Phoenix wants to get below the 2nd apron, and currently believe the only way to do that is trade KD. They barely have enough assets to move Beal at all, certainly not to move him and have another team absorb his contract to get them below the 2nd apron. This trade was created to see if there was a way…

Detroit get some much needed outside shooting for Cade on a decent, expiring contract, a late first in this year's draft plus future second to give up a first. Since being traded to the Bull's, Heurter has started getting 3's to fall.

Kings get their second back to take on an expiring low contract in a position they need. This is probably an overpay, they likely take him for free.

Bulls get Beal, one real first (Detroit) with two fake ones (Phoenix) and a (likely) upgrade to their second round pick this year.

Phoenix gets a young wing who is the prototype they need (40% 3pt shooting, 6'8 guy who can guard 2-5 and doesn't need the ball) and get below the 2nd apron. They'd be able to…

Wolves Get KD Get a young PG, and a stretch 5 on a better contract Get off enough money to get under the 2nd apron This trade DOES work because they get below the 2nd apron, enabling them to aggregate salaries

Suns Trade KD to one of the teams on his list Get some much needed wing talent, as well as a point of attack guard defender Get a young player plus a pick

Bulls Get a young center to pair with your young core Get an early 2nd Take on Rozier's bad money, but take a flyer on Terrance Shannon Jr

Heat Get a massive defensive center to play the 5 next to Bam and immediately become one of the best defenses in the east with certainly the best defensive front court Get a couple of interesting young players at positions of need, including a point guard for the future and NAW who can contribute now and into the future

Pistons Get some much needed outside shooting to spread the floor for Cade Get a second for taking on the money…

2026 pick is 2025 if they keep it. If not, rolls to 2026.

Philly gets a young wing to replace PG who shoots 40% from 3 and is 3&D, gets more shooting through Huerter, and a solid center as a back up and starter when Joel is out.

Bulls do this for the picks….

Boston Note: Lonzo's contract drops by $10M next year, so the cap reduction is actually by about $32M This trade enables the celts to keep the core of White, Tatum and Brown together. Tatum and White's contracts jump $30M+ between them next year, so this clears off enough salary to where it still won't be a problem and the team will be under the 2nd Apron Offload Jrue Holiday who took a step back this season as he appears to be in a decline despite having an increasing contract for the next 3 years. Replace him with a PG who plays similar to how Jrue played a few years ago Replace Kristaps, a center who's always injured, never plays and is $17M more, with Gafford who doesn't stretch the floor but should fit the teams needs pretty will. Will need to add a stretch big elsewhere Not receiving much draft capital for Kristaps, but that's because of the Jrue's bad contract also going out while also getting $30M+ in immediate salary relief to keep the team together. The two 2nds the celts rec…

The Suns-Bulls trade is a separate trade to improve Suns defensively with a two-way PG.

I really like KD going to Indiana. Great for his legacy (it will be his team), they’re good enough already that they’ll be ready to compete but not so amazing that his reputation will take another hit again. PG – Haliburton, SG – Nembhard, SF – KD, PF – Siakam, C – WK. playmaking, defense, shooting, that would immediately be a contender.

Like this for the Suns, too. KG, Beal, and Booker are all SG/SF, just with different heights. Send out KD to get a two-way, rim protecting big who can still stretch the floor. Also get two wings with good size and positional versatility. PG – Jones, SG – Beal, SF - Booker, PF – Toppin, C – Turner, 6th Nesmith, 7th other PG Jones. Also get much needed draft capital that can be used to turn Grayson Allen’s contract into something more useful.

Jazz get high-flying young player here, as well as draft capital. Potentially a touch of an overpay but I think this is near…

Just to make it more exciting for both teams, this trade happens at the end of the season but BEFORE we find out the placement of the actual lottery teams.

Pels: Get a vet center they need to play next to Zion. Trading Zion this summer will likely be at his lowest value point, makes more sense to try one more time for him to be healthy next year and make a decision at the deadline. Missi has been great this year, but that's largely been with Zion off the floor. This will allow him to continue to dominate with the second unit, and give some flexibility for when Zion is out. If healthy, this team would be one of the most stacked in the West. Additionally, get Coby White who can play off ball next to DM immediately, play on ball when DM goes to the bench, enough of a vet to play today and young enough (24yo) to be a part of the young core going forward if they decide to move Zion and DM at the deadline. Get a player young enough to feel like you were able to participate in the draft, plu…

Lively and Gafford are redundant, but Jalen's an outside shooting big and can be a double double threat off the bench, so there's more versatility. And Lonzo is the perfect combo guard next to Kyrie - two way, pass-first playmaker (they lost that with Luka obviously), big (6'6) can catch and shoot when Kyrie drives and kicks, can lead the offense and take the defensive perimeter assignments. Mavs top 8 rotation for the playoffs looks like they can beat anyone after this trade.

Knicks desperately need a center, so chicago reroutes Gafford. They also get off Robinson who never plays (halfway through the season, still hasn't played - which is normal for him).

Chicago takes all the bad contracts and old/injured guys, but they're compensated fairly for both what they're giving up, as well as what they're taking back. Wins all around….

Would likely be a three team trade since Chicago won’t want those long contracts, the swap might go to whoever takes them. But all in all, this should be the framework so GSW doesn’t eliminate depth in the process if they want both…

Bleacher report version included a Knicks portion as well, but I left that out. From the article, "Adding White's on- and off-ball skill set more than playoff-proofs the Thunder offense." Get a guy who can play off-ball with SGA making it more dangerous to double team him, while using that same guy torun the offense when SGA is on the bench as both a real scoring and playmaking threat.

My only concern with OKC right now is that as good as they are, they're too reliant on SGA being exceptional. That works in the regular season but will make them easier to stop in the playoffs. They don't really need wings, they have a bunch. They don't need bigs, theirs will be healthy come playoff time. The real move is another guard who can play both with and without SGA, can shoot outside and have a periodic 30pt game. This move makes them favorites overall imo.

Link below:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10152708-a-bold-3-team-trade-idea-for-new-york-knicks-chicago-bulls-okc-thunder…

GSW gets both Zach and Vuc while sending out 6 folks and getting back 5 - so they don't lose all their depth while significantly improving their top end. Pg - Steph SG - Zach SF - Kuminga PF - Dray C - Vucevic Guards - Pods, Moody, Waters, THT Wings - T Craig, Gui Santos Bigs - Post, TJD

Lakers are trying to add a perimeter defender, more scoring, and a big. They achieve all of these while also receiving expiring contracts. Accomplish all of this for the cost of one first after Chicago reroutes these three guys and takes on Rui and Gabe.

Bulls walk away with draft compensation and a few overpaid contracts. Not the worst return, and you will certainly be bad enough after this to tank as well….

Heat have reduced their offer, Bulls get two not-going-to-coney firsts, Kings get 6 firsts without blowing it all up and get off derozen for additional trades or to rebuild without having to be bad, Phoenix gets Jimmy, Spurs get the perfect offensive center to put next to next-DPOY Wemby, a 22yo developing PF and D Fox while not moving all their assets….

SUMMARY OKC is best in the west. It’s wide open after that, and even OKC themselves have had a few injuries. Between that and being young, I wouldn’t be surprised if they get unexpectedly bounced in the playoffs. If that happens, literally any one of these teams after these moves has a real shot at coming out of the west (except Milwaukee who’s competing in the east and Chicago blowing it up).

BREAKDOWN Warriors: Steph needs a second scorer and a big who can stretch the floor. Zach Lavine catch and shoot percentages are like Klay, teams can no longer just zero in on steph since Lavine can create as well, Jalen let’s you play 5-out, and you get off Wiggans contract. The fact that Zach can play both on and off the ball makes the pairing uniquely dangerous, and Jalen stretching the floor will undoubtedly unlock Kuminga who can’t slash as much with non-shooters clogging the lane. What I like most about this trade isn't just adding the players to the team, but how much better it likely mak…

OKC is the best in the west, its wide open after them. Houston could wait for a superstar to come available, but who knows when that will be. Wait too long and maybe the west isn’t wide open anymore. makes a move to put them on OKC’s level by solving their only issues (scoring and playmaking) with guys who do that at an all star level and are available now. Only giving up guys that aren’t as good, plus two picks (still having plenty of picks and swaps for moves down the road).

Draft comp explanation: For the 2025 pick exchange: the Portland pick isn’t going to convey this year, but will in 2027 or 2028 and will be in the teens. So Houston is sending their late 20’s pick this year for an earlier pick a couple years from now. So this trade is netting the bulls two firsts….

Interesting stat: In 2025, Zach LaVine has more 30-point games than: Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, James Harden, COMBINED!

Lakers also replace Christie's role with Dalen Terry for perimeter defense, get another big and another wing.

Pistons get some quality pieces they can add to their core, offloading Harris for a cheaper, better, younger replacement and a promising young two-way SG who can back-up Ivey and play now while he's hurt. Plus more defense when Vando gets back.

Bulls take on Tobias Harris, but theyl get draft capital and near-expiring contracts. Detroit might owe a first here for what they're getting, I'm open to considering that….

Celtics get Vuc, who's having an all-star season. More importantly, he plays. Regularly. Still allows the celts to play 5 out. And knocks almost $10M off their books, which will allow them to keep this team together. Also get much needed wing depth, as they don't have any real SFs backing up the J's. They don't need to make huge swings, but this allows them to get a top center they can count on.

Bulls get a late first and an injured center who should still have value on the trade market. Sit him so he can heal for the rest of the season and then see if you can move him this summer. If he's still injured and on the team going into next year, at least you'll be able to tank with him when he's not playing….