4 No-Brainer Trades for 2023 NBA Title Contenders

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We could see the next wave of star NBA players become available via trade this offseason, paving the way for some new superteams to take shape.

Damian Lillard is likely on shaky ground in Portland given the midseason upheaval of a roster that doesn’t look close to competing for a championship, and Bradley Beal will forever be in trade talks until the Washington Wizards can put more talent around him.

Another early playoff exit for the Utah Jazz could mean a new home for Rudy Gobert, and the Houston Rockets should be looking to capitalize on Christian Wood’s trade value before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Adding these four stars to already talent-rich rosters would help contenders rise that much closer to the top of the NBA pecking order.

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Trade Idea: Houston Rockets trade F/C Christian Wood to Memphis Grizzlies for F/C Brandon Clarke, PG De’Anthony Melton and 2022 first-round pick (No. 22 overall via Utah Jazz)

New Superteam Core: Ja Morant, Christian Wood, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane (with Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams)

Finishing with the second-best record in the NBA wasn’t enough to get the Grizzlies out of the second round, where a more experienced and talent-rich Golden State Warriors squad disposed of them in six games.

While the backcourt in Memphis is set with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks, the frontcourt was exposed against Golden State. Outside of Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies used a center-by-committee featuring Steven Adams, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Brandon Clarke.

Adding a premier offensive threat like Wood next to an elite defender in Jackson would be an ideal combination for Memphis and allow the team to mix-and-match assignments as needed. Wood, 26, is still young enough to grow with this Grizzlies team and is coming off a season where he averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and shot 50.1 percent overall.

While Adams, Clarke and Tillman combined to make 15 three-pointers all season (on 20.8 percent efficiency), Wood is an excellent floor spacer who made 39.0 percent of his 336 attempts. Having both big men able to expand their offensive games beyond the arc in Wood and Jackson opens up even more driving lanes for Morant and Co.

For a franchise already rising in the West, adding Wood officially makes Memphis a superteam.

For Houston, moving Wood now before he hits free agency nets the team a good, young big man in Clarke who’s coming off an impressive playoff showing (12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 61.5 percent shooting in 24.7 minutes) and has another year left on his rookie deal before becoming a restricted free agent.

Melton, 24, gives Houston a potential franchise point guard, and the Rockets pick up another first-round pick in the 2022 draft to assist with their rebuild.

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Trade Idea: Washington Wizards trade SG Bradley Beal to Miami Heat for SG Tyler Herro, G/F Duncan Robinson, SF Caleb Martin (via sign-and-trade), PG Gabe Vincent and 2022 first-round pick (No. 27 overall)

New Superteam Core: G/F Jimmy Butler, SG Bradley Beal, C Bam Adebayo and PG Kyle Lowry (with P.J. Tucker and Max Strus)

While it’s likely that Beal re-signs with Washington to ensure he collects on a full five-year, $245.6 million max deal, the three-time All-Star can still get a four-year, $183.6 million deal in a sign-and-trade and become an unrestricted free agent again around his 33rd birthday.

Would the difference in annual compensation ($49.1 million vs. $45.9 million) really be that big of a difference in keeping Beal from starting for a title contender versus a Wizards team that’s yet to make it out of the second round in his 10 years?

If the two teams and Beal agreed on a sign-and-trade, there’s benefits for all.

Miami has struggled to generate offense at times this postseason, relying on heroic 40-plus-point performances from Jimmy Butler to win games. Beal, 28, has averaged 29.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and shot 46.6 percent overall the past three years in Washington despite having just 39.7 percent of his two-pointers come off an assist.

This would be the best supporting cast Beal has ever played with, opening up his offensive game while players like Butler, Adebayo and Tucker help cover for any defensive shortcomings.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, “the Heat are seen as a legitimate suitor for Beal should he elect to seek a new home, multiple sources said.” Of course, the Wizards would need a fair amount of talent and picks in return.

Herro, 22, was the NBA’s top sixth man this season after averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while making just under 40 percent of his three-pointers. He’s extension-eligible this offseason or would become a restricted free agent next summer, meaning Herro isn’t leaving Washington anytime soon.

Robinson is coming off a down year but can still be one of the league’s best three-point shooters, and Vincent gives the Wizards a much-needed point guard. Martin (9.2 points on 50.7 percent shooting) had a breakout year on both ends of the ball as well.

Miami throws in its 2022 first-round pick and could negotiate future picks in to finalize a deal.

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Trade Idea: Utah Jazz trade C Rudy Gobert to Brooklyn Nets for G/F Ben Simmons, C Nic Claxton (sign-and-trade) and 2022 first-round pick (No. 23 overall via Philadelphia 76ers)

New Superteam Core: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Rudy Gobert (with Seth Curry and Joe Harris)

If the Nets have hesitation about keeping Simmons but don’t want to give up his elite defensive potential on a team that finished 20th overall last season (112.3 rating), Brooklyn should check on the asking price for Gobert.

Having Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, as an anchor at center next to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would be a huge improvement for a Nets team that will continually face players like Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Pascal Siakam in playoff runs.

Gobert was also the NBA’s best rebounder last season (14.7 per game) to go along with his 15.6 points on a league-best 71.3 percent shooting. He’d be a terrific lob threat for Irving, and this Nets team has enough shooting (Irving, Durant, Seth Curry, Joe Harris, Patty Mills) that Gobert’s lack of floor spacing on offense shouldn’t be an issue.

Adding the three-time All-Star center and getting a healthy Harris back should have Brooklyn back in the title hunt next season.

For a Utah team that’s needed to update its perimeter defense for years, Simmons is arguably the best in the league when healthy. It’s easy to see head coach Quin Snyder using Simmons in a Draymond Green-like role in a starting lineup with Mike Conley Jr., Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic and now Claxton as the team’s starting center. Whie Claxton isn’t nearly the defensive force and rebounder that Gobert is, he’s still just 23 and could be signed for a fourth of the salary.

Getting Simmons out of the big-city spotlights of Philadelphia and New York in favor of Salt Lake City should help with his return to the court as well.

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Trade Idea: Portland Trail Blazers trade PG Damian Lillard to Denver Nuggets for F Michael Porter Jr., G Bones Hyland, PG Monte Morris and 2022 first-round pick (No. 21 overall)

New Superteam Core: C Nikola Jokic, PG Damian Lillard and SG Jamal Murray (with Aaron Gordon and Will Barton)

While no one should be rooting for Lillard to leave Portland, the only franchise he’s ever known, the 31-year-old deserves a chance at a title while he still has prime years left. For a team who’s third-best player is currently Josh Hart, the Blazers aren’t going to be competing for championships anytime soon.

Lillard should be thrilled with the idea of joining a two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic and playing next to Jamal Murray, a move that would reduce his workload and likely extend his career after missing 53 games to injury and abdominal surgery last season.

While it hasn’t been a big part of his game, Lillard is one of the NBA’s best off-ball threats as well, connecting on 45.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes during the 2020-21 season. With Jokic and Murray doing a bulk of the ball-handling, Lillard would have the green light and a ton of open looks to fire away now in Denver.

Gordon is also a player Lillard has wanted to play with since the 2020 offseason, with the Blazers having conversations to acquire the then-Orlando Magic forward, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.

For Portland, Porter is good enough to build an offense around with his ability as a three-level scorer. While a back injury cut his 2021-22 season short, the 23-year-old averaged 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 44.5 percent from three in his 61 games the year before. He’s also reportedly “revamped his biomechanics and the way he moves on the court to address what might be causing his back issues,” according to Pat Graham of the Associated Press. 

Hyland, 21, averaged 10.1 points and 2.8 assists in 19.0 minutes as a rookie for the Nuggets and would form an exciting young backcourt with Anfernee Simons in Portland. Morris gives the Blazers another good, young ball-handler, and the Blazers get Denver’s first-round pick this summer as well.