Things have been heating up around the NBA, and it’s still June. The NBA Finals ended just one week ago, yet the trade mill is already flowing. The Phoenix Suns pulled off a massive trade for Bradley Beal, and plenty of other teams around the league will look to follow suit and shake up their rosters.
Teams like the Portland Trail Blazers are looking to add win-now talent, teams like the Washington Wizards will continue to sell, and teams like the Chicago Bulls find themselves stuck in the middle with no real direction. How will the rest of the summer play out?
With the number of rumors swirling around, the NBA is set to look much 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 the New York Knicks
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 seemingly in the gutter, and the big man could use a change of scenery. And since it feels as though the New York Knicks are the team he wanted all along, could there be a deal there? Williamson would form a great trio with Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Williamson.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans would rid themselves of the uncertainty of Williamson, bringing back Julius Randle, who wouldn’t have to handle the ball nearly as much in New Orleans. They would also add two solid young pieces and three firsts 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
Bulls receive: Karl-Anthony Towns
Timberwolves receive: Zach LaVine
A straight-up swap? Why not?
The Minnesota Timberwolves need to ditch the two-big idea, and the Chicago Bulls need to switch up their middling core. Zach LaVine for Karl-Anthony Towns makes a ton of sense for both teams.
Potential starting lineups
Bulls: 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 the 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 the GM of the Golden State Warriors, and getting the team in a better financial state 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 get to add a first-round talent.
For the Brooklyn Nets, this would be a way for them to form a nice young core. Jordan Poole would pair alongside 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
Nets: Jordan Poole, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
Warriors: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Greenm, Kevon Looney
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 blockbuster trades to reshape the NBA landscape: Ben Simmons to the Orlando Magic
Magic receive: Ben Simmons, Pick #22 in 2023 NBA Draft
Nets receive: Jonathan Isaac, Gary Harris, Pick #36 in 2023 NBA Draft
The Orlando Magic are supposedly on the hunt 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 eek a better pick out from the Brooklyn Nets, and if Simmons refinds his footing, it could be an intriguing project.
For the Nets, they would get to move on from Simmons’ giant contract in this deal, adding a new project in the form of Jonathan Isaac and a solid rotational guard in Gary Harris.
Potential starting lineups
Magic: Ben Simmons, Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendnell Carter Jr.
Nets: 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 the Portland Trail Blazers
Heat receive: Joel Embiid
Trail Blazers receive: #3 Pick 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 work out a trade with the Bulls to remove protections from 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 odd 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 an amazing new young core in the deal, highlighted by one of Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. Plus, by the time the firsts convey, the Portland Trail Blazers will likely be a lottery team again.
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 find other pieces in free agency to work with, too.
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
