Things have been heating up around the NBA, and it’s still June. The NBA Finals ended just a week ago, but the trade mill is already flowing. Phoenix Suns completed a massive trade to Bradley Bealand plenty of other teams around the league will look to follow suit and shake their lists.
Keep as Portland Trail Blazers looking to add win-now talent, teams like the Washington Wizards will continue to sell, and teams like Chicago Bulls stuck in the middle with no real direction. How will the rest of the summer be?
With the number of rumors swirling around, the NBA is set to look very different next season. Here are five potential blockbuster trades that could shake up the NBA landscape.
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Blockbuster Trades to Reshape the NBA Landscape: Zion Williamson to New York Knicks
The Knicks receive: Zion Williamson
Pelicans receive: Julius Randle, Obi Toppin, Jericho Sims, Three first round picks
Zion Williamson’s relationship with the New Orleans Pelicans is apparently in the gutter, and the big man could use a change of scenery. And since it feels like the New York Knicks are the team he wanted all along, could there be a deal there? Williamson would form a big trio with Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Williamson.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans wanted to free themselves of Williamson’s uncertainty and bring back Julius Randle, who didn’t have to handle the ball nearly as much in New Orleans. They would also add two solid young pieces and three top picks in the trade.
Potential starting lineups
Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Quentin Grimes, RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, Mitchell Robinson
Pelicans: CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Julius Randle, Jonas Valanciunas
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Blockbuster Trades to Reshape the NBA Landscape: Karl-Anthony Towns for Zach LaVine
Tyres receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
The Timberwolves receive: Zach LaVine
An outright swap? Why not?
The Minnesota Timberwolves need to ditch the two-big idea and the Chicago Bulls need to change their intermediate core. Zach LaVine for Karl-Anthony Towns makes a lot of sense for both teams.
Potential starting lineups
Taurus: Coby White, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, Karl-Anthony Towns
Timberwolves: Mike Conley, Zach LaVine, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Blockbuster Trades to Reshape the NBA Landscape: Jordan Poole to Brooklyn Nets
Nets receive: Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga
Warriors receive: Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neale, Patty Mills, Pick #21 in 2023 NBA Draft
Mike Dunleavy just took over as GM of the Golden State Warriors, and getting the team in a better financial shape could be a priority. This deal would not only do that, but it could also help them in their quest to win another championship with Stephen Curry.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Royce O’Neale and Patty Mills would all be great veteran pieces to surround their current core, and they would also add some first round talent.
For the Brooklyn Nets, this would be a way for them to form a nice young core. Jordan Poole would pair up with Mikal Bridges to create a dynamic duo in Brooklyn where he would have more freedom to play his game. Jonathan Kuminga would get the same.
Potential starting lineups
Net: Jordan Poole, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
Warriors: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Blockbuster Trades to Reshape the NBA Landscape: Ben Simmons to Orlando Magic
Magic Reception: Ben Simmons, pick #22 in the 2023 NBA Draft
Nets receive: Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris, Pick #36 in 2023 NBA Draft
The Orlando Magic are reportedly in the market for a point guard, but with how young they are, could they take a risk? Ben Simmons hasn’t been able to stay on the court, so they could probably seek a better selection from the Brooklyn Nets, and if Simmons finds his footing again, it could be an exciting project.
For the Nets, they would move on from Simmons’ huge contract in this deal and add a new project in the form of Jonathan Isaac and a solid rotation guard in Gary Harris.
Potential starting lineups
Magic: Ben Simmons, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendnell Carter Jr.
Net: Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Blockbuster Trades to Reshape the NBA Landscape: Joel Embiid to Portland Trail Blazers
Heat reception: Joel Embiid
Trail Blazers receive: #3 Picks in 2023 NBA Draft, Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, Jusuf Nurkic, Three Future First Round Picks*, One Future First Round Pick Swap
*Portland would have to make a trade with the Bulls to remove the protection of first-rounders
If James Harden leaves the Philadelphia 76ers, would Joel Embiid want to move on? The hiring of Nick Nurse says no, but the 76ers have made strange decisions in the past. If there was ever a time to trade Embiid, it would be now and for this trade package.
Philadelphia would get a great new young core in the deal, highlighted by one of Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. Additionally, the Portland Trail Blazers will likely be a lottery team again when they first convey it.
For the Trail Blazers, this would be the perfect trade to go all in on. Pairing Damian Lillard with Embiid would give them an elite dynamic duo, and they could also find other pieces in free agency to work with.
Potential starting lineups
Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, Joel Embiid
76ers: Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, Tobias Harris, Paul Reed
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