4 NBA Trade Ideas: A Sneaky Derozan Trade and a Move to Send OKC All-in

With December 15—the day when most of the players who signed deals this summer became trade-eligible—in the rear-view, the NBA's trade rumor mill has been churning with a bit more intensity.

Recent reports shed some light on a couple organizations that could veer into a rebuild, a couple that are already there and a few more in between.

With an eye on those tidbits bouncing out of the mill, here are some fresh trade ideas that make sense for all teams involved.

Detroit Gets Desperate for DeRozan

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DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan for Joe Harris, Killian Hayes and a top-five protected 2026 first-round pick

For a team on the verge of breaking the all-time record for the NBA's longest losing streak, the Detroit Pistons should probably be thinking about moving veterans like Bojan Bogdanović for players and/or picks who better fit a rebuilding timeline.

Instead, they may be in the market for more vets.

"One player I'm hearing that the Pistons are interested in, as is the rest of the league, is Toronto's OG Anunoby," James L. Edwards III wrote for The Athletic. "Tobias Harris, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season, is another name the Pistons could target sooner rather than later if he becomes available before the NBA's February trade deadline."

If, indeed, that's the direction Detroit chooses to go, Chicago Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan is another option for someone who might be able to add stability and share some of the knowledge gained through experience with the Pistons' young roster.

He wouldn't solve the team's massive issue with outside shooting, but his ability to handle the ball and engineer individual possessions would take some pressure off Cade Cunningham, who's been a turnover machine this season.

At least offensively, lineups with those two and Bogdanović could present some hypothetical issues for opposing defenses.

Of course, an already-rebuilding team surrendering a pick for a 34-year-old, non-three-point shooter who's only had a positive impact on his team's point differential twice in his career may be a tough pill to swallow for Pistons fans. I could probably be talked into expanding the protection on that pick.

But it's outgoing the year after the Cooper Flagg draft, and there's always a talent squeeze on young teams like this. You can't pick in the lottery every year for as long as Detroit has (and probably will) and keep everyone.

The Pistons wouldn't be under the illusion that a move like this would suddenly make them a play-in contender, but DeRozan has been on a lot of winning teams in his career. In the short term, he can at least help this young core avoid getting too used to losing.

For the Bulls, despite the fact that they've played significantly better since Zach LaVine left the rotation with an injury, it remains abundantly clear that this group is nowhere near contention. Best-case scenario: it gets its act together enough to finish top-10 in the East, wins a couple play-in games and gets squashed in the first round.

Instead of embracing that, Chicago needs get whatever it can for DeRozan, Nikola Vučević and/or LaVine. And given DeRozan's aforementioned shortcomings, if another team is willing to sacrifice a first-round pick for him, even a protected one, the Bulls would have to seriously consider moving him.

That alone probably makes this deal worth it, but it also gives Chicago a flier on 22-year-old playmaker and defender Killian Hayes. Joe Harris, of course, is mostly here as salary-filler, but re-routing him to another team in need of shooting wouldn't be out of the question.

Memphis Adds Olynyk's Size and Playmaking

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Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk for Luke Kennard and a 2026 lottery-protected first-round pick

Kelly Olynyk has quietly been one of the league's more productive playmaking and floor-spacing bigs since the start of last season.

As a member of the Utah Jazz, he's averaged 15.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.6 threes per 75 possessions, while shooting 40.0 percent from three. But with the Jazz looking like a guaranteed lottery team in 2024, Olynyk and his expiring contract suddenly seem primed for a move, as noted by NBA reporter Marc Stein.

"Olynyk, meanwhile, is on course to become a free agent in July as he plays out the final season of a three-year, $37 million deal and is regarded in some league circles as the most likely of the Utah vets to move on at some point during the next six-plus weeks," Stein wrote.

The Memphis Grizzlies are one team that could be desperate enough for size to send a first-round pick for Olynyk's wide-ranging production.

He's not the bruiser Steven Adams is, but he can approximate that better than Jaren Jackson Jr. has in Adams' injury-induced absence. More importantly, his presence in the roster would slide JJJ back over to his natural position at the 4 (Basketball Reference's position estimates have Jackson playing more minutes as a center than he ever has before). And just imagine Ja Morant, who's about to return from his 25-game suspension, working on a floor with Olynyk, Jackson, Desmond Bane and anyone else who's even a moderately dangerous shooter. Slashing lanes for Ja would be wide open.

For Utah, Luke Kennard being under contract through 2024-25 may not be ideal, but it also might make him easier to flip for another team in need of some outside shooting. At 27 years old, he's not perfectly suited to a rebuilding timeline.

Obviously, the bigger get here is a first-round pick. And given the way Olynyk has played in a Utah jersey, the Jazz front office might rightfully insist on softening that protection.

Sacramento Adds Anunoby's Defense and Shooting

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O.G. Anunoby

OG Anunoby for Harrison Barnes, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2029 first-round pick

With De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis, the Sacramento Kings had one of the league's most reliable starting fives last season.

But it feels like the group has sort of plateaued in 2023-24, and the most obvious spot for a potential upgrade is the one Barnes occupies.

He's had a long and successful career, but the Kings could get a bit more scoring volume and defensive force at that position. OG Anunoby would bring both, and his name has hit the rumor mill as it looks like his team is on track for another disappointing campaign.

"Raptors president and vice chairman Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster have stuck with their talented core of Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby over the past three seasons," Shams Charania wrote for The Athletic. "But Toronto ... has left teams believing that now, more than ever, either Siakam or Anunoby could be traded by the Feb. 8 deadline."

Reports have suggested that teams were offering multiple picks for the three-and-D specialist last season, so it's hard to imagine the asking price is much less now.

His steal numbers have dropped off from the league-leading 1.9 per game he had in 2022-23, but Anunoby is shooting 39.0 percent from deep on 6.5 attempts per game while still hounding opposing perimeter players.

That alone probably makes him worth at least two first-rounders for Sacramento, but convincing the Raptors to take on Barnes' contract, which runs through 2025-26, would probably require a little extra incentive. Hence, the pick swap.

This wouldn't necessarily be the end of the deal for Toronto, either. Barnes could have value to another team around the league between now and the end of his contract, and the Raptors might be able to get some value for him, too.

OKC Finally Cashes in Some Draft Chips for Markkanen

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Lauri Markkenen

Lauri Markkanen for Dāvis Bertāns, Ousmane Dieng, a 2025 first-round pick, a 2025 first-round pick via Philadelphia, a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer provided one of the most surprising reports since December 15 came and went when he revealed that Utah might be willing to move Lauri Markkanen.

"The Jazz are by no means expected to trade the 7-foot sharpshooter at this juncture," Fischer wrote. "He's been a true favorite of Jazz officials, sources said. But Utah has indeed left opposing executives with the sense that Markkanen is no longer untouchable in trade conversations."

Jazz beat reporter Andy Larsen provided some clarification in the wake of that news, writing "Jazz definitely want to keep Markkanen, but if you bowl them over with a Gobert offer… well, yeah."

So what kind of team could bowl the Jazz over with a massive, picks-heavy trade package? The Oklahoma City Thunder have a whopping 36 upcoming picks prior to 2031. Many of those are first-rounders.

OKC could part with four of those firsts, an intriguing young talent in Ousmane Dieng and Dāvis Bertāns' contract (mostly as salary filler) without making too big a dent in that stash. Or, at the very least, that dent wouldn't be anywhere near as noticeable as Markkanen's impact on the Thunder.

Since joining the Jazz, Markkanen has become one of the game's most dynamic floor-spacing bigs. He's a quick decision-maker who never stops the ball, gets threes up in volume, can finish above the rim and would make the Thunder's starting five significantly bigger.

Lineups with him, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be nightmares for opponents.

Of course, Jazz fans are likely going to read the above and think...

Well, if that trade package doesn't make a dent, why can't the Thunder give more?

There's merit to that argument. More picks wouldn't hurt. Josh Giddey's size and playmaking might be interesting additions to Utah's rebuild. But the Thunder also don't need to feel any desperation to get Markkanen. Just riding this season out with what's in OKC will almost certainly yield 50-plus wins and some exciting playoff moments.

This core already looks like it could be ready to contend for titles in two or three years.

Markkanen could be a shortcut to that goal, but the Thunder don't have to feel obligated to take that shortcut.