As training camps get closer and closer to the start of the new season, is there any possibility of changes in the player trading market? Or will some players who are too late to deal with it change owners in the middle of the season? Here's a look at 4 trade proposals that are thought to be leaving the original team and may bring a win-win deal between the player and the new owner.
Westbrook joins the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic got: Westbrook, 2027 first round and 2023 second round draft picks
Los Angeles Lakers get: Markle Fultz, Gary Harris and Terence Rose
Westbrook's presence in Los Angeles so far suggests the Lakers aren't willing to give up first-round picks for both 2027 and 2029, so it looks like the deal will only be done if the Magic are willing to accept that one of them is a second-round pick.
Gary Harris and Terence Rose have long been seen as deal chips for the Magic Rebuild, and from a team perspective, the only sticking point of hesitation may be Markle Fultz, who has not been bad in 18 games he played in last season. It's worth noting that Markle Fultz has never been good at shooting, but his true shooting percentage in the 2021-22 season is still higher than That of Westbrook.
Paul Banquero was able to attack from the forward position, which made Markle Fultz, who had poor shooting and couldn't open up space, less important. The Lakers' first-round pick is more valuable than his, especially considering that if there is no renewal of the Lakers and Anthony Davis has not re-signed, the first-round pick pick from the Lakers will be more beautiful.
Westbrook's salary of $47.1 million is considerable, but only about $6 million more than Markle Fultz, Gary Harris and Terence Rose combined. After Westbrook's contract expires, Orlando still has more than $50 million in salary cap space for the next offseason. Ideally, the Magic would buy out Westbrook, pocket the draft picks and continue rebuilding with more assets.
The Lakers are not complicated in this regard, as long as they can get rid of Westbrook is a good thing, not to mention the Lakers have also brought back three powerful guards, who can serve as a starter or become an important substitute in this season's rotation lineup.
Gary Harris is an offensive and defensive wing with a 38.4 percent three-point shooting percentage and no-ball defense that the Lakers desperately need right now. Terrance Rose is also a bench microwave that the Lakers lack, and he knows exactly when to jump out and grab points. Markle Fultz's future is hard to assess, but he's defensive number one passer, and the shortcomings in shooting can't be worse than Westbrook's.
Tobias Harris moved on to Sir Utah
The Philadelphia 76ers got: Bojan Bogdanovic, Patrick Beverley
Utah Jazz gets: Tobias Harris, Matisse Sable and 2029 first round + 2023 round + 2024 picks
You understand the significance of the deal when you consider that the Jazz could cut costs through a buyout, or even wait until next year to trade Tobias Harris' expiring contract again.
The Jazz hoarded draft picks in Rudy Gobert's deal and are likely to continue to make layoffs, such as sending Donovan Mitchell and any other available veteran away for future returns. If a complete rebuild isn't their plan, then Gary Harris and Matisse Sable can still help the Jazz win, and swapping players with similar features and getting a future draft pick is definitely a good move.
On the 76ers side, in addition to swapping back players who can also start, Bojan Bogdanovic and Patrick Beverly's contracts will expire this season, allowing them to erase Tobias Harris's salary of up to $39.3 million a year earlier. Under that premise, the 76ers have room to bring in capable free agents again next summer.
Bojan Bogdanovic and Tobias Harris bring many of the same skills to the forward position, with the former slightly better in career three-point shooting (39.2% vs. 36.7%) and the latter being a better rebounder. Patrick Beverly and Matisse Sebel are also defensively-first predators, and Patrick Beverly can defend more positions like Matisse Sable, but his shots are more valuable in the playoffs than the latter.
Ben Simmons traded to the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks get: Ben Simmons
Brooklyn Nets got: John Collins, Onheka Okongu
The biggest attraction for the Hawks is the defensive upgrade that Ben Simmons brings, which will cost them the attractive prospect of Oneca Okongu, who can develop into a very valuable center, but a normal Ben Simmons can do more.
Don't think about Ben Simmons, who doesn't shoot in the playoffs, the Hawks have players who can score. With Ben Simmons, De chantai Murray, DeAndre Hunt and Clint Capela forming the starting lineup, Trae Young will be surrounded by 4 elite-level defensive guards, which is what the Hawks who have improved their defensive ranking of 26th or worse in the league in the past 5 years have been dreaming.
The Nets' interest in the deal will depend on their willingness to move forward with Ben Simmons as a core player, and after Irving's spontaneous self-indulgence, Ben Simmons' mental health problems in Philadelphia remain a concern for the Nets.
John Collins is a young, talented and versatile starter on the offensive end, with an average salary of $25.5 million for the next four years, which is $12.5 million less than Ben Simmons's average in the last three years of his contract. Oneka Okongu can't shoot yet, but he's already seen his defensive potential, and the center is where the Nets need to go deeper.
Gordon Hayward moved to the New York Knicks
The Charlotte Hornets got: Julius Randall, the 2024 first-round pick
New York Knicks get: Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward's contribution to EPM victories in 49 games last season was almost as much as Julius Randall's 72 games (4.3). While there are still doubts about limiting Gordon Hayward to an average of 48 injuries per year over the past 3 years, healthy Gordon Hayward is definitely a more efficient and team-friendly player than Julius Randle.
If the Knicks exchange Gordon Hayward for him, he will need to pay him a total of $61.6 million in the remaining 2 seasons, and Julius Randall will take $117.1 million over the next 4 years, which is a must for a team that can't get rid of its long-term huge assets.
In addition, with the addition of Jaylen Brunson, who needs to be full, Julius Randle's role as a possession striker is bound to weaken, which in part increases the motivation of the club to want to trade the latter. Gordon Hayward passes more decisively and interferes with the rhythm of the offense, averaging fewer touch seconds and dribbling times than Julius Randall in his career, which will help the Knicks' team's offensive fluency.
Although the Hornets selected Mark Williams from Duke University and Mason Plumlee as the starting center, the young rookie still needs to hone and the latter has been a drag on the team's offense. Julius Randall can play both large and small forward picks and can also be used as a small-ball lineup center, and his ability is of course far superior to the above two.
Another major attraction for the Hornets is the first-round pick, and expecting Julius Randle to be at his best is like an added bonus, and a young, stress-free team that focuses on fast-breaking may be a better fit for him.