5 Trade Ideas to Blow Up the 2023-24 Season

There are a million and one reasons to be excited about the 2023-24 NBA season.

Somewhere on that list is the potential for chaos.

That’s not necessarily unique to this campaign, though with unfilled trade requests still swirling above Damian Lillard and James Harden, the hoops landscape seems especially susceptible to change. But the way this league operates, major trades can come together at any time, so maybe trade winds will swirl around another star and deliver the Association’s latest stunner.

Either way, a major trade will surface at some point, probably sooner than later. And if it looks anything like the following five hypothetical swaps, it just might change the course of the 82-game marathon ahead.

Golden State Warriors receive: Pascal Siakam

Toronto Raptors receive: Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and 2028 first-round pick (top-seven protected)

While the Raptors haven’t indicated a willingness to rebuild, that feels more a matter of when than if. Fred VanVleet and Nick Nurse are already gone. Siakam could be next, either in a trade or as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

If Toronto trades him, it will want something significant. The Raptors have already rebuffed an offer from the Atlanta Hawks that included De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and “draft compensation,” per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Does this Warriors’ offer trump that package? That depends on your evaluation of Kuminga (and the particulars on that draft compensation).

If the Raptors see the hyper-athletic swingman as a future star—imagine him and Scottie Barnes terrorizing teams in the open court—they could jump on this deal. Podziemski can dribble, pass and shoot; the future pick could land in the top 10; and Paul, who’s been traded twice this summer (and will have to wait until Sept. 4 before he can be dealt again), is effectively on an expiring $30.8 million salary.

So, is this too much for Golden State to pay for a rental? You could maybe argue that, but the Warriors wouldn’t if they felt the trade moved them closer to another championship. They need more scoring punch, playmaking, length and defensive versatility, and Siakam checks every box. He’s a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection for a reason.

Put Siakam in the same frontcourt as Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson manning the guard spots, and that sure looks like a championship-caliber lineup.

Atlanta Hawks receive: Paul George

Los Angeles Clippers receive: De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanović, Kobe Bufkin and 2024 first-round pick (lottery protected, via SAC)

Since their surprise flight to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks have basically been grounded the past two seasons. They’ve won just two more…