Those around the NBA are expecting a wild summer.
That’s according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Shams Charania and several others. It’s already kicked off, with Desmond Bane heading from Memphis to Orlando and Kevin Durant joining his fifth team after being traded from Phoenix to Houston. Jrue Holiday was also moved to Portland in a surprising move.
Chatter surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and Darius Garland has quieted down, but could pick back up at any moment. The NBA is always unpredictable, but as it adapts to the new financial rules enacted under the new CBA, there is also a potential dynasty on the horizon, as the Oklahoma City Thunder comes into its own. Several factors could lead to teams making big moves.
There is a slew of interesting subplots, but here are five of the hypothetical trades that are semi-realistic and could have major ramifications on the NBA.
Boston gets crazy and breaks up the Jays, Toronto lands a big fish and Detroit gets a stretch big
Boston receives: Isaiah Stewart, Jaden Ivey, Jakob Poeltl, Harrison Barnes, Malakai Branham (waived or traded), No. 9 pick, 2027 TOR 1st, 2028 SAS 1st Swap, 2029 TOR 1st Swap, 2026 NOP 2nd
Toronto receives: Jaylen Brown
Detroit receives: Kristaps Porzingis, 2031 SAS 2nd
San Antonio receives: R.J. Barrett, Sam Hauser
Why it works
This one is a little out there, but why not have some fun?
It’s the worst-kept secret in the NBA that Boston is looking to shed some salary this summer. With Jayson Tatum set to miss most, if not all, of next season and with the Thunder and others emerging as better teams even with a healthy Tatum, it wouldn’t be totally unrealistic for the Celtics to look at a reset with a far cheaper team.
They’ve already moved off Holiday, but they have a ways to go to get under the second apron.
With this deal as currently constructed, Boston gets out of the second apron completely and acquires other tradeable assets like an expiring Barnes that could get it even closer to being out of the tax entirely.
Getting off of Porzingis may be a good thing for Boston as is, as he looked like a shell of himself in the playoffs and isn’t overly helpful to a team that, in this sequence of events, is undergoing a retooling year.
Trading a franchise icon like Brown would be a tough pill to swallow, especially if it’s the first move under a new ownership group, but this return would be tough to pass on.
Stewart and Poeltl both have upside as long-term contributors when Tatum is healthy in 2026-27. Ivey is an uber-talented young guard who hasn’t ever gotten to spread his wings in Detroit, but now the Pistons have seen Cade Cunningham with elite shooters next to him and may want to go in that direction permanently.
And then there is the pick haul.
The ninth pick in this draft, an unprotected Toronto pick in two seasons and two unprotected swaps, although San Antonio may be better than Boston in 2028.
Boston gets valuable, cheap role players to replace the outgoing Porzingis and the aging Al Horford, a high-level prospect in Ivey and elite draft compensation in exchange for someone who is one of the best handful of players in franchise history and a Finals MVP.
San Antonio is really in this deal to take on salary, but it ends up cashing in on its situation and landing two players who fit well next to Victor Wembenyama, who are on good contracts.
Barrett isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he is a talented scorer on a team that needs players who can put the ball in the basket, especially on the wing.
Outside of Wembenyama and De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs are looking at players like Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan to develop into offensive threats. While both are high-level defenders and will be for a long time, seeing them as difference-makers on offense is difficult.
Sam Hauser is an elite outside shooter with championship experience who is making just $10 million a season for the next four years.
For the cost of an expiring Barnes, a pick swap, a second-round pick and Branham, this is a no-brainer for a savvy front office.
Detroit is the one team involved that I think would shut down these talks, but rumors persist that it wants a stretch five this summer, and when he’s right, few are better than Porzingis. With Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley both coming off great seasons and heading to free agency, Detroit probably needs to decide on whether or not it sees Ivey as a long-term fit next to Cunningham.
Personally, I lean no. I think the high-level shooting of Beasley and Hardaway makes more sense, and if Porzingis doesn’t work out, he’s nearing the end of his contract and isn’t going to affect Detroit’s cap sheet as Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren and Ron Holland come up for potential extensions. If he does work out, Detroit has an elite big-man pairing in Duren and Porzingis, who complement one another well.
Any trepidation from Detroit is understood, but I think the time for Ivey to emerge as a star in the Motor City has come and gone. It’s time to focus on what works well around Cunningham, and an all-world defensive center who can laser beam 3s doesn’t sound like a bad fit there.
Now we have Brown to the Raptors.
I certainly don’t understand it, but when Brian Windhorst talks, I listen. Apparently, the Raptors are after a superstar this summer. While most will point to Giannis here, I think he’s a more fun fit elsewhere. And in a world where Boston is willing to move Brown, Toronto makes sense on a lot of levels.
There’s no doubt Brown is a superstar in this league when he’s on. He deservedly won the Finals MVP last season and was the best player during Boston’s title run. Does he have his warts? Sure, but every team that could do so would line up to get a player of Brown’s ilk.
Should this deal get done, Toronto has a team of scorers and little defense, but a lineup of Immanuel Quickley, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes and Chris Boucher would be undeniably fun, if nothing else.
There are probably better fits for Brown, but Toronto has always been weird, and I can see it talking itself into what Brown can be as a first option.
Giannis stays in the East, forms dangerous Detroit duo
Milwaukee receives: Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren, Collin Sexton, Brice Sensabaugh, Marcus Sasser, 2026 DET 1st, 2030 DET 1st, 2027 DET 1st Swap, 2031 DET 1st Swap
Detroit receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Utah receives: Tobias Harris, Bobi Klintman, 2028 1st DET Swap
Why it works
Is Detroit the most likely place for Antetokounmpo? No. Will it probably even be on his hypothetical expanded list of teams? No. Will Milwaukee be excited to do a deal in which it reacquires none of its future picks? Probably not. But, this is the move that I can envision in my head that I want to happen most.
Cunningham is a certified star who will only improve with time. Detroit has Isaiah Stewart and a potential free agency exception to bring in replacements for Duren. It keeps its dynamic defensive duo of the future in Thompson and Ron Holland II. And on top of it, the Pistons flex Harris and the rights to virtually every pick they own, into arguably the second-best player in the world in a weakened Eastern Conference.
With Boston missing Tatum, a rotation of Cunningham, Beasley, Thompson, Antetokounmpo, Stewart, Holland and Hardaway could be enough to make a finals run. Mortgaging the future is scary, especially for a team with the past 20 years of the Pistons, but if Antetokounmpo would consider it, he would make them an instant title contender.
I’ve already been over how I feel about Ivey’s future in Detroit. Duren is a nice player, but getting Antetokounmpo should ease any worries about losing him. Getting Antetokounmpo in any fashion that doesn’t involve Cunningham is a no-brainer for Detroit.
For Milwaukee, this is simply a sad reality. The rumors of Antetokounmpo have been intense in the past, but the Bucks have always had a hand to play. Whether that was trading for Jrue Holiday or a few years later when they flipped for Damian Lillard, they’ve always been able to sway him into staying.
This time, they’ve got nothing, so it’s time to fold.
Antetokounmpo’s availability is very much in question. Some think he’ll give the Bucks another year. Others think he’s as good as gone, but likely to a flashier market. In recent weeks, the reporting has leaned toward Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee, but NBA stars can change their minds on a dime.
Golden State, New York and Toronto always seem to float about with Antetokounmpo whenever he decides to put some pressure on Milwaukee.
But if he wants to win, staying in the East is his best chance, and teaming up with Cunningham makes Detroit scary.
In return, Milwaukee receives very good, young assets in Ivey and Duren, a potentially valuable player to trade in Sexton, and former first-round picks in Sensabaugh and Sasser, along with a bevy of draft capital. Milwaukee has the issue of owning none of its future picks, but unless Portland or New Orleans wants to get crazy, I think it’s out of luck there.
Ivey and Duren are enough to excite the fan base, and perhaps Sexton plays well alongside them and gives himself value to a team looking for a creator at the deadline. Either way, Milwaukee recoups a solid haul for its franchise icon, and it looks as if this is a better deal than Golden State or New York could provide.
And then there’s Utah. Danny Ainge will Danny Ainge.
He flips Sexton into a future swap and another contract he could move in Harris, all while taking a low-risk, medium-reward shot on Klintman. Sounds like a solid deal to me as Utah prepares to draft another player in the top six of the upcoming draft that Sexton will take shots from if he sticks around again.
I believe Sexton has another tune to play as a contributor on a good team, but to do that, he needs to escape the wasteland that is Utah.
Memphis rebuilds, Sacramento keeps on Kingsin’
Sacramento receives: Ja Morant
Memphis receives: Malik Monk, Jonas Valanciunas, Devin Carter, 2027 SAC 1st, 2027 SAS 1st, 2028 SAC 1st Swap, 2030 SAC 1st Swap
Why it works
Last week, Memphis pulled off a shocking deal when it sent Desmond Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and a bunch of draft picks.
Reports have suggested that Memphis plans to keep Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. and try and stay competitive coming off what may be the most negatively portrayed 48-win season in NBA history.
And maybe Memphis will do that. Perhaps it sees Morant as the franchise savior that so many thought he was after his first three seasons in the NBA. But if I were running the Memphis Grizzlies for a day, I’d go in the other direction.
I feel like we’ve seen what this team is. Morant hasn’t improved in years and has both behavioral and health issues that prevent him from staying on the court. Jackson is an elite rim protector who is about to get a long-term extension, but has shown nothing in terms of leading to winning when Morant is out. The Marcus Smart trade failed.
I think Memphis should lean into the positives on its roster — the young guys.
Zach Edey will never be a star, but he’s going to be a good player for a long time. Memphis hit on Jaylen Wells in the second round last year and it now has Anthony. In this trade, it brings in a former lottery pick in Devin Carter, who many were high on in last year’s draft before he missed most of the season with an injury. It also loads up on even more draft picks and this is without trading Jackson, who would likely fetch a larger return than Morant.
On the Sacramento side, this isn’t a deal I would do, but the Kings just fired a general manager who I think did a good job with the resources he had, so they aren’t operating in a way that I feel is based in logic.
Reports are that the Kings want a point guard. After trading Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox, they seem to have realized that having a core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray with no one to run the ship probably isn’t a recipe for long-term success.
Morant has his issues, but even his biggest detractors wouldn’t suggest he isn’t a highly talented player who, if he could get his head on straight and stay on the court, is a dynamic talent who can be the star of a playoff team.
Do I think that’ll happen? Probably not. Do I think that would happen in Sacramento? Absolutely not, but the Kings are the Kings and in this scenario, I can see their thinking if Morant can go down the same path that Chris Webber did when he was traded to Sacramento after struggling both on and off the court in Washington.
New Orleans gives up on Zion, Portland takes a calculated risk
Portland receives: Zion Williamson
New Orleans receives: Jerami Grant, Kris Murray, No. 11 pick, 2030 POR 1st Swap
Why it works
Sometimes, it’s best for all parties to do something else. And in the case of Williamson and the Pelicans, I’m more than certain we’re past that point.
His on-court issues are a big part of that. He can’t seem to stay healthy and New Orleans is notorious for having one of the worst medical staffs in the NBA. He’s a tough fit on a team that, despite being bad, has a lot of mouths to feed and is preparing to add another lottery pick to the mix. He’s never developed as a floor-spacer and is best with the ball in his hands on a team that has $61 million devoted to two guards next season.
But most concerning are the off-court issues.
He had a, putting it lightly, weird online back-and-forth with an adult actress two seasons ago and now he is facing allegations of rape and “sexual, physical, emotional and financial abuse.” Now, of course, those are purely allegations at this point and for all the public knows, they could be dealt with privately, and could be true or untrue, but it continues a pattern of troubling behavior off the court for a young man who has a ton of talent and is very impactful when he plays.
For this exercise, we’ll operate under the mindset that Williamson avoids suspension and his off-court matters are handled.
In that world, Portland makes a ton of sense.
Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan, along with others, are all good young players who seem destined to be in the league for a long time. That said, none of them seem like they’re ever going to take the step up to stardom, and with the Western Conference moving where it seems to be, without a star, you’re out of luck.
The cost for Williamson is low for all the issues we’ve already been over, so the draft pick compensation is largely to get off the contract of Grant. Murray could be something, but I think he’s someone Portland would be comfortable moving on from in this scenario.
The Blazers get a potential superstar at a low cost and move out their worst contract all in one move. A no-brainer if the effective cost is the No. 11 pick in this draft.
For New Orleans, you get a player who’s ill-fitting with Trey Murphy III in Grant, but he’s shown to be a good player in the past and if the Pelicans think they can make him work with Murphy, he could be flippable if he has a good season. You take a flyer on Murray and you add a second lottery pick in this class, giving yourself a solid base to work with as you move forward with Murphy as the focus of your franchise.
It’s not perfect, and due to Williamson’s ongoing legal issues, this deal is unlikely to happen. But, if he clears his name, it’s a move I think both sides should take the gamble on.
Memphis retools, Phoenix rebuilds
Memphis receives: Devin Booker, Keon Johnson
Phoenix receives: Cole Anthony, Zach Edey, GG Jackson, Vince Williams Jr, 2026 PHX 1st, 2027 MEM 1st, 2028 MEM 1st Swap, 2029 MEM 1st, 2030 MEM 1st Swap, 2026 BKN 2nd
Brooklyn receives: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2029 ORL-MEM-BKN 1st Swap
Why it works
Will the Phoenix Suns do this deal, even if it’s offered to them? Who knows, but ever since Mat Ishbia bought the team, little that they’ve done has made sense.
Sunday morning, Phoenix agreed to a trade to send Kevin Durant to Houston and received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 pick, along with five second-rounders. That should be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Devin Booker is now without a co-star in the physical prime of his career. Phoenix, which puts less resources into its scouting department than any other team in the NBA, now holds a top-10 pick and has a young, talented guard in Jalen Green who is on a manageable deal for the next three seasons.
All the signs of a team that should be moving onto the next era are there, and if Memphis came through with this offer, one made possible by the Bane trade in which it got Phoenix’s first-rounder in 2026, it should realize that fact.
A team of Green, Edey, Williams, Anthony, Jackson, Ryan Dunn and the No. 10 pick is enough to be excited about what could happen in the next generation of Suns basketball. And the basketball gods are doing Phoenix a favor and letting it reacquire its own pick that it traded away.
As for Memphis, this is why it did the Bane deal, ideally.
It loads up on tradeable picks and contracts and swoops in to steal a third star to pair with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson if it decides that it wants to continue to build around them. As I stated in the Morant-to-Sacramento idea, that’s not what I would do, but I can’t deny that adding Booker and keeping the likes of Jaylen Wells, Brandon Clarke and Scottie Pippen Jr. makes the Grizzlies a very interesting team.
With no true center, it’s difficult to see that team winning a title in a league that seems to be getting bigger, but I can’t deny that it makes Memphis a real contender off talent alone.
And Brooklyn plays its hand well, taking on Caldwell-Pope’s contract and getting a future first-round swap in the process.
I would say that outside of Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee, this is the most unlikely of the deals I proposed due to the fact that Phoenix seems convinced that it can build a contender around Booker even though it’s in the second apron, has no picks going forward and has Green and Bradley Beal on the team next to him.
Even with the low chances of a Booker deal happening, common sense commanded that I include at least one deal where Phoenix comes to its senses and realizes the window it had has been gone since Ishbia bought the team.
