NBA Players Most Likely to Fill the 2024-25 Trade Rumor Mill

Many NBA front offices take time off in August to vacation, with most of the major offseason moves executed in June and July. Ahead of training camp, rosters will start to finalize before opening night on October 22.

But some moves may go down before then, like the Utah Jazz's potential renegotiation and extension of All-Star forward/center Lauri Markkanen. The Los Angeles Lakers still haven't made any significant roster additions outside of drafting Bronny James and Dalton Knecht.

Few teams can confidently claim they're ready to overtake the championship Boston Celtics—attempts to improve are inevitable.

Since most recently signed players can't be traded until December 15, there's plenty of time for the rumor mill to begin percolating. Still, it's never too early to start mapping out which names will be on the block from now through late February.

The Jazz are well below the league's $126.5 million minimum team salary for 2024-25 at about $102.8 million with just 10 regular contracts. Under the new rules, teams functionally need to reach that minimum before the regular season.

The most obvious move is to rework Markkanen's deal, giving him an immediate raise with Utah's cap space along with an extension. The Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers made similar moves somewhat recently with Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, respectively.

Markkanen isn't eligible until Monday (August 6). Once executed, the Jazz can't deal him to another franchise for six months, which times perfectly with the February 6 trade deadline. If he doesn't sign on Tuesday, though, he won't be trade-eligible throughout the entire 2024-25 regular season.

That decision will determine if the Finn is headlining the rumor mill list or removed outright until next offseason. The Jazz, on paper, do not look like a playoff team. With a strong projected draft class in 2025 (featuring Duke's Cooper Flagg), they may be better off being awful from Day 1 of the season instead of competing with Markkanen into February.

Everything is timing; the Golden State Warriors are believed to be a suitor, but will he be off the market for six to eight months?

The Lakers' most significant offseason move was hiring JJ Redick as head coach. If Darvin Ham and injuries were the problem, L.A. may be better. But that's a lot to ask of a rookie head coach with zero NBA bench experience (even as an assistant) and a roster that seems flawed (at least defensively in the backcourt and up front at center behind Anthony Davis).

Russell, 28, has been solid for the Lakers over the last year and a half, but his regular-season game hasn't translated well to the playoffs. The team has explored moving him but hasn't found a suitor (the guard opted into his final year at $18.7 million in late June).

Perhaps the team didn't expect everyone to opt in (Christian Wood, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes and Russell), but the team has a full roster of 15 guaranteed players at just under the NBA's second apron of $188.9 million. While the Lakers don't have a hard cap, any trade that adds salary (including via aggregation of player contracts) just isn't feasible outside of taking on minimum players.

But the Lakers could look to reduce their payroll by trading Russell (perhaps paying a team like the Jazz, who still have cap room) in a two- or three-team trade that adds less-expensive talent to L.A.'s roster.

Other Lakers players who may be in the rumor mill this season include Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Wood and Reddish.

Brandon Ingram is extension-eligible, heading into his final year at $36 million with the New Orleans Pelicans. The team may prefer to move him if they are far apart in negotiations (and the most recent intel suggests a sizable gap).

The challenge will be finding a team that can take on his salary and is willing to reinvest. Historically, the Pelicans don't pay luxury taxes, and the team is projected to exceed the $170.8 million threshold.

With Trey Murphy III eligible for a rookie-scale extension, New Orleans may need to make difficult decisions ahead of the season (though the team can wait on Ingram until the trade deadline if needed).

The Portland Trail Blazers were in a similar position as the Pelicans, but the Malcolm Brogdon trade (to the Washington Wizards) helped drop the team below the luxury tax. That should afford the franchise the leverage to make a Jerami Grant deal on their clock (offseason, trade deadline or even next summer).

Still, Grant, 30, is older than most of the team's core; moving him earlier may be most beneficial to the team (provided the return is sufficient). The Blazers are also believed to be shopping Robert Williams III (but not Deandre Ayton at this time).

Some in the industry wonder if Anfernee Simons will finish the year in Portland, though it doesn't sound like the team is looking to move him before the regular season begins.

The Brooklyn Nets clearly chose to pivot by trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. The team looks actively bad, at least on paper, as it digs into a rebuild.

That may mean multiple veteran players are available, starting with Cam Johnson. The forward has three years left on his deal, starting with $22.5 million for 2024-25, but he also has $4.5 million in unlikely incentives that count toward teams' apron calculations. That may be problematic for several franchises trying to adapt to the NBA's new stricter rules.

Other Nets likely to be mentioned in rumors this season include Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanović, Dennis Schröder and Ben Simmons.

At an expiring $40.3 million, Simmons' contract may be difficult for most teams to take in; Brooklyn may choose to just let his deal expire.

Like the Jazz, Blazers and Nets, Washington is working through a rebuild. Kyle Kuzma has been in rumors for the last couple of seasons, yet he remains on the roster.

While he has three years left on his deal, that number dips from $23.5 million to $19.4 million in 2026-67—but like Johnson in Brooklyn, Kuzma has $3.1 million annually in unlikely incentives that could be problematic for teams with apron/hard cap concerns.

Several other Wizards should get their share of rumor mill buzz this season, like Jonas Valančiūnas (not until December 15), Marvin Bagley III, Richaun Holmes, Jordan Poole and Brogdon.

Will Zach LaVine get traded this season? That's a big ask, given his recent injury history and $138 million price tag over the next three years.

But that won't top the rumor mill from churning, which is fair because the Chicago Bulls are believed by many to be eager to get out of his deal.

Another Bull to watch is Nikola Vučević, who is at a more economical $41.5 million over the next two seasons; not cheap, but short-term and reasonable for a starting-level center.

The Indiana Pacers gave Bruce Brown Jr. an above-market deal last summer to reach the league's minimum team salary. They then turned his contract around ahead of the deadline to bring back Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors, who aren't believed to be invested in Brown long-term, opted him into a second season at $23 million as a potential trade chip. Whether it's a playoff team looking to add a wing with championship experience or another just looking to get out of a quality player with Brown's salary ballast for a deal, look for the 27-year-old to be in rumors until the trade deadline.

The Raptors could also look to move on from Chris Boucher, Jakob Pöltl and Kelly Olynyk. Unlike some teams still bottoming out, Toronto has the makings of a bright young core, with Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett.

The team may have more specific talent targets than others, who may focus more on draft capital.

Circling back to the Jazz, the franchise has several young players to develop, such as Keyonte George, Cody Williams, Taylor Hendricks, Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh.

Keeping quality veterans can help that progress, but Utah may look to relocate more than just Markkanen with players like Collin Sexton, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson. All three have two years left on their deals (Collins' $26.6 million player option for 2026-27 seems a lock).

Walker Kessler, who could fit in with the team's emerging core, is believed to be available—though the asking price is believed to be more than a first-round pick (perhaps a swap or two as well),

The list wouldn't be complete without Trae Young, a rumor mill staple.

The Atlanta Hawks moved Dejounte Murray, suggesting that Young is a keeper (for now).

True or false, that won't keep his name from buzzing all the way through to the deadline in February.

The 2021 draft class (first-rounders) is extension-eligible until the start of the season. They may end up on the trade block if they are too far apart in talks and can't reach a deal.

Similar to Quickley, who couldn't come to terms with the New York Knicks last summer and was dealt to the Raptors (re-signed this summer), others like Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors), Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green (Houston Rockets), and Corey Kispert (Wizards) may end up in rumors if they don't extend. The Thunder already sent Josh Giddey to the Bulls, where he may find a long-term home.

The Rockets, in particular, have several players on expiring contracts who could be moved as well, like Jeff Green, Jae'Sean Tate and Jock Landale (technically, three years left, but the final two aren't guaranteed).

Teams with new leadership, like the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, may end up feeding the rumor mill as their directions coalesce. Some NBA sources wonder if Jaden Ivey is part of Detroit's long-term plan. Others ask if Miles Bridges was re-signed to stay in Charlotte or to be traded after January 15.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.