Pre-offseason fake trades

As we get deeper and deeper into the playoffs that means we get closer and closer to the offseason, let’s make some fake trades for said offseason.

Celtics acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, Hawks acquire Jaylen Brown in three team trade. Celtics get Antetokounmpo (from Bucks), Hawks get Brown (from Celtics), Gary Harris and Taurean Prince (from Bucks) and Bucks get Dyson Daniels, Corey Kispert, Zaccharie Risacher, 8th pick, 2027 lesser of Bucks and Pelicans pick, 2030 Hawks unprotected first round pick, 2031 Hawks unprotected pick swap (from Hawks), 40th pick, 2027 Celtics unprotected first round pick and 2031 Celtics unprotected first round pick (from Celtics)

Why the Celtics do it (get Giannis, give Jaylen Brown, 40th pick, 2027 and 2031 first round picks): Boston just isn’t good enough to compete with the Knicks as constructed. There are ways for them to get better around Tatum and Brown but this is Giannis Antetokounmpo we are talking about. Replacing Brown with him makes Boston better. There are concerns, the injuries and age being the biggest ones but the Celtics were shown that they just were not good enough this year and acquiring Giannis puts them in a better position to compete with New York, who has passed them by in the Eastern Conference hierarchy. Brad Stevens talked about how the Celtics need more dunks going forward. Who better than the Greek Freak to do that for them? A duo of Tatum and Antetokounmpo would be the best in the NBA and with another move or two to improve the roster elsewhere, Boston would be in title contention yet again in 2026-27.

Why the Hawks do it (get Brown, Harris and Prince, give Daniels, Kispert, Risacher, 8th pick, 2027 lesser of Bucks and Pelicans pick, 2030 Hawks unprotected first round pick and 2031 Hawks unprotected pick swap): The Hawks need a number 1 and Brown seems to want the challenge of being a number 1. This deal allows them to keep Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker so they can keep much of their team intact from last season, just adding Brown, who showed last season that he is ready to be the top option on a very good team. They’ll need Jalen Johnson to take another leap to become a real NBA Finals threat but this would be a team that could win a lot of regular season games with Brown as the lead option. Atlanta became too reliant on CJ McCollum to create offense for them last season and they need to find another guy who can take them home late in games, Brown is that guy. Gary Harris and Taurean Prince are throw-ins to the deal to clear roster spots for the Bucks and add veteran wing depth for Atlanta.

Why the Bucks do it (get Daniels, Kispert, Risacher, 8th pick, 40th pick, 2027 lesser of Bucks and Pelicans pick, 2027 Celtics unprotected first round pick, 2030 Hawks unprotected first round pick, 2031 Hawks unprotected pick swap and 2031 Celtics unprotected first round pick, trade Antetokounmpo, Prince and Harris): This doesn’t seem like a great return for the Bucks, who don’t get a ton back from a player stand point, though Dyson Daniels is good and Zaccharie Risacher was the first pick two seasons ago. This deal is about getting the 8th pick, 4 future first round picks (3 unprotected and the other likely in the lottery) and a pretty good 2nd round pick. It doesn’t seem like the market for Giannis isn’t going to be what we thought it might have been a few seasons ago. Yet, this is still a big return that can kick start the Bucks rebuild around 2 top 10 picks in this year's draft.

Hornets acquire Jarrett Allen and 29th pick for Grant Williams, Tidjane Salaun, Ryan Kalkbrenner, 14th pick, 18th pick, Mavericks top 2 protected 2027 first round pick and Hornets 2032 unprotected first round pick.

Why the Hornets do it: Moussa Diabate was a revelation for the Hornets last season but Charlotte can’t rely on him at center if they want to take the next step so enter Jarrett Allen. This is a big price, to trade a lottery pick, move back 11 spots, add an additional 2 picks and a young player in Kalkbrenner who showed some flashes last year is a lot. However, I think Allen reminded us in the playoffs that he is a really good player who can impact winning at the highest level. His defense, rebounding, screening and the lob threat are all things that will greatly help the Hornets next season as they try and make a playoff run in what should be an improved Eastern Conference. He is also a really easy fit into the Hornets starting 5, which was +26.4 per 100 possessions this past season. The Hornets need to add a veteran big to compete next season so why not go big with a guy with a big afro.

Why the Cavaliers do it: The Cavs just aren’t good enough as built. James Harden seems to be signing a new deal this summer and moving Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley isn’t something I think they want to do right this moment. That leaves Allen as the big chip to trade but this deal is about the deal they make after this deal. They could package some of the stuff they get for Allen and make another deal down the line (or make this a three team trade). Cleveland could be hesitant to make Evan Mobley their full time center but I think Williams could lighten some of the burden with having a true 4 to play next to Mobley. I am not sure where Cleveland goes this summer because making the Conference Finals while going 8-10 in the playoffs isn’t close to winning a championship. There are tough decisions that the Cavs need to make.

Suns acquire Ja Morant from Grizzlies for Jalen Green

Why the Suns do it: This is a simple 1-for-1, no added picks. For the Suns, it is an upside play. Morant’s upside is significantly higher than Jalen Green's. There is risk to this deal, Morant was a bad player this past season when he played and that wasn’t a lot. In 20 games, Morant scored 19.1 points per game with 8.1 assists and he shot 41% from the field, 24% on threes with a true shooting percentage of 52%, not good. This is a risky deal for the Suns, Morant is an unreliable player who has struggled with his play, injuries and off the court issues in his career. However, the talent is undeniable. At his peak, Ja Morant is not just a better player than the one the Suns would be giving up but a significantly better one and for a team who is floating in mediocrity without ownership of their picks. To me, the juice is worth the squeeze.

Why the Grizzlies do it: This deal for Memphis is about getting out of the Ja Morant business. The Morant-led era of Grizzlies basketball is over and it is time to officially end it. Jalen Green is a good player who, when he is playing well, is a high level scorer. That doesn’t happen enough, which is why the Suns are inclined to make this trade. Green only has 2-years left on his current contract, so the Grizzlies can get off of him fast if this doesn’t work. However, the 2nd year is a player option so if it does work, they’ll need to figure out what to do with him, if he were to opt-out (but I struggle to see any scenario in which Green opts-out after next season). 

Lakers acquire Daniel Gafford for Jarred Vanderbilt and 2031 Lakers top 3 protected first round pick

Why the Lakers do it: The Lakers gotta add some sort of big. Deandre Ayton is a good player, and very well could be back, but Gafford is a guy the Lakers should want to add, whether Ayton is back or not. I considered a Herb Jones trade but decided that it was a little rich for a wing who struggles to shoot. The Lakers gotta add guys next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and we have seen Luka and Gafford be productive playing next to each other in the Mavericks trip to the 2024 Finals. This also isn’t that heavy of a price for the Lakers to pay, Vanderbilt isn’t a player the Lakers rely on very heavily and he is on a not great contract so getting off of him is a part of the price. The Lakers need to add a real screen and dive big to play with Luka and who better than a guy who has played that role with Luka before?

Why the Mavericks do it: This is all about the pick for Dallas. Vanderbilt’s defense could help them this upcoming season but he isn’t a long term piece next to Cooper Flagg going forward. They would be making this trade to add another pick to their collection of assets going forward. Dereck Lively is another reason as to why Dallas could look to deal Gafford. When they had Luka Doncic, it made sense for the Mavericks to have 2 centers who could roll to the rim and catch lobs but they don’t need 2 of those types of players anymore. I think acquiring the pick is worth losing Gafford and eating Vanderbilt’s contract for Dallas.

Nets acquire Paolo Banchero for Drake Powell, 6th pick, 2031 Knicks unprotected first round pick and 2032 Nuggets unprotected first round pick

Why the Nets do it: Brooklyn is searching for a star to build their team around, they tried to tank and get one through the draft but the lottery wasn’t on their side. As a result, they need to find a different way to acquire one. They have loads of cap space but there aren’t any free agents so it will need to be a trade. Banchero is someone that could be traded and since the Magic are a team that needs to clear some money, I thought this was a good deal to land on. Banchero is a really good player, he can score, rebound and defend. While his passing and playmaking isn’t all the way there yet, those skills are also improving as time goes on. Banchero is an elite player who the Nets can build around with Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton and Egor Demin.

Why the Magic do it: Orlando’s most successful lineups this season where their 3 guard looks. They were +16.6 per 100 possessions when Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane shared the floor this past season. This trade allows them to lean into that look even further. Adding the 6th pick in a guard rich draft gives them more ways to deplore those three guard looks as well. Drake Powell is a young wing who is coming off of a solid rookie season and could be a piece for the Magic. I am also ready to move on from the Banchero and Franz Wagner pairing. Orlando has been a better team when those two don’t share the floor and though trading one puts more pressure on the other, I think a breakup would be good for Orlando. I’d keep Wagner because I think he is a better player than Banchero is. This deal also allows Orlando to sign Anthony Black to a big contract extension this summer, Black is really good and a player Orlando should want to keep around. I know trading Banchero would hurt but adding the 6th pick, clearing out money and adding 2 interesting picks in the future could make this deal worth it for the Magic.