This is a 5-way trade that helps the Pacers get rid of Hield, the Magic to take their next step, the Mavericks to get their center, the Hawks to get a true running partner with Trae and the Raptors a way to save their 2024 pick. ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Reasoning for the Orlando Magic
Orlando recieve: Buddy Hield
Orlando give up: Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, 2025 DEN FRP (lottery protected)
Why they do this: The Magic desperately need a starting SG that can add shooting to the team, and Buddy Hield is exactly that. The franchise is almost done with their tanking process and is ready to slowly get into the playoff picture again, and trading away Anthony who had a great season but would be third-string PG behind Black and insignificant assets for the second best shooter is a good way to start.
The Magic Depth Chart
PG - Markelle Fultz │ Anthony Black
SG - Buddy Hield │ Jalen Suggs
SF - Franz Wagner │ Jett Howard
PF - Paolo Banchero │ Jonathan Isaac
C - Wendell Carter Jr. │ Moritz Wagner
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Reasoning for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana recieve: OG Anunoby, Gary Harris, Cole Anthony, 2025 DEN FRP (lottery protected)
Indiana give up: Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell, Daniel Theis, 2024 FRP via OKC, LAC, HOU or UTA, 2025 DEN FRP (lottery protected), 2027 IND FRP (unprotected)
Why they do this: Indiana, like Orlando, are near the end of their tanking process and are ready to cash in their picks for players that can help them compete. OG Anunoby fits that description perfectly as an ideal 2nd option beside Tyrese and form a defensive wall with Brown, Walker and Turner. Their bench and especially their backcourt rotation would become one of the best in the league.
The Pacers Depth Chart
PG - Tyrese Haliburton │ Cole Anthony
SG - Bruce Brown │ Benedict Mathurin
SF - OG Anunoby │ Gary Harris
PF - Jarace Walker │ Obi Toppin
C - Myles Turner │ Isaiah Jackson
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Reasoning for the Mavericks
Dallas recieve: Clint Capela, Otto Porter Jr.
Dallas give up: 2027 DAL FRP (top 5 protected), Richaun Holmes, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Why they do this: It's been no secret that the Mavs want a solid reliable big after the frustrations they had with Dwight Powell at the end of their season. Capela is the definition of that - a great rebounder who averages well over a block per game and almost a steal per game too. In this trade they also get off of Holmes's terrible contract and Hardaway's contract which isn't great either for more cap flexibility next season.
The Mavericks Depth Chart
PG - Luka Doncic │ Jaden Hardy
SG - Kyrie Irving │ Seth Curry
SF - Josh Green │ Otto Porter Jr.
PF - Grant Williams │ Maxi Kleber
C - Clint Capela │ Dereck Lively II
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Reasoning for the Hawks
Atlanta recieve: Pascal Siakam, Thaddeus Young, Richaun Holmes, Malachi Flynn
Atlanta give up: 2024 SAC FRP, 2029 ATL FRP (top 8 protected), AJ Griffin, Clint Capela, De'Andre Hunter
Why they do this: Trade offers have been stalling because Siakam was on an expiring deal and even though they would have bird rights on him, he was a flight risk. In this trade he's extended and then traded, hence locking him up at least contractually for the next 4 years, but at the cost of taking on two expiring and one 2-year contracts that take up a lot of their cap space. Giving up Capela does mean that Onyeka finally gets his starting spot to show why the Hawks used a lottery pick on him.
The Hawks Depth Chart
PG - Trae Young │ Kobe Bufkin
SG - Dejounte Murray │ Bogdan Bogdanovic
SF - Saddiq Bey │ Jalen Johnson
PF - Pascal Siakam │ Thaddeus Young
C - Onyeka Okongwu │ Richaun Holmes
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Reasoning for the Raptors
Toronto recieve: De'Andre Hunter, Tim Hardaway Jr, Daniel Theis, TJ McConnell, AJ Griffin, 2024 SAC FRP, 2029 ATL FRP (top 8 protected), 2027 DAL FRP (top 5 protected), 2025 DEN FRP (lottery protected), 2024 FRP via OKC, LAC, HOU or UTA, 2027 IND FRP (unprotected)
Toronto give up: Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Thaddeus Young, Malaichi Flynn, Otto Porter Jr.
Why they do this: The Raptors need to choose a direction - they don't really have the team to compete for a ring or the assets to build a team like that and by giving up their pick next year to the Spurs for Poeltl, they look like they don't want to tank either. In this trade they choose the latter and build a team so bad they might be able to salvage their pick with the 1-6 protection and also get 6 FRPs as well as two young players to build around Barnes. The returns are great for two players that they might have lost in free agency this year.
The Raptors Depth Chart
PG - Dennis Schroder │ T.J. McConnell
SG - Gary Trent Jr. │ Gradey Dick
SF - De'Andre Hunter │ Tim Hardaway Jr.
PF - Scottie Barnes │ Chris Boucher
C - Jakob Poeltl │ Daniel Theis
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Anything that I could have done better? Let me know in the comments.