The Brooklyn Nets completed the best (and only) superteam in the NBA this year by acquiring 3-time scoring champion and former MVP James Harden. With Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden the Nets are primed for an NBA Finals appearance. While the team has yet to kick off at full throttle and they need time to build chemistry, Brooklyn has the most talent in the NBA right now.
But other teams can manage to build a similar superteam by making blockbuster acquisitions this season, before the trade deadline. Here are the 5 superteams that can be created this season to challenge the Nets for the most talented team in the NBA.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Trade Package: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, a future first-round pick for DeMar DeRozan
The Dallas Mavericks need immediate changes. They hold a losing record in the West and managed to let Kelly Oubre Jr drop 40 points on them in an embarrassing defeat to the Warriors last game. Dallas only have Luka Doncic to be proud of, and they need a third star to pair with Luka and Porzingis when he returns.
DeMar DeRozan has quietly had another strong season, averaging 20.1 PPG and 6.6 APG. DeRozan is a scorer who can create his own shot and that would help the Mavericks find different avenues of the offense other than Luka doing everything for them. While Dallas won’t win the championship with DeRozan, they would certainly be one of the top teams in the West.
4. Boston Celtics
Trade Package: Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Semi Ojeleye, Daniel Theis, Robert Williams, Payton Pritchard, 2021 first-round pick, 2022 second-round draft pick from Charlotte for Karl-Anthony Towns
The Boston Celtics have found their star duo in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, a few years after it was supposed to be Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. The Celtics are one of the best teams in the East this season but they need another big name to close the gap between them and the Nets and Bucks.
Karl-Anthony Towns, despite his team’s very poor record, is a natural superstar talent. Towns is averaging 22.0 PPG and 12.5 RPG in a down year, which just shows how talented the big man is. Tatum, Brown, and Towns makes the Celtics just as good as the Nets, and the Eastern Conference Finals would be a joy to witness if this deal happens.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
Trade Package: Kyle Kuzma, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, 2027 first-round pick for Zach LaVine
The Los Angeles Lakers have the best duo in the NBA. The Nets have Durant, Kyrie, and Harden which ultimately has an advantage; but LeBron and Davis are incredibly dominant together and they proved it last year by winning the NBA title. The Lakers are a deep team as well with the likes of Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell, but they need a third star to create a Big Three like Brooklyn’s.
Zach LaVine is in fantastic form this season. The young player is pouring in 26.5 PPG on a very bad team, so Chicago should cut their losses and accept a loaded Lakers trade package. With this trade, Los Angeles is the undisputed best team in the West because LaVine can be the #3 option with LeBron and Davis on the floor with him and the #1 option when they are not.
2. Los Angeles Clippers
Trade Package: Ivica Zubac, Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Mfiondu Kabengele for LaMarcus Aldridge
The Los Angeles Clippers are a great team already and are just as good as the Lakers in terms of both ends of the floor. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are a dynamic duo, playing with ends of the floor at MVP levels. Kawhi is averaging 26.2 PPG while George is averaging 24.4 PPG on a scintillating 47.8% from three. Only one problem exists: the Clippers lost Montrezl Harrell to the Lakers.
LaMarcus Aldridge immediately fills that gap. While he isn’t as athletic as Harrell and is past his prime, Aldridge is a better scorer. Aldridge is averaging 14.1 PPG in a very limited time (26.7 MPG) he can be a piece to create a Big Three with Leonard and George. With Aldridge playing 30 MPG and adding a go-to scorer in the post, the Clippers would be hard to beat.
1. Miami Heat
Trade Package: Andre Iguodala, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kelly Olynk for Bradley Beal
The Miami Heat have played poorly this season, and even Jimmy Butler has to admit that. The Heat have a 8-14 record and are nowhere near the level they reached last season when they went to the Finals. But they have something to build on with 2 All-Star players in Butler and Bam Adebayo. Adding Bradley Beal takes them to the top as an equal to Brooklyn’s Big Three.
Jimmy Butler has only appeared in 9 games this season, averaging 18.8 PPG, while Bam Adebayo has played 19 games averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.4 RPG. Beal is averaging 34.8 PPG and is the best scorer in the NBA right now. The Heat need a third star to climb the rankings and Beal is the perfect fit for Miami because he can create his own offense and allow Butler and Bam to dominate the defensive end of the floor.
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