Ranking Every Team's Top 3 Trade and Free Agency Targets After 2026 NBA Draft

With the 2026 NBA draft done, teams looking for upgrades have just two options left: trades and free agency.

We've already seen several significant swaps, with Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Miami Heat, LaMelo Ball heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves and several role players—Isaiah Stewart, Aaron Wiggins and Nic Claxton—changing locales. If the early trade activity is any indication, free agency could also get interesting in a hurry.

What should the remaining cap-space teams do with their cash? Who should have eyes on Jaylen Brown? Can anyone take Ja Morant off the Memphis Grizzlies' hands?

Let's take stock of all 30 NBA teams and assess potential targets—both via trade and free agency.

Atlanta Hawks

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1. Jaylen Brown
2. Trey Murphy III
3. Zion Williamson

The Atlanta Hawks quickly used up their cap space by bringing back CJ McCollum on a one-year deal and taking on Aaron Wiggins in exchange for a pair of future second-rounders, but they can still be ambitious on the trade market.

Between Zaccharie Risacher and Jonathan Kuminga (team option), they've got $38 million in salary that another team might covet more than they do.

Though Atlanta held onto its pair of first-rounders, taking Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, this is still a team without a front-line star. Brown would certainly fit that description, and the Georgia native might enjoy a homecoming.

Murphy should be on everyone's list, and Williamson could be had for relatively cheap in light of his waning athleticism and health concerns. It's still possible the former No. 1 overall pick could put together a breakthrough season and pair with Jalen Johnson to help Atlanta make noise in the East.

Boston Celtics

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1. Giannis Antetokounmpo
2. Onyeka Okongwu
3. Trey Murphy III

The Boston Celtics should have spent all their time sending Giannis Antetokounmpo and his agents little note cards with their rotation listed next to the Miami Heat's. Set side by side, no one viewing that list could conclude Miami's post-trade personnel is better.

Having failed to persuade Giannis of the obvious, they should pivot to a spacing center like Onyeka Okongwu. His development as a stretch option this past season makes him an ideal successor to the Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis types that produced such success in Boston.

Lastly, we have to honor the noise about Trey Murphy III becoming a target now that Antetokounmpo is off the table. Murphy put up 21.5 points per game and hit 37.9 percent of his deep attempts with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2025-26 and would give Boston even more length on the perimeter.

Brooklyn Nets

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1. Fred VanVleet
2. Ausar Thompson
3. Zaccharie Risacher

Austin Reaves was a fun idea until he agreed to return to the Lakers on a hefty deal, as was Coby White before he returned to the Charlotte Hornets.

Brooklyn didn't find its floor leader in last year's draft, though not for lack of trying. Given the unlikelihood that rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is ready to take on that role this season, maybe the Nets should try to poach VanVleet, who most expect to stick with the Houston Rockets via player option or a new deal. Brooklyn can offer big money on a shot-term contract like the one FVV inked with the Rockets initially.

Thompson is a reach, but maybe the Detroit Pistons could be convinced Michael Porter Jr. is the answer to their offensive problems. If Detroit isn't sold on Thompson's shooting, the Nets could swap Porter in a deal for one of the top young defenders in the league.

Risacher is here because the Hawks just took Aaron Wiggins into cap space and brought back CJ McCollum, further jumbling a wing rotation that Risacher had already fallen out of. A change of scenery might serve the former No. 1 overall pick.

Charlotte Hornets

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1. Jabari Smith Jr.
2. Aaron Gordon
3. Ausar Thompson

We're fixated on the Charlotte Hornets' frontcourt, which already got an exciting upgrade with Naz Reid joining the center platoon of Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Why stop there?

Now featuring Coby White instead of the traded LaMelo Ball, the talent on the current roster is probably enough to get the Hornets back to a mid-40s win total, or perhaps a bit beyond that if the high-scoring guards and wings take collective steps forward.

Ultimately, Charlotte could still use some defensive oomph on its front line without sacrificing spacing or versatility. Smith and Gordon achieve that, and Thompson rounds out the list strictly on the strength of his defense. He won't provide any perimeter stretch, but his ability to handle any tough assignment between point guard and power forward would free up the team's top offensive talents to focus on what they do best.

Chicago Bulls

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1. Dereck Lively II
2. Mitchell Robinson
3. Robert Williams III

Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain give the Chicago Bulls one of the most widely approved draft classes of the offseason, but those two could probably use more reliable back-line help than trade acquisition Nic Claxton can provide on his own.

That's why Chicago should utilize some of its cap space to snag one of either Robinson or Williams. It may not take more than the mid-level exception to acquire either veteran big man, each of whom would fit into what's looking like the athletic, defensive identity the Bulls are building.

Lively would have to be brought in via trade, and there's probably a case that his ongoing health issues make him as unreliable as either of the two veteran targets we've listed. The youth and upside still warrant No. 1 positioning. Career averages of 13.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per 36 minutes are worth chasing, especially in a player entering his age-22 season.

Cleveland Cavaliers

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1. Ron Holland
2. Justin Champagnie
3. Grayson Allen

Antetokounmpo never made any sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers if getting him required giving up Evan Mobley (which it would have), so we're fixating on a familiar hole in the roster.

Cleveland needs someone to defend and/or space at the 3, and it'd be ideal if that player could do at least one of those things at an elite level.

Holland is a defensive menace who's still just 20 years old. In his two NBA seasons, he's racked up steals and altercations while running the floor and rebounding at high rates for a wing. It's way too early to conclude he'll never straighten out his jumper, and he'd immediately be the guy tasked with checking the opponent's best scoring threat in the backcourt or on the wing.

Justin Champagnie doesn't bring the one-dimensional highs Holland does, but he's a well-rounded option who can defend and space. He'd also come at a far cheaper price.

Grayson Allen's $16.8 million salary would be scary for the Cavs and their proximity to the second apron, but at least landing him would mean sending out Dennis Schroder, a guard the Suns could talk themselves into wanting. Allen is an irritating defender and one of the best three-point shooters of the last half-decade.

Dallas Mavericks

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1. Jaylen Brown
2. Scoot Henderson
3. Their Own Picks

If Brown is going to be dealt, the Mavs would be remiss in not taking a crack at him. Though adding a pricey vet would cut against Dallas' youth-driven reorientation around Cooper Flagg and former Michigan head coach Dusty May, the potential of Flagg, Brown and Kyrie Irving together is hard to dismiss.

That'd be a big swing, probably not one the Mavericks are ready to make. But we need to note that they've got the mid-tier deals necessary—Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Daniel Gafford—to replenish Boston's depth in a deal.

Henderson would be a high-upside flier to succeed the 34-year-old Irving.

If Dallas can't add on-court talent, it wouldn't be the worst idea to pursue some of its own picks. It currently lacks control of its next four first-rounders, and those would be useful in future trades to upgrade the roster around Flagg.

Denver Nuggets

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1. Jrue Holiday
2. Jabari Smith Jr.
3. Bogdan Bogdanović

The Nuggets need to improve defensively, restock their draft capital and add athleticism to keep up with their bouncier competition in the West. Sending Jamal Murray to the Blazers for a package centered around Jrue Holiday and a couple of first-round picks accomplishes two of those goals. If Scoot Henderson is also part of the return, that's three-for-three.

Holiday has rings with two different teams and would add the defensive stability Denver needs.

Jabari Smith Jr. would change Denver's makeup by adding more shooting, youth and defense at a frontcourt spot. He's probably not available unless Aaron Gordon goes out or Peyton Watson winds up in a sign-and-trade.

Bogdan Bogdanović doesn't address any of Denver's real issues unless you're concerned with tertiary ball-handling. But perhaps the Nuggets have reached a point where keeping Nikola Jokić happy by acquiring a Serbian countryman makes sense.

Detroit Pistons

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1. Kyrie Irving
2. Michael Porter Jr.
3. Zach LaVine

It's not hard to see the through line in the Detroit Pistons' three targets: All of them would boost a half-court offense that too often fell flat—both during the regular season and during the playoffs.

Irving is the biggest prize here, a battle-tested champion who'll go down as one of the most gifted offensive weapons of his generation. His craft on the ball is second to none, and he brings the added benefit of elite three-point shooting (career 39.4 percent) to space the floor around sets run by Cade Cunningham.

If he's not available in trade, Detroit should turn to MPJ next. He's not a creator of Irving's caliber, but the $40 million forward would basically do everything Tobias Harris did at a much higher level. An expiring contract would lower the price and keep the commitment casual in case things don't fit seamlessly.

LaVine is a little like MPJ in that he'd come with a fat, one-year salary and provide shooting. Allergic to defense and on the wrong side of 30, he's a clear third option behind the other two.

Golden State Warriors

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1. LeBron James
2. Kawhi Leonard
3. Trey Murphy III

Maybe it's a surprise to see LeBron James ahead of Kawhi Leonard, but you have to consider the cost of acquisition. If James shakes loose from the Lakers in free agency, the Golden State Warriors would likely be limited to paying him the mid-level exception. That's preferable to sending out the draft equity it'd require to get Leonard, probably with Jimmy Butler's expiring salary in the mix.

James would bring all his passing acumen, know-how and experience to a team that is firmly in a win-now posture. If his three-ball is falling, the fit with Draymond Green won't be an issue up front.

Trey Murphy III is a decade younger than Leonard and would slot more neatly into the "have it both ways" mold Golden State tends to chase. He'd help in the short term and have a realistic future on the post-Stephen Curry version of the team. That's part of the reason he'd likely cost more than Leonard to acquire via trade.

Houston Rockets

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1. Jaylen Brown
2. Trey Murphy III
3. Tyler Herro

Brown shows up yet again as a top target, which is going to happen a lot now that he's replaced Giannis atop the Trade Speculation Leaderboard. Maybe it's controversial, but the Rockets need to consider flipping Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengün for the former Finals MVP.

Murphy would fit into a more of a high-end role player position, adding badly needed spacing and giving Houston somewhere to go besides Kevin Durant when in need of late-game offense.

Ditto for Herro. He might be a keeper for the Bucks, but he could also provide fourth-quarter offensive juice to help get Houston score in ways that don't rely on offensive rebounds.

Indiana Pacers

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1. Kevin Porter Jr.
2. Tim Hardaway Jr.
3. Khris Middleton

Kevin Porter Jr. (player option) would fill the scoring void that opened when Bennedict Mathurin went to the LA Clippers in the deal for Ivica Zubac and might be gettable for Jarace Walker, who'll make about $3 million more this coming season.

The Indiana Pacers are less than $1 million from the tax and rarely go into it.

Hardaway is another potential trade target who could come cheaply.

It's unclear how much the soon-to-be 35-year-old Middleton has left, but he shot it well enough in 16 post-trade games with the Mavs last year to warrant some free-agent interest. If both Walker and Ben Sheppard are out of Indy's plans, a little veteran savvy and mid-range wing scoring from Middleton could go a long way.

LA Clippers

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1. Myles Turner
2. Mitchell Robinson
3. Robert Williams III

Brook Lopez (team option) can still provide decent backup minutes, but the LA Clippers need someone capable of replacing traded starter Ivica Zubac in the middle.

Turner figures to be available now that the Bucks have traded Giannis, importantly bringing back Kel'el Ware from Miami on his rookie-scale deal. Even in a down year, Turner shot 38.3 percent from deep with Milwaukee last season and is on a reasonable salary that pays him a little over $27 million on average until a player option in 2028-29.

Robinson and Williams would come cheaper than that in free agency but aren't as durable as Turner. Given Lopez will be entering his age-38 season and might not even be back if LA decides he's not worth his $9.2 million option, it'd be best to view those two as high-end backups.

Los Angeles Lakers

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1. Walker Kessler
2. Robert Williams III
3. Peyton Watson

If we exclude the Los Angeles Lakers' own free agents from the list, offseason shopping has to begin with a lob-catching, rim-protecting center.

Luka Dončić wants one of those, which should be enough of a reason on its own, but that priority would be the same even if the Lakers' centerpiece wasn't clamoring for a roll man. Maybe Kessler doesn't quite qualify as the "A-list" center Dončić prefers, but he's close enough and would come cheaper than fellow restricted free agent Jalen Duren.

Williams would be a solid backup plan, albeit one that would probably require the Lakers to go out and get another 5 to hold in reserve. RWIII's lack of durability is a known issue, but he's a terrific defender, roller and passer when healthy.

Three-and-D wings are musts on any Dončić led team, and Watson fits the bill. He hit 41.1 percent of his threes a year ago and has the length and athleticism to cover several positions. The Lakers aren't going to get him and Kessler because the combined cost would be too high, not to mention the way cash gets tied up with offer sheets. But as a fallback, Watson would be a major upgrade.

Memphis Grizzlies

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1. Neutral Value for Ja Morant
2. Scoot Henderson
3. Zion Williamson

The Memphis Grizzlies' absolute top priority needs to be moving on from Ja Morant, but doing so without giving up draft assets or a young player as sweeteners continues to look difficult. Still, the Grizzlies probably don't want to get themselves into a situation where they're basically keeping Morant around but paying him not to play.

Forget acquiring assets. If Memphis can simply swap Morant for similarly iffy salary, that's a win.

Assuming Morant is a goner, the Grizzlies could use a high-upside point guard to make a rotation that includes Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Walter Clayton Jr. and two-way standout Javon Small a little more interesting.

Williamson may not be available, but maybe Memphis could get New Orleans' attention by attaching a ton of assets to Morant.

Miami Heat

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1. Tim Hardaway Jr.
2. Bradley Beal
3. Bones Hyland

The Miami Heat got Giannis Antetokounmpo, but it cost a full lineup's worth of players, every last pick they had and a complete abandonment of roster flexibility.

The Heat are hard-capped at the first apron. Filling out their open roster spots with minimums would leave about $12 million to re-sign Norman Powell, which probably won't be enough.

Maybe there's some maneuvering to be done, but this is a scenario where Miami simply has to hope it can address its lack of shooting and backcourt playmaking by reeling in veterans willing to take less than market value for big roles on a theoretical contender. It's hard to view Miami as anything more than a mid-tier playoff team in the East, but let's embrace that fiction for a moment.

Every name on our list can either opt into or expect more than a minimum salary in free agency. Miami needs to hope Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo can attract players willing to take pay cuts.

Milwaukee Bucks

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1. Future Firsts
2. Cody Williams
3. Zaccharie Risacher

They got three firsts and a swap in the deal that finally allowed them to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo, but why should the Milwaukee Bucks stop there?

Tyler Herro could return another future first if Milwaukee shops him, as could Kel'el Ware. It seems like Kasparas Jakucionis is a keeper, but maybe the Bucks would prefer another distant pick over the young guard.

After additional draft equity, Milwaukee should be open to taking chances on recent lottery picks who haven't exactly popped with the teams that selected them. Risacher and Williams are just two examples. The Bucks should take looks at virtually any rookie-scale option that might only be a change of scenery away from delivering on expectations.

Minnesota Timberwolves

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1. Dean Wade
2. Harrison Barnes
3. Isaiah Stewart

The LaMelo Ball trade fundamentally changed the Minnesota Timberwolves, effectively turning a crowded frontcourt into a wasteland.

Jaden McDaniels can absolutely play the 4, and Rudy Gobert can still get it done at elite levels on D. But there's a distinct lack of bulk and depth in the rotation unless Joan Beringer's development accelerates.

Maybe the taxpayer MLE would be enough to land Harrison Barnes or Dean Wade. Either would be serviceable depth options at a suddenly thin position.

Josh Green and Terrence Shannon Jr. would give the Wolves enough matching salary to get Isaiah Stewart from the Grizzlies, but that assumes they're willing to re-route him just days after sending second-rounders to land the former Pistons backup.

New Orleans Pelicans

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1. Myles Turner
2. Isaiah Stewart
3. Sam Hauser

The New Orleans Pelicans' offseason shopping list has centers at the top.

Neither Derik Queen nor Zion Williamson is viable at that position on a full-time basis, which also means any 5 the Pels pursue must come with some level of outside shooting. Those two ball-handling forwards need space to operate as drivers and passers, and they won't get it unless the Pelicans have a big man capable of dragging the opposing center out of the lane once in a while.

Turner would do that best, while Stewart (if re-routed from Memphis) would come at a lower cost. Both figure to be available in trade.

If New Orleans can't land a big man to space the floor, it could pivot to someone who could unclog the paint at a different position. Hauser's entire career is based on the threat of his jumper, and he can get it off on the move or at a standstill. If Boston intends to make significant changes, or if it merely wants to trim some salary, he could shake loose and give the Pelicans what they need.

New York Knicks

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1. Justin Champagnie
2. Quinten Post
3. Josh Okogie

Resources will be extremely limited for the New York Knicks, who held onto Mo Diawara but probably can't retain Mitchell Robinson (let alone Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado) without going over the second apron.

As far as outside help goes, we've got a variety pack of potential minimum signings here, with Champagnie most likely coming in above that salary range. He'd be a terrific fit as a two-way wing behind Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby but would need to be a trade acquisition unless the Wizards waive his $2.7 million non-guaranteed salary.

Post striped it from deep as a rookie (40.8 percent) but fell to 33.6 percent last season. Defenses honor his shooting, which is really all that matters at the 5. A restricted free agent, Post could slip away from the Dubs if they aim higher at center.

Okogie started 32 of the 78 games he played for Houston last season and can still bring it on D and as an offensive rebounder. Maybe he could give Josh Hart a few more breaks on a minimum salary.

Oklahoma City Thunder

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1. Future Picks
2. Naji Marshall
3. Max Christie

The Thunder have too many players as it is after hanging onto their pair of first-rounders, and the second apron means they can't aggregate salaries in a trade to reshape the roster in two-for-one or three-for-one exchanges.

As a means of cost control, OKC could flip imminent picks for more distant ones.

If the Thunder actually want to swing a deal for a player, Dallas should be high on the call list. By offering to send back the swap rights it holds on the Mavs' 2028 first-rounder, Oklahoma City could pretty easily get a deal done. Marshall might be good enough to see rotation minutes and makes about $8 million less than Lu Dort's team option for 2026-27, while Christie could be a defense-stretching option for even less than that.

Orlando Magic

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1. Ryan Rollins
2. Anfernee Simons
3. Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Orlando Magic need to get cheaper and add shooting, which isn't going to be easy. If they pay only the $8 million portion of Jonathan Isaac's partial guarantee and turn Jalen Suggs into Ryan Rollins, they'll trim about $36 million from their 2026-27 payroll. That won't be enough to get out of the tax unless they renounce all their free-agent holds, but it's a start.

Rollins is on a dirt-cheap deal and played like an upper middle-class starter last season. Suggs is a better player on balance because of his defense, but the Magic need help on the other end and haven't been able to count on his availability.

Simons won't be available at the minimum, but maybe the Magic will shuffle up the roster enough to use one of the mid-level exceptions. Failing that, Hardaway could be a solid trade option as long as Orlando believes he can match the 40.7 percent he shot from deep last year.

Philadelphia 76ers

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1. Justin Champagnie
2. Khris Middleton
3. Jock Landale

If both Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes leave in free agency, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a real depth issue on the wing but perhaps a good way to address it via the full mid-level exception.

The taxpayer MLE could be available if the Sixers bring back one of the two.

Neither Middleton nor Landale would require Philadelphia to use the full mid-level, but they could address shortages at the wing and backup center, respectively. If Landale's hot streaks from deep are real, he'd bring a new dimension behind Joel Embiid and would prevent Dominick Barlow from having to play center at a size disadvantage.

Champagnie is the most intriguing of the trio but would probably only be available via trade once the Wizards pick up his non-guaranteed $2.7 million salary for 2026-27.

Phoenix Suns

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1. Zion Williamson
2. Kawhi Leonard
3. Adult-in-the-room Center

Phoenix's first two targets are ambitious, as either Williamson or Kawhi would substantially upgrade the firepower at forward. Based on the Suns' offseason moves to this point, which included re-signing both Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin to multi-year deals, it appears most of the backcourt spots will be spoken for.

Everyone likes veteran Royce O'Neale and 23-year-old Ryan Dunn well enough alongside Dillon Brooks, but Phoenix needs to apply more rim pressure if it wants to improve on a somewhat lucky No. 16 finish in offensive efficiency.

Williamson would certainly help there, while Leonard would augment the offense in another way by pairing with Devin Booker to further dominate in the mid-range area.

Mark Williams will be back, but perhaps only because Phoenix wanted to preserve his salary slot as a trade asset. The Suns should feel pretty good about Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach handling things on their own. A third-stringer with lots of experience and some locker-room clout would help both young bigs develop without eating into their playing time.

Think Bismack Biyombo or Mason Plumlee.

Portland Trail Blazers

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1. Jamal Murray
2. Trey Murphy III
3. John Collins

A deal that swaps Jamal Murray and Jrue Holiday could help both the Blazers and Nuggets by adding high-volume perimeter scoring to the former and stabilizing defense to the latter. Such a trade would probably cost Portland picks, and it's unlikely Murphy would be gettable without draft capital headed to New Orleans.

The Blazers were arguably the worst three-point shooting team in the league last year when accounting for volume. They attempted treys at the sixth highest rate and hit them at the fifth lowest, so you can see the utility of Murray and Murphy, a pair of devastating outside threats.

Whether or not Portland makes a major upgrade via trade, it should look to Collins with the mid-level exception. He's 28, can play the 4 while guarding wings and is coming off two straight seasons shooting at least 39.9 percent from deep. Maybe it's a stretch to say he'll only cost the MLE, but the Blazers could certainly use him if they're able to move off of Jerami Grant's deal.

Sacramento Kings

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1. Kenrich Williams
2. Tidjane Salaün
3. Simone Fontecchio

Even if they waive and stretch the $10 million portion of DeMar DeRozan's contract that is guaranteed, the Sacramento Kings will only have the tax-payer midlevel exception available in free agency. Maybe that'll be enough to reel in Williams or Fontecchio, though the former would need the Thunder to decline his team option first.

Salaün is a trade candidate who might be more expendable in Charlotte now that Naz Reid is in the fold. Grant Williams is another option if the Kings make Malik Monk available in trade.

Prior to Sacramento adding Darius Acuff Jr. in the draft, the emphasis here would have been on adding to the backcourt. Now, the Kings should make sure Acuff gets all the reps he can while building out a forward rotation that stops being interesting once you get past redemption candidate Keegan Murray.

San Antonio Spurs

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1. Trey Murphy III
2. OG Anunoby
3. Matisse Thybulle

Murphy makes sense just about anywhere, but his high-volume three-point shooting, youth and athleticism make him an ideal upgrade to a San Antonio Spurs rotation that could use a rangier option in its forward rotation.

Were the Spurs to aim higher, OG Anunoby would improve the roster even more. He'd come at an extremely high cost and might not be attainable from a Knicks team that wouldn't want to improve the squad it just beat in the Finals, which is why he slots behind Murphy. Anunoby is the superior player, but would be a highly implausible get.

Lastly, we're going deeper down the free-agent rankings by listing Matisse Thybulle. Availability has been an issue over the last two seasons, but the disruptive forward was mostly healthy prior to 2024 and would bring one of the highest steal rates in modern NBA history to a defense whose back line (Victor Wembanyama) encourages maximum perimeter risk-taking.

Toronto Raptors

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1. Kyrie Irving
2. De'Aaron Fox
3. Domantas Sabonis

Relatively speaking, offense is the problem for the Toronto Raptors. They finished 13th in points scored per possession and seventh in points allowed last year.

Addressing the attack starts with acquiring a lead guard who can create shots for himself and others, two tasks Irving can certainly handle. Fox is the less preferable option, but the Spurs might even be willing to attach an asset to get off his max extension so they can hand the keys to Dylan Harper.

Sabonis isn't a perfect target and has massive flaws on defense, but it's possible the Kings would take back Jakob Poeltl in the exchange. Though more costly at $45 million this year and $48.6 million in 2027-28, Sabonis can function as an offensive hub and comes off the books sooner than Poeltl, whose extension runs all the way through 2030.

Utah Jazz

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1. Keon Ellis
2. Matisse Thybulle
3. Dean Wade

Assuming Walker Kessler returns in restricted free agency, the Utah Jazz will be able to make up for some of their shakier perimeter defenders by always having a ton of length on the floor. At the same time, it never hurts to have a disruptive force who can frustrate opposing wings in space.

Ellis is a more of a 2 than a 3, but he can guard just about any ball-handler who isn't forward-sized, while Thybulle does his best work as a ball hawk in the passing lanes.

Wade is an extremely low-usage option with a ton of defensive versatility and more size at 6'9" than either Ellis or Thybulle. If the Jazz wanted to double down on sheer height at every non-backcourt position, he'd further that aim without taking touches away from the team's more dangerous offensive options.

Washington Wizards

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1. Nic Claxton
2. Robert Williams III
3. Someone over 25

Alex Sarr is already injured and Anthony Davis probably will be at some point early in the 2026-27 season, so the Washington Wizards would do well to find some center depth beyond Tristan Vukcevic.

Claxton has already changed teams once, but maybe the Wizards could stick their nose into an expanded version of the deal that sent him to Chicago, offering up some combination of the six salaries they have between $5 million and $9 million. Sending out multiple players for one would also clear some logjams on a roster that might be full enough to create playing time issues.

Williams might not be available for the mid-level, but he's worth a look even if his health history isn't any better than Davis'.

With 10 players under contract who are 23 or younger, Washington might need an adult in the room. Neither Trae Young nor AD are regarded as sage-like figures, and 33-year-old Anthony Gill is a free agent.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.