Let’s play a little game of ‘who says no?’

With the deadline less than 24 hours away, we whipped out the NBA trade machine to put together deals that are a net-positive for all teams involved.

Some are wild, because they involve some pretty talented players, but goal is to spark some conversation and truly make you think about which team would say no.

So, here it is: the five deals that we’d love to see happen before the February 7, 7am (AEDT) deadline.

Friday September 18th

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Trail Blazers get: DeMar DeRozan, a heavily protected first-rounder.

Spurs get: C.J. McCollum.

Yes, this is a team that is only one season removed from making the Western Conference Finals. Yes, on the back of Damian Lillard’s insane six-game stretch averaging 48.8 points, 10.2 assists, and 7.2 rebounds a game, the Portland Trail Blazers look like one of the West’s hottest teams.

Still, we may have seen the ceiling for this back court. At 6’2 and 6’3, Lillard and C.J. McCollum offer very little defensively and will continue to struggle to match up against bigger Western Conference back-courts.

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However, the real issue arises when we look into Portland’s salary cap situation. In light of the dissent between the NBA and China, the League’s new cap projection has dropped and, as a result, teams need to be wiser with their spending. The Trail Blazers have committed $302,731,105 to their starting back-court from next year until the end of the 2023-24 season.

DeMar DeRozan helps answer both these issues. At 6’6, the Spurs guard is an upgrade defensively – still not great, but at least he has some size - without losing anything offensively, it primes the Trail Blazers in for a playoff run this year by adding another veteran alongside Lillard, Carmelo Anthony, and a hopefully healthy Jusuf Nurkic. More importantly, however, with only a player option next season, this is huge financial stress relief for a club trying to build around a superstar point guard.

The Spurs have a rare chance to add a young, dynamic scorer, and elite three-point shooter in McCollum, whose yearly salary almost matches DeRozan’s perfectly. Most importantl, though, his defensive woes will be minimised playing alongside an All-Defensive talent in Dejounte Murray, and he can continue to develop as a scorer with the ball in his hands.

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Nets get: Joel Embiid, Patrick Patterson

76ers get: Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris, Garrett Temple, Montrezl Harrell

Clippers get: Jarrett Allen

This is a big trade with a lot of really talented players, but it should work for all teams involved.

Let’s start with the Nets. Joel Embiid would provide that legitimate inside presence, and complete a big-three that can appease any reservations Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant may have. All of a sudden, the Nets would have three top-10 players in the league, can free Spencer Dinwiddie, and also bring in a reliable stretch four in Patrick Patterson.

This trade works for the Clippers for two reasons. First, it allows them to get an asset back for Montrezl Harrell, because it’s wildly unlikely they’d be able to pay him when he becomes and unrestricted free agent this off-season. In return, they’d get a big in Jarrett Allen who fixes their woes at the five-spot, with the young centre a plus defender and talented roll-man. Imagine those Williams-Allen pick-and-rolls – replacing Harrell in that role – while also having a defensive insurance policy inside the paint.

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Now, to the 76ers. We’re going all in on this being Ben Simmons’ team. Dinwiddie is someone who can start alongside Simmons in the starting back-court if need be, allowing the Australian to be the roll-man in partnership with a dynamic point guard, while also providing a solid spot-up shooter; the current Nets guard’s three-point percentage jumps up to 38 percent on catch-and-shoots.

Harrell gives the 76ers a potent scoring threat off the bench, and he can also come together with Dinwiddie as a pretty lethal duo. Harris is the three-point shooter Brett Brown’s team needs, rounding off a haul of guys who can fit in a Simmons-led team.

This trade is bold. Obviously. But it works for all teams, and in every facet.

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Cavaliers get: Zach Collins, Nassir Little, the trade exception created by Kent Bazemore’s trade, a first-round pick.

Trail Blazers get: Kevin Love.

It’s time to free Kevin Love. It’s time to free John Beilein from the drama. It’s time to free Cleveland from the elementary, pick-up style temper tantrums every month.

That being said, Kevin Love isn’t the easiest man to move. With a healthy Nurkic, Love can fit. His 38.0 percent three point shooting allows Nurkic to dominate in the post, he adds to an already strong rebounding team, while his front-court pairings with Whiteside or Nurkic can make up for his struggles on the other end.

Love needs out of Cleveland. Source: Supplied

Jumping to Ohio, and the Cavaliers could add a defensive-minded big with nice touch from outside in Collins, and a highly-recruited, athletic small forward in Little. Both can fit alongside the disappointing back court log-jam the Cleveland front office has put together, and the first-round pick will only help the rebuild process. If they can also find a team to offload Tristan Thompson’s monstrous contract, the Cavs’ rebuild could be given a healthy boost. It’s time Koby Altman started trading/drafting players for fit, and not just perceived talent. Collins and Little could usher in this change.

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Knicks get: Bismack Biyombo, Malik Monk, a first-round pick.

Hornets get: Julius Randle, Reggie Bullock.

Lets pretend, for a second, that we operate in a world where James Dolan understands a player’s value; and, most importantly, he understands the position the Knicks are currently in.

Julius Randle has the most value outside of the Knicks’ young ‘future.’ He is only 25 years old, on a reasonable $18 million contract this year and is a tenacious rebounder and a relatively talented passer for his size. He may be the only player on the Knicks roster that could net a first-round pick from a desperate team.

Charlotte is a desperate team. They have failed in every recent draft since Kemba Walker, and their biggest free agent acquisition is Terry Rozier, who they overpaid. This makes sense.

New York is able to pick up a nice piece in Malik Monk to play alongside RJ Barrett and Mitch Robinson, as well as a first-round pick which is all but guaranteed to be in the lottery. Bismack Biyombo is an expiring contract and saves the Knicks $18 million next season. Charlotte gets a point forward, allowing PJ Washington to become the designated stretch four, while Rozier and Devonte’ Graham can assume their more natural off-guard roles together.

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Celtics get: Derrick Favors, Josh Hart, two second-round picks

Pelicans get: Marcus Smart, Robert Williams III

The Celtics need a defensive-minded big, and the Pelicans might as well go all in on Zion Williamson as a small-ball five, as well as a solid young talent in Jaxson Hayes. Favors’ usage has dropped immensely since Williamson joined the lineup, so why not cash out on how well he’s played this season.

Smart would give the Pelicans are nice starting-level, defensive-minded back-up option in a position where they’re not too strong. He’s on the books for a few years and would give the Pelicans a nice piece as they hope to become a playoff contender in a season or two; a back-court with Smart and Jrue Holiday would be an absolute nightmare to play against.

Favors is an unrestricted free agent in the summer, so the Celtics won’t be locked into his future, but the big-man’s two-way talent could turn Brad Stevens’ team into a legitimate title contender this season.

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Olgun Uluc is the Senior Basketball Reporter for Fox Sports Australia. @OlgunUluc

Harrison Pullinger is a co-host of Fox Sports Australias’s League Pass and Chill podcast. @Hpullinger92