New Three-Team Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Simons To Dallas, Blazers Receive Assets, Hawks Add Defense

The offseason is here for 26 teams in the NBA. The conference finals have arrived and there are only four teams left alive with hopes of making it to the ultimate goal of winning a championship. Heading into this offseason, the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, and Portland Trail Blazers 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, shooting, and maybe a backup lead guard/ball handler. This is not a great free agent class to be filling those needs, so could the Hawks look to the trade market? NBA insider Marc Stein has already reported that Atlanta could look to be facilitators this summer in the trade market due to their financial flexibility, depending on if the team brings back any of Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, or Larry Nance.

Dallas is also going to be an interesting team to watch. They made the most shocking trade in NBA history when they sent Doncic to the Lakers and are in a win-now window, but that got complicated when Kyrie Irving went down with an ACL tear. How will the Mavericks try to improve their roster while knowing that Irving likely won't be available to play next season? They got a huge unexpected boost when they won the NBA Draft lottery and got the right to draft Cooper Flagg, but the guard spot is a huge question mark still for Dallas.

Portland could be a sneaky team to watch. Most don't know, but the Blazers were actually a competent team over the final few months of the season and seemingly found an identity with their defense. The reason they are so interesting is that they have a ton of young players, but they may not all fit together, particularly at center. Portland has Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III, and last year's first-round pick Donovan Clingan at center, and from the way it looked at the end of the year, Portland might be ready for Clingan to take over at center. Not only that but the way Scoot Henderson played towards the end of the year, Portland might be ready for him to take over. Anfernee Simons might be the odd man out.

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.

Hawks Receive: Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle

Mavericks Receive: Anfernee Simons and Terance Mann

Blazers Receive: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin, Kobe Bufkin, Dwight Powell, a 2027 2nd round pick (from ATL, via CLE), a 2029 2nd round pick (from ATL, via CLE), and a 2031 top-eight protected 1st round pick (via Dallas)

Why the Hawks do this trade: They improve their defense, get two players on good contracts, and stay under the luxury tax. Williams is an injury risk of course, but he could be gotten at a very low price and when healthy, he is one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA. Thybulle is a terrific point-of-attack defender and can pair with Trae Young when Dyson Daniels leaves the court. The Hawks have to be better on defense to be a real threat in the Eastern Conference and this could do just that and leave them with more moves to m

Why the Hawks don't do this trade: Williams is attainable at a low price for a reason and it is because he has always struggled to stay healthy. Williams did not play in many games this season and has only played more than 52 games only once in his career. For a Hawks team that needs to stay healthy next season, that might not be an appealing option, even at a low price. If Atlanta did want to trade for Williams, they need to prioritize finding a reliable third center for when Williams has to miss games. The Hawks are going to be trying to win games this year and can't afford their key players to miss major time for a second straight season. Atlanta may only get 45-50 games from Williams if they are lucky.

Why the Mavericks do this trade: Simons can fill in for Kyrie Irving for this season and help lead the Mavs offense. With Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively, Dallas has the infrastructure needed to protect Simson on defense. Mann gives them a veteran wing to replace those they lost in the trade

Why the Mavs don't do this trade: They don't believe Simson is worth sending out a protected first round pick and valuable depth. Dallas is going to be looking around for a guard this offseason and may not like that Simons is a bad defender.

Why the Blazers do this deal: They get back veteran pieces to put around their young team and ones that can help their offense. They get another first-round pick to add to their asset collection, which is pretty good and would enable them to make a big move if they want. Portland can still try and move Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant to get more assets and clear room. Thompson improves their offense and Washington gives them forward depth. Powell can replace Williams as the third center and they can see if they can get anything out of Bufkin if he is healthy.

Why the Blazers don't do this deal: They think they can get more for Simons and don't want to take on the contracts the Mavericks are sending out.

Additional Atlanta Hawks News: