u/BasketballAnimeBoi21

The trade is simple: PG, VJ and picks for Giannis

Philly capitalizes on this last year or two of Embiid and Maxey with a legit game changer, unlike what they tried doing with Paul George. Giannis gets to stay in the East and gets to compete with two legit stars next two him when they're healthy (looking at you Embiid).

Milwaukee gets to restart with a promising young player in VJ and gets a glob of picks for the future, including some of those Clippers picks from the Harden trade. The roster most likely isn't going to have the same turnaround OKC did, but I think this puts them on path to start competing again by 2030.

The biggest issue for Philly is, while they'll have some picks in 27 and 28, they'll be stuck in the 2nd Apron from this deal if Giannis signs an extension and little wiggle room to bring in more talent outside of Free Agency or marginal trades.

Do I think this deal happen, personally? Hell no, way too many picks for Philly and I think Josh Harris is petrified of the 2nd Apron. That alone probably nixes the deal, but I thought it was interesting.

I'm here for more pain, so here's a 4-team Giannis trade and my "logic" behind it:

Mavericks - You lack any control with your picks after this year until 2030. That doesn't mean you won't be able to draft, but you won't have any favorability if you decide to tank, so you convince yourself into competing.

Getting Giannis speeds up your timeline and allows the Mavericks to compete while Flagg is cheap and creates a solid core of Kyrie-Flagg-Giannis and they still keep core players like Lively, Gafford and Naji.

They'll still have access to the MLE and can bring in more depth to help round out the team. The main reason I'm entertaining this is Masai Ujiri is now running the show, and it's no secret he's wanted Giannis since he was drafted.

Bucks - You don't get many young players worth of value (unless they develop) but you get the 9th pick, the 21st pick, and two future firsts along with some seconds for sending out Klay and PJ.

That gives you a solid young core to build around today and you stay very cap-flexible even with taking on Cody Martin's terrible contract.

Miami - You get a veteran floor spacer on an expiring who helps you compete next year for the price of two seconds. This move would probably mean that the Heat are not resigning Norman Powell, but I think Klay is a solid depth/starter fit for whatever Miami decides to do next season (which we all know is competing in the play-in).

Pistons - You commit to building around Cade and bring in a proven floor-spacer and playoff rising in PJ Washington who's under a solid contract until 2029.

The price is steep with this year's first and a lottery-protected first in 2028, but it gives a long-term starter who fits well with if they decide to build around Cade and Duren moving forward. PJ was hurt most of 2025-26 but he's shown he can show up when it matters.

Will this trade happen? No, but it's fun to speculate and I'd love to hear how awful this trade is :)

Took some feedback on my last post and adjusted a deal that would send Zion to Charlotte, thanks to a user who actually offered a trade proposal.

Hornets get Zion, and might be potentially able to still extend Coby White for 4/100m this offseason.

Pelicans get two expiring deals in Bridges and Williams, but most importantly they get the 18th pick, a future 2nd, and out of the Zion contract a year early.

Thoughts?

This trade is simple for New Orleans - you get out of the Zion deal a year early for two smaller, expiring deals. Bridges and/or Williams could be rotational pieces for the Pelicans or get shipped, but it's mainly the saved money from the deal.

For Charlotte, they take a stab at Zion and his semi-guaranteed contract while Miller and Kon are still on rookie-scale deals. If he doesn't stay healthy, they can cut him in 2027 as it's partially guaranteed, but if he does, he could be the piece that pushes them into legit playoff contention and they can work on an extension w/ his bird rights.

No picks are involved because Zion is probably still seen as a risky asset due to his health, but if you want to throw in a protected 1st or some seconds, go right ahead.