The NBA offseason is already here! Although the seventh game of the Finals will be played on Sunday, that doesn’t mean that the 30 teams aren’t on the move, evaluating possible deals. Rumors and speculation about transfers and player movements have already begun to gain momentum. There are great unknowns to be resolved, such as the possible sale of the Los Angeles Lakers, the future of Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s decision about his future. In addition, it is not ruled out that some unexpected transfer will arise that shakes up the league. With the NBA draft just around the corner and free agency very close, activity in the league intensifies. Here are five possible trades, involving ten different teams, that our NBA experts believe could change the course of the first round of the draft, even before Adam Silver announces the first selection.
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Memphis strengthens its scoring
Brooklyn Nets receive: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, John Konchar, pick number 16, 2028 first round pick (via Orlando), 2030 first round pick swap (for the worst between Memphis and Orlando)Memphis Grizzlies receive: Cameron Johnson, pick number 27 This move could be considered the second part of the Grizzlies’ trade, which sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Caldwell-Pope, the number 16 pick, and three future first-round picks. This deal redirects up to three of those four picks and Caldwell-Pope to the Nets for Johnson, who would replace Bane’s shooting ability in Memphis at a lower cost. The Grizzlies could view this series of transactions as a win. Although Johnson is older, at 29 years old, and doesn’t offer the same playmaking ability as Bane, he is a 39% three-point shooter and could be a better fit in Memphis from a size perspective. The Grizzlies could move Jaylen Wells to the shooting guard position alongside Johnson on the wing and play with small lineups at times with a Johnson-Jaren Jackson Jr. frontcourt that would test opposing centers with their court spacing. Crucially, Memphis would keep the best of the four picks coming from the Magic: a 2026 first-round pick that will likely come from the Phoenix Suns. By including Konchar in this trade, the Grizzlies would create nearly $13 million in salary cap space that they could use to renegotiate Jackson’s contract along with a long-term extension. From the Nets’ perspective, they would obtain a variety of draft assets in exchange for one of the remaining veterans who do not fit into their rebuilding plan. This year’s rise from 27th to 16th place is worth a late first-round pick on its own, and Brooklyn would add a second first-round pick in 2028, plus another possible swap in 2030. It’s also possible that the Nets could rehabilitate Caldwell-Pope’s trade value after a down season with the Magic. Because this trade does not require salary space to be completed, Brooklyn could maximize its spending power by using the league’s highest salary space on signings or other deals first, and then complete this one.The Bulls add Barrett, the Raptors seek… flexibility for Giannis
Chicago Bulls receive: RJ BarrettToronto Raptors receive: Patrick Williams, Jevon Carter, pick number 12 The Bulls, with Barrett, 25, would add another 20-point scorer to their young lineup and, in doing so, would part with Williams, the fourth overall pick of 2020 who has regressed offensively after signing a five-year, $90 million contract. The advantage for Chicago is that it should get much more production on the stat sheet each night, especially in terms of scoring, from the Canadian forward, which would help the Bulls’ offense, which ranks 20th. On the other hand, the Raptors, who have thrived by developing young, long-range forwards over the years, can work with Williams, who is still 23 years old, with fewer expectations. Williams’ salary is significantly less than Barrett’s $25 million, which is important as the team is about to pay Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Immanuel Quickley a combined total of $142 million next season alone. What will be worth observing is whether Toronto selects a player with the number 12 pick or postpones it to accumulate future picks. This wouldn’t be so surprising, particularly if the Raptors want to stay flexible to be in contention for a possible mega-trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, should he request a trade.The Lakers trade Knecht again and get a starting center
Brooklyn Nets receive: 11th pick (via Portland), 2031 protected first round pick (via Los Angeles)Los Angeles Lakers receive: Number 8 pick (via Brooklyn), number 36 pick (via Brooklyn)Portland Trail Blazers receive: Dalton Knecht, 2027 protected first-round pick (via New York) It should be noted that this transfer is subject to whether Duke’s Khaman Maluach is available when Brooklyn is choosing. If he is, then the Lakers would have their starting center for the future, but at the cost of last year’s first-round pick, Knecht, and an unprotected first round pick in 2031. It’s the same package the Lakers sent to Charlotte in the failed Mark Williams trade last February, except the 2031 first-round swap isn’t included. The Lakers’ president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, made it clear after the season that acquiring a starting center is the priority. “I think when you make a big trade at the deadline where you trade your starting center for a point guard, of course that’s going to create significant problems with the roster, and we saw some of them. We know that this offseason, one of our main goals is going to be to add size in our attacking zone at the center position.” In Maluach, the Lakers get a partner for Luka Doncic, a rim protector and the presence in the paint that they lacked in the first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers could have waited until free agency to get a starting center, but they only had the $5.7 million taxpayer mid-level exception available. Due to the first apron, the Lakers were also limited in accepting more money in a trade. As for the Nets, they drop three spots to number 11, but they get an unprotected first-round pick from the Lakers. The Nets still have three first-round picks in the draft (numbers 19, 26 and 27) along with 12 future first-round picks in the next seven years, including four unprotected ones. For Portland, the trade is similar to last June, when they traded the 14th pick to the Washington Wizards for Deni Avdija and a future first-round pick. This time it’s Knecht and a future first-round pick from New York.The Bucks add youth to an aging core
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Pick number 15 and pick number 24Oklahoma City Thunder receive: 2031 first round pick (top-1 protected) Oklahoma City already has the deepest roster in the NBA, and the Thunder will not lose any players from this season’s team this summer. They will also add Nikola Topic, the number 12 pick from last year, who fell in that draft and missed his entire rookie season with a torn ACL. So, what is Sam Presti going to do with two post-lottery picks in the first round? Their roster doesn’t even have room for them. The Thunder’s enviable position means Presti could keep his picks and opt for a draft-and-stash player. He could combine some picks, either both from this year or some from their future treasure, to move up and target a specific prospect. Or he could trade the present for the future, knowing that he doesn’t need more young players now, but will need them once his team’s stars have graduated to bigger contracts and the salary cap is tight. Presti has already worked a bit in this last direction when he traded a less valuable first-round pick from 2024 for unprotected swap rights with the Mavericks in 2028. There is a possibility that this trade will never materialize, meaning Presti would have traded a first-round pick for nothing, but there is also the possibility that Oklahoma City could get greater rewards with a higher pick in 2028. The same logic would apply in this transfer: change two guaranteed first-round picks of medium value to Milwaukee, which does not have its own first-round pick in 2025 and desperately needs an injection of young talent, in exchange for a potentially juicier selection in the future, at which point Giannis Antetokounmpo would be entering his late 30s. The same setup could work with any team that is looking for wins and has identified a couple of players they want in the middle of the first round of 2025. For now, all of the Thunder’s additional first-round picks will be exhausted by 2029, so they would do well to start pushing some of those picks further into the future to help maintain a surplus indefinitely.Guard Exchange in the West
Houston Rockets receive: DeMar DeRozanSacramento Kings receive: Dillon Brooks, number 10 pick The Rockets were second in the West this season with a young and talented unit that was strong on defense but lacked individual scoring ability. This was evident in their first-round defeat to the Golden State Warriors, as their top scorer, forward Jalen Green, struggled against the Warriors’ defensive center, and the Rockets couldn’t find other ways to create offense. DeRozan enters, one of the league’s best isolation scorers, coming off his 12th consecutive season averaging over 20 points. DeRozan would provide a major boost to the Rockets’ mid-range offense with his ability to create consistent, high-level shots off the dribble, while also alleviating some of the burden on Green and Alperen Sengun. In addition, the Rockets have a plethora of talented wing defenders, including Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, to replace Brooks’ defensive skills. Even without DeRozan, the Kings have a lot of scoring ability on the wing, with the additions of Zach LaVine and Malik Monk, a duo capable of combining for more than 40 points per game. The Kings also have an offensive zone with a lot of offense led by Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Their biggest weaknesses this offseason are on defense and at the point guard position, after they traded De’Aaron Fox to bring in LaVine. Brooks, with his aggressive 3-point shooting and defense, would fit well at the Kings’ forward position. The number 10 pick would also be an upgrade over the Kings’ number 13 pick that they traded to the Atlanta Hawks.Draft simulations project that several point guard prospects could be available at number 10, including Kasparas Jakucionis from Illinois and Egor Demin from BYU, who could become the Kings’ point guard of the future.
