The NBA season is coming to a close, and for many teams, they are already looking for ways to improve for the next season, especially with the draft lottery finished and only 2 teams remaining in the NBA playoffs. Here are some of the top potential trades that could happen this offseason that would shake up the league.
Damian Lillard to the Philadelphia 76ers
This trade sends Damian Lillard and CJ Elleby to Philly for Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, and three future first round picks. Although it seems like a lot for Philadelphia to give up, they would have easily been able to win the eastern conference this year if they had Lillard. Simmons couldn’t score by himself, and he sometimes didn’t even play in the last 5 minutes of close games. With frustration rising in Philly, this blockbuster makes sense for them as they try to build a championship team around Joel Embiid, as Damian could put the Sixers over the top in the East. On the other side, the Blazers would receive Ben Simmons, who would fit perfectly in the Portland offense as C.J. McCollum would become the primary scorer. The added defense to the Portland team could make them a threat in the Western Conference, and now with more depth as they add Maxey and Milton. They could also find great talent with the future first round picks, meaning they have the chance to rebuild also if things go wrong.
Joel Embiid to the Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are looking to win now, whether that means drafting NBA-ready prospects or trading their young pieces for a star veteran. This trade involves Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, a future first round pick, and the 7th and 14th overall picks in this year's draft. In return, the Warriors receive Embiid (and Gary Clark, who is just a salary cap filler). If the 76ers fail to ship Ben Simmons away, Embiid may force his way out by demanding a trade, which would force Philadelphia into rebuild mode. Andrew Wiggins is coming off arguably the best season of his career, and the Sixers could build on his growing potential. James Wiseman, the 2nd overall pick in last year's draft, showed great promise in his rookie season and has one of the highest ceilings of any player in the NBA. For the Warriors, this trade would automatically make them the title favorites, as they would have two MVP-caliber players in Curry and Embiid, and two all-star level players with championship pedigree, in Thompson and Green.
Kristaps Porzingis - Myles Turner Swap
With the issues in the front office that the Mavericks have been dealing with, it is only right that they trade Kristaps Porzingis. Rather than having a center whose job is to spot up for threes, the Mavericks could have a rim rolling center with a dominant inside game, along with a bigger defensive presence. Myles Turner provides all of these things, and a potential trade could include him and Justin Holiday for Kristaps Porzingis and a future second round pick. Turner’s inside game has been very consistent, and he and Luka could master the pick and roll game the same way Trae Young and Clint Capela have. With more athleticism from Turner, he can easily catch lobs and finish, and also have great defensive impact, who had a whopping 3.4 blocks per game in the 2020-21 NBA season. Justin Holiday is also another ball handler that could help when teams key in on Luka. For the Pacers, Kristaps could provide more spacing. With Sabonis dominating inside, Kristaps could use his outside game to be more of a threat. A more consistent shooter than Myles Turner, Porzingis could make defenses key in on him more on the outside, while he also gets back to his consistent inside game.
Bradley Beal to the Atlanta Hawks
Even though the Hawks almost made the NBA finals this season, they need to acquire another star player to stay in contention next season. This trade sends all-star Wizards guard Bradley Beal to Atlanta for Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Cam Reddish, and two future first round picks. It puts the Wizards in rebuild mode, and they would probably have to trade Gallinari and possibly Russell Westbrook to make sure that they have high picks in upcoming drafts. They receive good pieces for the future in Cam Reddish and two future first rounders, to go along with their young players like Rui Hachimura and Deni Avidja. This trade puts the Hawks atop the eastern conference, as they add an elite scorer next to Trae Young. Beal would take a lot of pressure off Trae Young, and would keep the Hawks in the game when Young needs rest. Young and Beal would be one of the best scoring backcourts in the league, and with dominant inside forces like John Collins and Clint Capela, Atlanta would be a scary force in the Eastern Conference.
James Wiseman - Christian Wood Swap
The Warriors send former 2nd overall pick James Wiseman and a future first round pick for Rockets center Christian Wood. This trade makes sense for both sides, as the Warriors are trying to find a piece to win now, while the Rockets are trying to rebuild. Adding Wiseman to Kevin Porter Jr. and whoever the Rockets draft with the second overall pick (presumably Jalen Green) could prove to be a dangerous trio in the future. With the Rockets acquiring many future first round picks through the James Harden trade, they could be in line for many years of Western Conference success to come. For the Warriors, Christian Wood is a great center who can spread the floor and provide scoring relief. He is also decent at defense, but that is not his strength. With an experienced player like Wood and the return of Klay Thompson, the Warriors would have a starting lineup that could match any team in the league. Steph could have an even bigger impact this year as defenses now have to be aware of Klay and Wood on the offensive side. This would make the Warriors the top team in the Western Conference again.
Pascal Siakam - CJ McCollum Swap
Dame is clearly unhappy in Portland, and they need to surround him with pieces that better fit his playstyle and the team’s needs. The backcourt of C.J. McCollum and Lillard hasn’t gotten the Blazers a win in the Western Conference Finals, so one of the two has to go. Siakam is the exact player the Blazers need, as he is an extremely versatile forward on the defensive end, who’s athleticism also allows him to run the floor and score consistently inside. The Blazers already have many shooters, and need defense if they want to take their team to the next level. Siakam’s slashing ability is a great complement to Lillard’s ball-dominant style, unlike McCollum’s fit with Dame. C.J. McCollum is also a good fit in Toronto, as Kyle Lowry will likely leave in free agency. McCollum is a streaky, but often dangerous iso-scorer, and would benefit greatly off of Fred VanVleet’s elite spot-up shooting.
Comments