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Every NBA team should already have a dream trade in mind for this offseason.

This could be hoping for a superstar to request a trade, a bad playoff showing forcing a team to make their All-Star available or a much more modest upgrade given the lack of trade assets a number of teams possess.

At the same time, while it would technically be a “dream” for the Detroit Pistons or Washington Wizards to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokić this summer, there needs to be some realism here as well.

We’ll also see teams unlock some first-round picks either on draft night and/or in 2031, with franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves now able to put real packages together after previously trading the majority of their picks away.

These are (realistic) dream trade scenarios for all 30 teams.

Atlanta Hawks: Keep Trae Young, Build 3-and-D Roster Around Him
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It was surprising to see the Hawks hold on to Dejounte Murray at the deadline, as there was enough smoke coming out of Atlanta to cook all the wings at Magic City.

Changes have to come for the 29-36 Hawks, a team that possesses a fair amount of talent but has never defended well enough around Trae Young to regularly make it out of the first round.

One has to wonder how much longer the three-time All-Star will be patient in Atlanta, especially as he can become a free agent in 2026.

The dream scenario for the Hawks is to still build a winner around Young, one of the most talented offensive players in the league today. The trade for Murray was a flop, as the Hawks are getting beat by 5.8 points per 100 possessions with both star guards in the game.

Atlanta should put everyone besides Young on the table, using Murray as the primary bait to build a better defensive and shooting roster around the 25-year-old.

Boston Celtics: Find One More Rotation Piece While Cutting Tax Bill
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The Boston Celtics roster should largely remain the same heading into next season, barring a total playoff collapse.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday will all be under contract next year, as well as Al Horford and Payton Pritchard. With Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. becoming free agents, however, Boston may be forced to trade for some additional depth.

The Celtics aren’t going to be big spenders in free agency, as this group is already projected to rack up an $85 million luxury-tax bill.

There will be no star-chasing for Boston. If this team can add one more rotation piece and cut the tax bill, that will be as close to a dream trade as the Celtics can make.

Brooklyn Nets: Use Ben Simmons’ Expiring Contract to Go Star Chasing
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It’s been another lost season for Ben Simmons, as he has now been shut down for the year following a nerve impingement in his lower back.

With just 15 games played in 2023-24, the 27-year-old has suited up only 57 total times since his trade to Brooklyn over two years ago and looks like a completely different player than he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The only saving grace for the Nets is that Simmons is now entering the final year of his contract, one that pays the three-time All-Star a hefty $40.3 million.

A dream scenario for Brooklyn is using this expiring money to serve as a salary-matcher to bring in a star to place around Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton, Cam Thomas and others.

Even a Simmons-Zach LaVine swap would make sense as a salary dump for the Chicago Bulls, with some draft picks added.

Charlotte Hornets: Trade 1st-Round Pick for Established Star
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While the Hornets are currently projected to land a top-five pick in the 2024 draft, the franchise should use the selection as bait to go after veteran help instead.

Between LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Mark Williams, Tre Mann, Nick Smith Jr. and others, this team has gathered enough young talent to build upon and recently added some veteran help with trades for Grant Williams, Seth Curry, Dāvis Bertāns and Vasilije Micić.

This was a team that won 43 games just two seasons ago before injuries began piling up and could return to the East playoffs by adding one more impact starter.

Using its lottery pick this year to try to land an All-Star to pair with Ball, Miller, Williams and others would get Charlotte back in the postseason.

Chicago Bulls: Get Multiple 1st-Round Picks for Zach LaVine
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Zach LaVine was in a lot of trade chatter leading up to the deadline, although foot surgery ultimately ended his season and any chance of being moved.

Now, the 29-year-old is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery and will be fully healthy well before training camp, meaning the Bulls could seek a trade partner again this summer.

Chicago isn’t going to get a massive haul, especially with LaVine playing just 25 games this season and with three years and $138 million remaining on his contract.

The best the Bulls can hope for is a pair of first-round picks from some contender and some salary relief as well.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Find a Starting-Caliber Wing
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The Cavaliers haven’t been able to trade a first-round pick after previously parting with three in the deal for Donovan Mitchell, although that changes this summer.

Cleveland will be eligible to trade its 2024 first-rounder at the draft (currently projected at No. 26 overall) as well as its pick in 2031.

While this may not be enough to land another star, it should at least put the Cavs back in the running to acquire a starting-caliber wing to add to the rotation between a talented front and backcourt.

Think a player like Dorian Finney-Smith of the Brooklyn Nets, someone the Cavaliers would not have had the assets to chase at this year’s deadline.

Dallas Mavericks: Trade for a Third Star
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Even after a series of trade-deadline moves, the Mavs don’t look like a championship-caliber team and aren’t even guaranteed to make the playoffs while currently sitting at No. 7 in the West.

Luka Dončić is already leading the NBA in scoring (34.6 points per game) and usage percentage (36.0 percent). He’s playing at an MVP level, and the Mavs are still 8.5 games out of first place in the West.

Dallas needs a third star.

Finding one with its remaining trade assets won’t be easy, though. It will only have one first-round pick to trade this summer (2031) and will be forced to use some of its young talent to put a package together instead.

Dončić and Kyrie Irving are a nice start, but unless rookie Dereck Lively II can turn into a star, this team will need a third via trade.

Denver Nuggets: Move Zeke Nnaji, 2024 1st-Round Pick for Veteran Help
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While Zeke Nnaji was supposed to see his role increase this season after agreeing to a four-year, $32 million extension, the fourth-year pro has actually taken a step back and is now down to just 9.8 minutes a game.

If Denver wants to try to find one more reliable veteran for its bench, the 23-year-old’s contract will likely be the one used to match salaries as the team won’t want to give up any of its core members.

The Nuggets will be able to trade their 2024 first-round pick at the draft and can get to roughly $14 million in salary by combining the contracts of Nnaji and Reggie Jackson ($5.3 million player option).

Denver is limited in what it can trade with first-round picks already going out in 2025, 2027 and 2029, so its “dream” will have to be a realistic one.

Detroit Pistons: Use Cap Space to Trade for Impact Players, Picks
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The temptation to sign a star in free agency will be there for the Pistons, especially since they project to have around $60 million in cap space and are sick of losing after averaging just 18.2 wins over the past five seasons.

That being said, overpaying for a second- or third-tier free agent such as Tobias Harris, Grayson Allen, Gary Trent Jr. or others isn’t going to turn the franchise around. There’s a really good young core here already that needs minutes to grow, even if some veterans are required for the locker room.

Detroit’s dream offseason would be to acquire some additional future first-round picks as well as veteran help from teams looking to shed salary.

The Pistons still owe a first-round pick to the New York Knicks (protected 1-18 in 2024, 1-13 in 2025, 1-11 in 2026 and 1-9 in 2027), making them ineligible to trade a first-rounder until 2029.

While taking on Joe Harris and his expiring contract last offseason didn’t work out, this strategy was effective with Alec Burks the year before.

If players such as Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, De’Andre Hunter, P.J. Tucker or others are offered up for some draft compensation, this should still be the best route for Detroit to take.

Golden State Warriors: Swing a Dynasty-Saving Trade
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The Warriors’ decision to essentially do nothing at the trade deadline cost them an albeit small chance at a title this season, a mistake they shouldn’t repeat this summer.

All options outside of moving Stephen Curry should be on the table, as much as the team may love Jonathan Kuminga and some of the other young talent on the roster.

Curry is about to turn 36, and Klay Thompson’s future with the team should be in serious jeopardy going into free agency this offseason. Time isn’t on this franchise’s side.

The Warriors can guarantee Chris Paul’s $30 million contract for 2024-25 to use as a salary-matcher with other teams and still have some draft picks left to trade.

This franchise needs a significant trade to get Curry the help he needs to keep the dynasty alive.

Houston Rockets: Consolidate Young Talent for a Star
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The current Rockets resemble a field of wildflowers that are all trying to grow in a single pot. Some will blossom, becoming beautiful and tall, while others are going to be suffocated out of necessary sunlight and nutrients, never to reach their full potential.

This is to say there’s a lot of young talent on this roster, one that can’t possibly sustain roles for them all.

Jalen Green’s minutes, shot attempts and overall usage are significantly down this season. Jabari Smith Jr. is getting less shots in nearly identical minutes, and Tari Eason had leveled off from his rookie season before his year ended following leg surgery.

All three were supposed to be taking steps toward becoming pillars of the franchise after being drafted at Nos. 2, 3, and 17 overall in 2021 and 2022, yet they have had to sacrifice with the additions of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

Houston should explore star trades using some of these young pieces and build around Alperen Şengün, as this current roster just isn’t sustainable.

Indiana Pacers: Trade for Elite Wing Shooter

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It’s been difficult to get a read on these new-look Pacers with Pascal Siakam, as they have mixed impressive road wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks with head-scratching home losses to the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls.

One real concern appears to be shooting, as trading away Buddy Hield and Bruce Brown at the deadline and now playing Siakam—a lifetime 32.9 percent shooter from three—hasn’t boded well for the team’s offense.

Indiana is just 23rd overall in made three-pointers per game since the All-Star break (11.7) and 20th in accuracy (35.0 percent).

With a core of Tyrese Haliburton, Siakam, Myles Turner and Bennedict Mathurin, the Pacers’ dream offseason would include trading for an elite shooting wing to add to this group.

Los Angeles Clippers: Use P.J. Tucker’s Expiring Contract to Execute Deal
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It’s been a rocky few months for P.J. Tucker following his trade to the Clippers, and the veteran forward has been vocal about his displeasure in Los Angeles.

The 38-year-old was even fined $75,000 by the league for requesting a trade after largely being left out of the Clippers’ rotation.

Tucker clearly isn’t in the team’s long-term plans, yet he is unlikely to turn down a $11.5 million player option this summer, either.

The Clippers should accept this and plan to use this expiring contract as their salary-matcher in a potential trade.

Los Angeles will be able to trade its 2030 or 2031 first-round pick this summer and should see what this selection and Tucker’s expiring deal could get in return.

Los Angeles Lakers: Get Donovan Mitchell or Trae Young with New 1st-Round Picks
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The Lakers need to think big this summer, especially if they want to keep potential free agent LeBron James through the final prime stage of his career.

Los Angeles will have three first-round picks to put in a deal (2024, 2025, 2029 or 2031) and possess some young talent and eight-figure contracts to help orchestrate a trade as well.

Trae Young will be the primary name to watch with the Atlanta Hawks’ season slipping away, and teams will be monitoring how the Cleveland Cavaliers fare in the playoffs with Donovan Mitchell entering the final year of his deal as well. Both would be dream targets for L.A., giving the team a new leading scorer to run the backcourt.

At 36-32 overall, the Lakers are a good, albeit not great team in the West and will undoubtedly try to go star shopping this summer.

Memphis Grizzlies: Trade for New Starting Center While Ducking the Tax
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The Grizzlies already started preparing for a roster that will be in danger of going into the luxury tax by trading Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets.

While it may have been a necessary financial move, the 30-year-old was a starter and an important part of Memphis’ success, with a swing rating that ranked in the 89th percentile last year (plus-7.7 points per 100 possessions).

Jaren Jackson Jr. doesn’t rebound well enough to be a full-time center, and Brandon Clarke (6’8″, 215 pounds) is undersized for the position even when he returns from a torn Achilles.

If Memphis can get a proven starting center (Clint Capela, Jakob Poeltl, Kevon Looney) to add to a core of Ja Morant, Jackson, Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart while staying out of the tax, this would be a best-case scenario for the Grizz.

Miami Heat: Find an All-Star Point Guard
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After failing to trade for Damian Lillard, the Heat have continually thrown point guards against the wall this season in the hopes one would stick.

Kyle Lowry, Terry Rozier, Delon Wright and now Patty Mills have all run the position for stretches, with Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro spending plenty of time with the ball in their hands as well.

Despite all this, Miami ranks just 22nd in total offense this season (113.1 rating) and 15th overall in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.01).

The Heat should still be on the lookout for an All-Star point guard this summer (Trae Young, Dejounte Murray), one who can finally solidify the position.

Milwaukee Bucks: Upgrade the Third Star
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Last offseason, the Bucks upgraded their second star from Jrue Holiday to Damian Lillard. This summer, they should try to do the same thing with their third.

Injuries have hampered Khris Middleton the past few seasons. An All-Star as recently as 2021-22, the 32-year-old has played just 76 total games the past two seasons while averaging a modest 14.9 points on 34.9 percent shooting from three.

The Bucks have essentially depleted all of their trade assets, but they will be eligible to trade their 2031 first-round pick this summer and currently hold the projected No. 35 overall selection in the 2024 draft.

Moving on from Middleton may be necessary to catch the Boston Celtics in the East, sending him and picks to another team for an upgrade on the wing.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Use 1st-Round Picks While Available
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Much like the Cleveland Cavaliers, trading for a Utah Jazz star has limited the Timberwolves’ ability to make any impact deals since.

This will change on draft night, however, as they can offer up their 2024 first-rounder and will have their 2031 selection now eligible to trade. Minnesota currently projects to own the 27th and 36th overall picks in the 2024 draft.

The playoffs will tell us what areas this team needs to address via trade, as anything less than a trip to the West Finals will be a disappointment (if Karl-Anthony Towns is healthy) after sitting atop the conference for the majority of the season.

With first-round picks still owed to the Jazz in 2025, 2027 and 2029 due to the Rudy Gobert trade, this is the Wolves’ chance to finally upgrade again.

New Orleans Pelicans: Trade for Point Guard and/or Center Upgrade
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The Pelicans are a bizarre team on paper, as their starting five of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Jonas Valančiūnas actually has a negative net rating (minus-1.2, 39th percentile) this season despite New Orleans sitting at fifth in the West.

All bar Valančiūnas are under contract for next season, meaning this group should look pretty similar.

A dream offseason for New Orleans would be upgrading at the center position with someone who shoots more threes and can guard more fluidly than Valančiūnas. Getting a true point guard and moving the 32-year-old McCollum back into a full-time, two-guard role could benefit the team’s offense as well.

The Pelicans have extra first-round picks and swaps coming from the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks, and they should take full advantage of them while building this roster around its star forwards.

New York Knicks: Hope Joel Embiid Requests a Trade
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It’s no secret that the Knicks (and the NBA in general) were extremely interested in Joel Embiid’s future with the Philadelphia 76ers last summer when James Harden asked for a trade.

While Philly’s strong play in the post-Harden era (until Embiid underwent knee surgery) was enough to table any trade talk for the MVP center, a lot can happen between now and the start of next season.

The Sixers could be headed for an early playoff exit if Embiid doesn’t return or isn’t close to 100 percent and are banking on using their cap space to find a star to place between him and Tyrese Maxey.

What if no star comes, though, and Philadelphia has to settle for role players instead?

The Knicks’ dream is to have Embiid request a trade at some point while New York is waiting with first-round picks and any player not named Jalen Brunson to put into a deal.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Find the Perfect Frontcourt Partner Next to Chet Holmgren
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The Thunder are probably still a starter or two away from becoming a championship team, and finding the right frontcourt partner next to Chet Holmgren is going to be key to their title chances over the next decade.

OKC still gets pushed around by bigger and stronger teams, an issue that’s going to become even clearer during the playoffs. The Thunder rank just 28th overall in both offensive and defensive rebounding, with Holmgren’s 7.8 boards leading the team.

Trading for more muscle in the middle is important while also maintaining the spacing that this starting lineup currently gives Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Finding picks to trade isn’t a problem for OKC, perhaps the only franchise in basketball that can make a truly competitive offer for any player in the league.

Orlando Magic: Explore Star Point Guard Trades
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Orlando is a franchise very much on the rise, although a cloudy point guard situation should be cleaned up this summer for the team to keep advancing in the East.

Power forward Paolo Banchero leads the team in assists (5.3), with no other Magic member averaging at least four. Orlando ranks 28th overall in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.65), even with a number of talented guards (Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, etc).

The Magic should trade for an All-Star caliber point guard, one who would run the offense and make sure everyone got their shots.

Trae Young and Dejounte Murray should both be at the top of Orlando’s wish list, with veterans such as Malcolm Brogdon and Tyus Jones (free agency) serving as backup plans.

Philadelphia 76ers: Get an All-Star Wing
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If free agency doesn’t work out for the 76ers, they could use their projected $40 million in cap space to trade for a star instead.

With Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey under contract, the Sixers need to target an All-Star wing to balance out the roster. Someone who can space the floor and defend at a high level is important, perhaps even more so than scoring given the offensive prowess of the two stars already on the roster.

Paul George hasn’t agreed to a contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers yet, and Jerami Grant could request to join a contender this summer. Kyle Kuzma will also continue to pop up in trade rumors.

The 76ers need to find a third star, either via free agency or through a trade, with their cap space being the primary resource to acquire one.

Phoenix Suns: Move on from Bradley Beal
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The trade for Bradley Beal was a questionable one at the time given the 30-year-old’s contract. Injuries have limited the veteran guard to just 37 games this season, only confirming that this trade was a mistake.

Devin Booker will begin a supermax extension next season and will still make less money than Beal over the next three years ($159.9 million to Beal’s $160.9 million).

With Kevin Durant also making over $50 million per season, Beal has become a vastly overpaid third option, with Phoenix actually improving by 2.6 points per 100 possessions with him on the bench.

If the Suns can find a trade that makes sense for everyone (Beal still has a no-trade clause), they should do it. Even getting some quality role players back (point guard, defensive-minded wing) to put around Booker and Durant and getting off Beal’s enormous contract would be worth it.

If stars such as Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young aren’t traded, there may be a market for Beal.

Portland Trail Blazers: Trade for Forward with All-Star Potential
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With a young core of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Deandre Ayton, the Blazers’ rebuild is off to a good start.

The next priority is to find some young forwards with All-Star potential as well.

Jerami Grant is under contract for the next four seasons but is already 30 and doesn’t fit the timeline of this team. A trade sometime over the next 12 months seems inevitable.

Portland’s dream offseason trade should be poaching another young forward off a team’s roster, either one who wants to win now or has some positional overlap. Players like Jonathan Kuminga and Trey Murphy III would be at the top of this list.

Sacramento Kings: Find a Third (Fourth?) Star
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Despite sitting at sixth in the West, the Kings are nearly on the same path as a year ago (39-26 compared to 38-28 now) when they finished with the No. 3 seed.

This is a sign that the Western Conference is simply getting better, especially with the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves this season.

The Kings may need more firepower, someone to join forces with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis to create a true big three. If Sacramento believes Keegan Murray can become a star, then keeping him off limits in trade talks and trying to find another guy with the pieces it has left (Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell, multiple first-round picks) becomes the challenge.

Finding a star-level wing who can at least hit open shots and defend at a high level would help the Kings climb back to the top of the crowded West.

San Antonio Spurs: Find a a Franchise Point Guard
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The Spurs have used quantity over quality to combat their lack of point guards on the roster this season, as San Antonio ranks seventh overall in passes made this season en route to their league-high 71.0 assist percentage.

There’s no denying this team needs a franchise floor general, though, especially for the development of Victor Wembanyama.

The Spurs are nearly 20 points per 100 possessions better this season when Tre Jones shares the floor with the Frenchman as opposed to when their starting point guard sits. A 14-52 San Antonio team actually has a net rating of plus-4.5 just by having both players in the game.

This team shouldn’t be afraid to add veteran talent around Wembanyama immediately and try to win. A trade for Trae Young or reunion with Dejounte Murray would be tremendous for the 20-year-old’s development overall.

Toronto Raptors: Trade for Another Centerpiece
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The remodeling north of the border is far from complete, as the Raptors search for the next faces of the franchise.

Scottie Barnes, R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are the leading candidates for now, but Toronto should be on the lookout for any disgruntled young players via the trade market this summer.

Is Jalen Green still untouchable in Houston now that he’s had to take a step back in overall usage? Could Josh Giddey be pried out of Oklahoma City? What about Onyeka Okongwu in Atlanta?

This offseason isn’t about trying to return to the playoffs right away, but rather about making sure this is a sustainable core to build off of for years to come.

Utah Jazz: Get 1st-Round Pick for Jordan Clarkson and Seconds for John Collins
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The Jazz probably should have done a better job at trading away their veterans at the deadline, as this team may still be too good to keep its first-round pick (protected 1-10, owed to Oklahoma City Thunder).

Moving Clarkson and Collins should still be priorities this summer, although the former will fetch more in a trade than the latter.

Asking for a first-round pick for Clarkson, 31, is reasonable after he’s put up 17.4 points and 5.0 assists per game this season. A team-friendly two-year, $28.3 million contract is easy to digest as well.

Collins, 26, is only going to return a first-round pick in the wildest of dream scenarios, as he’ll have $53 million coming over the next two years. Getting a pair of seconds would be perfectly acceptable instead.

Washington Wizards: Find Any Value for Jordan Poole
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The Jordan Poole experiment has not gone well for the Wizards, although we don’t blame them for trying.

The 24-year-old has mostly regressed for the past two seasons when we thought he would thrive with a green light on a terrible Washington squad.

Getting benched by a team with so little veteran talent is alarming for someone who was a key contributor on the 2022 champion Golden State Warriors.

With three years and over $100 million remaining on his contract, the Wizards would be lucky to get anything of value for Poole.

Washington’s dream scenario would be to get a single second-round pick or salary relief for the Michigan product and move on from him altogether.