This may be a trade that ultimately benefits both teams

Looks like Memphis is tearing it down, Ja should be next, but might keep JJJ as a building block. So would be looking at a lot of picks for Ja as well and try and copycat OKC. But with Ja's off court issues, I can't see them getting as much as Bane.
Very good fit for Orlando, but that's a lot of draft picks. And could flip Kcp for more. Can see it for someone like Giannis, but Desmond Bane??? Although they need shooting, could they have gotten Giannis for those picks and Wagner? Even KD could have been a rental for much less and had a shot at winning the east.
With Tatum going down and a firesale on some other players, most eastern teams will be loading up, but if very good role players are going for these many picks, what will superstars be attracting.

I dont think Wagner and those picks is getting Giannis. Plus I dont think Giannis is going anywhere.

Bane is a much better fit (both long term and short term) with Paulo and Wagner than KD would be. I think they're looking at this as their core to build around (with Suggs). And you don't have to get KDs regular drama.

It is a lot of picks, but they should all be in the 20+ range except for this year and next year (next year's one is super complicated)

Pacers have made a trade while in the NBA finals.

https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/45531729/sources-pacers-trading-no-23-overall-draft-pick-pelicans

Pacers dealt this year's pick (23) along with Mojave King to New Orleans for the Pacers own pick in 2026.

Its an interesting move though next year's pick will be in a similar range, they maybe don't see any room for a first rounder on next years roster.

any chance Pelicans decided to play King?

*decide

The pels will be doing a bit of training camp in Australia so should bring him and take a look at him. He's not NBA standard talent wise but he's big, versatile and athletic and NBA scouts have a hard on for players like that.

Kevin Durant to Houston in return for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, pick 10 this year, and 5 second rounders

Big get for the Rockets. KD gives them that one guy who can make big shots that they lacked this season. Didn't have to give up guys like Smith or Thompson or even projects like Whitmore or Reed.

Feels like the Rockets have some more moves to go (don't have much in the backcourt now) but this should set them up to be a genuine contender next season

He's also not the easiest teammate to play alongside. Fingers crossed.

There is that.

I think as long as the Rockets don't go too crazy and try to now trade for another big star they should be fine.

The Suns getting KD in the first place was fine, although they likely overpaid (confirmed now really). Where they went really wrong was the next move, going for Beal and giving up all flexibility and options, rather than working with what they had.

Rockets need to just take the win, and then tinker. They likely need to move on some front line depth for some guard help. I would say Landale,Eason, Tate most likely and maybe Whitmore, Smith and Shephard if the right deal comes along.

Boston sending Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons and 2 second rounders

https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/45572537/celtics-trading-jrue-holiday-trail-blazers-sources-say

Someone in Portland gotta be a secret agent for the Celtics. WTF man. Celtics needed to offload Holiday and they get back a decent return.

Gafford apparently about to extend with Dallas for $54m/3y. There were rumours last season about them thinking about trading him.

Unless Flagg plays exclusively SF, and even if he does, seems like Davis, Gafford, Lively and Washington is an overwrought frontcourt? Does Washington get traded now?

Dallas really needs a capable point guard until Kyrie returns. Brogdon has been rumoured, but I wonder if they might talk to Portland about Holliday and unload one or 2 of the bigs in probably a 3 way. Lakers would love one, maybe Reaves as a centrepiece to Portland, Lively would be Lakers preferred choice and with Dallas having a short window might be sacrificed with salary fillers by a few teams. And Holliday could play with Kyrie when he returns as well.
Unless Portland are hoping Holliday runs off on Scoot or they are moving on from him and treating him as a bust.

I think Holiday to Dallas makes a lot of sense. He's still good enough to run the team while they wait for Kyrie to come back and will be ok taking a step back when he does return. He also has the kind of game that will work well next to Kyrie.

Mavs definitely will move on from at least one of their bigs. Extending Gafford makes Washington and Lively most likely.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45576664/sources-pelicans-trade-mccollum-olynyk-wizards-poole-bey

Ok it's crazy season. Poole to the Pels for McCollum

Boston, Atlanta and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta's No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics.

And need them!

Whether they can turn them into a power franchise is another story.

Brooklyn with 8, 19, 22, 26 and 27

That's bizarre- do they even have enough roster spots?

Surely they trade some? Try and get a mature player or move up the draft board.

The Nets only have 5 players under contract for next season with Mann and another handful of player options so HEAPS of room for picks. I think its worth using them all and having the hope that 2-3 work out.

Great deal for Atlanta. Sure, injury concerns on KP and Johnson as well, but this certainly lifts their ceiling.

Hornets send Nurkic to Utah for Collin Sexton.

I could not be more pleased with the way the hornets off-season is going

Michael Porter Jr and the Nets to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson.

This seems like a good deal for the Nuggets. They get a similar player, though a bit smaller and not as good on the glass, but maybe more consistent?

The big win is getting him at half the price and cutting $20m from their salary which might get them below one of the aprons and give them more flexibility for further deals.

They've also added Bruce Brown back as a free agent which I think is a win. They need more depth now and a half decent back up for Jokic.

Rockets have given Clint Capela 21.5M over 3 years which is a big strange since they already have Sengun and Adams.

Kornet to the Spurs, Ty Jerome to the Grizz, DLo to the Mavs. Jake Laravia to the Lakers. Caris Levert to the Pistons.

Ugh, that first sentence. Clearly I can't multi task.

*Michael Porter Jr and a first round pick to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson*

Looney to Pelicans ($16m/2). Schroder to Kings. Clarkson likely to Knicks? Brook Lopez to Clippers. Garza to Celtics. NAW to Hawks. Tyus Jones to Magic.

I like the team the Hawks are building. If healthy, they could be genuinely good in the East. Trae Young at the point, Porzingis in the middle and then young athletic guys at every other position.

Kennard to Hawks. Horford getting broader interest than just Warriors.

Nuggets seemed to get themselves in a vastly improved position very quickly. They're also one of the Horford options.

Not sure if there's room for Landale in Houston?

Capela's deal is very similar to Landale's money so they probably won't keep Jock.

Hornets land Plumlee, Charlotte and Phoenix are just sharing every centre possible!

Frank Kaminsky likes this.

"Capela's deal is very similar to Landale's money so they probably won't keep Jock."

Yeah no way they're hang on to him as a 4th centre.

Capela is a strange one, but getting DFS is a good move to replace Brooks defence and would be an ideal Udoka player.
Laravia is decent but Lakers would be spewing they ended up just renting DFS and giving up those picks. Everyone is tipping Dominayton to sign there, will he disappoint another franchise.
Denver's pick may be valuable that year but would assume they don't care, adding a similar player for much less money now allows them to add depth again, they may well have upset OKC with a few more bodies. Just need to add a few more shooters.
Dallas would be hoping Russell can keep the seat warm for Kyrie till he returns, so much for defence wins championships.
Don't understand how Charlotte got Sexton as well as a pick for Nurkic. Maybe they're looking at a blockbuster Ball trade.

Mod: Post flagged and awaiting moderation.

Bucks are blowing it up, waiving Dame to sign Myles Turner

Bucks will stay mediocre. They've stretched Dame's 2 years which will cost them 22.5m for the next 5 seasons, so that they can have Myles Turner for 27m per season so they're basically paying 50m for Turner for 5 years.

I get that they don't want to punt the next 2 years while Dame comes back (and likely well past his best when he does) but it means instead of retooling around a new run in 2 years they've decided to be average for the next 4.

Proctor gets 4 year deal with the Cavs including 2 years fully guaranteed. Great news!

Ayton to the Lakers for $16.6M over 2 years.

While Ayton has massive questions marks over his attitude and basketball IQ, he is talented, and this is about as good of an outcome as the Lakers could have ever hoped for (realistically). He's not a perfect fit but he fills a gap and at this price should be good value.

The Lakers were able to split their midlevel exception for Ayton and LaRavia to that should help their depth.

Likely start: Luka, Lebron, reeves, Ayton, Rui. Off the bench with vincent, Laravia, Vanderbuilt, Knecht, Kleiber.

Its not a champion team but should be interesting.

"League sources tell The Athletic that the Rockets and Suns are working on expanding the Kevin Durant trade into a deal that would involve a league-record seven teams. Other teams involved in negotiations at the moment include the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources say."

This would basically be turning a bunch of smaller deals and free agent signings that have already been agreed to into a mass sign and trade which would help each of the teams with flexibility. The suggestion is no other significant names are part of the deal, but maybe a few minor players and late picks and cash considerations etc