Below is a rundown of the topics discussed, just so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

The Fruitless Traders

* Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks

* The Houston Rockets don’t achieve liftoff

* The San Antonio Spurs stand pat

* The Detroit Pistons only make a minor move

The Big Name Trades

* LA moves Zubac to Indiana

* Mavs trade Anthony Davis to Wizards

* Clippers send Harden to Cleveland for Garland

* Utah trades for Jackson Jr.

* Hawks send Trae Young to Wizards

Notable Players & Teams

* Pelicans deal Alvarado to Knicks

* Kennard to Los Angeles for Vincent, pick

* Warriors trade Kuminga, Hield to Hawks for Porzingis

* Dosunmu heads to Minnesota for Dillingham, Miller

* Hornets-Bulls swap guards in three-team deal

* Sixers trade McCain to Thunder

* Bulls trade Vucevic for Celtics’ Simons

* Cavs add guards in three-team deal

For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.

“The Celtics will acquire Denver’s 2027 second-round pick in the trade, while Chicago will receive the “most favorable” of four teams’ 2026 second-rounders, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac. That pick headed to the Bulls will likely be New Orleans’ 2026 second-rounder.”

From Hoops Rumors,

"Those three first-rounders headed to the Grizzlies are the Lakers’ 2027 pick (top-four protected), either the Cavaliers’, Timberwolves’, or Jazz’s own 2027 pick (whichever is most favorable), and the Suns’ 2031 pick (unprotected), reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.”

The Lakers’ 2027 pick is unlikely to be of much value due to Luka Doncic’s presence. However, if the Lakers do want to swing a massive trade, getting that pick back could be valuable. It’d be four-dimensional chess, but it could have some sneaky value.

The best of the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Jazz’s 2027 first-round pick, at face value, doesn’t sound all that promising. The Jazz appear to be going for it, and the Cavaliers and Wolves are two playoff teams with relatively young rosters/stars. However, when you get three swipes at tragedy, your odds increase dramatically. It’s a solid pick, but not a great one.

The Suns’ 2031 unprotected first is the crown jewel of this return. The Suns have been surprisingly good this season, but 2031 is a long time away, and they’ll be without a premium draft pick, nor much financial flexibility, in the intermediate. The 2031 draft will come after Devin Booker’s age-34 season, and he isn’t even under contract for the 2030-31 season. This pick has a realistic potential to be a top-five pick, which makes it a golden trade chip, as this move just showed.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, and a 2030 first-round pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams.