Carmelo Anthony, TJ Ford, Leandro Barbosa, Jermaine O’Neil, Dwayne Wade, Michael Redd, Lamar Odom, Draft picks 1-60. One thing the NBA offseason has been abuzz with since before the Finals were even completed were possible draft-day trades shaking up the foundations of several franchises who are looking for one or two more pieces to add for a championship run. Those teams include Phoenix, Detroit, Denver, the Lakers, and Miami (who are hoping that they can reverse their fortune in much the same way that Boston did this year). Then there are teams who are looking to collect assets as a part of rebuilding modes for a run at the playoffs and very soon runs at the title. Those teams include Portland, Milwaulkee, Toronto, Orlando, Seattle (soon to be Oklahoma City), New York, Minnesota, and the Clippers. And finally, there are those teams that just want to cut payroll any way they can: Memphis, and, well, Memphis really (how else do you explain the Gasol for Brown deal???).

Having eyed this collection of teams looking to make a splash come draft day, and considering their respective depths and needs for the upcoming season, I present a few scenarios I think can happen on draft day or shortly thereafter involving picks and players.

According to ESPN’s Chard Ford, Miami is not very high on Michael Beasley, and it is very likely he will be there at No. 2 because of Derrick Rose’s ties to Chicago and Chicago’s need for a standout point guard. It is conceivable that the Heat trade that pick, along with a weighty or expiring contract to another team looking for young up-and-coming talent. Seattle wants him desperately to pair with friend Kevin Durant, but I don’t see any assets outside Durant that the Heat would want, so that deal is out. Memphis might be intriguing with Mike Conley, Jr. and some expiring contracts, but the Heat would be foolish to deal for anything less than a combination of Conley, Miller and the number 5 pick; Beasley is too good. Do we maybe have a 3-team deal with Detroit and Denver to finally uncap that Carmelo Anthony to Detroit thing? It would involve Beasley and Billups to Denver, Anthony and another player to Detroit, and Prince, Wallace, and the Denver/Detroit draft picks to Miami. Not likely, but it’s a thought.

Portland always trades on draft night, at least since Kevin Pritchard has been the GM. Picking at 13 is not beneficial to the Blazers unless someone falls in the draft (Joe Alexander or DJ Augustine). So I look for them to move up rather than trade for a veteran, as has been rumored around the league. Leandro Barbosa is a tough situation to figure, because he is a score-first point guard on a team that needs someone to be pass-first. But at the same time he would be a major upgrade from Jarret Jack and would allow Steve Blake to be a great role player off the bench. This is the most likely trade: Blazers package Martell Webster and/or Jarret Jack with the number 13 pick to Minnesota for #3 to get Westbrook or Mayo (although Mayo may have too many character questions involving money at USC to be a good fit in the new Blazer’s era). Personally, I hope my Blazers can swing a deal for TJ Ford.

Another trade possibility involves Phoenix moving up in the draft as they will be looking for young, ready-to-play now talent to spell Grant Hill during the regular season so he can be fresh for the playoffs. Chad Ford has them picking Brandon Rush at 15, but I don’t imagine them sticking with this pick. The trade with the Blazers would move them up, but not significantly enough in my opinion to make Steve Kerr happy. I think he may try very hard for that 5th pick from Memphis with Leandro Barbosa, the #15, and an offer to take on Brian Cardinal’s awful 2-year contract. The Grizlies, who are likely looking to cut payroll, would be hard-pressed to pass that up, especially since they could get a good young player cheap at 15. If this went down, Phoenix could pick at 5 for a guy to use as trade bait again—say, Danilo Gallinari, who supposedly will play only in New York or New Jersey; those teams would pay handsomely (and New York always does) to get Gallinari away from Phoenix, and the Suns would end up with veterans to make that final push for the title.

These are just some of the possibiities I’ve been mulling over. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about possible draft-day trades because this stuff fascinates me!!!