Rockets seem like a perfect spot for Durant to land. They need a primary scorer and have lots of picks (including Suns own picks), prospects and contracts they can move to Phoenix. They need to consolidate their lineup. This makes them a top title contender.

FVV - Green - Durant - Thompson - Sengun

Suns get Jabari and Sheppard, who have disappointed a bit but have potential. Rui is a solid contributor or a tradeable piece over the summer. Adams an expiring. What's really great about the Rockets' picks is that they hold some of Phoenix's own picks so they regain control of those. Plus they get the Lakers' future pick.

Lakers get significant defensive upgrades at guard and center to go with Lebron and Luka.

Nets get a couple of seconds for Sharpe, which is the going rate for players like that.

(I know Fanspo says it fails on player aggregation but I think it works because of how players are split up. If not, Nets piece can be a separate trade.)…

If the Lakers want to go all in this year, they need a center and some better perimeter defense. Reaves becomes somewhat redundant. Here they get Turner, who gives them rim defense and outside shooting, and Nembhard, a decent on-ball defender and shooter.

Indiana gets Reaves to play next to Halliburton. They were likely to lose Turner this summer anyway and they manage to replace him with Poeltl, a good starting center and great rebounder. Plus they get a pick.

Raptors get a pick swap and a younger guy in Toppin….

Butler-Beal trade needs to meet a bunch of needs: Miami doesn't want long-term $$; Beal needs to waive his no-trade clause; the team getting Beal will want a pick to take the contract; Phoenix only has 3 pretty restricted firsts to trade.

Reports are that Beal would go to Chicago bc of the Billy Donovan connection. Chicago likes to avoid full tanking and be at least competitive. So here Chicago gets Beal plus one of these restricted first round swaps from Phoenix in exchange for Ball and Vuc.

By sending Vuc to GSW, Chicago also gets a restricted first from GSW (you can argue about the restrictions). Warriors get a scoring center who fits their needs without giving up much (Looney, GP2, Waters).

Miami gets all expiring contracts plus the two other restricted picks that Phoenix can trade. Probably the best they can ask for in the current market….

The Butler market looks thin because of the CBA rules and his big contract. The public tension made it worse. This deal rotates 3 talented but flawed players to better spots.

The Heat like to stay competitive, not tank, especially with Herro’s emergence. so they get a reliable scorer in Randle who fits well with Herro’s spacing. Plus Huerter who needs a change of scenery - he’s a little duplicative of Robinson so maybe there’s a fourth team.

Rozier - Herro - Highsmith - Randle - Bam

Bench: Robinson, Huerter, Jovic, Jacquez, Ware

Kings get toughness, defense and playoff experience with Butler. Derozan plays at the wrong pace for Fox and doesn’t defend well. This deal opens more minutes for Ellis, Monk, Murray and Carter, especially if you play Butler at the 4 sometimes.

Fox - Monk - Butler - Murray - Sabonis

Bench: Ellis, Carter, Lyles, Len

Randle is the wrong fit with Ant and Gobert - too much holding the ball. Derozan is not a perfect fit but a better playmaker overall and …

++Why the Lakers do it++ I’ve been in favor of Lakers going all in this year. DFS was a good move to shore up the defense up front. They still need more reliable scoring, another big and perimeter defense.

The perimeter defense options are not great - maybe Bruce Brown per my previous trade, maybe GP2 if the Warriors fold? So they solve the other 2 issues. Lavine is the best available bucket-getter. JV gives them a big rebounder and some relief for AD. Craig gives them minor help on defense at least.

++Why Chicago does it++ Simple: better contracts, a great pick and young players in Rui, Christie, Vanderbilt (if healthy).

++Why Wizards do it++ Get some picks and a young guy in JHS….

https://fanspo.com/nba/s/general/trades/TZPImQpAuPRoqV/lakers-get-some-useful-pieces-post-104…

LA doesn’t get a star here but 2 impending free agents to fill holes. As a result they maintain draft capital.

The Brown to LA rumors are out there already and they make sense, although his shooting has been atrocious. Would pair well with Reaves or Vincent for on ball defense.

I considered putting Poeltl in for the center need but the spacing would be brutal. So here they go with Turner who will cost more but gives a good complement to Davis, either as a backup or on the floor with him given his shooting range.

Brown - Reaves - Rui - LeBron- Davis Vincent - Knecht - Turner - Reddish

Raptors get a young guy and pick for someone they will lose anyway in free agency.

Pacers are stuck in mediocrity and will likely lose Turner. They get a great pick swap, a 2nd and two young guys with potential under contract if Vanderbilt gets healthy….

Philly needs length up front and some alternative offense with the constant injuries. Johnson offers both. Sharpe is a better backup than Drummond.

I continue to think Mitchell Robinson to Charlotte makes sense to give them a dynamic upgrade at center.

Knicks benefit from these moves with depth, including an excellent backup center and a couple of solid wings with more size than they have currently.

Nets get picks and cheap contracts….

Knicks need depth especially that can rebound and defend. Here they move Mitch for Kessler and useful bench guys in LaRavia, Konchar and Reddish

Lakers get D at the rim and on the perimeter in Mitch and Smart.

Grizzlies can’t even play all their guys so consolidate on Collins who has rehabilitated himself in Utah. He gives them an athletic forward who can score. Plus picks. Theoretically they could do another trade with those picks.

Utah gets short term deals and picks….

Rockets are starting hot and winning with defense, but teams without a top-15 player don't win rings. Fox is probably the next star on the market now that the Bucks are stabilized and Giannis is staying there. Fox gives the Rockets a dynamic scorer and playmaker for a team that can struggle to score. They have so many good defenders they can afford his so-so defense and with his scoring they can move Jalen Green to the bench as a 6th man energy guy.

Fox - Brooks - Thompson - Smith - Sengun

Sheppard - Green - Eason - Adams

But Kings don't really want FVV, so Orlando steps in. They could really use a point guard and he pairs perfectly with the big defensive guards the Magic have. They can spare Isaac and Anthony given their depth.

The Kings are permanently mid-tier and should start over. They get a couple of good young guys in Whitmore and Anthony, a interesting piece in Isaac, and picks….

Lakers desperate for defenders. They add Grant, who is a plus defender on the wing and a competent 3rd scorer. Timelord gives them someone to play with AD or in second unit for 20 minutes a game. Plus Dunn to play great defense at point. Banton and Batum fun bench changeup pieces.

Dunn - Reaves - Grant - Lebron - AD

Banton - Knecht - Christie/Batum - Hachimura - Williams

Blazers get 2 great picks and salary relief long term. Could play with the protections.

Clippers get young guys to replace old guys. Doesn’t really change their trajectory as a playin team. Could throw in a 2nd if you wanted….

Variation on the BI to Bulls trade. Pistons decide they are competing and add some scoring and length. Move Hardaway to the bench.

Cade - Ivey - BI - Thompson - Duren

Pels manage a pick and short term contracts….

As usual the Bulls don’t want to tank. So why not get BI. He gives them length and dynamic scoring next to Lavine.

White - Giddey - Lavine - BI - Vuc

Pels don’t have much leverage but get a pick….

Orlando is still in need of a guard who can play make, handle the ball and score. They are shooting badly from 3. CJ has always done that. He fits much better with Suggs than KCP. Wagner is now their 3rd center.

CJ - Suggs - Franz - Paolo - WCJ

Black - Anthony - Isaac - Goga

Lakers need to upgrade perimeter D, point guard and center. They bring back former Lakers in KCP, Schrøder and Wagner plus DFS.

Schroeder- KCP - Knecht - LeBron - AD

Reaves - Reddish - DFS - Wood - Wagner

Pels get picks and JHS

Nets get picks and get younger with Rui and Christie…

Knicks get Richards to back up KAT for defense and rebounds. Martin and Thibs-fave Gibson give depth at forward.

Charlotte gets upgrade at center with Williams hurt so much….

Knicks need some depth and reliability. Kessler can start w KAT or come off the bench. Anderson and Svi provide forward depth

Warriors could benefit from a rim protecting and rebounding center

Jazz get picks….

Can’t think of any other contender that could make this deal….

As a Knicks fan, I have mixed feelings about the KAT trade. Don't love what it does for their defense and depth. And I think Cleveland and Orlando still have issues with their lineups. Allen/Mobley and Garland/Mitchell fits are problematic. KCP is a nice player but Suggs is not really a point guard.

This trade solves a lot of problems for everyone. The Knicks get a true rim protector/rim runner in Allen, plus Powell to give them depth/spacing.

Brunson - Powell - Bridges - OG - Allen (Hart goes back to the bench)

Cavs get a much more balanced lineup with a perfect pairing up front with Mobley in KAT (I don't care if who you call a 4 or 5). Mitchell moves to the point and KCP helps with guard defense. Plus some needed positional depth in Dunn (they don't really have a backup PG) and Bamba (they are thin at center), and a pick since they are so depleted.

Mitchell - KCP - Strus - Mobley - KAT

Orlando fixes its point guard problem. They have enough defense to cover for Garland at…

Lakers could upgrade at point and SF. Here they get speed and reliability with Schrøder plus a secondary playmaker and defender in Grant.

Portland gets a solid young talent in Rui and a good pick.

Nets get a protected pick….