If not for COVID-19, the NBA Draft would have been a month and a half ago. It’s now August 20th and the first round of the playoffs is just getting underway. Strange times we live in. The fact that an NBA champion will not be crowned until late September leaves the NBA and Adam Silver with a slew of tough questions. When exactly will the 2020-2021 season start? Will we have another bubble for all 30 teams? When does the free agency period begin? With all the craziness that will ensue next year, we’re going to add to the madness a little bit with some fake trade scenarios! Today, we’re taking a look at four potential deals that could happen this offseason using TradeNBA.com’s trade machine. Let me know what trades you’d like to see happen this offseason in the comments section below!
The Suns Bring Lauri Markkanen Back to Arizona
It feels like every member of the Bulls needs a change of scenery and no one needs to find a new home more than Lauri Markkanen. The days of Michael Jordan seem like a century ago and the Bulls are turning into quite the dumpster fire. The Suns on the other hand went 8-0 in the bubble and they are a few pieces away from legitimately contending in the Western Conference.
This team has a glaring need at power forward, especially one who can stroke it from deep because outside of D-Book, this team doesn’t have a ton of shooting. DeAndre Ayton is a career 17% three-point shooter and not a threat from beyond the arc. Phoenix desperately needs a big man to stretch the floor and Markkanen would fit that role perfectly.
The Suns are on the rise and this year’s 2020 1st rounder is pretty useless for them. They don’t need/want another young player to bring along and develop, they need an established scorer who has NBA experience. I think this is a great trade for both sides and a starting five of Rubio, Booker, Oubre Jr., Markkanen, and Ayton could definitely sneak in as a 7th or 8th seed in the West next season. Reports came out that Phoenix tried to snag Lauri during February’s trade deadline, we’ll see if these two teams can strike a deal before the draft.
KAT Finds His Way Out of Minnesota
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There are three certainties in life: Death, taxes, and Karl-Anthony Towns won’t be retiring as a Timberwolf. On Ryen Russillo’s podcast a few months back he said, “KAT is the captain of the NBA All-Miserable team” and he’s 100% right. Watch any T-Wolves game and just watch Towns’ body language. Every time down the court he just looks pissed at his agent for convincing him to sign that extension with Minnesota.
The Wolves tried desperately to acquire his best friend D’Angelo Russell and they actually were able to strike a deal with Golden State for him. However, I don’t think that is going to be enough to persuade KAT to stay in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. I devised this trade prior to the Wolves winning the draft lottery, but I actually like it even more after they snagged the 1st overall pick.
I tried a plethora of trade packages for Towns with teams like Portland, Sacramento, and Indiana, but I kept circling back around to Boston. The Celtics possess that one glaringly obvious trade chip that none of those other teams have and that’s Jaylen Brown. Jaylen has been in trade rumors basically since the night he was drafted. He’s been in rumored trades for Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard. It just feels like Brown is the expendable asset in Boston that Danny Ainge would be willing to part with for a true superstar. Considering that Jaylen is still just 23, this trade would probably be the best offer the Wolves could get in return for their disgruntled star.
The center position is a painfully glaring need for the Celtics who have been leaning heavily on Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter all season long, I’m sure they’d be willing to part with Brown if it meant getting an offensive force in the paint like KAT.
I know Minnesota fans groan at the thought of yet another rebuild, but the longer Gersson Rosas waits to deal his unhappy superstar, the worse his trade value becomes. If they were to pull off this deal before the draft, the Wolves could have a pretty solid young core that features D’Angelo Russell, Jaylen Brown, James Wiseman, Malik Beasley, Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, plus two other 2020 first rounders. This proposed deal might not happen this offseason, but next summer I could definitely see it.
All Three Holiday Brothers Reunite in Indiana
I want to preface this trade by saying that this deal is 1000% not happening, but it’s a really fun trade for both sides. Jrue Holiday has been in trade talks all season long and there’s a high probability that he gets moved this offseason. With the emergence of Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner is another name that has been floated around in trade rumors for months now.
The big question mark surrounding this potential trade is how healthy is Victor Oladipo? I’ve always had a soft spot for Oladipo and after he got to Indiana he emerged as an instant superstar. Unfortunately, after he ruptured his quad during the 2018-19 campaign, he just hasn’t been the same player. He’s played in just 55 games over the last two years and this season he’s shooting below 40% from the field. Add in the fact that he has just one year left on his deal, it appears that Indiana will either trade him or let him walk.
I love this trade because how fun would a team with Lonzo, Victor Oladipo, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Myles Turner be? Not only that, but Jrue would get to play alongside his brothers Aaron and Justin, plus I really like the fit alongside Malcolm Brogdon.
The Pacers would have to throw in a draft pick because Oladipo is on an expiring contract, but if this team gels, I think the Pels could convince him to stay in New Orleans. Myles Turner would give the Pelicans solid shot blocking and rim protection in the paint and if Oladipo could just be 80% of what he was during his first season with Indiana, New Orleans would be even more of a must-watch team next year.
Ben Simmons to San Antonio and Bradley Beal to the City of Brotherly Love
Let’s get a little wild with our last trade! This deal all hinges on what the 76ers want to do with Ben Simmons. There have been rumors for over a year now that Simmons and Embiid just don’t get along and it’s pretty clear that the chemistry just isn’t there. Philly will most likely end up trading one of the two and Philadelphia is Embiid’s city, so Ben will probably be the one on the chopping block.
You could say this for basically any player in the league, but I would love to see Ben Simmons paired with coach Pop in San Antonio. For the first time in 22 years, the Spurs missed the playoffs and with the way their roster is constructed, it’s time for a rebuild. Washington is in the exact same boat, as this team is basically Bradley Beal and a bunch of G-league guys.
This trade would give the Wizards a ton of draft picks, the Spurs a franchise player to build around for the future, and the Sixers one of the best scorers in the league. I love this trade for all parties involved, and although it most likely won’t happen, I can dream, can’t I?
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