2026 Trade Deadline fake trades

The trade deadline is approaching and I just love making and talking about fake trades so I couldn’t help myself. Here is a 2026 trade deadline fake trades blog, Giannis not included.

Pistons acquire Michael Porter Jr. and Jalen Wilson from the Nets for Ron Holland II, Tobias Harris, Marcus Sasser and a 2026 first round pick

Why the Pistons do it: The Pistons can go to the NBA Finals and I really cannot think of a better fit than Porter Jr. is for this team. Yes, his defense is not great but he is 6 foot 10 who is a knock down three point shooter, while shooting over the top of guys and has shown this year that he can play off of the bounce as well. The Pistons need more shooting and more guys who can play off of the bounce and Porter Jr. fills both of those needs. Losing Holland would hurt, he has shown flashes and was a top 5 pick last season. Harris is also a leader there but I just think that Porter Jr. is a perfect fit for this team and lifts an already really good team into an even better one. The moment is now for the Detroit Pistons and they should strike while the iron is hot. Wilson is a minimum contract throw-in for roster spots.

Why the Nets do it: MPJ has had a career revival this season with the Nets and this is one of the best sell high opportunities in the NBA right now. Holland is the blue chip add in this deal. The three point shot has yet to come along yet, shooting 24% for his career, but the athleticism and defense just jump off of the page enough to take this swing. They also get Marcus Sasser, who has yet to find a role in Detroit but is a young guard with juice off of the bounce and a good shooter, and another first round pick in this draft to add to their war chest. Tobias Harris is a free agent and can finish the season in Brooklyn as a veteran leader.

Pacers acquire Nic Claxton and Tyrese Martin for Bennedict Mathurin, Jarrace Walker, Isaiah Jackson, a 2030 first round pick (top 4 protected) and a 2029 pick swap (top 2 protected)

Why the Pacers do it: This deal puts Indiana dangerously close to the luxury tax so they could look to dump Martin as a part of another trade. However, they need a center and Claxton is a really good player. This season is not going well for the Pacers and they are not going to turn it around but they need to get a center because next season is go time with the return of Tyrese Haliburton. They should not pay Mathurin so getting ahead of that with a trade now makes a lot of sense. Jarrace Walker just has not hit in the league after being a lottery pick so moving him really does not bother me. The downside is that this could hurt their lottery odds this season but to add a guy like Claxton is worth the risk, especially with how random the lottery has proven to be with the way the odds are.

Why the Nets do it: Brooklyn is in asset gathering mode. They don’t have their pick next season and that hurts but getting good returns for Porter Jr. and Claxton makes sense. Mathurin is the best player they get in this deal. A high volume scorer who had his moments in last season's playoffs, I really think Mathurin could be a real piece for the Nets. That next contract is spooky but as long as the asking price does not get too high, I think he can be a part of the next good Nets team. Walker is another flier that you could see becoming a guy for them. A former top 10 pick who has good size is interesting but he has had a poor season. Isaiah Jackson is a depth big who can help fill minutes on a relatively cheap contract. The pick and the swap are the primary part of this as Brooklyn looks to deepen their war chest of assets.

Timberwolves acquire Coby White for Mike Conley, Terrence Shannon Jr., 2027 Cavaliers 2nd round pick, 2031 better of Timberwolves and Warriors 2nd round pick and 2032 better of Rockets and Suns 2nd round pick

Why the Timberwolves do it: The Minnesota Timberwolves can win the championship but I don’t trust the Bones Hyland/Rob Dillingham minutes in a playoff series, they need guard help. Coby White is the highest upside swing on the market. Over the past 3 seasons, White has averaged 19.7 points per game on 45% from the field and 37% from three. He is on an expiring contract and a guy Minnesota might not be able to pay this summer so this would likely be a rental but I think that this is worth the swing. The Timberwolves badly need a guard and badly need bench scoring and White can provide both. It is a risk but one I think is worth it for the Wolves.

Why the Bulls do it: I think getting a first round pick for White has passed the Bulls by and giving him a new deal this summer after giving Josh Giddey $100 million does not make a ton of sense. This is a solid return for a rental. I like Terrence Shannon, the 27th in the 2024 NBA Draft has not had a great season but played well in the playoffs a season ago and is a guy that the Bulls can bet on going forward. They also get three second round picks in this deal to use in future deals and they don’t impact their salary space at all for next summer with this trade. Conely is a veteran who can help with some of Chicago’s young guys or could be waived. This could be seen as a lackluster return for White but the Bulls waited too long to make the move. 

Lakers acquire De’Andre Hunter in a three team trade with Cavaliers and Jazz. Cleveland gets Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and 2028 Knicks 2nd round pick, Utah gets Dalton Knecht and 2032 Lakers 2nd round pick

Why the Lakers do it (get De’Andre Hunter, give Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, 2032 2nd round pick): Getting Hunter for 2 expiring salaries, a guy who can’t get in the rotation and a 2nd round pick is easy business for the Lakers. De’Andre Hunter is a good player who would help the Lakers at a position they badly need. Since he only has one year left on his contract after this season, he would not affect their 2027 cap space plans.

Why the Cavaliers do it (get Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, 2028 2nd round pick, give De’Andre Hunter): Cleveland has been playing better basketball as of late and a salary dump in this moment would probably be a not great look after they made the big trade for Hunter last season. However, I just don’t think being in the 2nd apron next season is good business for the Cavaliers and getting off of Hunter’s $24.9 million for next season would get them out of the apron. The emergence of Jaylon Tyson has also made Hunter expandable. There is risk with this deal, it would leave the Cavs short handed on the wing and banks on them getting Max Strus back but they should get out of the 2nd apron next season and this deal does just that. Vincent and Kleber can play roles for the Cavs as floor spacers, one as a big and one as a guard. There is also the LeBron James of all of this and this trade could allow them to give him the small mid-level exception next summer.

Why the Jazz do it (get Knecht, 2032 2nd round pick, give 2028 2nd round pick): Dalton Knecht has not worked in the NBA yet and I am not sure he will work for the Jazz. However, taking a low risk filer on the guy seems like a smart thing to do. Teams are always looking for shooting and Knecht has a history of being a good shooter, so why not just see what you can get out of him if you are the Jazz?

Heat acquire Ja Morant and GG Jackson II for Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Simone Fontecchio and 2027 worst of Heat, Thunder, Pacers and Rockets 2nd round pick

Why the Heat do it: Miami is just kind of in a holding pattern that has them going nowhere. They could use a major shake up and this is what this deal is. Morant is a huge swing that comes with a lot of risks. He is hurt all the time, has not shot the ball well this season and is a bad defender but his ceiling is higher than Tyler Herro’s is so that is why Miami would be willing to take this swing. If Ja Morant could ever get back to his peak form, this would be a huge upgrade for the Heat. Morant could also be more valuable to the Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade this summer. GG Jackson is a high ceiling, low floor flier for the Heat to take on in exchange for giving Memphis Pelle Larsson in this potential deal. 

Why the Grizzlies do it: The Morant era needs to end in Memphis in large part because he has had too many issues with their coach Tuomas Iisalo. Herro can be that replacement at the guard position. He is a very good offensive player, his playmaking and shooting would help the Grizzlies, but the health and defensive issues that Morant has are the same ones Herro has. Larsson and a late 2nd round pick are the assets that Memphis gets in this deal. I think that Larsson is a better and more reliable player than Jackson is. He is not a great three point shooter but a rock solid defender and a good ball mover who would help the Grizzlies. Fontecchio is salary filler and would probably be waived.