Hi all,

3 team trade for you all today - one I think makes sense for all parties! In this scenario we have Pascal Siakam heading to Dallas who sacrifice some of their depth and pick flexibility for a genuine third star who instantly becomes the best defender on the team. Zach LaVine is joined by Patrick Williams and Josh Green in an overhaul that optimises the roster around star player Scottie Barnes. Chicago takes on some bad money but they deal two downtrodden assets in exchange for a healthy haul of picks, a young asset and a resign-able starting level shooting guard. Here’s why each team makes the trade:

Dallas: So, this is a little confusing because I don’t think the Mavs need a third offensive star. In this scenario they’re still blessed with their guard tandem of Kyrie and Luka. They maintain kick off the bench with THJ, Seth Curry and Jaden Hardy to bolster lineups when Luka sits so why move for a 20+ PPG scorer?

I think Derrick Jones Jr. has been a wonderful pick up for the Mavericks, fitting into simplified role providing them a last minute Mattise Thybulle replacement when they’re didn’t look to be one in sight. But, Pascal is basically better at everything and would fill a major hole that the Mavericks currently have within their roster construction. Grant Williams can put up decent effort against Giannis and KD but he isn’t your typical high level wing defender. The Mavericks don’t have one and with Kyrie and Luka heading up the back court this is a team in dire need of that archetype; so… look around the league. Who can they get to scratch that itch? OG Anunoby? Mikail Bridges? Way too expensive from an asset perspective. Thybulle (in a year)? Alex Caruso? Herb Jones? They’re either too important to their current teams, too small or a negative on the offensive end. To me Pascal is their best option to fill that archetype. They should go all in on Siakam, complicate their actions with a high post hub/elbow operator in the Cameroonian but really focus on him channeling that defensive energy, keeping the offence red hot while making them a slightly more capable playoff defence.

Raptors: I’d love this for the Raptors. You’re replacing Siakam with three 40% shooters from deep, two of which have some juice on the ball and two that can defend at a pretty capable level.

LaVine and Green seem super complementary to Barnes who has so many skills that you need versatile offensive players around him. This is a pretty all in move but a core of:

Barnes, LaVine, Anunoby, Barnes, Poeltl- Schroeder, Green, Williams, Precious and of course Dick is versatile, deep and optimised to get the best out of Scottie now and in the future.

Bulls: 2 unprotected picks, a lightly protected first, O-Max, Gary Trent and some admittedly less than ideal salary filler feels like a haul to me for Williams who hasn’t agreed to a contract extension and has started the season pretty dismally and LaVine who’s as polarising a star as anyone in the league. With this construction the Bulls can still field a functional team with Trent and Porter slotting in to replace LaVine and Williams or you sell off DeRozan, Caruso and Vucevic in a full tear down - kickstarting what feels like a long overdue rebuild.

What’re your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.