3 Trade Targets for Every NBA Team This Offseason
The vast majority of the NBA has already entered its offseason. Trade targets are emerging. Rumors are flying. Team needs are crystallized. The June 23 draft is fast approaching and adds an extra layer of chaos to the equation.
Sounds like a good time to revisit our top-three targets for every squad, doesn't it?
Our big-board ranking will go three names deep. Top spots will almost always be dedicated to the most ambitious possibility, and each list is assembled while taking into account franchise directions, cap situations and available assets.
In-house free agents and draft positioning are also given consideration. We won't be prioritizing another guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, when all signs point to them trying to keep Austin Reaves (player option). We won't list anyone who plays the same position as Caleb Wilson or Cam Boozer for the Chicago Bulls, since they own the No. 4 pick. So on and so forth.
Remember, every big board remains fluid. Rumors and eventual transactions will end up shifting certain choices. These boards are built according to all we know just a couple of games into the conference finals.
Atlanta Hawks
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File Jalen Williams away under "Probably not happening, but it never hurts to ask." The Oklahoma City Thunder's payroll is about to balloon. Perhaps the emergence of Ajay Mitchell and the team's success without J-Dub gets executive vice president Sam Presti prioritizing depth and optionality over a three-max-star model.
Atlanta can check all the possible boxes in a J-Dub shocker. It has plenty of future picks, including No. 8 this June, and can save OKC stacks of cash if it's willing to decline Jonathan Kuminga's team option.
Falling to the New York Knicks in the first round reinforced the Atlanta Hawks' need for additional layers of half-court creation beyond Jalen Johnson. Bringing back CJ McCollum is a given, but a younger and/or higher-end solution should also be in the cards.
Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels bring enough playmaking for the Hawks to sniff around middle-tier options who either needn't or shouldn't dominate the ball. Ryan Rollins and Scotty Pippen fit the bill to a T. Acquiring either would also form a hellfire defensive duo/trio alongside NAW and/or Daniels.ย
Rollins becomes more gettable in the likely event that the Milwaukee Bucks are compelled or forced to deal Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pippen was more turnover-prone than usual this season, but that comes with working beside a rotating cast of personnel with whom you have little experience and not playing at all until the latter half of the year. He would be an excellent stabilizer in Atlanta and remains someone who can either start or come off the bench.
Boston Celtics
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Squandering a 3-1 lead to the Philadelphia 76ers only reinforced the Boston Celtics' need to chase depth at center, if not an upgrade over Neemias Queta.
Onyeka Okongwu both splits the difference and is the most ambitious option. His three-ball is reliable enough (including from above the break!) for him to play in tandem with Queta.ย
Salary-matching will get iffy depending on the Atlanta Hawks' 2026-27 goals. Otherwise, the Celtics have the wiggle room beneath the tax to take on Okongwu's money without needing to give up Derrick White or Payton Pritchard. They could even get away with keeping Sam Hauser and taking Okongwu into the Anfernee Simons trade exception.
Daniel Gafford isn't nearly as dynamic Okongwu, at either end, but remains a solid rim protector and pick-and-roll partner. That he remained efficient as the dive man in this year's Dallas Mavericks offense is a modest miracle.
Day'Ron Sharpe is slated to cost under $6.3 million and brings dabs of defensive disruption, rebounding and general enormity, as well as undercurrents of offensive craft. He's the name Boston draws a heart around if it's attempting to allocate money elsewhere and certain Queta can be its primary 5.
Brooklyn Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets are the ultimate offseason wild card. They are once again drafting outside the top five, and their 2027 first-round pick is headed to the Houston Rockets. They took on zero long-term money at the trade deadline. The stage is set for them to shock-and-awe, perhaps even by crashing the next superstar-trade sweepstakes.
It nevertheless makes more sense to keep following a more gradual course. They shouldn't shy away from targeting impact names, but they're too far from contention to consider all-in propositions.
Ausar Thompson is going to be extension-eligible and was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. That's not someone the Detroit Pistons will give way. With that said, he's sometimes found himself on the outskirts of the closing lineup. If Detroit flames out of the postseason earlier than expected, he could hit the chopping block as it pursues bigger-time offensive upgrades.
Cason Wallace and Jalen Suggs are both defensive menaces who have at times flashed slightly-deeper-than-complementary offensive bags, and each hails from a team that's barreling toward tough financial decisions that'll invariably culminate in higher-profile collateral damage.ย The Nets once again have the cap flexibility to facilitate gobs of relief.
Charlotte Hornets
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Congratulations to the Charlotte Hornets and their fans. Even after a disastrous showing during the second play-in game, they have officially entered offseason-buyer territory.
Upgrading the second combo-forward spot needs to be the top priority. Another center isn't out of the question, but we genuflect at the altar of Moussa Diabatรฉ around these parts.
Everything is on the table for the Denver Nuggets, according to team president Josh Kroenke. If "everything" includes breaking up Aaron Gordon's contract (threes, $103.6 million) into multiple cheaper players and picks, the Hornets should be the first team in line. His combination of defense, improved shooting and overarching IQ alongside LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller could turn them into a powerhouse.
Tari Eason is the perfect fit as a chaos agent on defense who runs the floor and drills threes. The Houston Rockets are also expensive enough to envision them entertaining sign-and-trade proposals. Charlotte will have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception at its disposal, but a $15.1 million starting salary isn't poaching this type of restricted free agent.
If the Rockets are bent on paying Eason, they might be more open to entertaining offers for Jabari Smith Jr. His offensive efficiency is all over the place, but the Houston Rockets have yet to play him alongside proper table-setters. The Hornets have no fewer than three of those (LaMelo, Kon and Coby White), and his defensive malleability will allow head coach Charles Lee to slot him at the 4 or 5.ย
Chicago Bulls
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New Chicago Bulls lead executive Bryson Graham seems more likely to follow a gradual course. Moving up from the No. 4 pick may go against that grain.
At the same time, the Bulls could use an on-ball perimeter cornerstone. Josh Giddey definitely isn't it. Matas Buzelis probably isn't, either. Contacting the Washington Wizards about their self-stated willingness to move down should be seen as an obligationโassuming, of course, Graham and Co. are smitten with AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson.
Finding a higher-upside swing in the middle should also be among Chicago's long-term aims. Dereck Lively II would be an excellent flier. The Dallas Mavericks may not be actively looking to move him, but his injury history could foist him into distressed-asset territory. Especially with his extension eligibility looming.
Good luck convincing the Portland Trail Blazers to give up on the Yang Hansen experiment after just one season. He's bound to be called Baby Jokiฤ again during Summer League. Yet, between Donovan Clingan's emergence and Portland's willingness to play smaller, he's a good "It never hurts to ask" option.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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This list could require an overhaul depending on how the Cleveland Cavaliers fare in the playoffs and what happens with James Harden's free agency (player option). As of now, bolstering the wing defense, preferably with someone who can slide up to the 4 in Evan Mobley-at-5 arrangements, profiles as the biggest area of need.ย
Urgency increases tenfold if Dean Wade signs elsewhere in free agency, though Cleveland should be on high alert even if he comes back. Its pursuits must once again be limited to easily matchable salaries, since the team's cap sheet is brushing right up against the second apron. That rules out someone like Herb Jones, whose 2026-27 money can't currently be matched without including Harden, Mobley, Donovan Mitchell or Jarrett Allen.
Justin Champagnie is ideal. He subsists on spot-up threes and holds his own on defense, even spitting out the occasional help around the basket. Earning just under $2.7 million next year, he's so cheap the Cavs may actually have to extend the deal so they can get off a more expensive player.
Ron Holland II comes with a ton of offensive baggage. That's precisely why he may not be untouchable entering Year 3. His defensive physicality would be a welcomed value add alongside Harden and Mitchell, and Cleveland might be able to entice the Detroit Pistons after RH2 barely played in their second-round dalliance.
Derrick Jones Jr. continues to have the physical pop, when available, to cover four positions. He, too, comes with offensive trade-offs but can be used as a screener, has a track record playing alongside Harden and comes off the books after next season.ย
Dallas Mavericks
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Not having control over their own first-rounders in 2027 (Charlotte), 2028 (Oklahoma City), 2029 (Brooklyn or Houston) or 2030 (Minnesota or San Antonio) kinda sucks for the Dallas Mavericks. Nothing and no one aside from Cooper Flagg should be off the table if they have the opportunity to regain any of those rights.
Material offensive improvement becomes dire if the Mavs are hoping (read: forced) to prioritize racking up wins. The return of Kyrie Irving takes care of the ball-handling and playmaking only in theory. He is 34, coming off a major injury and always at his most dangerous when splitting that workload.ย
Dallas can aim higher than Cam Spencer if it's willing to put first-round equity on the table. Related: It shouldn't be doing that. Spencer provides enough ball-handling and passing in tandem with lethal outside shooting to offset any gaps in a Kyrie- and Cooper-powered offense.
Malik Monk is a little pricey with two years and $41.8 million left on his contract (2027-28 player option), but he just shot 39.5 percent from three on a Sacramento Kings team that absolutely sucked. Assuming his 36.6 percent clip on drives is an aberration and byproduct of Sacto's incoherent existence, the downhill sauciness and floor-spacing combo would go a long way in Dallas.
Denver Nuggets
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It sounds like the Denver Nuggets will be looking to cut costs this summer. Good luck doing that without making the team worse.
Denver will likely blow right past the second apron if it brings back even one of Jonas Valanฤiลซnas (non-guaranteed) and Peyton Watson (restricted). This says nothing of re-signing Spencer Jones (restricted).
Team president Josh Kroenke seems ready to trade anyone on the roster who hasn't won an MVP. The road to getting better while offloading Jamal Murray or Aaron Gordon is complex, if it exists at all.
Given their lack of tradeable first-round equity, I can't bring myself to include a bunch of big names. Maybe there's a Murray-for-Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet and picks package they could broker with the Houston Rockets. They'd certainly be deeper.ย
Failing that, if the Nuggets are peeved by Christian Braun's five-year, $125 million extension taking effect, maybe they could convince the Kings to take him (plus another small salary) in exchange for De'Andre Hunter's expiring deal. That hurts the defense and transition play but should improve the spacing, as well as the team's trade optionalityโassuming it's easier to ship out Hunter's one-year pact than Braun's lengthier one.
If a bigger move or salary dump isn't in the cards, Denver needs to be thinking about someone who might be able to soak up some of Braun's minutes while also replacing Watson. Justin Champagnie typifies the three-and-D archetype at a cut rate, which should be particularly appealing to Denver given which of its own players are flight risks.
Detroit Pistons
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Bowing out against the Cleveland Cavaliers didn't just reiterate the Detroit Pistons' need for more dynamic offensive options. It proved beyond a shadow of a doubt they need someone capable of being their second in command.
Darius Garland would be ideal. He fits the Pistons' timeline, is a lethal off-ball shooter and more than capable of breaking down the defense and running an offense on his own. Detroit doesn't have to worry about his slight frame holding up on the less-glamorous end in the postseason with so many other big bodies around him, either.
Kyrie Irving is 34 and coming off an ACL injury, both of which are red flags. They also increase his gettability. Having Cade Cunningham ensures the Pistons won't need to saddle him with as much solo usage, and with two years and $81.9 million left on his contract (2027-28), he doesn't pose any long-term risks.
Trey Murphy isn't a burgeoning table-setter, but he's shown the capacity to generate more of their own looks. Detroit can use its mid-level exception to address that spot or bank on Daniss Jenkins and Caris LeVert being enough. The on- and off-ball gravity of Murphy is too perfect for this team to pass up.ย
Golden State Warriors
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Stephen Curry is almost 40, Draymond Green has a player option, blah, blah...
So long as Steph is on this roster and operating, when healthy, at an All-NBA level, the Golden State Warriors are obligated to pursue all-in moves until the wheels fall off. At the very least, they must pretend that's what they're doing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the "Doy!" inclusion. Golden State just needs to hope he isn't that married to living on the East Coast.ย
Going on 30 in September, Donovan Mitchell is young enough (or close to it) for the Warriors to peddle him as their ticket to immediate contention and bridge into the future. They should cross their fingers for the Cleveland Cavaliers flame out of the Eastern Conference Finals and open themselves up to an offseason roster-razing.ย
"What about the defense?!" will be a common refrain when looking at a prospective Steph-Spida backcourt. That is fair. And also immaterial. The offense will be dynamite, and Golden State may have the juice to cover up a ton of deficiencies if it keeps Green, Kristaps Porziลฤฃis (unrestricted) and De'Anthony Melton (unrestricted) and nails a marginal signing or two.
Kawhi Leonard increases the variance for the Warriors' range of outcomes with his own murky health bill. The risk-reward profile is well worth it when Jimmy Butler would be the matching salary and is going to miss part of next season anyway.
Leonard should also cost fewer picks than Giannis or Mitchell and still permits the front office to play its "See?! We're trying!" card.
Houston Rockets
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Fans of the Houston Rockets better hope their team doesn't pretend a healthy Fred VanVleet is all that separates them from the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. They need a higher-end infusion of offensive shot-making and creation.
Jamal Murray can bring it. There is a risk in yanking him outside the comfy confines of being Nikola Jokiฤ's sidekick, but he's a talented ball-handler and scorer in his own right who won't torpedo Houston's defensive infrastructure.ย
Ryan Rollins is a Utopian fit for a Rockets team that doesn't believe Reed Sheppard is the long-term solution to its first-chance offense and resigned to head coach Ime Udoka hardly ever relying on defensive liabilities. His 2027-28 player option is a wrinkle Houston must consider, but the Milwaukee Bucks will presumably be willing to talk shop once they move Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Tyler Herro will evoke laughter from plenty of people. He shouldn't. Injuries dampened his availability this season, but he has improved over the years as a creator and decision-maker and retains the off-ball gravity to put pressure on defenses without infringing upon opportunities (and development) for others.
Houston will have to value him against his next contract, since he'll be an expiring deal this summer. That's part of his appeal. His salary can come off the books prior to potential new deals for Amen Thompson (2027-28) and Sheppard (2028-29) taking effect.
Indiana Pacers
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Affordable wing depth rockets to the top of the Indiana Pacers' to-do list when looking at their roster and proximity to the luxury tax. They could aim for spicier names after not keeping their own pick (No. 5), but that doesn't make much sense unless they're shaking up their projected closing five.ย
Jake LaRavia's three-ball has tapered off, but he's churned out better percentages amid modest volume in the past and can fill point-of-attack and general wing gaps on defense. Though the Pacers don't have dispensable salaries who will interest the Los Angeles Lakers, roping in a third team who nudges up Hollywood's projected league-best cap space could get the job done.ย
Isaac Okoro's offense will be touch-and-go for a Pacers squad not known for carving out a ton of corner threes, but he can leak out and make stuff happen in transition. Indiana also has offense to spare if it means making room for functional ball pressure at the other end.
At just 22, Justin Edwards is a total flier. He has seen the scope and scale of his role plummet with the Philadelphia 76ers. This bodes well for the Pacers. 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 while shouldering a meaningful defensive workload.
Los Angeles Clippers
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Netting the No. 5 pick could prompt the Los Angeles Clippers to reconsider their dual-timeline approach, but it'll likely require moving up the draft board. There is a significant drop-off in cornerstone potential past No. 4, and the most touted prospects thereafter could overlap with Darius Garland.
Having the Indiana Pacers' 2029 first-round pick might give the Clippers enough to move up. Garland or Kawhi Leonard could be part of the equation as wellโthough L.A. likely needs to rope in a third team who wants one of them.
Absent that, replacing Ivica Zubac without over-compromising assets and 2027 cap space is the mission until further notice. Someone like Onyeka Okongwu would be stupendous, but only if the Clippers are attempting to accelerate their transactional aggression.ย
Placeholder bigs with the potential to become something slightly more populate their list for the time being. Day'Ron Sharpe and Paul Reed don't have the offensive craft of Zubac, but each can satisfy the screen-and-roll quota while adding value on the glass and/or as a paint protector.ย
Reed is the name with the most upside, in no small part thanks to his three-point exploration, short-roll decision-making and interior touch. Whether the Detroit Pistons are willing to move him after he, at times, outplayed Jalen Duren in the playoffs is a separate matter.
Los Angeles Lakers
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Assuming LeBron James leaves Hollywood, the Los Angeles Lakers will enter the summer with nearly $50 million in cap space while retaining Austin Reaves' free-agency hold. They'll also have the ability to dangle up to three first-round picks. Fireworks seem inevitable.
Los Angeles needs massive upgrades on the wings and in the middle. Given the free-agency pool has more quality center options, the former takes precedence.ย
That is, unless Bam Adebayo proves gettable.ย
The Miami Heat tend to avoid traditional rebuilds, but if they trend toward another empty-handed summer, it might be time to consider moving their defensive anchor as he begins a three-year extension that averages out to over 30 percent of the salary cap. His mid-range heavy shot diet is cause for pause, but he has the tools to reorient his usage around elite playmakers like Reaves and Luka Donฤiฤ.
OG Anunoby isn't going anywhere unless the New York Knicks luck into Giannis Antetokounmpo. Knowing the two-time MVP showed exclusive interest in the Big Apple last summer, the Lakers should hold out hope for the chance to swoop in as a third-party facilitator who sends draft equity the Milwaukee Bucks' way. If they play their cards right, they have enough ancillary moneyโJake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton (player option), Marcus Smart (player option)โto complete a lopsided deal without nuking all of their cap space.ย
Lu Dort will be among the Oklahoma City Thunder names in play if ownership cheaps out on entering the second apron. The Lakers could sign him outright if his team option gets declined, but no front office run by Sam Presti is incompetent enough to let him walk for nothing.ย
Absorbing his entire 2026-27 salary while sending out some draft equity would still leave L.A. with the ammo to do a bunch of other stuff.
Memphis Grizzlies
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Securing No. 3 puts the Memphis Grizzlies in a position to draft the primary basis for their rebuild. If they want to guarantee they land the player at the top of their board, they have enough extra picks floating around to take the Washington Wizards up on their self-admitted offer to trade down.
Swinging on a big-picture floor general with more upside than Ty Jerome or Scotty Pippen Jr. and without coughing up any premier draft equity should otherwise be the Grizzlies' offseason siren song. Easy enough, right?ย
Projections change if the organization and Ja Morant are aligned on a future together, or depending on how Memphis' draft shakes out. At this point, the latter will have more influence than the former.
The Miami Heat reportedly had interest in Morant at the deadline. The Grizzlies should strive to get Kasparas Jakuฤionis as part of any package if they revisit this well. His outside shooting is further along than expected, and he's got real playmaking pop.
While the Portland Trail Blazers aren't a realistic Morant suitor, Scoot Henderson's health and topsy-turvy play are giving them something to think about ahead of his extension eligibility. Memphis suddenly has the timeline to experiment with giving him the ropes.
Miami Heat
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Team president Pat Riley has plans to go big-name hunting, again, after the Miami Heat got bounced during the play-in tournament. As a founding member of the "Hoping Giannis Antetokounmpo Requests Out" club, they need to base anything they do this offseason around his availability. They can't come close to building the best package, but Kel'el Ware's ascent plus the prospect of Giannis scuttling a move to the West Coast help a great deal.
Donovan Mitchell seems like a YOLO inclusion. He becomes more realistic if the Cleveland Cavaliers get bounced before the Eastern Conference Finals. Mitchell isn't getting moved unless he forces the issue, which he'd presumably only do to join a more ready-made contender. Whether the Heat qualify is arguable. That shouldn't stop them from monitoring the situation.
After Giannis and Spida, the Heat are best suited gravitating toward higher-profile players who don't bankrupt their asset stores or crack at absurd flexibility in 2027.ย
Hello, Contract Year Kawhi Leonard.
As someone who doesn't need screens to generate his own buckets but can run more traditional sets with Bam Adebayo or Kel'el Ware, he fits whatever iteration of the offense Miami is running. Miami is also one of the franchises to which you can envision him getting traded and not threatening to retire.
Milwaukee Bucks
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Unless the current dynamic between the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo changes, the two-time MVP seems good as gone. The team must try to find a blue-chip building block as part of this inevitable exit.ย
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 Portland in 2028.
Outside of this scenario, the Bucks better hope one of the win-now squads with a premier youngster gets ultra-desperate.ย
The San Antonio Spurs seem above such rashness. Perhaps they are. But they could view one of Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper as semi-expendable with Devin Vassell and De'Aaron Fox in tow. Milwaukee needs to start by hoping San Antonio doesn't make it past the Oklahoma City Thunder.
People seem split on whether they'd want the Buck to take back Evan Mobley in a Giannis trade. They shouldn't be. By no means should Mobley be Option No. 1, but if Milwaukee isn't getting any of its own firsts back, he is frankly more appealing as a rebuilding hub than the way more offensively limited Amen Thompson.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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After attempting to land him at the trade deadline, Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again be on the Minnesota Timberwolves' radar this offseason. It's difficult to imagine them winning those sweepstakes when they have only two outright first-rounders to dangle, but hey, it can't hurt to try.
While peddling whomever they select at No. 28 and a 2033 first-rounder may get them laughed out of the Giannis pursuit, it could put them within range of Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving.
Shelling out distant first-rounders or swaps (2028 and 2032) for stars entering their twilights isn't ideal. But it beats having to give up Jaden McDaniels, who'd surely be shipped out as part of any Giannis-to-Minny scenario.
The Wolves can default to whomever costs fewer assets. That's probably Kyrie. But it'll be easier to talk the Clippers into taking back Julius Randle. The Dallas Mavericks have enough frontcourt bodies.
New Orleans Pelicans
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Hiring Jamahl Mosley as head coach doesn't necessarily clarify the New Orleans Pelicans' direction. Yet, for our purposes, it doesn't technically matter.ย
Regardless of the direction in which New Orleans heads, it needs to include more shooting. Exigency mushrooms if it keeps all of Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears and Zion Williamson into next season. This big board is constructed as if that will be the planโand also as if the Pelicans won't be itching to offload serious assets.
Sam Hauser is a volcanic shooter who fits anywhere. Corey Kispert isn't as molten, but he can keep defenses on tilt away from the ball and was an understated finisher at the basket until joining the Atlanta Hawks.
Gradey Dick's performance has always lagged 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, and after falling out of the Raps' rotation, he might be an up-for-grabs second-draft flier.
New York Knicks
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Giannis Antetokounmpo having exclusive eyes for the New York Knicks last season is pretty much all that keeps them in play for his services. They should be all-in on hoping he forces a trade to the Big Apple unless they win it all. And even then, they'd probably need to assume the same stance.
Putting two first-round picks (2026 and 2033) and salary on the table might get New York into some interesting convos, but its proximity to the second apron complicates any blockbuster swings. (That includes Giannis.) If the Knicks are unable to aggregate salaries, they'll have to aim high or swing low. There can be no in-between.
Cam Spencer isn't a caps-lock creator, but he's on the books for under $3 million through 2028-29 (team option), and he'd rank second on New York in unassisted threes. Though Deuce McBride and Jose Alvarado are stronger on defense, he's probably the best passer of the trio.ย
Cheap wing help that doesn't shrink the floor is a runner-up needโeven with the emergence of Diawara. Justin Champagnie won't do much with the ball but can knock down threes. More crucially, he can soak up bigger-wing reps on defense, will add a dash of shot-snuffing activity around the basket and makes under 2 percent of the salary cap.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Tough decisions await the Oklahoma City Thunder. Especially if they don't make it back to the NBA Finals.
Bringing everyone back in 2026-27 leaves them deep into the second apron. Going this route is on the table so long as ownership is willing to pay the tax. The roster-building restrictions that come with entering the second apron won't faze a team as deep as OKC.
Keeping the long-term-pick armory stocked is critical no matter what the Thunder decide. 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 as long as possible. Executive vice president Sam Presti should have his eyes on the outer years, because he's yet to nail down any definitive first-round picks or swaps in 2030, 2031 or 2032.ย
Consider the rest of this big board just-in-case insurance. Max Christie will be cheap for at least another year (2027-28 player option) and can approximate much of what gets lost if some combination of Lu Dort (team option), Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins or Alex Caruso become collateral damage of OKC's finances. The Dallas Mavericks no doubt want to hold onto him, but the Thunder have choose-your-own adventure assetsโa stockpile that includes the rights to swap 2028 firsts with Big D.ย
Jay Huff can spare Chet Holmgren from logging too many traditional-center reps if Isaiah Hartenstein (team option) gets the boot. He is on the books for $2.7 million next year, has a $3 million team option in 2027-28 and should be more available now that the Indiana Pacers have Ivica Zubac.
Orlando Magic
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Hiring a Jamahl Mosley replacement isn't the only major to-do item on the Orlando Magic's offseason agenda.
Orlando needs to focus on opening up the floor if it keeps the band together. And it must do so while navigating a finicky financial situation. Staying out of the second apron should be a breeze. Ducking the first apron is possible. Entering the tax is a virtual certainty even if Jonathan Isaac's partial guarantee gets the boot.
Predicting anything nuclear doesn't sit right, though. They are notoriously conservative with their transactions, and injuries have limited their core five-man unit to fewer than 20 appearances during the regular season. With the head-coaching change, they are free to think smaller...for now.
Isaiah Joe can be streaky, but he's a human flamethrower both off the catch and on pull-up opportunities. His remaining contract (three years, $35 million) fits the Magic's salary structure, and the Oklahoma City Thunder's increasingly expensive core and deep well of guards could foist him onto the chopping block. He tops the list even with Orlando's own thorny salary-matching limitations.
At 6'7", Svi Mykhailiuk is 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. He's not going to do much off the bounce, but he rates in the 99th percentile of off-screen impact per 75 possessions and 92nd percentile of catch-and-shoot three-point shot-making, according to BBall Index.
Vit Krejฤรญ loves himself some half-court freelancing but doesn't need the ball in his hands. Like Mykhailiuk, he can be used in stationary or movement sets. And at $3 million next season, he's the cheapest on the board
Philadelphia 76ers
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Parting ways with Daryl Morey does nothing to change the fragile complexity of the Philadelphia 76ers' situation.ย
Remove Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid and Paul George from the table, and their next highest paid player isโฆDominick Barlow (non-guaranteed)...who's on the books for $3.4 million. Mid-level exceptions can now be used in trades, and the Sixers have $20-plus million in room beneath the luxury tax. But that number doesn't factor in possible new deals for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimesโor ownership's serial penny-pinching.
Cheaper targets will be the default until we get a better lay of the offseason land. And the focus will preferably lie with wings and combo forwards. You could make the case for secondary scoring and ball-handling, but surely a team in need of that wouldn't auction off Jared McCain at the trade deadlineโฆright?
Pelle Larsson blurs the line between guard and wing thanks to his size. Though his three-pointer isn't reliable, he's shifty going downhill and boasts pretty good live-dribble vision.ย
Go ahead and add Philly to the list of teams that should attempt to raid the Washington Wizards for Justin Champagnie. His defensive malleability is legit. He can help out around the basket in lineups that don't feature Joel Embiid and settle into wing duty the rest of the time.
Terrence Shannon Jr. is supposed to offer standstill shooting, driving and ferocious on-ball defense. After battling ankle issues all season, he started to percolate in the playoffs. Equally important, he's on the books for a total of just $7.3 million over the next two years. Sixers resident promo-code miner and managing governor Josh Harris will be thrilled.
Phoenix Suns
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Punching up the offense with a combo-forward upgrade remains the Phoenix Suns' most glaring priority. Just as it was entering the trade deadline, this will still be a challenge.
Phoenix remains light on tantalizing draft picks and prospects. It technically has plenty of breathing room beneath the tax, but that $17-plus million cushion could evaporate depending on its approach to Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams (restricted) entering free agency.
Fortunately for the Suns, Zion Williamson is among the marquee names who shouldn't require king's-ransom returns. Half-court spacing could get wonky with him playing alongside another big, but he's no stranger to getting downhill in such configurations. He's also never had the chance to establish a two-man game with someone like Devin Booker.
Kawhi Leonard will be more costly, but Phoenix is among the non-California markets he's most likely to embrace. Khaman Maluach could also hold some appeal to the Los Angeles Clippers, who find themselves without a building-block center following the Ivica Zubac trade.
Keegan Murray's five-year, $140 million extension isn't aging well. Chalk that up to his extended absence this year and, more notably, playing for the Sacramento Kangz. If they're interested in loosening the big-picture purse strings without receiving gaga draft compensation, the Suns should be among those first in line.
Portland Trail Blazers
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With all due respect to Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, the Portland Trail Blazers need a sizable-to-galactic offensive infusion. Their apparent interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline suggests they're ready for a big swing, too. (Whether this remains true under new resident cheapskate owner and amateur excuse-maker Tom Dundon is debatable.)
Portland should steer clear of that big swing. Giannis isn't the cleanest fit, and while everyone involved would find a way to make it work, the Blazers should favor someone who is younger, actually spaces the floor and won't cost as much contractually or transactionally.ย
Trey Murphy III doesn't have the track record to run the offense, but he works defenses into a tizzy on and off the ball. The value he promises as a floor-spacer is worth the premium he'll command if Portland has Dame, Avdija and Holiday in tow.ย
Sam Merrill will forever spit fire in his sleep from behind the rainbow. At 6'5", he's a sneaky scrapper on the defensive end as well. If the Cleveland Cavaliers get cagey about (probably) staying in the second apron, the Blazers have the luxury-tax space to offer relief by taking Merrill into their mid-level exception and sending out draft compensation and cheaper reinforcements.
Ryan Rollins would be right up Dundon's alleyโfor another year, anyway. He's on the books through next season at just $4 million (2027-28 player option), and his offensive arsenal features self-created jumpers and drives that can power looks for those around him. The only players to notch as many points and assists when going downhill this season as Rollins, while also shooting north of 50 percent, were Avdija, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Payton Pritchard.
Sacramento Kings
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The Sacramento Kings desperately need a tent-pole building block and are less likely to find one at No. 7 than if they enter the top four. Nothing and no one should be off the table if they have the opportunity to climb three or more slots in order.ย
This includes future firsts. But not too many future firsts. While this should go without saying, these are the Kings we're talking about. So, we're saying it.
Moving beyond trade-up scenarios, leaning into a longer-term arc better be Sacramento's offseason blueprint. Almost entirely barren of hot-commodity players and contracts, the Kings won't be selling from a position of strength, but they need to sell all the same.
Ace Bailey is hardly a distressed asset. But the Utah Jazz currently have Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler headlining their frontcourt and are about to select AJ Dybantsa or Darry Peterson at No. 2. In the event they want to trade up to No. 1, are willing to give him up to do so (debatable) and the Washington Wizards don't want Bailey, the Kings should be all over trying to get him for themselves.
The Toronto Raptors were apparently among the teams interested in Domantas Sabonis at the deadline. Although he isn't getting Collin Murray-Boyles' frenetic defense and deft passing on his own, if Toronto pairs Scottie Barnes with Domas, Sacramento might be able to grease the wheels by swallowing the Jakob Pรถltl contract.
San Antonio Spurs
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Popularizing Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-the-San Antonio Spurs lost its overarching heft a while ago. This team may already be good enough to win the whole damn thing. Even if they're not, they appear close enough to focus their upgrades on superstar role players rather than actual superstars.
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.ย
Extricating him from the Memphis Grizzlies will eat into the Spurs' draft stashโassuming 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 megastar trades it might explore later.
Most teams will fear facilitating Giannis' relocation somewhere else. Not the Spurs.
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. Matching salaries gets harder with Harrison Barnes coming off the books. San Antonio can make it work with Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell or by attaching Johnson to Barnes sign-and-trades.
Toronto Raptors
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So much energy was burned leading into the trade deadline trying to suss out the Toronto Raptors' perfect big man. More time and effort should've been spent identifying someone who could come in and add dynamism to the offenseโdefinitely as a floor-spacer, but also as a secondary creator.ย
Trey Murphy III isn't going to check the secondary-creator box, but the pull he has on- and off-ball will open up the half-court for Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and, well, everyone else. He'll cost a mint in draft assets. The Raptors can handle it. They have all of their own first-round picks and shouldn't be shy about throwing them around if they're serious about building up from the middle.ย
De'Aaron Fox isn't the most bankable shooter, but he provides enough defensive resistance that the Raptors wouldn't have to overhaul their approach. At this point, he probably costs way less in assets than Murphy or LaMelo. The San Antonio Spurs needn't be in a rush to move Fox, but having Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell allows them to explore reallocating his contract slot elsewhere.
Finding the right salary-match could prove challenging. San Antonio won't want Brandon Ingram or Immanuel Quickley, and Toronto shouldn't want to fork over RJ Barrett. A three- or four-team permutation may be necessaryโwhich is fine.
LaMelo Ball is the perfect fit but tumbles down the rankings following the Charlotte Hornets' post-Thanksgiving renaissance. The price for his services has likely graduated to ridiculous, if he's available at all. Toronto should investigate anyway.
Utah Jazz
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Chances are the Utah Jazz will be thrilled to take AJ Dabynsta or Darryn Peterson at No. 2. But Dybantsa is considered the consensus first-overall pick and hails from BYUโwhich also happens to be team governor Ryan Smith's alma mater.
Assuming the Jazz have a preference, they should investigate the cost of moving up one spot. They have a smattering of extra firsts to grease the wheels, and there's value in guaranteeing they get their guy when the pressure will be on them to rattle off far more than 22 wins next season.
Quality on-ball perimeter defenders is otherwise Utah's biggest need. And after fast-tracking its timeline with the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade, it should aim higher to address than it might've before.
Cason Wallace could be at risk of becoming collateral damage if the Oklahoma City Thunder look to slash payroll. Matching his 2026-27 salary is no sweat, and Utah has enough picks left in the coffers to make a viable offer.ย
Max Christie is young enough, at 22, to remain part of the Dallas Mavericksโassuming they're resetting at all. Without control over their own first-rounder again until 2031, they're heavily incentivized to favor win-now pursuits.ย
Still, Christie has just one more team-controlled year left on his deal (2027-28 player option). Selling high off his two-way performance this season shouldn't be out of the question.
Washington Wizards
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To what extent the Washington Wizards want to climb up the standings next season is unknown. Bringing in Anthony Davis and Trae Young (player option) clearly indicates they're angling for a huge jump, but they were acquisitions of convenience. It also remains to be seen how winning the draft lottery impacts their approach.
No matter their internal expectations, this group needs capital-S Shooting. A frontcourt of AD, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly is far from a floor-spacing behemoth, and with the exception of Tre Johnson, the Wizards aren't stocked with a certified sniper.ย
Washington should start by crossing their fingers for the Cleveland Cavaliers to lose before the NBA Finals and enter cost-cutting mode. Max Strus puts a ton of pressure on opposing teams with his movement and shooting. He is also a sneaky-good passer and defender, making it that much easier for the Wizards to roll out lineups with as few gaps at both ends of the floor as possible.
Sam Merrill is a human inferno who exhausts defenders simply by pinballing around the half-court. Minutes with him and Young could be tenuous on defense, but he's more of a scrapper than advertised, and Washington has the requisite size and stinginess elsewhere to make it work.
Isaiah Joe is on the streakier end of the spectrum, but he's a quality screener and torches twine enough to keep defenses on tilt. The Oklahoma City Thunder's fast-approaching financial reckoning could render him extremely gettable, too.
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to theย Hardwood Knocksย podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report'sย Grant Hughes.
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