Pistons land Giannis to be the superstar to pair with Cade.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Giannis, Stewart, Beasley, Klintman is the start to a very very fun rotation that might be the best defense in the NBA.

Bucks stay a competitive team but add three 1sts and four 2nds plus two key young players in Duren and Holland plus Forward depth in expiring deals in Tobias and Fontecchio. Doc Rivers has also said how he likes Marcus Sasser in the past who is now his backup PG.

Lillard, Sasser

Green, Porter Jr

Kuzma, Holland

Tobias, Fontecchio

Duren, Portis…

Orlando goes all in and lands LaMelo Ball to create their new big 3.

Charlotte adds two promising young prospects and picks for LaMelo to build around youth for the future. Imagine if Charlotte wins the lottery and lands Flagg too… Black, Ivey, Miller, Flagg, Williams, Nurkic, Bridges, Williams, Salaun

Pistons add the perfect guard that complements Cade and Suggs gets the lead guard he needs to be a perfect off ball guard. Suggs will take the harder defensive matchup and become a 3&D specialist who can run the offense for the 2nd unit. I view this as an upgrade over Ivey because of his defensive chops and consistent play. A new look rotation of Cade, Suggs, Ausar, Tobias, Duren, Beasley, Holland, and Stewart is great defensively, will be great in transition, and has spacing. They could add one more high level shooter and this team is a threat….

Could Orlando win the Jokic sweepstakes? They have a formidable duo in Paolo and Franz but adding a playmaking Center like Jokic while adding two guards who can shoot from deep might make them immediate contenders. With control over all of their future picks this is the type of all in move we could see from Orlando. Westbrook, KCP, Anthony, and Sasser could start to build out their backcourt rotation.

Detroit gets in to grab MPJ for Ivey, Fontecchio, a future 1st, and two 2nds. MPJ slides into the 4 spot and Detroit creates a strong rotation for many years to come and kick the can on the Ivey extension decision. Cade, Ausar, Holland, MPJ, Duren, Tobias, Stewart, Beasley, Schroeder create a very nice rotation.

Nuggets sell the farm and make one of the most franchise-altering decisions ever made by trading Jokic. They do, however, get back five 1sts, four 2nds, a 3&D backcourt running mate for Murray, young prospects, and a short term filler at the Center spot.

Murray, Suggs, Braun, G…

Detroit becomes the main taker for KAT in getting KD to New York. A new starting five of Cade, Ivey, Ausar, KAT, Stewart is ELECTRIC! Sasser, Beasley, Holland, Fontecchio off the bench is pretty strong too.

Suns land a future 1st and future 2nd plus their Center of the future in Duren, a solid PF in Tobias Harris, and a prospect of a PG in Kolek for KD all while opening up more cap space. They do a slight “retooling” around Booker while keeping the future in mind and still being competitive. Beal, Booker, Dunn, Tobias, Duren with Allen, O’Neale, Martin, Oso, and Kolek off the bench plus 3 draft picks this year.

Knicks had interest in KD and they get it done. Brunson, Bridgee, OG, KD, Robinson easily becomes the best starting 5 in the league with Hart, McBride, and Richards off the bench….

If Houston determines they need a superstar scorer to make a playoff push, KD makes too much sense. Giannis sounds the best for Houston but they need a guy to stretch the floor next to Amen and Green. One year of FVV, Green, Amen, KD, and Sengun with a bench of Eason, Fontecchio, Landale, Holiday, and a couple vet minimums makes it very interesting.

Suns sell KD for three young prospects and three 1sts, maybe the best deal they can get for KD. The biggest aspect is they can get control over their 1sts back.

Pistons keep their core the same but upgrade Fontecchio into Dillon Brooks who is a much better defender for the 2nd unit and currently shooting better than Tek. This move also still allows the team to resign Beasley and Schroeder. They extend Duren and Ivey and see where this team is at at the next trade deadline.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Tobias, Duren

Schroeder, Beasley, Brooks, Holland, Stewart…

The Bucks have 0 long term future. This move puts three 1sts in their treasure chest, a long term fit at Center, and two young prospects in Ivey and Holland.

Thunder upgrade their final piece and land Giannis. SGA, Dort, Joe, Giannis, Chet, Caruso, Wallace, Wiggins, Williams, Williams, Fontecchio, Jones, Topic keeps them as extremely deep, prioritizes defense, but adds a better 2nd option behind SGA in Giannis who could take over the game at any point.

Pistons add the perfect 2nd option with Cade in J-dub. Cade, Williams, Ausar, Tobias, Duren is the making of a great starting 5. Add a sharp shooting forward who can somewhat defend and this team is an Eastern conference contender….

Pistons use three 2nds, a young intriguing Sasser, and an expiring Fontecchio to land the future at the 4 in Jovic and the exact sharp shooting forward they need in Hauser. This also sets up Detroit really nicely for the upcoming Post-Tobias Harris era.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Tobias, Duren // Beasley, Holland, Hauser, Jovic, Stewart

The Celtics make this move to clear $10M in cap relief this upcoming season as well as get two guys on expiring deals to be able to resign Porzingis to a longer term deal. This would likely move Pritchard to the starting 5 and have Rozier run the 2nd unit with Highsmith still being a solid defender on the bench unit. The Celtics also add four 2nds by doing this.

Pritchard, White, Brown, Tatum, Porzingis // Rozier, Scheierman, Highsmith, Queta, Kornet

The Heat complete their roster and become Eastern conference contenders again as one of the deepest teams with a ton of young talent and matching salaries to potentially make another big move (Jaquez, Robinson,…

Didn’t do the new contract but assuming Naz Reid will be looking at $27-32M range which the Pistons would do. Timberwolves need to upgrade their bench scoring to go with their solid defense and Sasser and Fontecchio inject a bunch of shooting and depth for their bench unit.

Pistons would be targeting Naz Reid if he opts out of his player option anyways and clear up some cap space and minutes for Reid to come in and start.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Reid, Duren

Schroder, Beasley, Holland, Tobias, Stewart…

Spurs go all in and add a premier shooter to their core and a bench shooter in Fontecchio. They also add a perfect backup PG in Melton.

Nets add two young prospects on their final years to see if they are part of their long term plan while picking up four 2nds.

Pistons add the ideal 2-guard next to Cade and open up a roster spot to sign Naz Reid and resign Malik Beasley.

Cade, Vassell, Ausar, Reid, Duren

Sasser, Beasley, Holland, Tobias, Stewart…

Thunder finally go all in and land Cam Johnson. They open up some longer term money for when SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet are all on their Max deals. They also clear a roster spot for their 1-2 potential 1st rounders coming in this year. They create the best 8 man rotation, maybe ever. SGA, Dort, Williams, Johnson, Chet, Cason, Caruso, Hartenstein. Plus they have many other role guys to fill extra time: Jaylin Williams, Kenrich Williams, Mitchell, Dieng, Jones, Wilson, and maybe a lottery pick this year…

Nets trade Cam Johnson for young assets instead of picks as they already have a ton of picks. Add in their extensive cap space and they are primed to make a splash this offseason. A new young core around Topic, Ivey, Wiggins, Claxton, Clowney, Watford, a lottery pick, and two other 1sts this year could turn into something.

Pistons make a seemingly questionable move on face value by moving Ivey and Tobias for Isaiah Joe and late 1st this year. However, this gets Detroit back into the…

Pistons build around the right core players: Cade, Ausar, Holland, Stewart and add the right pieces around them. If they can resign Beasley, this team gets really dangerous and a top 3 spot in the East.

Cade, Melton, Ausar, OG, Porzingis // Vit, Beasley Holland, Stewart

Celtics add depth pieces and get something in return for an expiring Porzingis. They land two depth/rotation guys, a future first, and three 2nds.

Knicks add more shooting in Cam Johnson and a much needed depth piece by moving off OG.

Nets don’t land a future 1st but get what they can from Cam Johnson and take a chance on Ivey becoming a star in Brooklyn, an expiring Tobias who they could flip for 2nds, and a future 2nd for the sign and trade of Melton.

Hawks add their needed lob threat in Duren and land their Center of the future, a double double machine that’s only 21….

Rockets land Devin Booker for four 1sts, Jabari Smith, Reed Sheppard, and Dillon Brooks to match salary.

Lakers land their young lob threat in Duren.

Celtics land a 1st, two 2nds, and depth pieces in Fontecchio and Sasser for Porzingis.

Suns start their rebuild and add two young sharp shooters plus find a way to land 5 total 1sts and only losing Booker. Add in a KD trade for another three 1sts and they would have kickstarted their rebuild really nicely and would be well positioned for future moves.

Detroit lands the stretch Center who can defend at a high level in Porzingis. Jabari Smith becomes their PF who will replace Tobias after this season.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Tobias, Porzingis

Beasley, Holland, Jabari Smith, Stewart…

Lakers get their athletic big man as a lob threat and to secure more rebounds in Jalen Duren.

Celtics create more flexibility by moving Porzingis and adding two depth pieces on expiring deals and add a future 1st and two 2nds for doing it.

Pistons add their needed stretch big who can defend and still serve as a lob threat. Porzingis gets resigned and becomes their big man for the next 4 years. Knecht slides into a bench version of the THJ role, and they add two Lakers 1sts for one outgoing of theirs. Resign Malik Beasley and this team is ready to rock next season with two draft picks in bound for 2026.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Tobias, Porzingis

Beasley, Knecht, Holland, Stewart, Klintman, early 2nd round pick…

Celtics shed some longer term salary and flip Hauser’s $10M contract for Fontecchio and Sasser and a future 2nd. Look for Boston to also move Jrue or White too.

Nets continue to stockpile picks and land another future 1st, a future 2nd, a young prospect in Klintman, and flip Cam Johnson for an expiring Tobias who they could move for additional 2nds at the deadline or just have him off the books the following year creating more cap flexibility.

Detroit reforms its forward room and is locked in for the future with two sharp shooters. Detroit resigns Malik Beasley and extends Duren and Ivey and creates a top 5 team in the East for the next 4 years. These moves add the perfect complementary players around superstar Cade with a solid blend of 3 point shooting (Johnson, Beasley, Hauser), creation (Ivey, Ausar, Duren), and defense (Ausar, Stew, Holland) while keeping a young core meshing together.

9-Man Rotation: Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Johnson, Duren, Beasley, Holland, Hauser, Stewart…

Suns rebuild but do it quickly with a solid new core and loads of picks. Ivey, Beal, DeRozan, Tobias, Richards // Monk, Allen, Knecht, Dunn, Oso. This team could still make the playoffs while repositioning with a ton of draft picks to build for a youth movement at the same time.

Lakers add a new bruising starting center in Jonas and a backup forward in O’Neale.

Kings go all in and land KD to make a fun starting 5: Ellis, LaVine, Murray, KD, Sabonis

Pistons get the needed #2 option without giving up the most important pieces of the core in Cade, Ausar, and Duren….

This is the type of move I’d love to see from Detroit. Denver has to get below the tax and add capable depth pieces. They also don’t do anything with their core and re tool around Murray and Jokic.

Detroit easily inserts MPJ into the starting 5 and creates a young, fast, and versatile rotation.

Cade, Ivey, Ausar, MPJ, Duren // Beasley, Holland, Stewart. They would need to add 1-2 more rotational pieces to this ground but this is a great start for this team….

Suns get probably the best two offers for KD and Booker here and end up with a ton of draft capital and three young players in Ivey, Sochan, and Johnson.

Spurs go all in and create a stellar starting 5 with Fox, Booker, Champagnie, Barnes, Wemby with Stew and Castle off the bench and their lottery pick this year.

Pistons create a new look and it looks good. Cade, Vassell, Ausar, KD, Duren with Beasley, Holland, Reed off the bench. Their depth is slightly thin but they instantly become a contender in the East with a solid mix of high scoring, great defense, and surround Ausar and Duren with 3 high level shooters and scorers who also defend at high levels (Vassell). Detroit would have to resign KD to an additional 2 years for this to be worth it so it’s unlikely this happens but it’s fun to think about….

Suns get a haul for KD in two 1sts, a pick swap, two 2nds, Jaden Ivey, GG Jackson, and two salary fillers in Fontecchio and Clarke.

Grizzlies go all in and land KD and a backup guard in Sasser. A new rotation of Ja, Wells, KD, JJJ, Edey, Pippen, Williams, Huff, and Sasser is very intriguing without putting them into a horrible cap situation.

Pistons get their dream offseason and upgrade their #2 to Desmond Bane and land Santi Aldama to take over as the teams future Power Forward. The swap of Micic for Fontecchio balances the roster and adds a backup PG.

Cade, Bane, Ausar, Tobias, Duren

Micic, Beasley, Holland, Aldama, Stewart…

OG Anunoby would be an absolute perfect fit in Detroit with their young core and as a clear #2 or #3 option. Pistons get access to trade their picks after the NBA draft and can trade their 2026 and 2028 picks which they do to complete their roster here to land OG.

The Knicks go all in and land KD. The Knicks only do this if they don’t make the Conference finals or if they get swept in the finals by the Celtics or Cavs. KD could complete this team’s starting 5 and match up better than anyone against any team.

The Suns trade KD for three 1sts, a pick swap, four 2nds, 2 expiring contracts, and 2 young guards. This is the first domino to fall in Phoenix and allows for the Suns to look into trading Booker and Beal for whatever they can get and start this thing over. This trade also gets Phoenix very close to avoiding the 2nd apron tax and removes any lingering term money….

Celtics need to shed as much salary as they egg can and without moving Tatum or Brown, they will have to turn to White, Jrue, and Porzingis. No body will want to take on Jrue’s contract at his age and White is too valuable to this team. Porzingis is the easiest to move with his 1 year remaining and unlikelihood of being resigned. Celtics shed salary while adding a younger stretch big, a backup Guard, and 4 future picks (three 2nds and one 1st).

Lakers do a massive trade to land Duren to be their lob threat big and land a backup sharp shooting forward on an expiring deal in Fontecchio to shed some salary from Kleber to Fontecchio.

Pistons see that the Celtics may need to trade Porzingis and get the stretch big that can defend and instantly become the #2 option in Detroit. When they do this, it opens the door to trading Duren because Porzingis will man the 5. Detroit lands two 1sts, a swap, a 2nd, and Dalton Knecht for Duren from the Lakers. Detroit then resigns Malik Beasley, Dennis S…