Article: Fixing Conference Imbalance
Posted: October 9th, 2025, 3:14 pm
....psych.
No need for new rules! Just new trades. Here are 5 that might makes sense.
INTER-CONFERENCE TRADES
Nuggets Trade
Baba Olatodun
Resigned Bam Adebayo
DEN 32 1st
Magic Trade
Zach Edey
Why? The Nuggets have a good backcourt with interesting players at the 1, 2 and 3 but have had nothing in the frontcourt for years. Edey would be an immediate path to relevance and a player who still fits the team’s timeline. Orlando gets a former #3 overall piuck with a great name, as the team pivots to retool/rebuild mode.
76ers Trade
Domantas Sabonis
Rockets Trade
Gary Payton II
Resigned Filler
HOU 34 and 35 1sts
Why? Philly would have a path to a contending team in the West, but really has no shot in a deep Eastern Conference. A rebuild might be smart. Sabonis is about to be 34 and the Rockets picks should have value in the future. This might be a steep price to pay for Nolan, but his team would instantly become very cool and challenge as contenders in the worst division in SLN.
Hawks Trade
Shai Gilgeous Alexander
Lakers Trade
Maleek Thomas
Tyrese Haliburton
Robert Williams
Why? The Hawks would still be very good, but get ahead of the Shai contract and instantly add one of the better young players in the league. Thomas would fit the Lively/Boozer timeline. The Lakers are one of 2-3 WC teams that could actually win a title if they cash-in their assets, and Shai is a superstar level player if deployed in the right way.
Bullets Trade
Anthony Edwards
Sonics Trade
Mikka Muurinen
Resigned Ja Morant
Sonics 35 1st
Why? Ant is the most obviously available player of any superstar in the league and would be a nice fit pretty much anywhere if he resigns at a decent clip. While his production this year is likely an outlier, he is still a good scorer who racks up steals. Miika hasn’t lived up to his draft status, but he is fun as shit and would be a cool player for Wes to start to build around.
Celtics Trade
Reed Sheppard
Chet Holmgren
Kings Trade
Dante Allen
Marcis Ponder
Noah Washington (NDL)
Lonzo Ball
# 9 (projected, 2029)
DET 32 1st
DET 33 1st
DET 34 1st
Why? As Joe will quickly remind you, the East is good. So the Celtics have no business competing in a conference that includes the Raptors and Cavs. We would like to happily trade for both of these players....together. 3 prospects and 4 1sts with lotto potential is a nice start for a future Celtics rebuild.
No need for new rules! Just new trades. Here are 5 that might makes sense.
INTER-CONFERENCE TRADES
Nuggets Trade
Baba Olatodun
Resigned Bam Adebayo
DEN 32 1st
Magic Trade
Zach Edey
Why? The Nuggets have a good backcourt with interesting players at the 1, 2 and 3 but have had nothing in the frontcourt for years. Edey would be an immediate path to relevance and a player who still fits the team’s timeline. Orlando gets a former #3 overall piuck with a great name, as the team pivots to retool/rebuild mode.
76ers Trade
Domantas Sabonis
Rockets Trade
Gary Payton II
Resigned Filler
HOU 34 and 35 1sts
Why? Philly would have a path to a contending team in the West, but really has no shot in a deep Eastern Conference. A rebuild might be smart. Sabonis is about to be 34 and the Rockets picks should have value in the future. This might be a steep price to pay for Nolan, but his team would instantly become very cool and challenge as contenders in the worst division in SLN.
Hawks Trade
Shai Gilgeous Alexander
Lakers Trade
Maleek Thomas
Tyrese Haliburton
Robert Williams
Why? The Hawks would still be very good, but get ahead of the Shai contract and instantly add one of the better young players in the league. Thomas would fit the Lively/Boozer timeline. The Lakers are one of 2-3 WC teams that could actually win a title if they cash-in their assets, and Shai is a superstar level player if deployed in the right way.
Bullets Trade
Anthony Edwards
Sonics Trade
Mikka Muurinen
Resigned Ja Morant
Sonics 35 1st
Why? Ant is the most obviously available player of any superstar in the league and would be a nice fit pretty much anywhere if he resigns at a decent clip. While his production this year is likely an outlier, he is still a good scorer who racks up steals. Miika hasn’t lived up to his draft status, but he is fun as shit and would be a cool player for Wes to start to build around.
Celtics Trade
Reed Sheppard
Chet Holmgren
Kings Trade
Dante Allen
Marcis Ponder
Noah Washington (NDL)
Lonzo Ball
# 9 (projected, 2029)
DET 32 1st
DET 33 1st
DET 34 1st
Why? As Joe will quickly remind you, the East is good. So the Celtics have no business competing in a conference that includes the Raptors and Cavs. We would like to happily trade for both of these players....together. 3 prospects and 4 1sts with lotto potential is a nice start for a future Celtics rebuild.
