It is not often we see a multiple-team trade that benefits every team. A trade involving multiple teams is hard to pull off because every component must match up salary-wise and also fit each team’s plan. However, there might be a blockbuster deal that could shake up both conferences and move a host of All-Star players around.
The teams involved will be the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks. Each team is in a different place at this moment as the Lakers are trying to secure a playoff or play in seed, the Rockets are tanking for a chance to rebuild next year, and the Celtics are legitimate title contenders, although they could be losing Jaylen Brown in the future.
The Dallas Mavericks, meanwhile, were supposed to be title contenders, but the Kyrie Irving acquisition killed that chance. Amazingly, there is a four-team trade between these teams that will shake up the conferences and move All-Stars between each other. It won’t be easy to pull off, but here is a massive four-team trade package that benefits all teams.
The Blockbuster Trade Idea – Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyrie Irving (Sign and Trade), Christian Wood (Sign and Trade)
Houston Rockets Receive: Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics Receive: Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, Malik Beasley, 2023 First-Round Pick from Brooklyn, 2023 First-Round Pick from Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Or Oklahoma City Thunder
Dallas Mavericks Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves
Clearly, this is a blockbuster deal of the highest order, but it can be useful to every team involved, and here are the reasons why it benefits the Lakers, Rockets, Celtics, and Mavericks.
Lakers Finally Get Kyrie Irving And Add Christian Wood
The Lakers have inarguably one of the best two-way duos in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. A Big Three with Kyrie Irving would be even deadlier because the fit would be as perfect as possible. Kyrie, LeBron, and Davis would ravage defenses with their size and skill, and the reunion of Irving and The King would be a media story to follow all year.
Remember, Kyrie and LeBron proved to be devastating to the Golden State Warriors in 2016 as they defeated the sharpshooting team in 7 games. Even if they ended up on “bad” terms, with Irving forcing his way out of Cleveland, the two players would forever be linked together. What Irving and James did together was legendary, clearly, as they are the first team ever to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals. With Irving joining a dynamic duo in Los Angeles, the Lakers could be the title favorites coming out of the Western Conference. The starting lineup becomes Kyrie Irving, Lonnie Walker, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.
The addition of Christian Wood will also be huge because the big man is a capable scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker that will be a perfect backup to Anthony Davis. Wood is posting 16.7 PPG and 7.4 RPG this season to go along with 1.0 BPG, so he will be the best 6th man the Lakers can ask for alongside Rui Hachimura. It won’t be easy for the Lakers to say goodbye to Austin Reaves, who has developed well, but it must be done because paying him $50 million might not make the most sense. Overall, this deal works for the Lakers because adding a superstar point guard and a capable two-way center makes them an instant title contender next season.
Houston Acquires An All-Star And Start Becoming A Force
The Houston Rockets have been an interesting team to follow all season long because rumors of former superstar James Harden coming back have been shockingly accurate. Not to mention, the team has plenty of flexibility and will be looking to pay another superstar player to finally get out of the dumpster in the Western Conference.
Remember, the Rockets are well in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes as they are the worst team in the Western Conference, ranking 27th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating. There is a 14% chance the Rockets land Victor Wembanyama, and the possibility is real that the Frenchman becomes the new “Hakeem Olajuwon” in town.
With Harden returning, Wembanyama drafted No. 1 overall, and a trade that sees Jaylen Brown come to town, Houston will be a massive problem next year. The rumors of Nick Nurse potentially coming on board is another great sign because a championship coach can tie everything together. With Harden returning as the point guard, Jaylen getting maximum money on a long-term deal, and Wembanyama beginning his superstardom, there is a very real chance the Rockets can form a legitimate superteam. It is time for the Rockets to get out of the gutter because years of losing can take a toll on the franchise and fanbase.
Boston Re-Tool In The Best Way Possible
The Celtics are at risk of losing Jaylen Brown, and if the player makes it clear that he doesn’t see a future in Boston alongside Jayson Tatum, the team must act fast. Losing one of the top 20 players in the NBA is not an easy thing to recover from, especially when he helped the side make the Finals in 2022.
However, in case the Celtics are fearful of losing Brown in free agency, they can re-tool with two very talented youngsters and a sharpshooter along with first-round picks. The quest for an NBA title could be delayed a little longer, but the Celtics do have time on their hands since Tatum is only 25 years old and is just getting started as a superstar player.
Jalen Green is only 21 years old but has shown improvements as a scorer, with averages of 22.1 PPG on 41.6% shooting from the field. In only his second season, Green is very confident scoring the ball and has a ton of athleticism in his 6’4” frame. Green can replace Brown as the new sidekick to Tatum, even if it takes a few years. Meanwhile, Jabari Smith Jr is only 19 years old and seems to be a “Chris Bosh” type of player in terms of being a talented scorer and defender.
Malik Beasley is shooting 37.8% from three over his career and will be another valuable addition to a side that generates a ton of good looks on offense. With two young stars coming on board and an elite shooter, Boston can quickly re-tool while maintaining the same core of players. Of course, the first-round picks will also help the team gain versatility as they continue to compete for a championship.
The Mavericks Get Rid Of Kyrie But Add Two Starters
The Dallas Mavericks have struggled mightily since acquiring Kyrie Irving and are actually considering shutting down their stars after making the Western Conference Finals last year. The team misses Jalen Brunson desperately because the point guard was a perfect sidekick to Luka Doncic in terms of being an on or off-ball scorer who competes hard on defense. Brunson is not on Kyrie’s level as an individual talent, but he is a far better player to trust alongside Luka, and he comes with less baggage.
The Mavericks also lost Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie in the deal for Kyrie, and both provided minutes as a defender and scorer, respectively. The Mavericks won’t be able to bring those guys back, but they can add two new starters by losing Kyrie Irving and Christian Wood. Irving and Wood are players with recognizable names, but they haven’t helped the team this season.
Instead of losing both players for nothing, they can replace them with two new talented pieces. Kyrie Irving has been Lakers-bound for a full season already (according to the media speculation), so moving him to Los Angeles gets both sides what they want. Also, Wood is only appearing in 26.0 MPG despite his solid numbers (16.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG), so Jason Kidd clearly doesn’t trust him. Instead of losing both for nothing, they can engage in sign-and-trades with both of them.
D’Angelo Russell was an All-Star and is a very talented scorer who can relieve Luka on offense (17.8 PPG, 6.2 APG). Reaves is looking for big money this offseason, and the Mavericks will be looking to pay him. The player is a great fit alongside Luka because he can play on or off the ball and is improving on both ends. Adding two players who play hard will be key for Dallas, who will likely lose Kyrie and Wood in free agency this summer.
A Blockbuster 4-Team Deal That Shakes Up Both Conferences
The obvious winners in this deal are the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. The Lakers finally get their man in Kyrie Irving, who proved to be a title-winner alongside LeBron James in the past, even if he can’t be trusted at this moment. Christian Wood adds depth to the Lakers’ frontcourt and can be a player to step in for Anthony Davis when the star is injured or resting on the bench. The lineup of Kyrie, Lonnie Walker, Jarred Vanderbilt, LeBron, and Davis is extremely strong on both ends, while Wood and Rui Hachimura act as the best players off the bench.
For Houston, they finally get back to relevancy. Rockets fans are not happy with the way the team has been losing games, but it has worked out since Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr, and the prospective draft of Victor Wembanyama are critical pieces. Moving Green and Smith Jr means Houston acquire star Jaylen Brown to pair with the returning James Harden, with Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr, and Kenyon Martin Jr acting as building blocks around Wembanyama as well. Finally, the Rockets return to relevancy for the first time since the 2018 season.
The Celtics and Mavericks lose big game players and are forced to re-tool, but it isn’t the worst situation to be in. Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr can be long-term pieces in Boston around Jayson Tatum and will be impact players in a short amount of time. The Celtics still have some key players under contract, such as Al Horford, Marcus Smart, and Malcolm Brogdon, so they should still be able to contend.
Dallas will have to dust off the mistake of losing Brunson in free agency and later trading their best defender in Dorian Finney-Smith, but they add a talented scorer to replace Brunson in Russell and also a budding starter in Austin Reaves. The Celtics and Mavericks aren’t the biggest winners in this four-team blockbuster trade, as the Lakers and Rockets are, but they can find solace in the fact that they did not have to blow up their rosters completely despite losing key players.
Source: fadeawayworld
