The NBA Playoffs are an exciting time, but many teams are focused on the offseason ahead. Only one team can win the championship, leaving others to rely on the NBA Draft, free agency and NBA trades to improve. Before the offseason arrives, we’re looking at deals we’d love to see this summer.
Let’s dive into our list of 10 NBA trades we would love to see this offseason.
Phoenix Suns land rim protector in deal with Dallas Mavericks
With the emergence of rookie center Dereck Lively II, Dwight Powell might need to find a new home this offseason. The Suns do not have a consistent rim protector and adding Powell could fill that missing void. Lively has been the main pick-and-roll option for the Mavericks which has limited Powell’s production this season. He has played 13.3 minutes per game, which is his lowest since the 2014-15 season.
- Phoenix Suns receive: Dwight Powell
- Dallas Mavericks receive: Nassir Little, 2024 2nd (via San Antonio Spurs)
Adding Nassir Little will bring in yet another perimeter defender to Dallas. Building around offensive juggernauts in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving has forced the front office to focus on bringing in solid role players around the duo.Â
Miami Heat swing Zach LaVine trade with Chicago Bulls
For the first time since the 2017-18 season, Zach Lavine averaged under 20 points per game. After losing in the NBA Play-In Tournament, the Bulls’ front office has some difficult decisions to make. Trading for Tyler Herro would give the franchise a player to build around alongside Coby White and Patrick Williams.Â
- Miami Heat receive: Zach LaVine
- Chicago Bulls receive: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, 2028 1st
Nikola Jovic showed several flashes of the three-level scorer that he can be in this league scoring 7.7 points in 19.5 minutes of action. Lavine might not be able to lead a team to the playoffs, but playing with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo could allow him to thrive in a new role that would not consist of the best defender guarding him every night.
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Boston Celtics trade Payton Pritchard to New Orleans Pelicans
Payton Pritchard has proven he can take over a game with his ability to score in limited action. In the final two games of the regular season, where he was given the starting position, Pritchard erupted for 31 and 38 points on back-to-back outings sparking tons of trade interest around the league.
- Boston Celtics trade: Payton Pritchard
- New Orleans Pelicans trade: Dyson Daniels, 2030 2nd
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This past offseason, he signed a 4-year, $30 million extension giving trade suitors some flexibility for the future. Dyson Daniels gets a chance to develop his game behind Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.
Trae Young traded to San Antion Spurs
The pick-and-roll combination between Trae Young and Victor Wembanyama can be very scary for the rest of the league. It is no secret that at times, the Spurs did not use Wembanyama efficiently but he was still able to finish the year averaging a team-leading 21.4 points, as well as 10.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks.Â
- Atlanta Hawks trade: Trae Young
- San Antonio Spurs trade: Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, 2014 1st (via TOR), 2026 1st (top-10 protected)
The backcourt duo of Young and Dejounte Murray did not go as planned as the Hawks gave up two first-round picks to secure Murray back in 2022. Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Malaki Branham will be building blocks for the future in Atlanta.
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Brooklyn Nets ship out Ben Simmons to Portland
After trading away All-Star James Harden for Ben Simmons, it was not expected that he would only play in 57 games in two seasons with the Nets. Adding Jerami Grant brings in a 21 PPGÂ scorer who can help Mikal Bridges in the frontcourt.Â
- Portland Trail Blazers trade: Jerami Grant
- Brooklyn Nets trade: Ben Simmons, Jalen Wilson
Simmons can refine his career in Portland, with an up-and-coming squad. Scoot Henderson made a significant jump towards the end of his rookie campaign and playing with Simmons can make this a defensive-minded backcourt for the future.
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Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets swap players
Davion Mitchell is one of the most underrated perimeter guards in the NBA, but he saw his minutes per game go down in this third year. As a rookie, Mitchell averaged 11.5 points, but this past season his average went down to 5.3 a year after averaging 5.6 PPG.
- Sacramento Kings trade: Davion Mitchell
- Charlotte Hornets trade: Nick Richards
The Hornets are a team that has struggled defensively on the perimeter for the last several seasons, and Mitchell can fill that missing void next to LaMelo Ball. The last two seasons have shown that it might be time for a change in scenery for Mitchell.
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Detroit Pistons swing a deal for Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma finished with a career-high 22.2 points per game, placing him 27th in the league. His trade value is higher than ever, and bringing in Marcus Sasser, Quentin Grimes, and Isaiah Stewart give the Wizards young players to develop.Â
- Washington Wizards trade: Kyle Kuzma
- Detroit Pistons trade: Marcus Sasser, Quentin Grimes, Isaiah Stewart, 2025 2nd
Playing with Cade Cunningham can be beneficial for Kuzma’s progress as a player due to Cunningham’s ability to create open shots for his teammates. The Pistons were the worst three-point shooting team in the league, so adding Kuzma can provide a perimeter threat to a franchise coming off the longest losing streak in NBA history.
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Golden State Warriors find Chris Paul replacement in trade with Orlando Magic
The Chris Paul experiment did not go as planned as the Warriors failed to make the playoffs. Competing in a backcourt with Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz, Anthony Black, and Gary Harris, time has been limited for Anthony.
- Orlando Magic trade: Cole Anthony, 2025 2nd
- Golden State Warriors trade: Moses Moody, Trayce Jackson-Davis
Moving to Golden State would solidify him as the backup point guard to Steph Curry. Moses Moody’s development as a player has been hindered playing behind the Warriors’ veterans so heading to Orlando can open up his game.
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Tyler Herro shipped out of Miami
It seems that every offseason, Tyler Herro finds his name in trade talks. His inconsistency in this playoffs showed that he is not ready to be a number one option for Miami. Sending him to Brooklyn pairs him up with Mikal Bridges and puts him in a place where he can possibly develop into that number one option.
- Miami Heat trade: Tyler Herro
- Brooklyn Nets trade: Cam Johnson, 2026 2nd (via LAL)
The forward position is crowded in Brooklyn and moving Cam Johnson to the Heat will open up the floor for Cam Thomas who has proven he can score the ball on all three levels consistently.
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Chicago Bulls empty the backcourt
With the expectation that Lonzo Ball will be suited up and healthy for the start of the 2024-25 season, the Bulls’ front office needs to make space at the guard position. Coby White is coming off a career season, which means pairing him alongside Lonzo Ball is the likely move for the future of the franchise.
- Chicago Bulls trade: Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter
- Toronto Raptors trade: Bruce Brown, 2024 2nd (via DET)
Giving Toronto a young player like Dosunmu will allow him to expand as a player since the Raptors are currently in the rebuilding process. Jevon Carter struggled in his first season with the Bulls, shooting 37.8% from the field.
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