(Trading on Spotrac works), With the new rule, the draft will reward mediocrity (our favorite place to be), so we need to focus on good players with terrible contracts on teams that aim to compete, so we can get picks and have players who don't help you win titles, but keep you from being a total wreck.
Let's move on to the trades (The picks in the images are almost all wrong, because Fanspo is not updated):
The Raptors receive Valanciunas and they give in Poeltl, G.Dick, 2027frp top4 protect and 2026srp. With this move, the Raptors receive a very good and experienced center (Valanciunas), free up cap space for extensions and free agency moves, and most importantly, get rid of one of the worst contracts in the league (Poeltl). To do this, they give up a good player who isn't working out in Toronto (G. Dick) and give up two draft picks (this year's 50th pick and Toronto's 2027 FRP Top 4 Protect).
The Nuggets receive J.Smith and they give in C.Johnson, Valanciunas, Z.Nnaji and 2028srp (only if it land from 31 to 33). This is the result of a series of moves, the first involving C.Johnson, who goes to Portland and allows Denver to acquire 1frp, which is then turned over, in the second move, to Chicago, which absorbs the excess contracts to facilitate this trade. By doing so, the Nuggets add an excellent defender to complement Jokic (J.Smith), manage to re-sign P.Watson for figures around €20m, free themselves of needlessly burdensome contracts and align themselves with the €201m luxury tax so they can make further moves in free agency.
The Blazers receive C.Johnson, C.Sexton and R.Dillingham and they give in J.Grant and 2frp top4 protect (most and least favoreble of BOS, MIL and POR in the 2029 draft). Portland has proven to be a young, strong and growing team, and getting rid of Grant's terrible contract (despite him being a good player) and adding three quality players who will expand the roster and keep the starting five high-quality could be the winning move (also considering Lillard's return).
The Grizzlies receive A.Simons and G.Dick and they give in K.Caldwell-Pope and 1frp (most favorable of CLE, MIN and UTA in the 2027 draft). Unlike the three teams we've already discussed, Memphis risks falling to the bottom of the standings, and considering it's located in the West, it absolutely must take action; getting rid of a veteran's heavy contract and adding two young, high-scoring players could be the first of a series of moves the Grizzlies must make to avoid entering a loop that will be difficult to escape.
The Bulls receive J.Grant, K.Caldwell-Pope, J.Poeltl, Z.Nnaji, 4frp and 2srp and they give in J.Smith, R.Dillingham and sign and trade C.Sexton and A.Simons. All these moves are designed to allow Chicago to acquire as many draft picks as possible and build a play-in roster where they can develop their young players. Beyond these trades, the next move is to waive and stretch P.Williams' contract over five years.