Around the NBA: Seven trades that should happen before the 2025 deadline

The trade deadline is less than a week away, so it’s time to play matchmaker.
I began writing this article on Saturday afternoon. Since then, multiple edits have been made, as two trades I had proposed involved De’Aaron Fox and Zach LaVine. As it turns out, they were involved in the same trade. Who knew? I even contemplated throwing in a Luka deal that costs less than Fox/LaVine just to garner reactions, but decided against it. After all, who in their right mind would agree to such a thing, right? RIGHT?
So, let’s see what else might be on the table before Thursday’s deadline.
To Memphis: Cameron Johnson
To Brooklyn: Marcus Smart, GG Jackson, and Memphis’ own unprotected 2025 1st-round pick
Despite their depth, the Grizzlies’ small forward position has been a revolving door this season. Acquiring Johnson will put an end to that and give Memphis one of the most lethal starting fives league-wide — one that contains a perfect blend of shooting, downhill attacking, and switchable defense. In return, Brooklyn receives a vet in Smart whom they can flip for more, along with an interesting prospect in Jackson and another pick in this year’s draft.
To Cleveland: Larry Nance Jr.
To Atlanta: Isaac Okoro and Cleveland’s 2025 2nd round pick
The Cavs have arguably the league’s best frontcourt — when healthy. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are phenomenal, but after them, Cleveland’s best big is… ESPN alum Tristan Thompson? In order for them to make a serious run, the Cavs need to improve their frontcourt depth, and Larry Nance Jr. does just that. As an expiring salary, Cleveland will also get some cap relief with Mobley’s max extension about to kick in, while the Hawks receive a young player in Okoro who has flashed signs of 3&D potential.
To Cleveland: Robert Williams III
To Portland: Isaac Okoro and Cleveland’s 2025 2nd round pick
Essentially the same idea, except with Portland for Timelord this time. The Blazers have a logjam at center given that they also have Dominayton Snowman Deandre Ayton and rookie Donovan Clingan, who deserves more playing time. Timelord is more injury-prone than Nance Jr. and has an extra year on his contract, but he’s also younger and more impactful when healthy. Similar to the previous proposal, the Cavs send out Okorro, who’s expendable given that Max Strus, Dean Wade, and Georges Niang are still on Cleveland’s roster.
To OKC: Collin Sexton
To Utah: Aaron Wiggins, Dillon Jones, and Utah’s own 2025 top-10 protected first-round pick
OKC is a juggernaut, but their one potential Achilles heel is a lack of secondary creation behind Shai and Jalen Williams. That duo is essentially the only reliable ball handlers on the team, and the latter has looked overburdened at times when trying to be the second-leading scorer. By adding Sexton, the Thunder not only add another natural bucket getter, but also a sixth man to lead their bench, too. In return, the Jazz get a very good role player in Wiggins and Jones as salary filler while also getting back their own protected pick. Value-wise, this is a slight overpay for Sexton, but OKC will need to get used to that — rival GMs won’t trade with them unless they give extra due to their perverse amount of future draft capital. Sexton’s deal ends at the end of 2026 too, just before Chet and JDub’s presumable max extensions will kick in.
To Golden State: John Collins
To Utah: Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, Kevon Looney, and a 2025 2nd round pick via Miami (#38-60)
The Warriors have been linked to Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler, but those deals are likely too financially complicated to execute. Another name on their radar is Nikola Vucevic, who provides spacing from the frontcourt like Collins, but I elected to go with the latter because he’s younger, more athletic, and isn’t as big of a defensive liability. In return, the Jazz get a lightly protected second-round pick along with a plethora of depth pieces whom they could move for more draft capital.
To Orlando: Coby White
To Chicago: Anthony Black and a top 8 protected Orlando 2025 1st-round pick
The Magic need some more shooting and scoring punch at the guard position, while the Bulls seem like they want Josh Giddey to be their lead ballhandler moving forward. These teams, then, seem like perfect trade partners: Orlando gets their starting PG moving forward and Chicago receives a good prospect and a pick in return.
To LAL: Day’Ron Sharpe
To Brooklyn: Christian Wood, Cam Reddish, and LA’s 2025 2nd-round pick
Purely to appease the demand from replace Anthony Davis, the Lakers add a center so that Luka doesn’t implode from playing with Christian Wood again. Still just 23, Sharpe has more room for growth and has largely played well in a backup role, and now gets a chance to prove if he’s capable of starting under the bright light of La La Land.