The NBA offseason is fast approaching, and this proposed five-team trade exemplifies the planning teams will undertake to set them up for the 2025-26 season. The Dallas Mavericks, seeking to bolster their lineup, target the acquisition of Michael Porter Jr. and Jrue Holiday in this deal after winning the 2025 Draft Lottery with the anticipation of drafting Cooper Flagg.
Porter Jr., coming off a season averaging 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds with a 50.4% field goal percentage, offers scoring prowess and size on the wing. Holiday, with his defensive tenacity and leadership, adds experience to the backcourt. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics aim to shed salary by moving Holiday and acquiring Caleb Martin, a versatile wing who averaged 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing in Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington to enhance their perimeter shooting and frontcourt versatility. Despite a dip in production, Thompson remains a respected shooter, while Washington contributes with his 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
In this scenario, the Denver Nuggets receive Kelly Oubre Jr. and Daniel Gafford, adding athleticism and depth to their roster. Lastly, the Brooklyn Nets acquire young talents Max Christie and Naji Marshall, focusing on developing promising players for the future.
Proposed Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Michael Porter Jr., Jrue Holiday, Andre Drummond (Sign-and-Trade)
Boston Celtics Receive: Caleb Martin
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington
Denver Nuggets Receive: Kelly Oubre Jr., Daniel Gafford
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Max Christie, Naji Marshall
Let's dive into this massive trade proposal and see how it plays out for every team involved.
Dallas Mavericks: An Overhaul For Immediate Contention
The Dallas Mavericks' acquisition of Michael Porter Jr., Jrue Holiday, and Andre Drummond represents a calculated move to bolster their roster around the duo of Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Porter Jr., who averaged 18.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during the 2024–25 season, brings scoring versatility and size to the wing position. Despite his poor postseason performances, the sharpshooter can easily improve because he is only 26 years old.
Holiday adds veteran leadership and perimeter defense, while Drummond provides rebounding and interior presence off the bench. This trio addresses key areas of need for Dallas, aiming to elevate the team from a play-in contender this year to a legitimate title threat.
Losing Klay Thompson and replacing him with Porter Jr can be considered an upgrade, and Jrue Holiday would become the team's best perimeter instantly. Overall, this ambitious trade positions the Mavericks for immediate success, with a new starting lineup featuring Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, Michael Porter Jr, projected No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis.
Boston Celtics: Financial Flexibility And Future Planning
By trading Jrue Holiday for Caleb Martin, the Boston Celtics aim to achieve financial flexibility while acquiring a younger, versatile wing player. Martin, who averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, offers athleticism and the ability to contribute on both ends of the floor. This move allows the Celtics to reduce salary commitments and potentially create cap space for future acquisitions.
The expected and predicted departure of Holiday, a seasoned defender and playmaker, may impact the team's backcourt depth and defensive prowess. However, the Celtics likely view this as a necessary step to balance their roster and financial obligations. Jrue will make $32,400,000 and $34,800,000 over the next two seasons with a $37,200,000 player option in 2027-28. For a player turning 35 years old in a few weeks, the Celtics will look to move forward.
Philadelphia 76ers: Enhancing Perimeter Threats
The Philadelphia 76ers' acquisition of Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington aims to bolster their perimeter shooting and frontcourt versatility. Thompson, despite a dip in production, remains a respected shooter, while Washington contributes with his 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
These additions are intended to complement Joel Embiid's interior dominance and provide spacing on offense for Tyrese Maxey. Especially since the Sixers won the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, they could be in the mix to make other win-now moves.
Thompson's experience in high-pressure situations could prove invaluable during playoff runs. Washington's ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions adds a layer of flexibility to the 76ers' frontcourt rotations, and a new starting lineup with Tyrese Maxey, Klay Thompson, Paul George, PJ Washington, and Joel Embiid looks championship-ready on paper and barring any more injuries.
Denver Nuggets: Adding Depth And Athleticism
The Denver Nuggets' willingness to trade Michael Porter Jr. in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Daniel Gafford reflects a strategic shift towards enhancing depth and athleticism. Oubre Jr., known for his scoring bursts and defensive energy (15.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG), and Gafford (12.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG), a rim-protecting center, address specific needs for Denver. The Nuggets completely lack depth, and with Porter Jr. the odd man out right now, bringing back two players to boost the depth chart makes sense.
Sure, losing Porter Jr.'s scoring prowess is significant, but the Nuggets may benefit from the increased flexibility and balance provided by Oubre Jr. and Gafford. Their contributions will be pivotal in maintaining the team's competitiveness in the Western Conference. At the very least, Gafford can finally be a player who gives Nikola Jokic rest, and Oubre Jr. has the potential to be a better defender than Porter Jr.
Brooklyn Nets: Investing In Youth And Potential
Sure, the Brooklyn Nets are very likely looking for their new franchise star, but the acquisition of Max Christie and Naji Marshall in this trade signals a commitment to developing young talent and building for the future. Christie, a promising guard, and Marshall, a versatile forward, offer potential upside and the opportunity to grow within the Nets' system.
While this trade may not yield immediate results, the Nets are positioning themselves to nurture talent that could become foundational pieces in the coming seasons. The development of Christie and Marshall will be closely monitored, because the former is only 22 years old and posted 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Marshall is 27 years old and posted 13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season.
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