While Suns lose their stars, they gain depth, future draft capital, get out from under luxury tax concerns, and gain the ability to retool well in 2026. Ott can come in with a blank canvas and design the system best suited for the team versus having to cater around established stars. $10m in tax space after these moves as well, so could retool a bit more if needed. Only a $95m payroll in 2026 to potentially reset and enter that FA market aggressively (would still be trying to stay competitive as picks are not owned). Lineup at the outset becomes something like:

Starters: Rozier - Green - Brooks - Harris - Duran Bench 1: Sasser - Allen - Robinson - Dunn - Richards Bench 2: 10th pick - FA - O'Neale - Igohdaro - 37th pick

Could swap O'Neale and Robinson or deal one or both elsewhere for additional draft capital as the season unfolds.

I know Suns fans would likely revolt over a Booker trade, but I also think they want to start over and have Booker go to a good situation. In this, he gets to go play for his hometown team, teamed up with another star guard, and play in the weaker East where they can likely make multiple playoffs and win.

Pistons would do this, regardless of calculated W/L here, as they can build around Cunningham (23) and Booker (28) for years. The 29th pick, Thompson, Holland, Smith, and Stewart surrounding those two, in the East with still $40m in cap space for this season, is just an ideal set up for building a perennial contender.

Rockets have a lot of forwards as is and would likely go for Ivey to replace Green's scoring punch a little bit. They don't need to be involved necessarily, but I think it helps them balance their team. Pistons would do the Ivey-Smith swap for the same reason as they'll need more forwards with Cunningham and Booker taking majority of the guard duties.

Starters: FVV - Ivey - Durant - Eason - Sengun Bench 1: Sheppard - Williams - Whitmore - Thompson - Adams

Heat get Beal after missing on Durant who, when enabled to be the main offensive punch, is actually still a good player. Rozier and Robinson, both on expiring deals, is a weak offer that they wouldn't miss too much anyway - IMO. Beal, before coming to PHX, stated that MIA was his other preferred destination so I think he'd likely waive his NTC for this. He resets and goes somewhere he wants.

Nets act as a salary relief valve, acquire some draft capital in the process, and can likely flip those contracts at the deadline for more draft capital and/or to help absorb other salaries via trade.