NBA Trade Frenzy: Kawhi’s Return to Toronto Headlines Flurry of Moves

NBA free agency officially tipped off Monday evening, but the “new faces in new places” theme has been going strong for more than a week thanks to a very busy trade market. Multiple marquee names have changed locales early this offseason, and those developments have naturally impacted futures leaderboards.

Let’s take a closer look at five major transactions that have the potential to alter individual and team landscapes for next season.

Kawhi Leonard Traded to Toronto Raptors From Los Angeles Clippers

• Raptors receive: Leonard and a swapped draft pick

• Clippers receive: Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a swapped draft pick.

Leonard’s name naturally headlines Tuesday’s trade, but it’s naturally worth noting the Clippers acquired a superstar in their own right in Ingram, a promising shooter in Dick, and a solid draft haul. Leonard showed he was arguably as good as ever during the 2025-26 season, when he averaged a career-high 27.9 points and added 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals across 32.1 minutes per contest. His efficiency also continued to be elite, as he shot 50.5% from the field, including 38.7% from three-point range.

The addition of the future Hall of Famer to a Raptors squad that went 46-36 last season and nearly pulled off a furious comeback in their first-round series against the Cavaliers naturally raises expectations significantly. Toronto’s NBA Finals Winner odds have climbed to +2500 (DraftKings Sportsbook) in the immediate aftermath of the move, and Toronto is also now +800 in the Eastern Conference Winner market behind only the Celtics (+260) and defending champion Knicks (+320). The pairing of Kawhi and his still above-average defensive ability with the talented core of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley certainly elevates the Raptors in an extremely tough conference.

Meanwhile, Ingram will be primed for perhaps the heaviest usage of his career in his new home, as Los Angeles will likely run its offense largely through him and Darius Garland. The duo isn’t expected to have much help, however, and the Clippers are largely expected to suffer through what might turn out to be a hybrid transitional/rebuilding season. LA’s NBA Finals Winner odds are now at +15000, while their Western Conference Winner figure stands at +12000, ahead of only the Jazz, Pelicans, Grizzlies and Kings.

Leonard’s MVP odds on FanDuel Sportsbook remain relatively long at +10000, which is understandable considering last year’s numbers will be difficult to replicate on a team where Barnes and Barrett logged 25.6% and 27.5% usage rates, respectively, last season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Traded to Miami Heat From Milwaukee Bucks

• Heat receives: Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, one swapped draft pick

• Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one swapped draft pick, one second-round pick

This trade actually ignited the string of notable transactions of the past week-plus, with Antetokounmpo somewhat surprisingly ending up in Miami after reports earlier the same day indicated the Celtics appeared the favorite to land the star big man. The Greek Freak missed significant time due to injury for the first time in his career last season, appearing in a career-low 36 games and averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists across 28.9 minutes per contest and shooting a career-best 62.4% from the floor.

Needless to say, the addition of Antetokounmpo — and to a lesser extent, Portis — is a massive net positive. However, in the context of this particular transaction, the potential net improvement for Miami is somewhat capped on paper by what it took to get Antetokounmpo in South Florida in terms of player assets. Losing the scoring of Herro, the overall package of the ascending Ware, the second-unit versatility of Jaquez and the significant potential of Jakucionis represents a significant talent drain.

It also leaves the Heat highly dependent on its two starting big men, Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, when considering Norman Powell is expected to depart in free agency. However, Miami’s NBA Finals Winners odds have climbed to +2500 on DraftKings Sportsbook, tying the Heat with the Timberwolves for sixth on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Erik Spoelstra’s squad sits at No. 4 in the Eastern Conference Winner market with +900 odds.

Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds sit at +1200 on FanDuel Sportsbook, slotting him fourth behind Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic.

LaMelo Ball Traded to Minnesota Timberwolves From Charlotte Hornets

• Timberwolves receive: Ball, Josh Green, three swapped first-round picks

• Hornets receive: Naz Reid, three swapped first-round picks, 2033 unprotected first-round pick, three second-round picks

The talented but often injury-prone Ball is the centerpiece of this multi-faceted trade, although Reid is a significant subtraction for a Timberwolves squad that often benefited from his strong scoring and rebounding contributions off the bench for the last several seasons. Ball is now set to form a dynamic backcourt duo with Anthony Edwards after playing in a career-high 72 regular-season games in 2025-26 and delivering 20.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 28.0 minutes per contest.

With Ball in town, Edwards should see less defensive attention and in position to also be the beneficiary of Ball’s above-average facilitating skills. The talented point guard’s arrival will afford Edwards his best backcourt mate yet, and Ball’s offensive talents more than make up for the departure of Julius Randle to the Nets.

Ayo Dosunmu, who settled in very nicely after a trade-deadline move from the Bulls and inked a new five-year, $122 million deal last week, makes for an excellent third scoring option that has helped Minnesota’s NBA Finals Winner odds climb to +2500 and settle at +1200 — third behind the Spurs and Thunder — in the Western Conference Winner on DraftKings Sportsboook.

In turn, Charlotte, which still has Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel and managed a 44-38 mark last season, is at +12000 on the NBA Finals Winner market and +5000 on the Eastern Conference Winner leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Ball remains quite the longshot on the MVP Winner market on FanDuel Sportsbook, carrying +25000 odds.

Ja Morant Traded to Portland Trail Blazers From Memphis Grizzlies

• Trail Blazers receive: Morant

• Grizzlies receive: Kris Murray, Jerami Grant

Trade rumors surrounding the mercurial Morant finally went beyond the hypothetical on Monday when the Grizzlies parted ways with their 2019 second overall pick for what could be considered a very modest return. Grant remains a solid veteran who could thrive in the right role and Murray does have some pedigree as a 2023 first-round pick, although he’s done little to justify it during his first three seasons. However, it would have been inconceivable just a couple of seasons ago for Memphis to let Morant go for anything less than a bounty the likes of which the Bucks and Clippers got in their aforementioned moves.

Yet, there’s a high level of intrigue surrounding Morant, given his talent, the potential for a change of scenery making all the difference, and the fact that when factoring out all of his injury and off-court drama from last year’s equation, he actually performed reasonably well over the scant 20 games he did play. Morant averaged a respectable 19.5 points despite shooting a career-low 41%, and he also tied a career high with 8.1 assists. Moreover, Ja averaged 25.5 points (on 47.2% shooting), 7.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals over the prior four seasons, an elite statistical profile.

Making Morant’s arrival in Portland all the more interesting is the presence of franchise legend Damian Lillard, who’ll be ready to play this coming season after sitting out all of the 2025-26 campaign due to the Achilles tear he suffered in the first round of the 2025 postseason while with the Bucks. A backcourt pool of Lillard, Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson is a fascinating combination of play styles and skill sets, and when paired with superstar forward Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe, Portland could have the makings of a championship core.

Portland’s NBA Finals Winner odds have crept up to +8000 on DraftKings Sportsbook, and the Blazers are at +4000 on the Western Conference Winner leaderboard, making them No. 8 in the field. Then, you can make a longshot bet at a complete Morant resurgence that results in an MVP award at 70000 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.

Miles Bridges Traded to Phoenix Suns From Charlotte Hornets

• Suns receive: Bridges, 2029 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick

• Hornets receive: Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, 2033 first-round pick

Bridges followed Ball out the door in Charlotte and fills an area of need for the Suns at power forward. The veteran big man was a key component for the Hornets a season ago, putting up 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists across 31.0 minutes per game over 77 regular-season contests, his highest rate of participation since the 2021-22 campaign. The exits of Allen and O’Neale in exchange are important for Phoenix as well, but Tuesday’s signing of Luke Kennard goes a long way to making up for Allen’s offensive contributions, including from downtown.

Bridges shores up a power forward position that was often a weak link in the chain for Phoenix, and it gives the Suns a potential starting five of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Bridges and Mark Williams. The bench will still have plenty of punch, given the presence of Collin Gillespie, Kennard, Jordan Goodwin and Oso Ighodaro, among others.

Bridges brings a fourth legitimate scorer to the first unit, but Phoenix remains considerably down DK’s NBA Finals Winner leaderboard at +12000, making them an interesting value longshot to consider. The team’s odds are half that — +6000 — on the Western Conference Winner market.

Photo Credit: AP/Aaron Gash