On Friday, we ranked the 10 best players who could be traded during the 2024-25 NBA season. Guess who wasn’t on that list? Karl-Anthony Towns. While we’d like to take some credit and say that Towns technically wasn’t traded during the 2024-25 season, the move was mostly a testament to how unpredictable NBA trades could be. It didn’t matter that the Knicks had already given up most of their draft capital or that the Timberwolves were coming off of the best season in franchise history. They were both motivated to find a deal, so they found a deal.
So what does that say about future trade rumors? Well, more than nothing, but less than something. It’s worth remembering that this trade came in the offseason, with expanded rosters and far less concern over integrating new players into a lineup. This trade might have been possible in February, but it wouldn’t have been easy. The CBA complications certainly still exist. The Knicks and Timberwolves needed Charlotte’s help to finish this thing, and there are only so many facilitators out there. It’s still hard to imagine a Jimmy Butler trade coming during the season, for instance, because a third team would be needed for most plausible suitors.
But the Towns trade was evidence that teams are still perfectly willing and able to be aggressive and creative in making moves, and that knowledge makes it all the likelier that big deals could come. So, let’s look at the 10 best players who could be moved during the season and, I suppose, the month or so left before it begins. We’ll be using the CBS Sports top 100 as our ranker.
The Pelicans tried to trade Ingram all summer and failed. He seems very much aware of that fact. New Orleans traded for Dejounte Murray this offseason, who plays a very similar offensive role as an individual shot-creator. He shares a position with Trey Murphy and Herb Jones, younger and more versatile players that fit more easily next to franchise player Zion Williamson. Oh, and he seemingly wants a very hefty contract extension at a time when belts are tightening around the league. He’s no longer a long-term fit in New Orleans. The Pelicans badly need to find a center, as they’re either going to abandon the position this season or turn it over to minimum-salary free agent Daniel Theis. An Ingram trade is their best hope of filling that hole. They’d prefer to move him for fair value, but when push comes to shove, he’s also a hefty expiring contract. The Pelicans can’t afford to lose the salary slot, so if they have to treat him as more of a cap figure than an asset in a February trade, they might just do it.
Randle has already been traded once this offseason. That doesn’t mean he’s safe from another deal in February. Remember, Minnesota has Naz Reid in place and knows he’s capable of starting. If this fit doesn’t work, Minnesota can flip Randle’s salary slot into a different sort of player in February. It might even be motivated to do so, given Randle’s player option this offseason. The Timberwolves could go in any direction here. There are valid arguments for keeping Randle and extending him, letting him walk for tax savings, or trading him for different types of players. Until we see him play in a Timberwolves uniform, we just don’t know what will make sense. Here’s what we do know: Randle brings needed secondary creation, but as an inferior shooter to Towns, is going to cramp Minnesota’s spacing. Donte DiVincenzo might be enough to offset those losses. He might not. But there are too many possible outcomes here to assume Randle is destined to remain in Minnesota.
The Athletic reported after the season that Darius Garland’s camp would prefer a trade if Donovan Mitchell extended. That noise died down after Mitchell actually extended, but it came from a genuine place. Fundamentally, Cleveland has two point guards when it only needs one. Mitchell is the better player and has, therefore, had to sacrifice less. Garland has struggled to fit into an off-ball role, and injuries exacerbated those issues last season. Cleveland isn’t going to trade him just to trade him. He’s so good and so vital as long-term Mitchell insurance that he should only move in a deal for an equivalent wing. But if the Cavaliers can find one? Yeah, it probably makes sense to split up their backcourt.
Most of what I wrote about Garland applies to Jarrett Allen. He’s redundant. Both he and Evan Mobley are non-shooting big men. You can’t really build around two of them in the modern NBA. Mobley is younger and better. There are so many center-needy teams right now that Cleveland could probably generate a strong offer if it made him available, but remember, the Cavaliers just hired his former Nets coach in Kenny Atkinson. They seemingly want to take one last swing at making this foursome work before they really renovate their flawed roster. Allen’s availability probably depends on where the Cavaliers stand in February. If they’re not genuine contenders in May and June, though, he becomes an obvious trade candidate in July.
Our first four players range from “we’d trade him if we could” to “we might trade him depending on how things play out.” But Zach LaVine? He’s firmly planted in “Would you please just take him off of our hands for us? We’ll give you stuff!” territory. The Bulls might have had a moment in which they could have gotten off of his contract relatively painlessly. That ship has long sailed.
The Chicago Bulls are facing a challenging situation with Zach LaVine, who has three years remaining on his five-year max contract. LaVine’s performance in the previous season was disappointing, especially considering his lack of defensive contributions and support for his teammates. In today’s NBA, score-first guards like LaVine are not in high demand, making it difficult for the Bulls to trade him. Moving LaVine will be a tough task for Chicago.
Jerami Grant’s presence on the Portland Trail Blazers’ roster is a result of re-signing a veteran to a long-term deal shortly before their franchise player requested a trade. Grant, along with other veterans on the team, should probably be moved to make room for younger talent. Among the available players, Grant is the most valuable asset due to his offensive prowess and defensive capabilities. Portland can gain a first-round pick and improve their future outlook by trading Grant and embracing a full-scale rebuild.
The Golden State Warriors have been actively seeking a veteran superstar to bolster their roster for a final title push centered around Stephen Curry. In their pursuit, the Warriors have shown interest in acquiring Paul George and Lauri Markkanen, with emerging player Jonathan Kuminga potentially being included in trade discussions. Kuminga’s extension eligibility adds urgency to the decision-making process, prompting Golden State to evaluate his future with the team sooner rather than later.
An emerging player like Anfernee Simons presents a contrasting scenario to Zach LaVine’s situation. Simons, a younger and less expensive option, offers value to potential trade partners due to his clean injury history and scoring ability. Portland could benefit from trading Simons while his stock is high, especially with promising young guards like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe waiting in the wings. Moving Simons could yield valuable assets for the Blazers’ future.
Jalen Green, a young talent with high upside, finds himself in a similar position as Kuminga on the Houston Rockets’ roster. Extension-eligible and seeking opportunities to showcase his potential, Green may prefer a scenario that aligns with his long-term goals. The Rockets, equipped with other backcourt options, could explore trading Green to avoid hindering his development with limited playing time. Finding a suitable balance between securing Green’s future and maximizing his trade value will be crucial for Houston.
In the midst of transitioning towards a younger roster, the Atlanta Hawks face a decision regarding veteran guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. With an influx of young talent in the pipeline, Bogdanovic’s role on the team may diminish, making him a potential trade asset for Atlanta. The Hawks could benefit from acquiring assets that align with their core group led by Trae Young, paving the way for a smoother transition to a younger and more dynamic roster.
Overall, these NBA trade scenarios highlight the complexities and strategic considerations involved in reshaping team rosters to achieve long-term success. Each team must carefully assess their current assets, future goals, and market opportunities to make informed decisions that will shape their competitive outlook in the seasons to come. sentence to make it more concise:
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