4 Wild Trades For The 2025 Offseason

by Tyler A. Gates | May 10, 2025

As the dust settles on the 2024–25 season for most NBA teams, front offices are cooking up blockbuster moves behind closed doors. Whether it's franchise resets, championship pushes, or acquiring future superstars, the NBA offseason always delivers madness—and I'm here for it.

Here are four CRAZY trades I want to see happen this summer. They're bold, shocking, and yes... they make logical sense when you look at the big picture.

1. The Giannis-Cooper Flagg Blockbuster

Milwaukee Bucks receive:
Cooper Flagg, Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson, Keon Johnson 2025 1st-Round Pick, 2025 1st-Round Pick (via MIL, reacquired for leverage), 2027 1st-Round Pick (via PHI), 2027 1st-Round Pick (via NYK), 2028 2nd-Round Pick

Brooklyn Nets receive:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, AJ Green, 2026 2nd-Round Pick

Why it works:

The Bucks hit the restart button in the most epic way possible by departing from a top 50 player all-time and homegrown star in Giannis, but landing their next great superstar, Cooper Flagg. They also receive four first-rounders and two solid wings in Claxton and Cam Johnson. For Brooklyn, it’s a win-now move that brings Giannis to the New York market; stars will want to play with the Greek Freak in Brooklyn.

2. Anfernee Simons Becomes Orlando's Microwave Scorer

Orlando Magic receive:
Anfernee Simons, 2026 2nd-Round Pick

Portland Trail Blazers receive:
Anthony Black, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 2025 1st-Round Pick (No. 25 via DEN)

Why it works:
Orlando needs shot creation and spacing. Simons provides both. Pair him with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and the Magic suddenly have a scary playoff offense.

Portland adds a promising two-way guard in Black, a championship vet in KCP, and another first-round pick to continue their rebuild around Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan.

3. Lauri Markkanen Joins the Celtics in a Wild 3-Teamer

Boston Celtics receive:
Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson

Utah Jazz receive:
Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Jordan Walsh, 2025 1st-Round Pick, 2026 1st-Round Pick Swap

Why it works:
The Boston Celtics are currently projected to exceed the second apron by approximately $4.4 million, with total cap allocations around $199.4 million. In today’s NBA, ducking the second apron is like dodging a financial landmine—and the Celtics are tiptoeing dangerously close.

This blockbuster deal isn’t just flashy, it’s functional. Swapping out Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis for Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson slashes Boston’s cap crunch while keeping the title window wide open. Markkanen adds silky shooting and size, Clarkson brings the microwave buckets, and suddenly, the Celtics look leaner, meaner, and still elite.

It’s the perfect blend of money smarts and playoff ambition.

4. Ja Morant Reignites Houston's Dynasty Dreams, Memphis Retools

Houston Rockets receive:
Ja Morant, Jay Huff

Memphis Grizzlies receive:
Fred VanVleet, Cam Whitmore, 2025 1st-Round Pick (via PHX), 2028 1st-Round Pick (Top-4 Protected)

Why it works:
With Ja Morant needing a fresh start (amid the firing of former head coach Taylor Jenkins) and the Rockets looking for a true franchise point guard, this deal makes too much sense. Houston cashes in on a young core that already includes Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün.

Meanwhile, Memphis lands a steady vet in FVV, plus a high-upside wing in Whitmore and two valuable picks to retool around Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane.

Final Thoughts:

Every offseason needs fireworks, and these trades could set the NBA ablaze. Whether you love them or hate them, one thing’s for sure: the league would never be the same again.

Which trade do you think is *the wildest*? Let the debate begin.