With the start of training camp quickly approaching, the summer trade period has wound down. However, it’s never too early to speculate about potential transactions for the next 2022-2023 season.
Amazing Proposed NBA Trades
What more star players may be traded before the February trade deadline after we saw All-Stars like Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and Dejounte Murray change clubs this offseason?
The following clubs should be pleased with these blockbuster trades: the Brooklyn Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers, who desperately need a point guard improvement, and the Chicago Bulls, who risk falling behind in the Eastern Conference.
Hawks’ Og Anunoby, Raptors’ Clint Capela, De’andre Hunter
Last season, the Hawks were 26th in total defence with a 113.7 rating. Why end with Dejounte Murray? Cleaning the Glass ranks Anunoby in the 88th and 71st percentiles among NBA wing defenders.
Moving Capela allows 21-year-old Onyeka Okongwu to start at the center. Trae Young’s defence is boosted by Murray, Anunoby, John Collins, and Okongwu. The transaction gives Atlanta a first-round pick after trading three for Murray and precludes them from signing Hunter, a restricted free agent next summer.
The Raptors get a real center to play with Pascal Siakam. Toronto can match whatever offer Hunter gets next summer despite his injury history. Capela, 28, averaged 11.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 61.3 percent shooting last season. Toronto gets two starters for one with 6’1″ Fred VanVleet, 6’7″ Scottie Barnes, 6’8″ Hunter, 6’8″ Siakam, and 6’10” Capela.
Upgraded Point Guard: Kyrie Irving Joins The Wizards
If the Nets are reluctant to re-sign Irving next summer but don’t want to lose him for free, a trade may benefit everyone. The Wizards need a point guard improvement next to Bradley Beal since Marcus Morris and Delon Wright are backups.
Even after re-signing Beal, Washington isn’t a playoff contender and can afford to bet on Irving. Irving and Beal might each score 25+ points per game next season. Washington has depth at the wing and forward positions.
So even losing Barton, Kuzma, and Morris provides the club with Beal, Irving, Kristaps Porzingis, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Daniel Gafford, Johnny Davis, and Wright.
Barton, Kuzma, and Morris can replace Irving as Ben Simmons’ backup point guard in Brooklyn. This transaction strengthens the Nets and eliminates questions about Irving’s availability and re-signing next summer.
Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell To The Lakers!
Russell returns to the Lakers after being drafted No. 2 overall in 2015 out of Ohio State. The 26-year-old can act as a key scorer and facilitator while LeBron James and Anthony Davis rest.
Russell has made 39.1% or more of his catch-and-shoot threes in three of the previous four seasons, indicating he’s a formidable off-ball threat. Clarkson, a former Laker who played with James, is a high-octane sixth man, while Gay is an experienced forward.
The Wolves may be terrified of what Russell will cost to re-sign next summer with Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Anthony Edwards already on max contracts.
Trading Russell for Conley, Nunn and a selection provides Minnesota with a starting point guard with Gobert experience, a sixth man who can play either guard position, and draft ammunition after giving up four first-round choices for an All-Star center this summer.
Moving Conley, Clarkson, and Gay open approximately $35 million to $45 million in cap space in 2023 (assuming Conley is waived). Utah receives the Lakers’ unprotected 2027 first-round pick when James might be retired and Davis’ contract will be up.
Suns And Bulls Switch Places At The Star Centers
Phoenix wouldn’t give Ayton a max contract before last season, so he signed with Indiana. Vucevic is nearing the last year of his deal, and the Bulls may search for stronger rim-protecting alternatives in 2021-22.
Ayton reduced opponents to 55.5 percent rim shooting compared to 63.8 percent for Vucevic. He’s 24 and has a four-year deal. With so many good ball-handlers in Chicago, Ayton should flourish as a pick-and-roll partner.
Phoenix’s replacement for Ayton is a two-time All-Star. Vucevic, 31, isn’t as effective defensively, but he’s a better distributor and 3-point shooter who helps Chris Paul and Devin Booker.
White, 22, is an improvement over Cameron Payne as Paul’s backup. Phoenix may match any offer he gets in 2023.
Getting an additional first-round pick provides the Suns trading options since they are one of four NBA clubs without future selections owing to them. Booker, Paul, Vucevic, Mikal Bridges, and White could win a championship and have an additional first-round pick to trade.
All Of Chicago’s Chips Are On The Table For Kevin Durant
With Donovan Mitchell now playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dejounte Murray for the Atlanta Hawks, eight teams in the Eastern Conference are theoretically capable of becoming better than the Chicago Bulls.
That would be different with Durant in Chicago. If the 12-time All-Star decides he wants to leave the Nets once again, the Chicago Bulls have a package of both immediate playoff help and future draft selections they can give the team.
Chicago is back in championship contention with plenty of opportunity to develop now that they have Durant around a core that still has Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, and Dalen Terry.
Since the Nets still owe the Houston Rockets several draft selections from the James Harden deal, and DeRozan has shown he can still lead an offence (27.9 ppg, 5.2 RPG, 4.9 APG, 50.4% FG), they have little incentive to tank this season.
Williams, who is only 21 years old, has hit 41.3% of his career three-pointers and has the potential to become an outstanding defender. As a backup to Kyrie Irving, White provides Brooklyn with a point guard option. For all the draft selections the Nets owe, they get three first-rounders.
