• Pelicans get rid of two thirds of their big 3 and retool

• Raptors get their guy who they are chasing to pair with Barnes and Quickley

• Nets get some picks

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 / De'Anthony Melton

SG: Cam Thomas / Keon Johnson

SF: Tre Johnson (Draft) / Maxwell Lewis

PF: Noah Clowney / Trendon Watford

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 / Brandon Boston Jr.

PF: Zion Williamson / Cameron Johnson

C: Yves Missi / Jakob Poeltl / Karlo Matkovic