Mock Blockbuster Sends Giannis To Knicks

Merlin sees a full speed run of trade season imagined as if the deadline were today. The piece maps realistic swaps for every franchise, pitching moves from Anthony Davis to Atlanta for Kristaps Porzingis and picks to a fantasy Giannis to New York. It notes that "the market is officially open" as most teams become trade eligible and front offices know what they can and cannot chase. Merlin senses this exercise is less about predicting exact deals and more about revealing priorities. Teams are chasing defense, spacing and tradable assets while juggling injuries and salary math. Some proposals are pure wishful thinking, others are blueprints a savvy front office could follow. Keep an ear on the whispers that turn into formal calls as February nears.