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“The Pacers have had a tough start to the season,” Leiva said.

“Things haven’t quite clicked for them, and with a couple of rough stretches, it’s clear they’re looking to make some moves.”

Guys like Tyrese Haliburton are off-limits in trade discussions, but Indiana might be willing to trade any of their many valuable role players if the price is right.

One player who could interest the Grizzlies is former Knick and former Dayton Flyer, Obi Toppin.

“Obi Toppin, who they signed to a four-year, $60 million deal this past summer, has been decent—averaging 10.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game,” Leiva said.

“But with their current struggles, the Pacers are reportedly looking to shake things up and could be moving Toppin to make a deal that helps them out.”

“This is where the Grizzlies could step in. Toppin is an athletic, versatile player who could add some serious energy to their lineup.”

Leiva proposed a deal that would send Luke Kennard, Jay Huff, and a 2030 second-rounder to the Pacers for Toppin.

“For the Pacers, moving Toppin would open up the door to some changes. They’d get Luke Kennard, a guy who can shoot the lights out from deep and would instantly provide floor spacing, something the Pacers need with Tyrese Haliburton struggling to create for himself. They’d also get Jay Huff, a big who can come in and contribute with shot-blocking, rebounding, and floor spacing.”

Leiva’s proposal isn’t a good trade for the Grizzlies, as it can be argued that both Kennard and Huff are more valuable players than Toppin. That being said, Leiva’s idea is useful in that it points to how all of these assets are moveable and could be traded in other deals before the deadline.

Toppin was selected at No. 8 overall by the Knicks in the 2020 NBA draft. The 26-year-old has career averages of 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on 52.2 percent from the field.

“Here is a blockbuster that could shake the NBA to its core,” Fadeaway World’s Eddie Bitar wrote Thursday.

“Dame Time for King James. The Bucks, fresh off their daring acquisition of Damian Lillard last year, would be rolling the dice again by flipping him for LeBron (James).”

“On paper, this trade pairs LeBron with Giannis Antetokounmpo, creating an absolutely terrifying duo that would have the basketball world buzzing.”

“The thought of LeBron as the maestro and Giannis as the unstoppable force is enough to make every team in the East quake.”

“For the Lakers, getting Damian Lillard is a gift. Dame is still in his prime posting 25.8 points and 7.6 assists per game, and his elite scoring and leadership would bring fresh energy to Los Angeles.”

“Pairing him with Anthony Davis gives the Lakers a lethal inside-out combo that could keep them firmly in contention. Lillard doesn’t address the Lakers’ depth issues, but when you’ve got Dame dropping 30 a night, they will figure it out.”

“This trade screams “all-in” for both sides. Milwaukee betting on LeBron to deliver another ring while the Lakers snag one of the best closers in the game—it’s the kind of high-stakes deal that makes the NBA endlessly exciting.”

Lillard has performed well for the Bucks all season, but his stellar play didn’t result in many wins for Milwaukee early on.

After prevailing in their season-opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bucks lost their next six games and appeared to be on a downward spiral.

Since Nov. 4, however, Lillard and company have gotten their act together, securing 12 wins in their last 17 contests and proving they can hang with any team in the league.

Lillard, an incredible stop-and-go ball handler who keeps defenses on their toes, averages 25.8 points and 7.6 assists on 45.4% field goal shooting and 37.2% three-point shooting this season.

James, who guided Los Angeles to six consecutive wins between Nov. 8 and Nov. 18, hasn’t been a happy camper lately as a member of the Lakers.

The 20-time All-Star and human freight train averages 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds per game, but the Lakers have experienced two three-game losing streaks since their Nov. 19 victory over the Utah Jazz.

While landing Lillard could solve some of the Lakers’ woes, trading a durable superstar with serious championship aspirations wouldn’t be the wisest decision for Los Angeles.

“The Lakers are sitting at 13-11, holding the 8th spot in the West, and it’s been a rollercoaster season so far,” Fadeaway World’s Fran Leiva wrote Thursday.

“LeBron James is still doing his thing, but the supporting cast hasn’t been consistent enough to elevate the team into true contender territory.”

“Adding Jerami Grant could change that. Grant would give the Lakers an immediate upgrade at forward, someone who can provide scoring, defend multiple positions, and fit seamlessly alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis.”

“The proposed trade would send Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and a 2029 first-round pick to the Blazers.”

“Hachimura has been decent this year, averaging 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, but he hasn’t quite matched the impact he had during last season.”

“Vincent, on the other hand, has struggled to find his rhythm in L.A., contributing just 3.8 points, 0.8 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game, while dealing with injuries.”

“The 2029 pick adds future value to the deal, which the Blazers would surely prioritize as they rebuild.”

“For the Lakers, Grant fills a lot of gaps. His defensive versatility would help take pressure off AD in the paint and give the team a better option to match up against bigger wings.”

“Offensively, he’s capable of creating his own shot, something this roster desperately needs outside of LeBron.”

“Pairing Grant with the current core would make the Lakers far more balanced and dangerous in the playoffs, where depth matters less, and star power takes over.”

“The downside? The Lakers would lose depth on the bench, and trading another first-rounder puts them further into “win now” mode, leaving little room for error.”

“But for a team trying to maximize what’s left of LeBron’s prime, it’s a move worth considering. Adding Grant gives them a legitimate shot to compete with the West’s elite, and that’s the kind of swing they need to take.”

Grant, a 2014 second-round pick, has taken a step back in the scoring and efficiency departments this season, averaging 15.3 points per contest on 38% shooting from the field and 35.5% shooting from three-point land on a struggling Trail Blazers squad.

Still, the two-way forward who can adjust on the fly could help the Lakers make positive strides offensively and toughen up on the defensive end of the floor.

On the other hand, Hachimura isn’t an asset the Lakers must retain to reach the promised land, so it would be acceptable for Los Angeles to swap him for Grant this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the Eastern Conference this season, but they don’t have a wing that can keep up with the Boston Celtics’ duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. While James is past his prime, he is still an elite player who would help the Cavs’ title chances while having one of the most poetic ends to a career in NBA history.

If the Lakers are serious about re-tooling around Anthony Davis, they would want a win-now player who can compliment their All-NBA big man.

In theory, a mock trade where the Cavs send Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, a first-round pick in 2031 and a swap in 2030 might be enough for the Lakers to send both Bronny and LeBron back to Ohio.

While losing Garland would certainly hurt, Donovan Mitchell has some experience running the point guard position, and James has emerged as an elite passer in recent years. The Cavs could start Mitchell, Caris LeVert, the senior James, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley without sacrificing much of their depth.

The Lakers, meanwhile, bolster their perimeter defense with Okoro and land a starting-caliber point guard to pair with Davis in the pick-and-roll. On top of that, by holding onto all their draft picks (and adding even more) and retaining D’Angelo Russell, they could make even more moves as the trade deadline approaches.

Irwin’s second step for the Lakers is to sign a player who was once considered a huge bust but has since experienced a career resurgence with the Orlando Magic.

“If the Lakers do manage to convince the (Washington) Wizards to take both (Gabe) Vincent and (Christian) Wood (in a trade) for Valanciunas soon-ish, they will open $4.1 million in space under the second apron.”

Irwin believes the Lakers could use that cap space to sign Markelle Fultz to a minimum contract.

“With seven years of service under his belt, Fultz’s veteran minimum contract would come in at $3.28 million,” Irwin said.

“Prorated to this point of the season, it would probably sit right around $3 million.”

Irwin also claimed that the Lakers have reportedly been considering Fultz.

“Per sources, the Lakers have had internal conversations about Fultz, the former first-overall pick who hasn’t lived up to his draft position but was solid last season playing for the Orlando Magic,” Irwin said.

“Fultz would step into the role Vincent was playing and could serve as guard depth should the Lakers decide to trade D’Angelo Russell. Standing 6’4″ with legitimate athleticism, Fultz would provide physicality on the perimeter the Lakers have sorely missed defensively. Yes, the shot is still very much a concern, but in the right lineups, it can be made up for.”

“Depending on his market, the Lakers could wait to sign Fultz after the next step so that the prorated amount they owe him can fit into whatever space they have left after executing this next, bigger deal.”

Should the Lakers actually pursue Fultz, or is Irwin way off base here?

To no one’s surprise, the Nets are open to trading away most of their roster this season. Brooklyn officially began a rebuild in the offseason after trading away Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks.

With the Nets open for business, they will likely be asking for young players and draft capital, but the Sacramento Kings could offer them a star point guard that they can build around for the future in De’Aaron Fox. Fox and the Kings have yet to agree on a contract extension, which has entered him into many trade rumors.

In a possible trade, Brooklyn could send Johnson, Finney-Smith and Schröder to Sacramento for Fox and Kevin Huerter. It is likely that the Nets would also have to include some picks in the deal for the Kings to agree to it.

This trade works well for both sides. Sacramento completely reloads their roster with more talent that could help them try and salvage a poor season so far. Schröder could become their new point guard while Johnson and Finney-Smith would likely light a spark off the bench.

Brooklyn would gain a young player to build around for the future by adding a superstar like Fox. While the Nets do have some young talent in Cam Thomas and Nicolas Claxton, neither of them is a superstar-level player like Fox.

Of course, if the Nets did pull off this trade, their first order of business would be to sign Fox to an extension. The 26-year-old is signed through the 2025-26 season, but it would be better for Brooklyn to extend him as soon as possible.

By making this trade, the Nets would set themselves up well for the future. They could build around their young trio of Fox, Claxton and Thomas and whoever they draft in the loaded 2025 class thanks to their four first-round picks.