When evaluating an NBA player we always start with skill set. How productive is he? What can he do well on the floor, and what does he do poorly? From there, we decide whether those skills measure up to his salary and, just like that, we determine value.

But sometimes that math fails to compute. It can miss the peripherals, like teammates, coaching and scheme. Not to mention the one factor that wraps all those together and so often goes overlooked: location.

The list of current stars who improved or won at higher levels after landing on new squads is long. Among conference finalists alone, you've got Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis and, sure, we'll count LeBron James, too. It feels like eons ago, but the league's all-time leading scorer had to leave Cleveland to win his first ring.

Here, we're looking at a handful of players who'd benefit from changing teams via trade, complete with actual made-up deals, explanations for why the player needs to move and which of the involved parties in the swap would walk away from it first.

Change isn't just good. Sometimes, it's necessary.

Jordan Poole, Golden State Warriors

How?

Golden State Warriors receive OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors for Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Poole.

Why?

Whether it was the preseason punch, a zillion early-season palming violations, the league figuring him out or general dissatisfaction with his role, Jordan Poole played like a guy who had a foot out the door all season.

His failure to fill a critical playoff niche as the Golden State Warriors' main shot-creator behind Stephen Curry sealed the deal. The Warriors need depth, someone who'll play within their system and financial relief, and the best way to get some of those things is to trade Poole, who'll probably be better off running his own show without a teammate that tried to knock him out.

Who Says No?

Probably Toronto. To make this possible, they'd have to renounce their rights on either Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. or Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors would be wise to get something for Anunoby if they're unsure they can sign him to a team-friendly extension and want to avoid losing him in 2024 free agency, but the cost of making enough room to add Poole and Kuminga might be too high.

The Warriors would trim $16.1 million off their books for 2023-24, always a priority for one of the most expensive teams in the league. But then they'd have the same issue with Anunoby's next contract. Maybe they'd be willing to pay the price for an A-plus defender who's hit at least 39.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot treys in each of the last three seasons.

OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors

How?

Toronto Raptors receive Buddy Hield and three first-round picks (2023 via Boston, top-four protected 2024, top-10 protected 2026) from the Indiana Pacers for OG Anunoby.

Why?

We just sent Anunoby to the Warriors in a bid to give Poole a fresh start, but the Raptors' 25-year-old wing could use a clean slate of his own. Reports of his dissatisfaction in Toronto have been around for a while, as have those indicating he wants a bigger role. Anunoby was a hot commodity at this past season's trade deadline, unsurprising for an elite three-and-D wing who shuts down All-Stars at every position.

Normally, Toronto would hold onto a player with Anunoby's plug-and-play skill set. But his apparent desire for an expanded role and the specter of his 2024 free agency (player option for 2024-25) could make a preemptive move the right choice.

Who Says No?

Based on Toronto reportedly turning down a trade-deadline offer of three Indiana firsts, the Raps are most likely walking away from this one. Then again, Hield is on an expiring $19.2 million deal that could easily be flipped for more draft equity at the 2024 deadline, and it seems as if the value of future first-rounders is slowly creeping back up after hitting its nadir this past year. Everyone is looking around at the massive outlays the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns gave up for Rudy Gobert and Kevin Durant, respectively, and realizing the value of firsts got way out of wack.

If there's a market correction, an offer of three firsts (two of which could be extremely valuable if Indy unexpectedly stinks) might be more intriguing than it was a few months ago.

Indiana could justify sweetening the pot on its end. The idea of Tyrese Haliburton, Anunoby and Myles Turner working together for years to come is beyond tantalizing.

Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks

How?

Dallas Mavericks receive Victor Wembanyama from the San Antonio Spurs for Luka Dončić.

Why?

Partly because this would be the most seismic trade in league history, but also because the Dallas Mavericks have given Luka Dončić no reason to believe they'll surround him with enough talent to contend. The best player with whom Dončić has spent a full season, Jalen Brunson, got away for nothing last summer. And now the organization seems intent on hitching its wagon to Kyrie Irving, a decision that has produced mostly chaos and failure across the last half-decade or so.

The Mavs are asset-poor, just missed the playoffs and have had no shortage of troubling reports and allegations about a toxic culture, plus front-office turmoil.

Dončić has professed happiness in Dallas, but it's hard to argue the franchise has positioned him to succeed. He deserves better.

Who Says No?

Probably both, but the Mavericks might get their "no" out first.

The Spurs would need to clear more money to onboard Dončić's salary, but that'd be easy enough. From their perspective, it's not the wildest idea to trade a player who might someday become a generational superstar for one who already is.

Ultimately, Wembanyama might not be tradeable under any circumstances. It also seems a little early for Dallas to move on from Dončić if he hasn't already communicated a desire to leave. Still if you're concocting a swap involving one generational talent, the only way to make it plausible is to include another.

Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns

How?

Phoenix Suns receive: Gordon Hayward, Mark Williams, 2023 first-round pick (via Denver), 2026 first-round pick (top-eight protected) from the Charlotte Hornets for Deandre Ayton

Why?

Other than the $133 million offer sheet Phoenix matched to keep Ayton last summer, there haven't been many outward expressions of satisfaction between the parties. Even that decision seemed more practical than enthusiastic.

Following a second straight postseason exit in which Ayton endured late-game benchings, ESPN's Tim MacMahon noted Ayton "would be excited about a fresh start with another franchise" and that the Suns "are expected to aggressively explore the trade market for him this summer." That gives more than enough support for a breakup here.

We're sending him to the Hornets as a running mate for LaMelo Ball, getting Phoenix a replacement at the 5 and Hayward, a starting-caliber wing (if healthy) on an expiring deal.

Other Ayton options should present themselves. Sources told B/R's Eric Pincus the Mavs may have interest in trading for Ayton, so multiple routes out of town should be available if this one is too far-fetched.

Who Says No?

Hayward is a major injury risk having played 50 or fewer games in each of the last three years, but he might have been Phoenix's third-best (healthy) player if he'd been on the postseason roster. A career 36.9 percent three-point shooter who can pass and doesn't need the ball to be effective, Hayward could help Phoenix.

Ultimately, the Suns probably punt on this one first. They might be right to believe better offers will come for a former No. 1 overall pick who's had to settle for third and fourth-option duties throughout his career. The upside is too great to take back an injury-prone wing and a high-end backup, even with draft assets attached.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

How?

New York Knicks receive Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves for Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, unprotected first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, 2024 first-round pick (via Washington) and a 2024 first-round pick (via Detroit)

Why?

The Wolves are Anthony Edwards' team, and they can't trade Rudy Gobert for positive value. That leaves Towns as the only semi-movable piece. Those facts don't necessarily mean KAT needs a fresh start, but his repeated playoff flameouts and the fact that Heavy Sports' Sean Deveney reported that interest between Towns and the Knicks "would be mutual, for sure" is enough to get us past the "why?" portion of this exercise.

Plus, Towns is a CAA client with roots in New Jersey, two factors that make the Knicks an obvious landing spot.

Who Says No?

Because they'd probably have to include RJ Barrett to really get Minnesota's attention, and because they'd need to send out Mitchell Robinson in a separate deal, the Knicks might balk at making such major changes for a player in Towns who hasn't done enough winning to justify his supermax salary.

They didn't go all in for Donovan Mitchell, and it's tough to argue Towns is a more valuable player.

The better way forward for New York involves adding more shooters and big wings to play between Jalen Brunson and Robinson, whose offensive rebounding and paint protection were keys to the team advancing as far as it did in the 2023 playoffs.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.