2026 brings 3 trade scenarios with Bucks, Warriors, Lakers, Mavericks and more based on latest NBA data

The new year is upon us, and the NBA trade market continues to see many rumors are heating up. While big names like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis are what everyone wants to know about, there are plenty of teams around the NBA looking to make moves to compete right now.

The Milwaukee Bucks continue to shut down all trade talk surrounding Giannis, with the team instead signaling that they will be buyers before this year’s deadline to try to add more talent around their superstar. What move will the Buckeyes potentially make?

Then there are Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriorsand the Minnesota Timberwolves, all of whom are looking for added depth to improve their Western Conference playoff chances. Even Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers could make moves to improve their promotion prospects, despite both teams currently being out of the playoff picture in their respective conferences.

There are so many rumors and so many trade stories going around the NBA right now that there is no better time than the first day of the new year to cook up some new trade scenarios.

The Bucks add Zach LaVine as they trade Myles Turner to the Warriors

Milwaukee Bucks Receive: G/F Zach LaVine, C Dai’Ron Sharpe, GSV/MIL/BKN 1st Round 2028 SWAP (most favorable to BKN, second most favorable to MIL, least favorable to GSV)

Golden State Warriors get: C Myles Turner, F Haywood Highsmith, GSV/MIL/BKN 2028 1st-round pick swap (best for BKN, second best for MIL, least good for GSV)

Sacramento Kings receive: F Jonathan Cumminga, F Kyle Kuzma, MIL/POR 1st round SWAP (Second best from MIL/POR/SAC by SAC)

Brooklyn Nets get: G Buddy Hield, C Trace Jackson-Davis, GSV/MIL/BKN 2028 1st round pick SWAP (most favorable to BKN, second most favorable to MIL, least favorable to GSV), DET/MIL/NIK 2029 2nd round 2nd round 2nd round pick 2nd over 3rd AC pick (via SAC)

If the Bucks really want it make a play for Zach LaVinethey will have to be creative with how they move contracts. While Milwaukee is currently well below the tax rate, it’s hard to find a way to get to LaVine’s $47.4 million figure.

Kyle Kuzma would be an obvious name for the Bucks to trade, and it is expected to be in motion before Feb. 5 as a result of GM Jon Horst and his front office looking for upgrades in Milwaukee. While the Bucks could trade Bobby Portis and a minimum contract for LaVine to make it work financially, then there’s the issue of trading three players for one in the middle of the season and staying in good financial and reputational shape.

In this scenario, Myles Turner gets traded in his first year with the Bucks, and goes to a team that has been watching him for years.

The Warriors have long needed a center like Turner, who is not only an avid rim protector, but also a big man who knows what it takes to win in the postseason. He can take a lot of pressure off Draymond Green in the Dubs’ frontcourt, and Turner can be another secondary scorer for Golden State alongside Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.

Kuzma would go to Sacramento, the team that he has been targeting him for the past two yearsand he would be joined by Jonathan Cumminga, who the Kings have had an affinity for since the offseason. The Kings also get a future first-round trade from the Bucks for LaVine.

Then comes the fourth and final part of this trade equation, which brings us to the Brooklyn Nets, a team that will be happy to receive unwanted draft compensation salaries. Buddy Hield doesn’t represent value to the Nets, but Trace Jackson-Davis is a young talent who could find a role behind Nick Claxton, especially if Brooklyn considers trading De’Ron Sharp, as they would do to the Bucks in this scenario.

Two second-round draft picks would go to the Nets in this four-team deal, and they would also get the option to trade 2028 picks with Milwaukee and Golden State, whichever team has the better first-round pick.

LaVine remains an option for the Bucks with about five weeks until the trade deadline. However, the financial burden of trading him and removing two key pieces (Turner and Kuzma) from their rotation could be a bigger cost.

Mavericks add Benedict Maturin for Daniel Gafford

Dallas Mavericks receive: F Benedict Maturin, C Dai’ron Sharpe

Indiana Pacers receive: C Daniel Gafford

Brooklyn Nets receive: G Jaden Hardy, F Isaac Jones, DET 2027 2nd round pick (via DET), DAL 2028 2nd round pick (via IND), PHI 2030 2nd round pick (via DAL)

Detroit Pistons get: F Haywood Highsmith

Another rumor circulating around the NBA is The Indiana Pacers are looking for frontcourt depth to become a contender in the East during the 2026-27 season when Tyrese Halliburton returns. One name that has come up repeatedly during these discussions is Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford, who just signed a three-year, $54 million extension last offseason.

Gafford would be an ideal center for Indiana to pass, especially given his ability to be a rim-runner in the open court and run pick-and-roll sets with a running back like Haliburton. The best part about the Pacers’ pursuit of Gafford is that he is under contract through the 2028-29 season on a team-payable contract.

If you look at the Pacers’ roster, these are the types of contracts that have created the foundation of their success: contracts in the $10 million to $18 million range in addition to Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.

Pursuing Gafford should be relatively easy for the Pacers, too, given Mathurn’s salary cap and the fact that Indiana doesn’t intend to offer him the nine-figure extension he’ll be asking for in the summer. Maturin’s future does not appear to be with his current teamwhich is why the Pacers need to use his value now for an immediate upgrade like Gafford.

Trading Maturin for Gafford shouldn’t involve any additional draft compensation as both players are very comparable in value, although the Pacers would be giving up a second-round pick for Gafford, who was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets.

Once again, the Nets find themselves as the fourth wheel in a trade scenario, and they would give up Highsmith. However, they see a promising young scorer in Jaden Hardy, who hasn’t gotten enough playing time in Dallas since being drafted, and get a nice second-round asset to take on his salary.

The Nets would also receive Isaac Jones in this scenario, but he would be a likely opt-out candidate once the deal is completed. Dai’Ron Sharpe would also be included in this trade as a replacement for Gafford in Dallas, and the Nets would also receive second-round assets for him.

While the Nets really like Sharpe, which is why they kept him, sooner or later a decision will have to be made about his future, along with Nick Claxton and Noah Clowney. Moving Sharpe now, getting three future second-round picks and adding Hardy usually makes sense when looking in Brooklyn’s direction.

The Pistons are also involved in this trade, as they give up one of those three second-round picks for Highsmith, a veteran addition who will help them make a real push in the playoffs.

Keep a close eye on both Maturin and Gafford before the trade deadline with the Pacers and Mavs looking to make some moves.

Kobe White, Isaac Okoro join the Western contenders

Minnesota Timberwolves get: G Kobe White, G/F Dalton Knecht

Los Angeles Lakers receive: F Isaac Okoro

Chicago Bulls get: F Maxi Kleber, G Rob Dillingham, MIN 2030 1st round pick SWAP (more favorable than SAS/DAL (minor) & MIN), IND/MIA/SAS 2026 2nd round pick (less favorable than three to CHI, via MIN), BKN/DAL, pick via MIN, BKN/DAL2. 2031 2nd round pick (swap option with GSV, via MIN), LAL 2032 2nd round pick (via LAL)

Detroit Pistons get: G Mike Conley Jr.

The worst kept secret around the NBA when it comes to trade rumors is that if the Minnesota Timberwolves had their way, Kobe White would be on their roster right now. He is their main trade target this seasonwhich makes a lot of sense given White’s ability to play with or without the ball and be a key weapon alongside a star like Anthony Edwards. Although he’s currently dealing with nagging calf issues, he’s hoping some time off will sort them out and he’ll be able to work out the rest of the season when he returns.

Minnesota is in desperate need of this type of guard, which is why they will likely pursue White and try to finalize a trade with the Bulls in the next few weeks.

If the Wolves don’t want to trade Donte DiVincento or Naz Reed, their only other way to make a deal for White since they’re on the first team is to trade up Mike Conley and Rob Dillingham, who they traded up to pick eighth overall in the 2024 NBA draft.

While Dillingham still has plenty of potential to develop into a weapon, especially on offense, the Timberwolves aren’t committed to development right now. This is a team built to compete for championships, and they’ve proven it by making the Western Conference Finals each of the last two years.

The addition of White further cements their status as one of the better teams in the West and gives them another scorer who can play in the starting lineup or off the bench in a sixth man role.

In this scenario, Dillingham goes to Chicago as a young talent still on a rookie contract, and the Bulls also add two second-round picks and a first-round trade in 2030 from Minnesota. This trade will be the best of the Timberwolves’ roster and the worst of San Antonio/Dallas.

Since the Spurs have options to trade with both Dallas and Minnesota in 2030, they essentially dictate which pick could end up being traded to the Bulls in this deal. The two second-round picks Chicago would receive from the Wolves in this deal are trades, where the Bulls would receive the pick themselves and not have to send a pick out.

Conley was also redirected to the Pistons instead of the Bulls in this deal, giving Detroit a veteran ball-handler behind Cade Cunningham.

The other side of this trade involves the Lakers. Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber and an intriguing second-round pick in 2032 would leave Los Angeles, and Isaac Okoro would join the Lakers before the deadline.

Okoro has always been known as an athletic defender on the wing, which he is the exact type of player the Lakers need. He has shot 38.1 percent from 3-point range since the start of the 2023-24 season, including 37.8 percent from the perimeter in Chicago this season.

Although the Bulls traded Lonzo Ball for Okoro this summer, it’s hard to gauge how much Chicago thinks of him on the wing. They may not be interested in trading him at all, but the Bulls need to make some changes, and Dillingham is a nice, high-potential guard to have alongside Josh Giddy long-term.

Minnesota, Los Angeles and Detroit would very likely sign this trade without hesitation. Whether the Bulls consider this fair value for White and Okoro is a big question mark.