Ahead of the NBA Draft, three bold trade scenarios suggest major roster shakeups. Potential moves include the Clippers acquiring Anthony Davis from Washington, the Raptors landing Domantas Sabonis from Sacramento, and the Lakers adding sharpshooter Isaiah Joe via a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA Draft is almost here, and that usually means one thing: the league is ready for chaos.
As teams try to reshape their rosters, move salary, add draft assets, or make one final push toward contention, the days leading up to draft night can be just as important as the selections themselves.
The biggest storyline remains Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether the Milwaukee Bucks will finally move their two-time MVP.
But even if that saga dominates the headlines, it may not be the only major move that shakes up the league.
Here are three bold trade scenarios that could surprise NBA fans ahead of the draft.
Anthony Davis traded to Los Angeles 
Credit Image AP – Scanpix
Clippers receive: Wizards receive: John Collins Bogdan Bogdanovic Derrick Jones Jr. No. 5 Draft Pick
An Anthony Davis trade would make sense for both teams in this scenario.
For the Wizards, the idea of seriously competing for a championship with an injury-prone Davis and Trae Young does not seem very realistic at the moment.
Meanwhile, the Clippers could take one last major swing at a title by pairing Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Darius Garland, and Bradley Beal together.
This class is considered one of the deepest in recent years; for a young Washington team that also owns the No. 1 pick, adding another top-five selection offers a much-needed reset.
After previous rebuilding attempts failed to deliver the desired results, landing two potential young stars in the same draft could give the Wizards a more promising long-term foundation.
Raptors trade for Domantas Sabonis 
Credit Image AP – Scanpix
Raptors receive: Domantas Sabonis Future First-round pick swap Kings receive: RJ Barrett Jakob Poeltl No. 19 Draft Pick
The Toronto Raptors have previously been linked with interest in Domantas Sabonis, and in this hypothetical scenario, they finally land a star frontcourt piece.
Toronto would not give up too much in this deal while also receiving future draft compensation in the form of a pick swap as they absorb Sabonis’ massive contract, worth more than $135 million over the next three years.
Meanwhile, the Kings would acquire a talented young wing in RJ Barrett, a solid center in Jakob Poeltl, and the No. 19 pick, providing another opportunity to target an exciting prospect.
For Sacramento, this reshapes the roster while maintaining enough talent to remain competitive.
Lakers snag Thunder’s key role player 
Credit AP – Scanpix
Lakers receive: Thunder receive: Dalton Knecht No. 25 Draft Pick
In this scenario, the Lakers would add a valuable complementary piece next to Luka Doncic by acquiring Isaiah Joe from the Oklahoma Thunder.
A strong off-ball player and reliable three-point shooter is exactly the type of player the Lakers should be looking for, and Joe would fit well around Doncic as a floor-spacing guard who doesn’t require the ball in his hands.
For the Thunder, the deal eases their salary situation by moving a player set to earn more than $11 million next season.
In return, Oklahoma City would receive another draft pick and a player on a rookie scale in Dalton Knecht.
The move balances both rosters, providing the Lakers with shooting and the Thunder with financial flexibility and draft capital.
Edvinas Kuzas began his basketball media career in 2025, joining BasketNews as a Daily Writer. He brings a deep understanding of the sport, shaped by years of following both its history and trending topics. Alongside his writing, he is currently pursuing a degree in basketball coaching, further expanding his knowledge of the game. This combination allows him to provide more analytical, insightful, and opinion-based perspectives on basketball.
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