has overachieved this season by landing the No. 7 seed in a loaded conference.
With precious few draft picks or young talent to trade, a team like the Suns may be forced to take a gamble on someone as gifted as Morant in order to make a real playoff run in the West.
Morant and Dillon Brooks have reportedly maintained a good relationship over the years since the latter left Memphis. Running Morant as a true point guard (8.1 assists per game, fifth-highest in the NBA this season) allows the Suns to move Devin Booker back to shooting guard in a full-time role.
With Royce O'Neale, Brooks and Mark Williams completing the starting five, the Suns look extremely dangerous, especially now with Wells added to the rotation.
The market for Morant obviously isn't great or he wouldn't be a Grizzly right now. Memphis may have to give up another young player or pick in addition to the two-time All-Star to get anything back of real value.
Green, 24, fits the timeline for a rebuilding Grizzlies team. Injuries disrupted the beginning of his season, although the athletic shooting guard did average 21.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals during the month of March.
Pistons Power Up with Michael Porter Jr.
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Detroit Pistons Receive: F Michael Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Ron Holland II, C Isaiah Stewart, G/F Caris LeVert, 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 21 overall)
The Pistons have officially locked up the No. 1 seed in the East, although this is still just the fourth-best offense in the conference. This team could use a little more juice, especially a big forward who can shoot the lights out.
This sounds a lot like Porter, who should be widely available from the rebuilding Nets this summer. Porter, 27, is averaging a career high 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and is a lifetime 39.8 percent shooter from deep.
A starting five featuring Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Porter and Jalen Duren would be a tremendous blend of scoring, playmaking, defense and rebounding, putting the Pistons in line for another run at the No. 1 seed, this time with an even better offense.
After making five first-round selections in 2025, the Nets only own one this year. They would add a second first-round pick now while loading up on young talent and expiring contracts.
Holland, 20, was the No. 5 overall pick in 2024 and has an ideal 6'8" frame for a starting small forward. He's already a good defender who's a reliable three-point shot away from becoming a regular starter.
Stewart, 24, combines rim protection with his 7'4" wingspan and outside shooting, making him a valuable two-way big man. Easily one of the toughest players in the association, he'd be a good culture setter for a young Nets team as well. LeVert is on an expiring $14.8 million salary. He'd be a valuable locker room presence or could be moved to a contender at the deadline.
Zion Williamson Gets a Fresh Start in Miami
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Miami Heat Receive: PF Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Andrew Wiggins, F Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2026 first-round pick (projected No. 13 overall)
Now seven years into his career, it's clear that Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans are going nowhere together. Even with a mostly healthy season, the Pels are just 22-40 overall in Williamson's 62 games thus far.
A clean break is needed for both sides.
The Heat are desperate for a star to help get them out of the middle of the East and should feel confident in their ability as an organization to get the most out of the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 draft. The 25-year-old owns career averages of 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 59.1 percent shooting overall.
Pairing Williamson in the frontcourt alongside Bam Adebayo would give Miami one of the best big-men tandems in the NBA. Filling out the rest of the roster with Tyler Herro, Norman Powell (free agent), Davion Mitchell, Kel'el Ware, Pelle Larsson, Kasparas Jakučionis and others would help punch the Heat a ticket to the playoffs next year as well.
Miami should be willing to take a swing at a star, and Williamson won't break the bank.
New Orleans can focus on building around Derik Queen in their own frontcourt now while potentially getting back into the 2026 lottery.
A No. 13-ish overall pick is a great starting point for Williamson, although the Pelicans should desire some talent back in return as well. Wiggins is a good starting NBA forward who is averaging 15.6 points and shooting 41.8 percent from three. Jaquez has been one of the best sixth man in all of basketball, giving Miami 15.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and shooting 50.0 percent overall.
Now is the time for a Williamson trade to finally take place.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins Surprising East Rival
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Indiana Pacers Receive: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo, F Kyle Kuzma
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: PF Pascal Siakam, G Andrew Nembhard, PF Jarace Walker, 2027 first-round pick (unprotected)
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Pacers have had some real battles over the years, although teaming up this summer would be mutually beneficial.
Antetokounmpo would only have to relocate his family about four hours south, joining the team that came within one win of an NBA championship last summer.
Tyrese Haliburton will be back next year and Ivica Zubac is already on board as the team's new starting center. Adding a two-time MVP in his prime to a core that also features Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, T. J. McConnell, Kuzma and potentially the No. 1 overall pick in the draft would make the Pacers the best team in the East.
The Bucks should try to be competitive next year and beyond, as they don't control their first-round pick until 2031. This package of players from Indiana allows them to do so while also adding a future unprotected pick.
Siakam was an All-Star this year and is averaging 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Nembhard is ninth in the NBA in assists (7.7) while chipping in 16.9 points and playing high-level defense. Walker, 22, has enjoyed a third-year breakout with more playing time available.
Milwaukee also gets off Kuzma's contract and takes control of the Pacers' unprotected first-rounder next year.
