It's not realistic RIGHT NOW, but I could see it breaking that way...

[NYG]

Let's churn up some new ideas... the concept of this thread is something that doesn't exist as a rumor yet, but you could see the steps where it goes that way over the course of the off-season. I feel like what's out there has been out there and we could use some new ideas to go over.

So you need to say how it got there first, but then the player that's available as a result.

[NYG]

I'll start...

How we get there: The Suns are locked into their roster with their cap restraints and Beal's no-trade clause. Without any movement beyond some minor tweaks, KD becomes vocal about wanting to go East to Philly, Miami, etc. and the Suns cave.

The player that becomes available: As a result of an underwhelming off-season in Phoenix, Devin Booker requests a trade.

Also... if this were to happen, I think the trade is some version of Booker to the Magic especially if KD goes to the 76ers because the Suns can create a ton of flexibility between the two deals.

[babyjax13]

I'll throw out the random team selector as another way to generate some trade ideas/scenario:
https://wordwall.net/resource/680216/nba-teams

I got Charlotte:

LaMelo Ball's behavior and history of injuries has Charlotte open to moving him. They've determined that - for all its warts - this draft does have several point guard prospects worth picking at number 6. They put him on the market for a young player that compliments Brandon Miller...

[NYG]

I'll throw out the random team selector as another way to generate some trade ideas/scenario:
https://wordwall.net/resource/680216/nba-teams

I got Charlotte:

LaMelo Ball's behavior and history of injuries has Charlotte open to moving him. They've determined that - for all its warts - this draft does have several point guard prospects worth picking at number 6. They put him on the market for a young player that compliments Brandon Miller...

Is Rui, Reaves, JHS, Woods, 3 1sts and 3 swaps enough for LaMelo?

Does the top heavy value of 3rd Overall get Houston LaMelo for FVV + 3?

[babyjax13]

I'll start...

How we get there: The Suns are locked into their roster with their cap restraints and Beal's no-trade clause. Without any movement beyond some minor tweaks, KD becomes vocal about wanting to go East to Philly, Miami, etc. and the Suns cave.

The player that becomes available: As a result of an underwhelming off-season in Phoenix, Devin Booker requests a trade.

Also... if this were to happen, I think the trade is some version of Booker to the Magic especially if KD goes to the 76ers because the Suns can create a ton of flexibility between the two deals.

Durant to Philly would make sense in this scenario. Phoenix gets cap relief (immediate) along with all the picks and swaps Philadelphia can trade. When Booker demands a trade they pivot to trading him to Brooklyn to get their picks back - at the point their two best players the experiment has failed.


Trade 1:
Booker to Brooklyn for 2025 PHX 1st, 2027 PHX 1st, 2027 PHI 1st (2 years after 2025 PHI 1st conveyed to OKC, 1-8 protected), 2028 BRK/PHI/PHX 1sts (Brooklyn receives two most favorable of Brooklyn/Philadelphia/Phoenix 1sts, w/Philadelphia's being 1-8 protected), 2029 PHX 1st, 2029 DAL 1st

Trade 2:
Durant + 2027 PHI 1st (2 years after 2025 1st to OKC, 1-8 protected) to Philly for 2024 PHI 1st (rights to player drafted 16th), 2027 PHI 1st (unprotected if conveyable), 2028 LAC 1st (unprotected), 2029 PHI/LAC 1st (higher, but LAC protected 1-3), 2030 PHI 1st (pick swap)

This gets Phoenix almost all its picks back (it would lose 2026 in a swap, but likely not 2028 as I read it) plus a boatload of others. Functionally they'd have the following 1sts:

2024: 16, 22
2025: PHX
2026: lowest of WAS/ORL/MEM/PHX
2027: PHX, PHI (if conveyable, but likely)
2028: PHX, BRK, LAC
2029: PHX, DAL, PHI/LAC (higher, except LAC 1-3 protected)
2030: PHX/PHI (higher)
2031: PHX

[babyjax13]

I'll throw out the random team selector as another way to generate some trade ideas/scenario:
https://wordwall.net/resource/680216/nba-teams

I got Charlotte:

LaMelo Ball's behavior and history of injuries has Charlotte open to moving him. They've determined that - for all its warts - this draft does have several point guard prospects worth picking at number 6. They put him on the market for a young player that compliments Brandon Miller...

Is Rui, Reaves, JHS, Woods, 3 1sts and 3 swaps enough for LaMelo?

Does the top heavy value of 3rd Overall get Houston LaMelo for FVV + 3?

I like the Lakers offer for Charlotte, it's probably more value than he is worth? I would think Reeves + Rui + 2 1sts and a swap? But could be lower on LaMelo.

FVV + 3 seems like it needs one other asset.

[flranger]

Warriors cut salary this off-season and start the season with an injury to Curry, putting him out for 8-10 weeks.

Over the next 10 games, Draymond responds by kicking two players in the nuts in a unnatural basketball play causing him to miss 26 games.

In the final game leading up to the trade deadline, Jordan Poole (4 of 21) outduels Klay Thompson (1 of 15) in a battle of paperweights with dreams of Cooper Flagg. Thompson leaves the Chase Center sobbing, sadly attempting to discard his handkerchief but misses off the side of the can.

Curry finally finds his own balls, and says it's him or me. Since Dunleavy knows Draymond still has the pictures of Lacob doing weird things with vegetables, he trades Curry at the deadline for Presti's war chest of picks and young assets leading to a Finals MVP for Curry and a NBA title for the Thunder and the inevitable end of the Warriors.

Bill Simmons moves Curry into the #7 spot in his NBA all time rankings in his July 13, 2025 podcast with Russillo.

[OxAndFox]

I'll throw out the random team selector as another way to generate some trade ideas/scenario:
https://wordwall.net/resource/680216/nba-teams

I got Charlotte:

LaMelo Ball's behavior and history of injuries has Charlotte open to moving him. They've determined that - for all its warts - this draft does have several point guard prospects worth picking at number 6. They put him on the market for a young player that compliments Brandon Miller...

I like this team selector wheel.
I got Lakers.

They draft Devin Carter #17 and he turns out to be a very good selection, showing an ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor.
On the other side of the country there's some discontent growing with Miami uncommitted to a Jimmy Butler extension and he quietly asks to be traded to LA.

LA Lakers Trade:
Devin Carter, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarred Vanderbilt, '29 1st, '31st
Why: Join AD, Jimmy, LeBron for a title tilt. They keep Austin in this scenario and would be hoping DLo is still with them along with some more Vet Min help.

Miami Trade:
Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson, Orlando Robinson.
Why: Carter is a Miami type of player and almost took him #15. Instead, they took Da Silva who gives them much-needed spacing and this gives them a great opportunity to do a quick reset around the young guys JJJ, Jovic, Carter, Da Silva with Bam, Rozier, Herro, Rui, Gabe, Vando ensuring the team makes the POs still. The goal would be to be a player in FA down the track, or as early as next off season if they can turn some of Herro, Rozier, Rui, Gabe into expiring contracts.

[penbeast0]

Just because the poor Wizards need some hope . . . someone out there sees how much better Jordan Poole played once moved to the point and offers neutral or even positive value for him. The Wiz then trade Kuzma to Sacramento or a similar team for a mid 1st, resign Tyus Jones, draft a couple of strong defenders with great athleticism (like Castle and Holland), and we get to see how good Deni Avdija is as a 1st option with an Orlando caliber defensive (if not offensive) lineup around him.

[Chinook]

The Spurs make a bit more cap space, sign Klay to a three-year deal and trade Johnson for Draymond. They draft Dillingham and Topic and end up with the following rotation:

Jones, Dillingham
Vassell, Champangie
Thompson, Osman (room exception)
Green, Sochan
Wembanyama, Collins

[Texas Chuck]

GSW probably isn't going to trade you Draymond for Keldon straight up. What incentive are you offering there?

[gswhoops]

Philly has an underwhelming offseason after striking out on their major FA targets, and Morey and Embiid quietly agree to move him to a true contender while retooling the Sixers around Maxey:

Embiid to Miami for Bam, Duncan Robinson, Jovic, 29/31 1sts unprotected, 26/28/30 swaps unprotected

Embiid
Butler
JJJ
Martin/Herro
Rozier

Bam/Reed
Jovic
DRob
?
Maxey

[Godaddycurse]

Philly has an underwhelming offseason after striking out on their major FA targets, and Morey and Embiid quietly agree to move him to a true contender while retooling the Sixers around Maxey:

Embiid to Miami for Bam, Duncan Robinson, Jovic, 29/31 1sts unprotected, 26/28/30 swaps unprotected

Embiid
Butler
JJJ
Martin/Herro
Rozier

Bam/Reed
Jovic
DRob
?
Maxey

Premise sounds cool except i dont think miami is any more of a contender than philly is after that trade

[gswhoops]

Philly has an underwhelming offseason after striking out on their major FA targets, and Morey and Embiid quietly agree to move him to a true contender while retooling the Sixers around Maxey:

Embiid to Miami for Bam, Duncan Robinson, Jovic, 29/31 1sts unprotected, 26/28/30 swaps unprotected

Embiid
Butler
JJJ
Martin/Herro
Rozier

Bam/Reed
Jovic
DRob
?
Maxey

Premise sounds cool except i dont think miami is any more of a contender than philly is after that trade

I tried to stay away from the homer deal, but admittedly my original concept was CP3/Wiggins (to Dallas)/Kuminga/Podz/a bunch of firsts for Embiid

[OGSactownballer]

NYK recognizes it has its true super star in Brunson and finally moves Randle to an ATL team hungry for a true post presence to try one last time to make a team with Trae work. They move Murray to NYK where he and Brunson immediately become the leagues most devastating backcourt.

[Bornstellar]

The Spurs make a bit more cap space, sign Klay to a three-year deal and trade Johnson for Draymond. They draft Dillingham and Topic and end up with the following rotation:

Jones, Dillingham
Vassell, Champangie
Thompson, Osman (room exception)
Green, Sochan
Wembanyama, Collins

I just threw up in my mouth. The thought of Draymond Green on this roster - no thanks. Like, I get it, but no thanks

[Celts17Pride]

The Spurs make a bit more cap space, sign Klay to a three-year deal and trade Johnson for Draymond. They draft Dillingham and Topic and end up with the following rotation:

Jones, Dillingham
Vassell, Champangie
Thompson, Osman (room exception)
Green, Sochan
Wembanyama, Collins

I'm not a San Antonio Spurs expert but from what I see from the outside is the Spurs don't go for the quick fix. The Spurs have Wemby and they are going to try and build a contender like the current Celtics (Celtics have been to 6 ECF in Brown's 8 years) that will be competing for 6-10 years. I would expect the Spurs to go the draft route and trade for young players to build around Wemby. Players like Klay and Draymond do nothing for the Spurs window.

[Fo-Real]

I remember there being a team heavily interested in Grayson Allen at the deadline. I also think that the Suns signed him to his extension early in the playoffs in order for him to be available for trade as early as October. I (personally.... no report to point to, just who fit...) think the team who inquired is Orlando. I also noticed that Allen and Tyus Jones seemed to be thick as thieves, smiling and talking to each other after our game against each other with their hands over their mouths. With Orlando needing vet leadership and having money for Tyus, would the Magic trade for Grayson and if so, who?

[Chinook]

The Spurs make a bit more cap space, sign Klay to a three-year deal and trade Johnson for Draymond. They draft Dillingham and Topic and end up with the following rotation:

Jones, Dillingham
Vassell, Champangie
Thompson, Osman (room exception)
Green, Sochan
Wembanyama, Collins

I'm not a San Antonio Spurs expert but from what I see from the outside is the Spurs don't go for the quick fix. The Spurs have Wemby and they are going to try and build a contender like the current Celtics (Celtics have been to 6 ECF in Brown's 8 years) that will be competing for 6-10 years. I would expect the Spurs to go the draft route and trade for young players to build around Wemby. Players like Klay and Draymond do nothing for the Spurs window.

The acquisitions I mentioned do not cost the Spurs any of their picks and thus doesn't hurt their building strategy. What they would hopefully do is start helping the young guys on the team to level up in the same way guys like Horford and Millsap helped the Celtics and Nuggets. The Spurs continue to draft and develop while having actual vets who will play big roles and not just be "locker room leaders."

Real-talk, I don't love those two guys in that role, but they are the most accessible. Middleton, Durant and even George would be better examples, but they make more money and would likely cost real assets, which makes the conversation harder.

[Skybox]

Warriors cut salary this off-season and start the season with an injury to Curry, putting him out for 8-10 weeks.

Over the next 10 games, Draymond responds by kicking two players in the nuts in a unnatural basketball play causing him to miss 26 games.

In the final game leading up to the trade deadline, Jordan Poole (4 of 21) outduels Klay Thompson (1 of 15) in a battle of paperweights with dreams of Cooper Flagg. Thompson leaves the Chase Center sobbing, sadly attempting to discard his handkerchief but misses off the side of the can.

Curry finally finds his own balls, and says it's him or me. Since Dunleavy knows Draymond still has the pictures of Lacob doing weird things with vegetables, he trades Curry at the deadline for Presti's war chest of picks and young assets leading to a Finals MVP for Curry and a NBA title for the Thunder and the inevitable end of the Warriors.

Bill Simmons moves Curry into the #7 spot in his NBA all time rankings in his July 13, 2025 podcast with Russillo.

Maybe best post I've ever seen on RealGM ...the subtlety of the handkerchief missing is pure poetry