- We are in an era of constant player movement across the league
- The future faces of the NBA could be on different teams in five years’ time
- Winning a championship is key for superstar players, far more than loyalty
In the ever-evolving landscape of the NBA, player movement and team dynamics can shift dramatically from one season to the next. As fans and analysts, we often find ourselves pondering the future of the league’s brightest stars. What will their career trajectories look like?
In this article, we embark on a speculative journey into the crystal ball, attempting to predict where some of the NBA’s most electrifying talents—Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Zion Williamson, and Giannis Antetokounmpo—might be playing five years from now.
While the future remains uncertain and the NBA landscape is known for its unpredictability, we’ll explore the possibilities and factors that could shape their basketball destinies.
Each of these young stars has already left an indelible mark on the league, showcasing skills, charisma, and potential that are nothing short of extraordinary. They are not just players; they are franchise cornerstones, cultural icons, and the faces of the NBA’s next generation.
Here is where each of the aforementioned superstars could end up in the next five years and it might be surprising to see the destinations.
Zion Williamson – New York Knicks
New York Knicks fans across the globe were hoping and praying that the franchise would land the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft. Of course, the goal was to draft Zion Williamson and kickstart a new era in New York.
But that didn’t happen. The Knicks ended up with the No. 3 pick and with Williamson going No. 1 to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Knicks drafted RJ Barrett.
Luckily for Knicks fans, Zion Williamson could be a New York Knick someday. Trade rumors constantly flowing and a few key factors could set up a chance for the Knicks to acquire the transcendent superstar.
The New York Knicks are slowly becoming an attractive franchise again. The coaching is top-notch, the talent is there, and the team plays very hard on both ends. Tom Thibodeau is one of the best defensive coaches in the NBA, and the team made the second round of the playoffs in 2023.
Most importantly, Williamson belongs in New York for a multitude of reasons. No player in the NBA coming into the NBA had the prestige, box office attraction, and talent of LeBron James except for Zion Williamson as the No. 1 overall pick.
A player of Zion’s caliber as the next star of the NBA, he needs to play in the biggest market in the United States. Perhaps most importantly, Williamson could have his eyes set on New York and could demand a trade there one day.
Zion needs New York just as much as New York needs Zion, and we could see the superstar playing in Madison Square Garden over the next five years as the superstar is under contract until 2026-27.
Ja Morant – Brooklyn Nets
NBA players often prioritize winning championships, and the Brooklyn Nets are expected to be playoff contenders in the coming years with Mikal Bridges blossoming into an All-Star and elite two-way player. If Ja Morant sees an opportunity to join a team with a strong chance of winning titles, it could be a tempting destination.
Brooklyn, as a major market and part of the New York City area, offers significant exposure and marketing opportunities for players. If Morant seeks to enhance his brand and visibility, playing in Brooklyn could be appealing.
The Nets have been successful in building a passionate fan base and a positive team culture. If Morant values a strong fan base and a winning culture, this could be a factor in his decision-making. Even if the Nets failed to make Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving successful, they might take a gamble on Ja Morant.
If Ja Morant’s current contract with the Memphis Grizzlies comes to an end and he becomes an unrestricted free agent, he could explore his options. Ja’s salaries over the next four seasons are certainly high: $34,005,250, $36,725,670, $39,446,090, and $42,166,510 but he is good enough to earn that money. By that time, the Brooklyn Nets may have cap space available to pursue a player of his caliber.
Morant probably needs to get out of Memphis to get his behavior in check, and if and when that happens, Brooklyn is the place because the fans and the media demand nothing but focus from the players. Hopefully, Morant can get back on track and he deserves to be in a new market.
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Golden State Warriors
The Milwaukee Bucks are in the news, mainly because the team shockingly failed in the first round of the playoffs despite holding the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo finishing third in the MVP race, the team was stacked with star talent and playoff contenders. Somehow, the Bucks lost to the 8th-placed Miami Heat in the first round.
Giannis might have concerns about the team’s ability to build a championship-worthy roster: The Bucks have built a strong core of players around Antetokounmpo, but there are concerns about the team’s ability to build a championship-winning roster around him.
If Antetokounmpo feels the team is not doing enough to build around him, he may consider other options. Milwaukee is also a small market compared to other cities in the NBA, and Antetokounmpo may desire to play in a bigger market to increase his exposure and branding opportunities.
With Antetokounmpo’s comments about re-signing with the Bucks raising eyebrows across the world, it is almost a foregone conclusion that Golden State Warriors rumors will be heating up. He belongs on the court with the game’s two greatest shooters, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
The Golden State Warriors already have two stars on their team and a winning culture in place. Adding superstar players to that mix always equals NBA championships. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have pretty much carried the team over the whole season, and the team picking it up at the end of the year meant that they had the highest chance alongside the Los Angeles Lakers to get to the Western Conference Finals.
The Warriors must go after Giannis Antetokounmpo, the game’s best player in the regular season. He is a force of nature, putting up 31.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 5.7 APG while leading the Bucks to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Giannis is the greatest physical specimen in the game right now and affects the game both offensively and defensively.
The Milwaukee Bucks failed in the playoffs so that means Giannis might be looking elsewhere because the core could be fixed because Khris Middleton is back and so is Brook Lopez.
Giannis is under contract until 2025, with a player option worth $51,935,268 in 2026, and if he does not re-sign, he will most likely end up in Golden State with a 38-year-old Stephen Curry and 36-year-old Klay Thompson under head coach Steve Kerr to dominate the NBA once again.
Luka Doncic – Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have a storied history of success and have been a competitive team in recent years. If Luka Doncic sees an opportunity to contend for titles alongside another superstar, like LeBron James (if he’s still with the Lakers), it could be an attractive proposition.
Los Angeles is one of the largest media markets in the United States, offering significant exposure and marketing opportunities for athletes. Playing in LA could enhance Luka Doncic’s visibility and brand, which could be appealing to him.
The Lakers have a history of assembling superstar talent. If the Lakers have other star players on their roster at that time, it might be enticing for Doncic to form a superteam or play alongside other elite talents.
Anthony Davis will be the franchise player for the Lakers going forward after agreeing to a contract extension and the duo with Doncic would be incredible to handle on both ends of the court.
Doncic is under contract until 2026 with a player option worth $48,967,380 in 2027, but if the Mavericks cannot win games with Kyrie Irving as many including some legends believe, the Slovenian superstar could find his way out. The Lakers have been rumored to be a major destination and it makes perfect sense on and off the court.
Doncic and Davis could be a valuable duo going forward over the next few seasons, and the Slovenian could be the replacement for LeBron James in terms of a player who can score, rebound, and act as a primary playmaker. No doubt, Lakers Nation would gracefully welcome Doncic to their ranks as he aims to join a historic franchise with a chance to win rings.
