2017 NBA Draft: 5 possible draft-day trades we want to see

Dec 30, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) is guarded by Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Chicago 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the 2017 NBA Draft, here's a look at five possibly blockbuster trades we want to see, including Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Carmelo Anthony on the move.

The 2017 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, which means trade season and absurd amounts of nonsensical offseason activity have nearly arrived as well.

With the draft set to be underway on Thursday, we've already been bombarded with report after report about which starts could be on the move and which front offices are being shaken up. After a predictable 2017 NBA Finals, this flurry of offseason activity is a welcome change, though challenging to keep track of.

The Boston Celtics have traded down from the No. 1 pick. Paul George is leaving the Indiana Pacers in free agency, probably for the Los Angeles Lakers. Jimmy Butler is available via trade. The Boston Celtics could be looking to make a blockbuster move. The Cleveland Cavaliers no longer have a general manager. Jimmy Butler is no longer available via trade. A wild unicorn appears, as Kristaps Porzingis could suddenly be available. Jimmy Butler is available via trade again.

It's impossible to keep track of it all, but as we approach draft day, we'd be remiss to not at least try. From teams with high picks to franchise stars on the move, here's a look at five possible draft-day trades we want to see, not only because they make sense, but also because we live for the madness.

NOTE: For our purposes, these five trades have to operate in conjunction with each other. So, for example, if Jimmy Butler gets traded, he's no longer available for the other teams looking to make a draft-day move.

Nov 20, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Evan Turner (1) plays the ball while being defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Joe harris (12) during the second half at Barclays Center. The Trail Blazers won 129-109. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

5. The least sexy swap of the 2017 NBA Draft

This trade isn't going to dominate the headlines on draft day, but it makes too much sense for both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets to not happen.

Rip City enters this year's draft with three first-rounders, and if packaging them to move up in the pecking order isn't an option, general manager Neil Olshey has no need for the salaries of three additional rookies on a young roster that's already miles above the salary cap.

Sporting News' Sean Deveney has reported the Blazers were looking to attach first round picks if it means shedding some of the team's unwanted contracts, which makes sense for a roster that only won 41 games despite having so much long-term money on the books.

What team would happily accept unwanted salary if it meant adding a pick or two? The asset-starved Nets. As laid out by HoopsHabit's own Michael Walton II, one potential avenue could look something like this:

Meyers Leonard is owed nearly $32 million over the next three seasons, and Brooklyn would have no problem adding a young player — even a frustratingly inconsistent one like this — if Portland threw in the No. 15 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

As compensation, the Nets would cash in on Sean Kilpatrick's good season and send his meager $1.5 million, non-guaranteed salary to Rip City. The Blazers get an ugly contract off the books, avoid a rookie contract they have no room for and could either use Kilpatrick off the bench or let him go.

Another variation of a Blazers-Nets swap could look something like this:

Evan Turner's contract is far worse than Leonard's, with the king of the midrange being owed $53.6 million over the next three seasons. But the Nets don't have the luxury of operating on a short-term timeline, and if they were able to squeeze two first-rounders out of Rip City to take on his ugly deal, it'd be worth it, especially since he could add a veteran presence.

The Blazers get Turner's regrettable deal off the books, and though they lose two picks in the process, they still get to keep their No. 20 selection and avoid cluttering the roster with too much youth.

In return, they (somewhat) address an area of need with an established 4 like Trevor Booker. He's not the sexiest of trade prizes, but he averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last year on 51.6 percent shooting and would give the Trail Blazers some experience at power forward.

May 10, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings vice president of basketball operations and general manager Vlade Divac during a press conference at the Sacramento Kings XC (Experience Center). Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

4. A KANGZ ransom

With the No. 5 and No. 10 overall picks in the 2017 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings have the chance to add two top-10 talents to a young, blossoming nucleus of Willie Cauley-Stein, Buddy Hield and Skal Labissiere.

That being said, would anyone be even remotely surprised if the Kings went full KANGZ and packaged those valuable picks just to move up a few spots for someone they view as a difference-maker like Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson or De'Aaron Fox?

To be clear: Sacramento would probably be better off keeping both of its picks in a draft class that's so loaded in the lottery. But after the lopsided DeMarcus Cousins we witnessed just a few months ago, would the Kings be able to resist if the Boston Celtics came calling with the No. 3 pick and Terry Rozier?

To be clear, Celtics GM Danny Ainge has said they traded down because he believes the player they want will still be there at No. 3 (Jayson Tatum, perhaps?). If that's the case, maybe their move down from the No. 1 spot was something Boston legitimately viewed as a savvy individual move, rather than more posturing for the blockbuster deal everyone is waiting on.

But a team doesn't pass on a potential star like Markelle Fultz unless it's A) Looking to make more waves or B) 100 percent convinced that player won't be great at the next level. Fultz looks like the real deal, and even with Boston's backcourt logjam, there's no reason to pass on his potential unless Ainge is trying to flip those additional assets into a trade for an established star.

With that in mind, a deal like this moves the Celtics closer to the No. 2 trade on this list. The No. 3 pick is still a valuable selection with one of Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson still being available at that point, but a team looking to trade its star and rebuild through the draft might view two top-10 picks in this year's class as more valuable.

As for the Kings, they'd be making a mistake, but be honest: Outside of the team's fanbase that we all feel sorry for at this point, we kind of revel in this organization's never-failing inability to make smart decisions. The Kings are the living embodiment of Murphy's Law, the burning wreckage we can't look away from. Watching them go full KANGZ would make draft night that much crazier.

On the bright side though, Sacramento would get a young point guard with flashes of potential to mold in Rozier, and they'd also walk away with one of Lonzo Ball or Josh Jackson — both addressing areas of need. If they avoid De'Aaron Fox's worst-case scenario as Elfrid Payton 2.0, all the better.

Dec 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) greets Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) after the game at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 127-114. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

3. Mile High reunion

Before we get started, let's just acknowledge that a Carmelo Anthony trade to the San Antonio Spurs would be all kinds of fun.

LaMarcus Aldridge's game has fallen off a cliff, and if the Spurs can lead the league in defensive rating with him at the 4, Melo's notorious defensive flaws could be masked as well. Anthony still has plenty to offer offensively, we'd finally get to see him on a winning team (far too late, but whatever) and the Spurs would have a powerful ally to convince Chris Paul to join in free agency.

However, the Spurs would need to shed plenty of salary for a CP3 signing, meaning Danny Green would have to be attached in a lopsided deal for a 33-year-old former All-Star. Considering they'd have to gut their bench depth to sign Paul, perhaps the Spurs would be better off just keeping Green's defense and Aldridge's ho-hum scoring than going all in on a Kawhi Leonard-Melo-CP3 core.

In any case, the New York Knicks really need to find a way to deal Carmelo Anthony leading up to the 2017 NBA Draft. His no-trade clause presents a problem, since it narrows down the list of possible trade partners to only destinations that Melo would approve.

Even with Phil Jackson doing his best to drive his star out of the Big Apple, Melo isn't going to accept a trade to just anywhere, especially since his wife and children enjoy living in New York. At the end of the day though, Anthony has to do what's best for himself…and it's undeniable that a reunion with the Denver Nuggets might be mutually beneficial for both parties.

Though the Nuggets' No. 13 pick would probably be off the table considering Melo's age and slowly declining game, the Knicks would be getting rid of a star they no longer have use for, adding a decent role player in Kenneth Faried, and taking a chance on a 21-year-old point guard who, though flawed, is still too young to be definitively labeled as a "bust."

Faried's contract comes off the books two years from now, so it's not like he'd be unwanted baggage, especially if his presence at the 4 pushes Kristaps Porzingis to his more natural position at the 5.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, mend their relationship between a future Hall-of-Famer and his old fanbase, while Melo restores his reputation and leaves the NBA with his legacy more intact if he can aid this young team's rise back to prominence. This isn't exactly LeBron James returning to Cleveland, but it gives Denver a talented scorer to plug in at the 4 to replace Danilo Gallinari and pair with Wilson Chandler on the wing.

Melo returning to the franchise where he began his NBA career would be a good story, the Nuggets wouldn't mind that his game is on the decline since he'd still be useful for a young core that's trying to take the next step forward, and it'd allow him to finish out his twilight years with a team that doesn't need him to be his old, All-Star self.

Denver is ready to give up on Emmanuel Mudiay as it is, they'd keep their No. 13 pick and they'd get rid of Faried's unnecessary salary. The Knicks might ask for a throw-in like Juan Hernangomez, but that wouldn't be a make-or-break inclusion for this kind of deal to go through if the Nuggets declined.

It's one of those ideas that makes too much sense to actually happen, but the benefits for both sides are pretty clear.

Feb 16, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) drives on Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the second half at the United Center. Chicago won 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

2. Jimmy Buckets in Beantown

Up until this point, none of these deals significantly alter expectations for the upcoming 2017-18 season. Melo returning to Denver would be a great story, and of course we live to see the Kings go full KANGZ, but our first three trades don't significantly change the NBA landscape.

Not so with our No. 2 trade, which sees Ainge finally turn all those damn assets into a tangible return for the Boston Celtics.

On Monday, reports emerged that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers were trying to make a move for Jimmy Butler.

The Chicago Bulls have waffled back and forth on his availability, and for the front office that signed Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo after saying the team needed to get younger and more athletic, their word can't really be taken at face value anyway. Bearing that in mind, it would not be surprising if Butler were 100 percent available right now.

A Tom Thibodeau reunion in Minnesota would be fun, but not fun enough for the team to mortgage its long-term future. With GM David Griffin getting hosed over by the Cavs, it's hard to see anyone in Cleveland's front office stepping up to the plate on such short notice to put together a winning Jimmy Butler bid.

Besides, in a bidding war, we all know who wins once the Celtics join the party.

It'd take a considerable haul for Boston to reel in Butler, who is still under contract through at least the 2018-19 season (with a $19.8 million player option for 2019-20). However, considering his excellent defense and the 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game he averaged this season, he'd be worth the sacrifice to add a legitimate second star alongside Isaiah Thomas.

The Celtics had no answer for LeBron James in the conference finals this year, and though Butler wouldn't be able to "stop" the King, he's one of the few players in the league who can actually hold his own in a seven-game playoff series.

IT and Al Horford aren't getting any younger, and after trading down from the No. 1 pick, the Celtics need a legitimate game-changing trade to validate the move.

Boston is close to reaching legitimate contender status, and bringing Jimmy Buckets to Beantown would get them there. Jae Crowder is great, and his blue-collar work ethic is a perfect fit in Boston, but he's no Jimmy Butler.

Sending Crowder, Tyler Zeller, the No. 5 and No. 10 picks (or the No. 3 pick, if the previous Celtics trade on our list doesn't come to fruition) and that 2018 Los Angeles Lakers/2019 Sacramento Kings first-rounder would be an impressive package for the Bulls, who would want to rebuild from the ground up.

This deal would give Chicago an underrated wing in Crowder, Zeller's non-guaranteed deal (for salary-matching purposes) and 2-3 first round picks over the next 2-3 years. If the Bulls accept building around Butler for the uphill battle it is, a package like this would be a pretty great haul.

For those tired of seeing the Cavaliers breeze through the East every year, for those tired of seeing Butler waste away under an incompetent front office and for those Bulls faithful tired of playing for the eighth seed, a blockbuster deal like this would make everyone happy.

Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

1. PG-13 goes NC-17 on league parity

Well, everyone would be happy until the Cleveland Cavaliers go NC-17 on Eastern Conference parity by adding PG-13.

Thanks to LeBron's super-teams and the rise of this Golden State Warriors dynasty, the top of the NBA is basically an arms race. With the Celtics adding Jimmy Butler in our hypothetical draft-day madness, the defending Eastern Conference champs would need a move to counter.

Would there be anything more deflating and simultaneously hilarious than Boston landing Jimmy Butler only to watch the Cavs trade for Paul George?

The Cavs were woefully outmatched in their Finals series against the Warriors, and with LeBron James turning 33 in December and becoming a free agent in 2018 — plus those Los Angeles Lakers rumors already starting up — this team needs to do whatever it can to close the gap.

Loving Kevin Love's three-point shooting and rebounding hurts, but they'd be replacing him with a two-way star who can also spread the floor, attack the basket and play vitally important defense — especially in a Finals matchup with the Dubs, since PG-13 would spare LeBron the tiring task of checking Kevin Durant.

Sure, George would just wind up being a one-year rental after telling the Indiana Pacers he'll be leaving in 2018 free agency, but the Cavs are one of the few teams who'd be willing to take the risk, since LeBron is a free agent that same summer. Basically, it's time for the Cavaliers to really be "all in."

There are potential issues that need to be sorted out with this swap, however, aside from the fact that the Cavs don't have a general manager at the moment.

Love is Cleveland's only trade asset, since no trade partner — let alone the soon-to-be rebuilding Pacers — would be remotely interested in guys like Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert or Channing Frye.

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For Indiana, their return would depend on what third team could be roped in. An established star and a young wing like Cedi Osman would be better than nothing, but Love will turn 29 in September and the Pacers would prefer to rebuild around Myles Turner with young talent and future draft picks if they're trading away their franchise star.

The Cavs don't have a first-rounder to offer until 2021 — too far away to help Indiana — and they don't have any young talent to offer outside of unpolished prospects like Kay Felder and Cedi Osman.

To that end, a third team would need to be roped in to take on Kevin Love and send Indiana the assets it needs to part ways with its franchise superstar.

According to The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson, the Phoenix Suns could very well emerge as that third party (though this Suns insider could tell you firsthand that hemorrhaging the team's youth movement for the soon-to-be 29-year-old Love would be a shortsighted move):

That being said, beggars can't be choosers if Love and Osman is the best offer Indiana receives, since PG-13 is leaving no matter what. People forget this, but Love put up 26.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game the last time he was "the guy" for a team.

He'd form dynamic shooting tandem with Myles Turner in the frontcourt and is under contract through at least 2018-19.

With Butler already off the board and the Cavaliers desperately needing additional star talent, wing defense, positional versatility and three-point shooting, Paul George is the only alternative. League parity is dead anyway. Let's make this happen, NBA.