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Giannis Antetokounmpo headlined an NBA offseason filled with star players moving their talents to new teams. 10 of those stars have made at least one All-NBA team. 12 if you include Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton, both of whom missed the entire 2025-26 season to injury. We ranked the top eight offseason moves based on how well each player will fit with their new team and the betting implications moving forward.
| Player | Team Change | Odds |
|---|---|---|
Giannis Antetokounmpo
|
→
|
MVP
+1200
|
LaMelo Ball
|
→
|
All-NBA
+15000
|
Kawhi Leonard
|
→
|
MVP
+17000
|
Jaylen Brown
|
→
|
MVP
+10000
|
Walker Kessler
|
→
|
MIP
+2200
|
Peyton Watson
|
→
|
MIP
+2500
|
LeBron James
|
→
|
MVP
+40000
|
Paul George
|
→
|
Clutch POY
+15000
|
No. 1 – Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks → Miami Heat
The Heat shook up the Eastern Conference when it acquired two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis will pair alongside Bam Adebayo to immediately form an elite defense in Miami. Placing them both on the floor, however, elicits questions for the offense. How will it hold up if its two best players are non-shooters? Who does Eric Spoelstra have on the floor to close out games?
Regardless, Giannis needs to bounce back healthy and in peak form if he wants to take the Heat deep into the playoffs. The market seems bullish on that happening as sportsbooks are currently offering -120 odds for a bet on Yes: Giannis Antetokounmpo to make All-NBA 1st Team, the 5th shortest odds of any player. The Heat are also favored to win the Southeast division at +145.
No. 2 – LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets → Minnesota Timberwolves
Kawhi easily could’ve held the second spot in these rankings, but of the two oft-injured stars, Ball seems more likely to play a full season. He’s also a great fit alongside Anthony Edwards, creating the scariest offensive backcourt in the league. Ant shot a ridiculous 49.6% on catch-and-shoot threes last year and can now play off-ball more often (pun very much intended).
Ball does bring with him the reputation of loafing defensively, but his -0.3 defensive EPM last season placed him in the 45th percentile, so just slightly below average. Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels cover up most of their teammates’ defensive blemishes anyway. Minnesota is currently +1100 to win a division that has the Oklahoma City Thunder in it, but I think it’s worth a sprinkle.
No. 3 – Kawhi Leonard | Los Angeles Clippers → Toronto Raptors
Kawhi is back in Toronto with the exact skill set the Raptors needed last season. He replaces Brandon Ingram’s spot on the floor and offers a major upgrade in every measurable way. He’s always been one of, if not the best wing defenders in the league, but it’s his offensive ability that should lift Toronto to a top six seed in the East.
The Raptors were awful when forced to play offense in the halfcourt. They had the second-lowest eFG% during the last 6 seconds of the shot clock, further highlighting their lack of a pure scorer. Kawhi owns the 9th-highest eFG% during those situations over the last three seasons. I love the over on their win total at 46.5.
No. 4 – Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics → Philadelphia 76ers
Jaylen Brown comes in at number four despite being at least as talented offensively as the two guys directly in front of him. This list isn’t purely about talent, it’s about who fits best with their new team. Brown will absolutely raise the floor and the ceiling of the 76ers’ offense. I don’t have any concerns about how well Philly’s quartet of superstars will gel together offensively.
There are a few ways, however, that things could go south for Nick Nurse’s squad. How will Brown respond on nights when he’s the third or fourth option? Who’s protecting the rim when Embiid’s off the floor? How many games do these aging superstars actually play together? I’m staying away from all 76ers’ regular season bets and wouldn’t project Jaylen Brown to finish nearly as high in fantasy leagues as last year.
No. 5 – Walker Kessler | Utah Jazz → Los Angeles Lakers
No one is happier to see Walker Kessler in L.A. than Luka Dončić. Kessler provides Luka with a strong pick-and-roll partner who can finish at the rim. He also provides head coach JJ Reddick with the defensive anchor his team sorely missed last season when the Lakers ranked 29th in opponent field goal percentage at the rim.
At 80-1, Kessler’s worth a look to win Defensive Player of the Year. The award usually goes to a big man and Reddick is a mastermind defensively. If the Lakers own a top-5 defensive rating at the end of the season, Kessler would siphon a lot of the credit from his head coach.
No. 6 – Peyton Watson | Denver Nuggets → Cleveland Cavaliers
For the last 4 seasons the Cavs have fallen short in the playoffs due mainly to a lack of perimeter defense and 3-point shooting. Peyton Watson shot 41.1% from deep and 46.5% on catch-and-shoot threes last season for the Nuggets. He ranked in the 97th percentile in perimeter isolation defense and provides Cleveland with a rangey athlete who can finish in transition. He’s currently 25-1 to win the Most Improved Player award.
No. 7 – LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers → Philadelphia 76ers
At this stage, LeBron’s greatest value is his ability to control the tempo and create high-percentage scoring opportunities for teammates. Two things the 76ers were missing last year
from a big wing like James. He likely won’t be eligible for any awards at the end of his 24th season due to the minimum game requirement, but you can place a wager on his season-long assist average at 8+ for +155.
No. 8 – Paul George | Philadelphia 76ers → Boston Celtics
PG should help soften the blow of Jaylen Brown’s departure. He’s a natural fit within any team thanks to his versatility on both ends of the floor. He only appeared in 37 games, but missed 25 games as a result of a failed drug test, not injury. The Atlantic division is going to be grueling, but I would take the Celtics to win it at their price (+275) over the 76ers (+250) or Knicks (+175). Joe Mazulla doesn’t let his team take nights off during the regular season.
Honorable Mentions
- Mitchell Robinson | Knicks → Celtics: 60+ games of his rebounding and rim protection would allow the Celtics defense to guard the perimeter more closely than last season.
- Lu Dort | Thunder → Hawks: Adding Dort to a starting lineup with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Jalen Johnson should nudge the Hawks’ defense into the top 10.
- Tobias Harris | Pistons → Spurs: Harris helps fill one of the only holes in the Spurs’ 2026 defense: defending power forwards in the post.
- DeMar DeRozan | Kings → Nuggets: At 37-years old, DeMar doesn’t need to carry the same loads he did in Chicago or Sacramento. He just needs to carry Denver’s bench unit.
- Isaiah Joe | Thunder → Pistons: The Pistons need Joe to make it 5 straight seasons shooting above 40% from three.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. | 76ers → Pacers: Oubre makes quick, confident decisions with the ball which is perfect for Rick Carlisle’s offense. He’s probably the most underrated pickup of the offseason.
FAQ
Who are the biggest NBA players to switch teams this offseason?
The 2026 offseason featured an extraordinary amount of star movement, headlined by Giannis Antetokounmpo joining Miami, Kawhi Leonard returning to Toronto, and LeBron James and Jaylen Brown landing in Philadelphia. Other major moves include LaMelo Ball to Minnesota, Ja
Morant to Portland, Trae Young and Anthony Davis to Washington, Paul George to Boston, Walker Kessler to the Lakers, and Peyton Watson to Cleveland.
Which new-team fit will have the biggest fantasy impact?
LaMelo Ball’s move to Minnesota could deliver the biggest fantasy impact of any offseason acquisition. He gives the Timberwolves an elite playmaker to pair with Anthony Edwards and by the far the most talented backcourt mate to date. Ball averaged 20.1 points, 7.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds last season, and more importantly, he made everyone around him better. His ability to contribute across multiple fantasy categories gives him tremendous upside in 9-category leagues, especially if he ups his modest minutes total from last season.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
