Why Toronto Does It Inspired by AG's Toronto rebuild. But Toronto has never recruited a major FA, so I don't think they can plan around expirings and cap space. They are going nowhere this year and they are likely to lose FVV and Trent this summer. They reset around Barnes and OG here, while filling major holes and building draft capital. Simons gets them younger and, with Hield and TJ, gives them the halfcourt playmaking and shooting they are missing. Nurkic is limited but gets them a big rebounder and paint enforcer, their other gap. If he doesn't fit their model they can deal him. Plus they have a load of picks now if they need to make more deals.

Lineup: Simons - Hield - OG - Barnes - Nurkic

Why Blazers Do It Lillard's window is now so they give up youth and picks to win. Simons is wonderful but he and Dame are a bad fit on defense. They take a bet they can sign Turner and Siakam is insurance if Grant walks this summer. Turner and Siakam are an ideal combination: Turner gives rim protection and shooting, while Siakam gives them muscle and playmaking. Some combination of Hart/Sharpe/Payton play the 2. Even as Dame ages, they rest of the team will be good for several more years.

Lineup: Dame - Hart/Payton - Grant - Siakam - Turner

Why Lakers Do It Here's the Indiana trade they wanted but with much better fits for them. FVV is a PG with a ring. He's tough and his offense will come back to form with LeBron and AD. Trent a better 2-way player than Hield. Porter is a nice veteran wing. Turner and AD don't fit with AD at the 5. And with the Hachimura trade creating a new cap hold for them, the Lakers need to trade for players right now they can hold or resign in the offseason, because they won't have enough space to sign FAs on the open market. This team can compete the next 2 years.

Lineup: FVV - Trent - Walker/Hachimura - LeBron - AD

Why Pacers Do It Even before Halliburton went out, they were going to end up a play-in team at best. Keeping Turner is a major risk. They get high value picks for the future and a couple of good young guys as sweeteners. They are playing for the future around Halliburton and Mathurin.