What blockbuster trades are possible before the 2020 NBA draft?
For teams in the NBA lottery, one big job is to scan the trade market for opportunities to upgrade the roster or a team's future prospects.
That's especially important this year, as a number of the teams in the lottery are eager to compete now. And without any consensus on the future stars in the 2020 draft, the situation is ripe for deals.
Our NBA experts propose seven trades involving eight teams, seven lottery picks and two former No. 1 picks, including Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons.
MORE: NBA Mock Draft -- all 60 picks
LaMelo to Knicks
New York Knicks get: No. 1 pick (from Minnesota)
Minnesota Timberwolves get: No. 6 pick (from Atlanta), 2021 top-three protected first-round pick (from New York)
Atlanta Hawks get: No. 8 pick, No. 27 pick (from New York via LA Clippers)
Kevin Pelton: If the Knicks are convinced LaMelo Ball is the star to lead them back into contention -- or at least respectability that would allow them to be players in free agency -- this is the kind of move that would enable them to jump up from the No. 8 pick they ended up with in the lottery.
From Minnesota's perspective, I'd see staying in the top six as valuable because it allows the Timberwolves to target Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton. I view Haliburton as a strong fit alongside Russell in their backcourt of the future. Meanwhile, Minnesota more or less replaces the pick it's out from the Russell trade with similar protections on New York's 2021 first-rounder.
Hawks GM Travis Schlenk has moved around on draft night each of the past two years, down for Trae Young and up for De'Andre Hunter. Picking up an extra pick at the end of the first round is strong reward for moving down two spots, and Atlanta would still be in good position to add a wing like Isaac Okoro, currently pegged No. 8 to the Knicks in Jonathan Givony's mock draft.
LaMelo to Knicks, version 2
New York Knicks get: No. 1 pick, No. 33 pick, Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman
Minnesota Timberwolves get: No. 8 pick, 2021 first-round pick (via Dallas), 2023 first-round pick (via Dallas), Kevin Knox II
Bobby Marks: I would expect Minnesota to be open to moving the No. 1 pick, with no Zion Williamson-type star at the top of the draft. In this blockbuster, the Wolves would move seven slots down in the draft and secure three additional valuable assets: two future first-round picks from the Dallas Mavericks and former Knicks lottery pick Kevin Knox.
Knox is entering his third year, and though his first two seasons have been inconsistent, the Timberwolves would have a two-year evaluation period before he could become a restricted free agent in 2022.
For the Knicks, after years of frustration in the lottery, they would finally get their hands on the No. 1 pick and be able to select LaMelo Ball. The cost in trade assets would be steep, but with Luka Doncic's emergence in Dallas, those Mavericks draft picks appear to be less valuable than they once seemed, more likely to land in the 20s than the lottery.
Wolves get Simmons; Sixers reload
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers get: No. 1 pick, No. 17 pick (via Brooklyn and Atlanta), Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie, James Johnson
André Snellings: This deal would allow the 76ers to build more intentionally around Joel Embiid with youth and depth, and add needed financial flexibility. With the top overall pick, the 76ers could select the young, dynamic playmaker of their choice from between consensus top pick candidates LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
Culver was the No. 6 overall pick last year and Okogie was a first-rounder in 2018. And to go along with the No. 1 pick, Philadelphia would now have an additional six draft picks this season (two more first-round picks, four seconds) to either stock up on young talent or use as potential trade chips. In this case, Johnson would opt into his contract and give Philly an expiring deal to help manage its salary cap and luxury tax status moving forward.
Simmons would give the Timberwolves a third young All-Star, another franchise-caliber pillar who should fit perfectly both Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell. Simmons is a gifted floor general with the size to play power forward, but needs to be surrounded by shooters to maximize his impact. Towns, Russell and Beasley combined for 10 3-pointers a game for the Wolves, with Towns and Beasley both shooting better than 40% on 3s. That combination would spread the floor and allow Simmons to attack the paint at will.
Simmons to Warriors for No. 2 pick
Golden State gets: Ben Simmons
Philadelphia gets: No. 2 pick, 2021 first-round pick (via Minnesota, top-three protected), Andrew Wiggins
Mike Schmitz: While I find it hard to believe the Sixers will move on from Ben Simmons, I would love to see him alongside two of the best shooters in NBA history -- Steph Curry and Klay Thompson -- in Steve Kerr's offense. Small-ball lineups with Curry, Thompson, Simmons and Draymond Green would provide great defensive versatility, given Green's and Simmons' ability to guard 1 through 5. And Simmons' transition bursts with the Splash Brothers filling the lanes would make for must-see TV.
The Sixers could add their point guard of the future in LaMelo Ball (if available) while acquiring a potential high pick in 2021, regarded as an excellent draft class filled with future All-Stars. If the Timberwolves land in the top three, the Sixers would instead have Minnesota's unprotected pick in 2022, which could end up as another stellar draft class.
Wiggins is still just 25 and a former teammate of Embiid's. A core of Embiid, Wiggins, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle and a 6-7 table-setter like Ball, along with the chance to hit on a future high draft pick, would make the Sixers' future more compelling at the very least.
This trade could be agreed to at draft time and finalized during free agency.
Bagley for No. 2
Golden State Warriors get: Marvin Bagley III, No. 12 pick
Sacramento Kings get: No. 2 pick
Snellings: This trade would bring the Warriors a young center prospect who was a recent No. 2 overall pick himself. Bagley has both star potential and the talent to contribute right away to a Golden State team ready to rejoin the title chase. His career has been slowed by injury, which might deter the Warriors, but they've been built on undervalued stars and, at this stage of his career, Bagley fits that mold. With the No. 12 pick, the Warriors could still target another NBA-ready prospect such as Tyrese Haliburton or Devin Vassell to serve as a perimeter role player.
The Kings are a young team on the verge of playoff contention, but they need a second franchise-caliber talent to play alongside De'Aaron Fox. Bagley showed flashes, particularly as a rookie, but injuries and changing team dynamics limit his upside in Sacramento. This trade would provide interim Kings GM Joe Dumars a signature opportunity to draft a potential superstar and get the franchise to a brighter future after 14 seasons out of the playoffs.
Sixers get shooting, lottery pick
Philadelphia 76ers get: Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, No. 12 pick
Sacramento Kings get: Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson, No. 21 pick (via Oklahoma City, Orlando and Philadelphia), 2021 first-round pick (lottery protected)
Marks: This is a buyer's remorse trade. Of the four players, only Richardson did not sign a contract or extension during last offseason -- but he was acquired last offseason. Richardson is also the lone player who doesn't have a contract that extends past the 2021-22 season.
The trade can be broken up into two separate transactions: First, the 76ers would be moving up nine slots in the draft but at the cost of their own first-round pick this season and a lottery-protected first in 2021.
As for the players involved, the swap is about fit. The 76ers would replace the defensive-minded Richardson with much-needed scoring from the perimeter in Hield and Barnes. Both players shot better than 38% from 3-point territory this season.
On the Kings' end, Richardson would be an upgrade to a defensive unit that ranked 19th of 22 teams during the seeding games in Orlando. Harris is a 20-point scorer who would get to play the position to which he's best suited: power forward.
The 76ers would take on a small financial hit of $2 million in 2020-21, but save more than $20 million in 2023-24 with Harris not on the roster.
Because Hield has a poison pill restriction in his contract, the trade cannot happen until the free-agent moratorium is lifted.
Celtics consolidate, move up in lottery
Boston Celtics get: No. 7 pick
Detroit Pistons get: No. 14 pick (via Memphis), No. 26 pick, No. 30 pick (via Milwaukee and Phoenix)
Jonathan Givony: Boston has 14 players under contract for next season, plus two players on two-way contracts, Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters, who will be pushing to make the full-time roster. Two draft-and-stash options, Aleksej Pokusevski and Leandro Bolmaro, are projected to be off the board by the late first round.
That should cause the Celtics to consider consolidating their three picks to move into the top 10 and find a player who can crack their deep rotation next season. Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton and USC's Onyeka Okongwu would likely appeal to Boston as skillful, versatile prospects. Obi Toppin, Deni Avdija and Isaac Okoro would also be solid fits with the team's culture and roster composition.
For Detroit, with only two players (Blake Griffin and Sekou Doumbouya) under contract past next season, this is an opportunity to fill out the roster with young talent. History says the draft is full of uncertainty and that teams are better off taking as many swings in the first round as possible. Surprises happen every year, with top-20 prospects sliding to the bottom of the first round, and having multiple picks would allow the Pistons to take a risk-seeking strategy focused on high-upside players.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.
Mike Schmitz is an NBA draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams.