NBA Trade Rumors: Predicting six blockbuster NBA trades that could take place next.
In what ended up being quite the chaotic offseason with an emphatic ending, there were several big names on the move. In total, Damian Lillard, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Marcus Smart all switched jerseys this summer – the majority of them via trade.
That’s the excitement that the NBA calendar year generally brings. But the fun isn’t stopping there. As is the case every year, a new wave of stars will take their place next in the rumor mill. Which ones exactly? That’s the beauty of the NBA. It’s that unpredictable.
That said, we’ll give this prediction thing a twirl and try to pinpoint the next six blockbuster trades that will take place next in the NBA.
What blockbuster NBA trades could take place next?
Honorable mention: James Harden to the LA Clippers
Even though there has been some pessimism as of late, I ultimately believe that a James Harden to the LA Clippers blockbuster trade is only a matter of time. It’s going to happen and probably sooner rather than later. It’s been reported that the Clippers are working with the “intention” to get a Harden trade done. That means they’re working the phones in an attempt to figure out how to meet the Philadelphia 76ers’ asking price.
If you’re Harden, that has to be good news. And that’s probably, in part, the reason why he has participated in training camp with the Sixers recently. I’m fairly certain that Harden will be in a Clippers jersey before the start of the regular season.
Pascal Siakam to the Atlanta Hawks
Nearly all offseason long, the Atlanta Hawks have been trying to get in on the Pascal Siakam sweepstakes. At least thus far, they haven’t been able to land the All-Star forward. However, especially with Siakam not signing a contract extension in Toronto, there’s a belief that perhaps the Hawks and Raptors will reengage on those trade talks closer to the NBA Trade Deadline. Especially if the Raptors get off to a rough start to the season and are more willing to pivot toward a complete rebuild around their young talent.
I predict that this is a deal that could come to fruition at the trade deadline. The big key to this deal getting done could revolve around the Hawks getting some guarantee (through backchanneling, if necessary) that Siakam plans to sign an extension with the team. If Atlanta can get that, it would make them more willing to go all-in for Siakam. Without that, it’s hard for the Hawks to push too hard.
Siakam to the Hawks would be a really good fit next to Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. They could even emerge as a dark horse threat to make a deep run in the playoffs if this deal were to happen.
Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder
Depending on how the Oklahoma City Thunder start their season, there’s an argument to be made that they could emerge as real buyers in the trade market by the middle of the 2023-24 NBA campaign. They have the assets to pull off a major deal and could be one veteran star player away from being a real player in the Western Conference. If OKC has the developmental jump that many are expecting them to have this season, I can envision the Thunder being on the hunt for a veteran star.
It may not be a superstar but a player like Jerami Grant could have a huge impact on the young Thunder. He’d be a fit next to Chet Holmgren and would give this team an offensive weapon on the wing or in the frontcourt that they simply don’t have at the moment next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
I’m not saying Grant would make the Thunder a championship contender, but he would absolutely solidify their place in the top 8 of the West. This could be the first big tangible step forward that OKC makes in their attempt to seriously compete with the top of the conference.
Joel Embiid to the New York Knicks
Unless Tyrese Maxey can make the jump to superstardom soon, I firmly believe that this could very well be the final season for Joel Embiid in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform. With no clear path toward contention with James Harden off the roster, assuming they do end up trading him, it might as well be in the best interest of Embiid and the Sixers to pursue a trade at some point in the future.
The question is, how much longer is Embiid going to remain loyal to the Sixers?
I don’t believe that it’s a hot take that within the next two years, Embiid will be traded. And the Knicks have already been linked to the superstar center. He could very well be the player that the Knicks view as the final piece of their championship puzzle. I predict the Knicks will remain patient when it comes to making a big move on the trade market until they are able to get their man.
From all indications, it appears that Embiid has been highlighted as that player for the Knicks.
Karl-Anthony Towns to the Brooklyn Nets
Even though Karl-Anthony Towns has undergone a bizarre and perhaps somewhat unfair fall from grace, I don’t think his trade value is as tanked as some tend to believe. I also believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves could be waiting for one hot streak or a good start to the season to try to strike on potentially trading him. The team is clearly ready to hand over the full reins of the franchise to Anthony Edwards, and it may be in the best interest of both sides to pursue a KAT trade at some point in the next calendar year.
The question is, which team will be willing to take the gamble on such an expensive contract? I have a guess; maybe the Brooklyn Nets? Heading into the season as an under-the-radar team, I can’t help but wonder if the Nets would be willing to consider a possible Ben Simmons for KAT swap at some point this season.
Brooklyn needs to find a third star to play next to Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. While KAT didn’t work as a lead man in Minnesota, perhaps he could thrive as a supporting star with the Nets. Maybe it could work.
Donovan Mitchell to the Miami Heat
I’m predicting that Donovan Mitchell will eventually be traded but not in the next NBA season. He’s going to play out the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is a deal that will either come to fruition next offseason or at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline. It could also work as a sign-and-trade if Cleveland is really willing to roll the dice on Mitchell. When push comes to shove, I don’t believe that Mitchell is signing an extension with the Cavs.
After not getting to one of his preferred destinations when he was originally traded by the Utah Jazz, I imagine he really wants to get to a landing spot of his preference this time around. And if he needs to use the threat of free agency to get his way, he will or should. Mitchell has a great relationship with Bam Adebayo and I believe the Miami Heat is going to be the option that makes the most sense for him at this point in his career.
By this time, the Heat could be preparing to pivot away from the Jimmy Butler build and fully embrace the Bam Adebayo build. Miami could build a strong package around a myriad of future first-round picks, Nikola Jovic (who should be more developed in a year), and perhaps even Tyler Herro.