Note: It says trade failed, because Melton cannot be traded until Thursday, so in like 29 hours from time of publishing. Trade would be legal before the deadline.
Pelicans get rid of two thirds of their big 3 and retool
Suns land a third star that they are desperate for
Heat send off a star who is currently a locker room killer and get some value back
Raptors get their guy who they are chasing to pair with Barnes and Quickley
Nets get some picks
Suns
Jimmy Butler has said that he will only sign an extension with the Suns. This is the obvious move and the trade above is one way that they can make it happen. They only give up Beal (assuming of course he waives his NTC) and a few picks.
Lineup
PG: Tyus Jones / Monte Morris
SG: Devin Booker / Grayson Allen
SF: Jimmy Butler / Ryan Dunn
PF: Kevin Durant / Royce O'Neale
C: Nick Richards / Jusuf Nurkic / Oso Ighodaro
Heat
Miami cannot let this go on for another whole year. Even if the value isn't perfect, keeping Butler on the team will only set back by more than a trade like this would. Beal is basically just a placeholder until they find a true #1 for the future, and the picks in this trade can definitely help with that.
Lineup
PG: Terry Rozier / Dru Smith
SG: Bradley Beal / Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF: Tyler Herro / Duncan Robinson
PF: Nikola Jovic / Haywood Highsmith
C: Bam Adebayo / Kel'el Ware
Raptors
Toronto is the main team which has been linked to Brandon Ingram, and truthfully, it's not a terrible fit. On a team full of ultra young talent, a star player entering his prime could be a great fit. They only give up yet older players and get their timeline more on track.
Lineup (2026)
PG: Immanuel Quickley / Kasparas Jakucionis (Draft)
SG: RJ Barrett / Ja'Kobe Walter / Ochai Agbaji
SF: Scottie Barnes / Gradey Dick
PF: Brandon Ingram / Chris Boucher
C: Kelly Olynyk / Jonathan Mogbo
Nets
Brooklyn is just here for the picks. All they really care about is accumulating assets, and getting a high pick. They take on CJ McCollum's contract here in place of Cam Johnson's so that they can get a couple picks. CJ will be an expiring next year so he can be used in another deal down the line if need be.
Lineup (2026)
PG: CJ McCollum / ???
SG: Cam Thomas / Keon Johnson
SF: Tre Johnson (Draft) / Maxwell Lewis
PF: Ziaire Williams / Noah Clowney
C: Nic Claxton / Day'Ron Sharpe
Pelicans
New Orleans isn't exactly in a great spot. I think it is time to move on from Zion, Ingram, and CJ as your core. This trade sees them get some solid depth pieces to place around the future core of the team.
Depending on how the draft goes, the #1 on this team could be very different. If New Orleans gets the #1 pick, then I think it is time to move on from Zion and reset with Cooper Flagg with an experienced core of secondary options around him. If New Orleans doesn't get Flagg, they can either take Harper/Bailey and combine them with the current team including Zion (much more difficult to do with Bailey) or trade the pick for a all-star. There is of course always the option of pairing their pick with Zion in a trade. That package can get you almost anybody in the right circumstances.
No matter what happens to the #1 conversation, the BI & CJ trade above makes tons of sense to me. First, New Orleans is able to duck the luxury tax this year (something which they should NOT be paying for the 14 seed). They also get some really good depth pieces for the bench, with a few versatile pieces in Bruce Brown and Cam Johnson, the former of which is an expiring and can either be allowed to walk or be resigned this Summer.
Lineup (Not including 2025 FRP):
PG: Dejounte Murray / Bruce Brown / Jose Alvarado
SG: Herb Jones / Jordan Hawkins (6M) / Antonio Reeves
SF: Trey Murphy III / Keldon Johnson / Brandon Boston Jr.
PF: Zion Williamson / Cameron Johnson
C: Yves Missi / Jakob Poeltl / Karlo Matkovic??