9 Teams to Watch During NBA Trade Season
December 15 is a significant NBA date. It is when most players who signed last offseason are eligible to be traded. It often signals the start of the NBA trade cycle.
The rumors have already been swirling about who could be on the move, but December 15 is when the idea of a trade can become reality.
Only some signed free agents are eligible to be traded; some will have to wait until January 15. That will not stop the rumor mills from rolling.
Below is a list of teams that might be sellers and buyers. This is not the end of the list but just a starting point. Teams could completely change course at any moment and shift their strategy.
Chicago Bulls: Sellers
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It was apparent after the season's first game when the Chicago Bulls held a players-only meeting that this season was going in the wrong direction. From there, almost every team's ears perked up, and everyone began to monitor the situation.
It did not take long for the rumors to start flying around the Bulls because there are a lot of interesting pieces on that roster. The most common name thrown around has been Zach LaVine's. Moving him gets complicated, considering he will miss the next three to four weeks. That is on top of LaVine's $128.9 million left on his contract for the next three seasons, not including his player option of $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season.
For the reasons listed above, the market for LaVine has not been booming, but Alex Caruso's market could get very crowded very quickly. Adding a defensive playmaker like Caruso to a roster can lift a team to a new tier. On top of his defensive skills, he is shooting 47.8 percent from three this season on 3.5 attempts. The Bulls are reportedly reluctant to trade Caruso, but at the same time, he might be their most valuable asset.
Two other Bulls who could garner interest on the trade market are DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević. DeRozan is still putting up big numbers, leading Chicago in scoring at 21.9 per game on 45.3/37.3/81.8 shooting splits. His pending free agency might hurt the haul. Vučević is averaging a double-double at 15.8 points and 10.0 rebounds.
The Bulls have been playing a little better as of late, but ultimately, this team is trending downward, and the front office needs to look at being big sellers this trade cycle.
Orlando Magic: Buyers
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The surprise team of this NBA season has to be the Orlando Magic. They are sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference at the time of this writing. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are playing fantastic basketball; the team has the fifth-best defensive rating and looks the part of a legitimate playoff team in the East. Now might be the right time to make a win-now trade.
Despite having a zillion guards on the roster, the Magic still need a true point guard, which could be the missing piece. They would be an exciting team for Malcolm Brogdon should the Blazers decide to move him. Another name mentioned earlier, Tyus Jones, could help organize them offensively.
The Magic have all of their picks, plus a 2025 top-five protected first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets and another 2026 first from Phoenix or Washington. They also have Gary Harris' expiring contract, and Joe Ingles' deal has a team option for next season.
The draft picks would be the centerpiece of the deal, but in a year when they are making a push, the Magic should consider pushing the chips in and giving the team the best chance to make a real run in the playoffs.
Toronto Raptors: Sellers
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It feels like deja vu, but the Toronto Raptors are sellers…again.
Quickly to recap last season's trade cycle, the Raptors were the hottest name on the trade market. Everyone was looking to see if they would trade Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Instead, Toronto went from being a potential seller to a buyer trading for Jakob Poeltl.
Well, this trade cycle, everyone's eyes are up north. There was smoke in the offseason that Siakam was available. Depending on where he may land, a Siakam trade can shake up the playoff and contender picture. He is leading Toronto in scoring at 20.5 points per night, grabbing 7.0 rebounds and handing out 5.0 assists. Consider what he could do for a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, who might want to add more firepower to their roster.
Many teams would also love to have Anunoby. His floor is a strong three-and-D player, shooting 40.9 percent from three while providing lockdown defense. Anunoby's ceiling could be on par with Mikal Bridges' run after he was traded to Brooklyn last season. He wants to attain that role, which will not happen in Toronto.
The complication is that both Siakam and Anunoby (player option he'll decline) are free agents at the end of this season, and there is no guarantee that they will re-sign with Toronto. The Raptors let VanVleet walk for nothing last offseason, holding onto him at the trade deadline. The same story might play out in Toronto again this trade cycle.
Either way, the Raptors will be a team to watch during this trade cycle, whether they finally become sellers or flip the script and make a trade.
Golden State Warriors: Buyers
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Golden State's promising 6-2 start was fun while it lasted. A six-game losing streak and some uneven play followed it. Sitting at 10-11 at the time of this writing, the Warriors are in a worrying position. Stephen Curry has been playing at an MVP level, averaging 29.2 points on 47.5/42.9/93.0 shooting splits. That has not been enough; Golden State needs to get him some help.
The Warriors do not have a robust draft cupboard with their 2024 draft pick heading to Portland. It is top-four-protected, and barring a massive disaster, it should convey this season. Golden State could put some first-round picks and swaps on the table. It also has intriguing young players in Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody who could be good pieces in a trade. Even though it is unlikely, the Warriors could also include Chris Paul's expiring contract if the right deal comes along.
There have been some Zach LaVine rumors, but the Warriors should think bigger. Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby would be good fits in the Bay. It will all come down to the price and how much more of the future they are willing to sacrifice.
One thing that has been made clear is that Golden State has "no desire" to trade Klay Thompson.
Detroit Pistons: Sellers
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At the time of this writing, the Detroit Pistons had lost 18 straight games. Things could be better in Motown. The front office should be in the market of asset acquisition. There could be a few contenders that might have some interest in Bojan Bogdanović.
Bogdanović started the season a little banged up, so teams will need to see him play a bit more before jumping in. There was a lot of interest in him last season, and assuming he's back to normal, that could resume again this year.
In the two games Bogdanović has played this season, he dropped 22 points in both games and shot 7-18 from three. He would be a perfect complimentary piece as a third option for a contender.
Bogdanović has a $20 million salary this season and a partial guarantee of $2 million for next season's $19 million salary.
The Athletic's Fred Katz reported on Friday that the Pistons would need "a large offer" to trade Bogdanović. Teams might wait until the price comes down, but Detroit should be able to get a late first-round pick for him this cycle.
New York Knicks: Big-Game Buyers
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Seeing the New York Knicks on this list as buyers is not shocking. They have accumulated assets for the past few seasons, looking for a superstar to trade for. The Knicks are rumored to be involved whenever there is a superstar trade rumor. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns...whoever it is, the Knicks will be linked to them if there are rumors they could be available.
New York does have an impressive stash of draft assets and medium-sized contracts that it could use to pull off a massive trade. Here's the list:
- A top-10-protected 2024 first-round pick from Dallas that rolls over to a 2025 top-10-protected first-round pick; turns into a 2025 second-round pick if not conveyed
- Detroit's 2024 first-round pick, top-18-protected; turns into a lottery-protected pick in 2025, top-11-protected in 2026, and top-nine-protected in 2027; turns into a 2027 second-round pick if not conveyed
- Washington's 2024 first-round pick top-12-protected; it is top-10-protected in 2025 and top-eight-protected in 2026; turns into a second-round pick if not conveyed
- New York also has all of its picks and several second-round picks from 2024 to 2025
Any trade the Knicks might make would include Evan Fournier, who has a team option for next season. RJ Barrett is under contract until the 2027-28 season, and they could include a young player like Immanuel Quickley in a deal.
The one caveat is that the Knicks are not making a small or medium deal. They are keeping their powder dry to go big-game hunting.
Washington Wizards: Sellers
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The Washington Wizards are a bad basketball team. They have some interesting players who could help a few teams if they are inclined to move them. Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones are two names that should be on the minds of front offices around the league.
Kuzma should net the Wizards quite a few assets from a playoff team. He just signed a four-year, $90 million, fully guaranteed contract last offseason. Kuzma is eligible to be traded on January 15, not December 15.
There could be a good amount of interest around the NBA. He is averaging a career-high 23.2 points on almost four fewer minutes this season than he got last year. Kuzma contributed to the Los Angeles Lakers' championship team in 2020. He could be a good consolation for any team that misses out on OG Anunoby; he could be a nice fit in Memphis, which needs a little more oomph.
Jones should get some interest around the NBA. As outlined previously, some teams could use a point guard. This season, he's averaging a career-high 11.3 points and almost a career high in assists at 5.1. Jones does a great job getting teams into their sets and running the show.
Some might think Jordan Poole could be a trade target, but that seems more likely to happen in the offseason than in this trade cycle.
Los Angeles Lakers: Maybe Buyers
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The Los Angeles Lakers have been stellar on the defensive end of the court. They are riding their seventh-ranked defensive rating to a 14-9 record. The problem for Los Angeles has been its offense. The Lakers own the 22nd-ranked offensive rating, and if they are going to make a run to the Western Conference Finals like last season, they'll need to improve on that end. They may need help that isn't on the roster.
Their draft cupboard is relatively bare, but there is a lot of value in their 2029 first-round pick. The pick would be the centerpiece, but the Lakers can assemble a package with any mix of D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent to facilitate a trade. Russell and Vincent cannot be moved until December 15, and Hachimura can't be moved until January 15.
The Lakers have been connected to Zach LaVine, as well as Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan. LaVine would be a risk to their defense, and his massive contract makes him less appealing. One name the Lakers should look into to help their offense for a lower cost is Bojan Bogdanović, though he also struggles on defense.
Ideally the Lakers will find some offensive help without hurting their defense. The trade-off of offense for defense could hurt their chances in the West.
Portland Trail Blazers: Maybe Sellers
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After making a series of trades in the offseason that netted the Portland Trail Blazers two more trade assets in Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III, they are already down one asset with Williams out for the season due to a knee injury. Brogdon, though, could help them secure a few pieces.
A lot of teams could use a point guard of Brogdon's caliber. The range is vast, from teams like the San Antonio Spurs who desperately need a point guard to keep the team organized to a potential playoff contender or even a legitimate contender.
Also, the Blazers could keep him around this season as he mentors the young players. He's been doing a great job steering the ship, averaging 17.0 points and 6.1 assists. His presence allows Portland to work Scoot Henderson back into the fold. If Henderson is ready to take over by the deadline, Brogdon could be available, and many teams could jump in.
It's not likely, but it should not be surprising if Jerami Grant finds a new home by the deadline. It all depends on what Portland wants to do. A total rebuild would require the Blazers to free up minutes for all their young players, and at 29 years old, Grant might not be in their long-term plans despite signing a five-year deal in the offseason.
A team that has an interest in Siakam might want to make a call to Portland to check the temperature on some of its guys.
Honorable Mention
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Trade cycles can get hectic, and teams have to sort out genuine sellers and interested buyers. A surprise or two is always near the deadline like the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving deals.
Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier could be moved by the Charlotte Hornets. Cleveland could end the two-big lineup and put Jarrett Allen on the market.
Atlanta could be in need of a shake-up with its start. The Clippers might not be done dealing. The Bucks could try to shore up their defense with whatever draft-pick assets they have left; it is not much, though. Miami still has the principles it used to try to get Damian Lillard over the summer.
This is just the start of the NBA trade cycle; there will be several ups and downs, rumors and smokescreens from now until the trade deadline on February 8.
Mo Dakhil spent six years with the Los Angeles Clippers and two years with the San Antonio Spurs as a video coordinator, as well as three years with the Australian men's national team. Follow him on Twitter, @MoDakhil_NBA.
