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The offseason is here for 22 teams in the NBA. The conference semifinals have begun and there are only eight teams left alive with hopes of making it to the ultimate goal of winning a championship. The Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Miami Heat are all searching for the next steps to take as a franchise, which is different for all three.
Atlanta is going to be a team worth watching. Most will point to a potential Trae Young trade, but that does not appear likely (for now) and Atlanta may move forward with this core of Young, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. If the Hawks decide to do that, they need to improve their bench in a big way this offseason. Due to the NBA's CBA and apron rules, you are going to be seeing a lot more three-team trades between teams so salaries can move around. Atlanta could try to attach themselves to a big deal and add some pieces to their bench if they opt to move forward with this starting five. The Hawks need interior defense, frontcourt depth, and shooting. This is not a great free agent class to be filling those needs, so could the Hawks look to the trade market?
Miami feels like they are at a crossroads. After trading Jimmy Butler, it feels like the Heat needs to retool its roster and make big changes, whether that is trying to add another superstar or rebuilding. Seeing as how Miami has never preferred to blow things up, where could Miami look to find to find another star player?
Another franchise that feels like it is at a crossroads is New Orleans. After making the trade for Dejounte Murray last offseason (and giving away Dyson Daniels), things went horribly wrong. Murray tore his Achilles, Brandon Ingram was traded, and players like Zion Williamson and Herb Jones battled injuries. The Pelicans could land the No. 1pick in this year's draft and get Copper Flagg, but even if they don't, is it time to retool and move on from Williamson and start fresh? Williamson is one of the best talents in the NBA, but can never seem to stay healthy and might need a change of scenery at this point.
So how about a trade where each of these teams tries to fill a need?
It should be noted that this is just a speculative and fun exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks or any other teams should do or will do. That is all.
Atlanta Receives: Haywood Highsmith
Miami Receives: Zion Williamson, Karlo Matkovic, and a 2027 2nd round pick (From Atlanta, Via CLE)
New Orleans Receives: Andrew Wiggins, Kobe Bufkin, a 2030 1st round pick swap (via MIA), and a 2031 unprotected 1st round pick (Via MIA)
Why Atlanta does this deal: They get a legit 3-and-D wing, which they need, and the cost is Kobe Bufkin and a 2nd round pick. Highsmith shot 38.2% from three this past season and 39% last season, as well as being a very good on-ball defender. The Hawks could use that kind of versatility on the wing. While Bufkin is talented, he has not played much in his first two seasons due to injuries and the Hawks have to improve their bench for next season.
Why Atlanta does not do this deal: It is simple, they value Bufkin's upside, even with the injuries, and don't think he is worth moving.
Why the Heat do this deal: Williamson is the kind of buy low opportunity they should be looking for. If he can stay healthy, a trio of Williamson, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro could be dangerous in the Eastern Conference. Due to his injury history and inability to stay on the court, Williamson could he had for a lower price than you might think. This would give Miami a new direction while keeping young talent like Kel'el Ware at home.
Why the Heat don't do this trade: While Williamson is an elite player when healthy, he has a hard time staying on the court and if that is the case, Miami should look elsewhere for a star. If the trade goes poorly, the Pelicans could benefit with those draft picks down the line.
Why the Pelicans do this trade: They are ready to move on from the Zion era and start fresh. While this might not be the ideal trade for the Pelicans, they may not get an elite return of assets due to Williamson's inability to stay on the court. Here, they get two unprotected 1st's that they can either keep and hope Miami falls apart or they can use in another deal for a star once they are ready.
Why the Pelicans don't do this trade: While Williamson is not perfect, he is an elite talent when healthy and New Orleans may get a better offer than this.
Is this trade likely? Maybe not, but these teams will be mentioned this offseason in some big moves.
Additional Links
2025 NBA Mock Draft: Latest Mock Sees Hawks Land BYU Point Guard Plus Intriguing French Prospect
Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Holiday + Porzingis to Brooklyn, Hawks Add Cam Johnson
More must-reads:
- Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
- Four-time All-Star's contract status puts pressure on Hawks in 2025-26
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Asking Price for Top Reported Trade Target Revealed
For virtually the entire offseason, Miami Heat wing Andrew Wiggins has been associated in hypothetical trade after hypothetical trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. It's no secret the Lakers have been wanting to beef up their perimeter defense over the last few months. Marcus Smart was acquired to do just that — though the team still lacks a true/proven wing defender that can guard the 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-8 alpha scorers. Even with Smart's defensive reputation and credibility on that end of the floor, he's not overly athletic. More news: East Contender Predicted to Go All In for Lakers' LeBron James, Under One Condition Wiggins had been the perceived target for the Lakers despite no real concrete evidence that the team actually made a push to get him. Much of it seemed to be conjecture, along with the fit appearing to be a good one. As NBA reporter Brett Siegel revealed recently, the Heat were asking for a considerable amount in return for a 30-year-old player with one year left on his deal (not including a $30 million player option for 2026-27). Siegel said that the Heat wanted an instant-impact player and a first-round draft pick before 2028. The Lakers theoretically would've satisfied at least one of the requirements. LA has its 2026 and 2028 first-round picks to use in a potential deal. In terms of the instant-impact player, quibbling likely would be attributed to Dalton Knecht in this case. It's no secret Knecht has had a rough time in LA since being drafted. His play time was up and down (as was his consistency on the court). Knecht was then part of the Mark Williams trade, which was ultimately rescinded. He then had to rejoin the team and mentally bounce back in what was likely a very difficult situation for a young player to handle. To make matters worse, he had an awful Summer League performance in Vegas to the point where his standing as an instant-impact player would come into question. More news: Lakers Fans React to LeBron James’ Cleveland Return After Schedule Leak There wouldn't be a universe in which Austin Reaves is included in a deal with Wiggins being the primary player sent back. Rui Hachimura likely would've been the player in question — and even then, there's a real argument to be made that he's just as good, if not better than Wiggins at this current time, given their respective skill-sets and production levels. Latest Lakers News For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.
How former Jets WR knew Aaron Glenn would release Aaron Rodgers
In January, former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson guaranteed that his ex-teammate, first-year New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn, would not "start off his career with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback in September." Johnson was right, as a new-look Jets regime led by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey decided in February that Rodgers would be leaving the club after two underwhelming seasons. For a piece published on Wednesday, Johnson spoke with The Athletic's Ian O'Connor about his accurate prediction. "I’m the first person to ever say Aaron Rodgers was not going to be on this year’s team," Johnson explained. "I didn’t get it from anybody; I just knew from looking at all the coaches Aaron Glenn has learned from: Bill Parcells. Bill Belichick. Sean Payton. Dan Campbell. I knew how they would deal with Aaron Rodgers, so I knew how AG would deal with him. AG is his own man, and he doesn’t stand for any nonsense." Before Johnson made his initial guarantee, Parcells and New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees mentioned that Glenn "doesn’t [mess] around" and will be "a leader of men." It remains somewhat unclear if the "nonsense" referenced by Johnson has anything to do with Rodgers' weekly in-season appearances on "The Pat McAfee Show." In June 2024, Rodgers skipped the Jets' two-day mandatory minicamp because of a pre-planned trip to Egypt. He subsequently won just five of 17 starts coming off the season-ending torn Achilles tendon he suffered in September 2023. Johnson's comments indicate the Jets wouldn't have tolerated Rodgers remaining an unsigned free agent through early June as he dealt with undisclosed personal matters. Rodgers ultimately signed a team-friendly contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of their three-day mandatory minicamp, and he seems to be quite popular among his new teammates. Meanwhile, Jets players have embraced Glenn holding more "physical" practices during training camp after former head coach Robert Saleh went 20-36 as Gang Green head coach before he was fired last fall. "Aaron Glenn is going to get in people’s ear and tell them what time it is, and that’s who he was as a player," Johnson added. "There are so many bulls----ers in this business, and he isn’t one of them. I haven’t been to a Jets game since they traded me (in 2000), and the only reason I’m going to the Jets-Giants preseason game is Aaron Glenn." The Giants will represent the home team on Saturday against the Jets at MetLife Stadium. In March, the Jets took a flier on 26-year-old quarterback Justin Fields when they signed him to a two-year, $40M contract that included $30M guaranteed. They can escape that deal as soon as next offseason, but it sounds like Glenn would rather start from scratch in 2026 than put up with Rodgers for a single campaign.
Dolphins Get Worrisome Chop Robinson Injury News on Wednesday
The Miami Dolphins may have sustained another major injury. Just days after RB Alexander Mattison fell with a season-ending neck injury, all eyes are set on Chop Robinson now. According to a report by Ari Meirov, the second-year linebacker sustained an apparent injury, and while the team has yet to disclose more information, he had to be carted off the field: Chop Robinson was carted off the field "Dolphins EDGE Chop Robinson was carted off at practice today after suffering an apparent injury during a scrimmage period," Meirov reported. Robinson, who was taken out of Penn State with the No. 21 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, turned plenty of heads in his first year in the league: “I enjoyed it (his rookie season) a little bit,” Robinson told the Miami Herald, “but it’s Year 2, so whatever happened in the past, that doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m just focused on this year.” Robinson ranked second among rookies with six sacks and 14 quarterback hits, and he entered the season with an 11.0 sacks projection and +15000 odds of winning Defensive Player of the Year. Chop Robinson is excited about the Dolphins' defensive front He's also expected to make a big impact next to Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, both of whom will be returning from major injuries of their own: “I’m super excited,” Robinson said. “Just imagining the three of us on the field at the same time, or just me and JP or JP and Chubb at the same time, it’s kind of hard for tackles to [say], ‘All right, you’ve got to study JP, you’ve got to study Chubb, you’ve got to study me.’ And if we’re all on the field at the same time, it [can] kind of mess up the offense’s mind because they wouldn’t know what to do.” Hopefully, this won't be too serious, and while the team may err on the side of caution and hold him out for the remainder of the preseason, he'll be back out there and ready to go in Week 1.
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