The trade market is absolutely on fire following a crazy weekend of bombshell moves that rattled the NBA landscape, including Luke Doncic to the Lakers and De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs. With the February 6th trade deadline approaching quickly, expect more franchise-changing transactions as teams make their final push for contention or hit the reset button.
The NBA never stops. Just when you think things have eased down, another seismic trade appears out of nowhere. This past weekend alone, two superstar deals occurred: Luke Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a surprising deal, and De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs to team up with Victor Wembanyama.
With the February 6th deadline only a few days away, front offices throughout the league are under pressure to either double down on championship dreams or cut their losses and rebuild for the future. But who’s next?
Proposed Trade Information
Kevin Durant will join the Golden State Warriors.
Phoenix Suns acquire Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, 2025 First-Round Pick (GSW), and 2029 First-Round Pick.
Round Pick (GSW)
The Warriors getting Kevin Durant would be one of the most startling full-circle moments in NBA history, which is why there has been speculation that this may happen. With Stephen Curry still an outstanding scorer, the Warriors want to take advantage of their remaining championship window as quickly as possible.
Durant, who averaged 26.9 points on 52.4% shooting this season, remains one of the league’s most lethal offensive weapons. Adding him to a squad that already includes Curry and Draymond Green would reestablish Golden State’s offensive dominance and build a team capable of competing with the best in the Western Conference.
However, questions regarding Durant’s intentions to return to Golden State remain large. Durant’s relationship with the Warriors’ core was strained by the time he left in 2019, and his desire to be the clear alpha on his teams may reemerge.
Golden State would need to make sure Durant feels valued and has a clear role within their system, especially since Curry is the undisputed leader. If Durant welcomes the return, though, his ability to carry stretches of games and alleviate pressure from Curry might make this a great partnership.
The trade deal, led by Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga, would provide the Suns with important young players while refilling their depth. Kuminga has untapped potential as a two-way player, and Wiggins has shown to be a consistent scorer and defender in key games. The draft picks give Phoenix more options for future moves.
From the Warriors’ standpoint, this move would be an all-in effort to replicate their dynasty magic while Curry remains exceptional; with the Western Conference more competitive than ever, Golden State may not have another chance to swing this large.
The Phoenix Suns finally acquired Jimmy Butler.
Potential Trade Details:
Phoenix Suns Receive: Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat receives Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, Saddiq Bey, Anthony Gill, and a 2031 second-round pick from Denver.
al, a 2031 first-round pick from Cleveland, is acquired by the Washington Wizards.Bradley Be
The Phoenix Suns have finally found their real two-way closer in Jimmy Butler, a player who is determined to get to Phoenix. It’s only a matter of time before Butler quits the Heat, as everyone in Miami is sick of him following a season of unethical behavior.
The Suns may need Butler more than they want to admit. Butler is known for raising his game in the playoffs, something Phoenix dearly needed. Of course, this move will only go through with Bradley Beal’s approval, since the player has an unusual no-trade clause in his contract.
Butler provides the Suns with a gritty, battle-tested leader who can take over in clutch situations while Devin Booker and Kevin Durant carry the scoring load. He’s more than simply a scorer; he provides defense, tenacity, and an excellent basketball IQ, all of which Phoenix lacked during last year’s postseason collapse. With Durant aging and Bradley Beal failing to stay healthy, Butler keeps the Suns a real title contender.
Miami, meanwhile, mixes things up by signing Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, and Saddiq Bey, three versatile, win-now guys who allow the Heat to reload without tanking because Tyler Herro was recently named to his first All-Star team.
Kuzma gives Miami a high-volume scoring forward, Valanciunas provides an interior presence, and Bey adds 3-and-D consistency—all of which they lacked behind Bam Adebayo and Herro. Furthermore, they clear long-term cap room while securing a future second-round pick.
Washington re-signs Bradley Beal, but with a first-round pick in 2031. While Beal did not work out in Phoenix, he is still a talented shot creator who might be traded later or used as a seasoned mentor. The Wizards are still in full rebuild mode, but adding a future draft selection and a familiar figure isn’t a bad move.
The Detroit Pistons made a win-now move for Brandon Ingram.
Potential trade details
Brandon Ingram gets acquired by the Detroit Pistons.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Tobias Harris, 2027 first-round pick (DET), and 2029 second-round pick (MIL) are acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Detroit Pistons continued their ambitious rebuild by trading for Brandon Ingram, providing Cade Cunningham with a high-level wing scorer to relieve pressure. Ingram, who has scored 20 or more points per game for six straight seasons, immediately becomes Detroit’s second-best offensive player and fits into the team’s young core.
If the Pistons want to advance in the East rather than remain a fringe playoff team, this is the type of move they need—bringing in a proven All-Star to hasten the process. There is some risk for them because Ingram will be a free agency at the end of the season, but it may be worthwhile to watch where things go.
For New Orleans, the move represents a retooling rather than a complete rebuild. They get Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tobias Harris, two proven scorers who can spread the floor and maybe improve the team’s record, as 12-38 is now awful.
The true prize, however, is Detroit’s 2027 first-round pick, which may prove highly important if the Pistons struggle to develop their roster. Milwaukee’s 2029 second-round pick is just a bonus. This deal benefits both sides: Detroit moves closer to postseason contention, while New Orleans reshapes its roster and adds a future asset.
Nic Claxton joins the Lakers as their new starting center.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Nic Claxton.
Brooklyn Nets receive Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent in a 20231 first-round pick swap (LAL.)
Since the Doncic trade, the Los Angeles Lakers have clearly been looking for a mobile, defensive-minded big man, and Nic Claxton could be the perfect match. The 25-year-old averages 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game and provides the rim protection that Los Angeles lost when Anthony Davis was traded for Luka Doncic.
Claxton is an excellent pick-and-roll partner, a reliable lob threat for Doncic and LeBron James, and one of the NBA’s most underappreciated switchable defenders. He also fits the Lakers’ long-term plans, as we witnessed Doncic perform admirably alongside big players like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. It is also possible that the center is under contract for the next three seasons after this one, at $25,352,272, $23,147,727, and $20,943,184.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, receives Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and a 2031 first-round selection swap from the Lakers. Hachimura is a proven power player who fits the Nets’ timeline, but Gabe is a high-risk, high-reward guard who could thrive given more opportunity.
The true treasure here is the Lakers’ 2031 first-round selection exchange, which could be quite important if L.A. struggles after LeBron (unless Luka has something to say about that). This is beneficial to all parties involved. The Lakers get their long-term center, while Brooklyn builds up its future assets while remaining competitive in the immediate term.
Bucks Make A Swap For Kyle Kuzma.
Proposed Trade Details:
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Kyle Kuzma, Anthony Gill.
Washington Wizards acquire Khris Middleton.
If the Milwaukee Bucks sign Kyle Kuzma, it would suggest that they are going all in to win around All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. After all, the Bucks are apparently looking for the proper move to help them win the NBA championship.
Kuzma, who averages 15.2 points and 5.8 rebounds this season, is a versatile forward capable of stretching the floor and creating his own shot, which the Bucks have lacked outside of their superstars.
The addition of Anthony Gill is to match payroll, and the Bucks will have to release a player to complete this deal, but the focus of this trade is to bring Kuzma’s offensive variety to Milwaukee. With Khris Middleton struggling to rediscover his All-Star form due to injuries, the Bucks may see this as an opportunity to pivot and bring in a younger forward to help their title run.
The difficulty is the Bucks’ dearth of first-round choices to sweeten the deal for Washington. With their future picks already locked up in prior transactions, Milwaukee would have to rely on Middleton’s worth or involve a third team to deliver the Wizards the draft assets they are presumably looking for.
According to David Aldridge of the New York Post, the Wizards may seek first-round selections in exchange, necessitating a three-team trade situation. In this scenario, Middleton could be traded to a team willing to part up draft capital, while the Bucks would get Kuzma to bolster their roster. It’s an innovative strategy that keeps Milwaukee competitive while still addressing Washington’s long-term rebuilding needs.
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