How Every Team Should Approach 2024-25 NBA Trade Season
NBA trade season unofficially begins on December 15, when restrictions for most recently signed free agents are lifted. The 2024-25 deadline is February 6, when most of the deals will go down. Still, a few may sneak in before the new year or early January.
How a franchise approaches the deadline depends on its goals. Some are focused on the future and are willing to trade away veterans for draft considerations and prospects. Others are looking for the missing pieces for a postseason run.
The following lists how every NBA team should approach trade season for 2024-25.
Atlanta Hawks (11-11)
1 of 30
Goal: Opportunistic improvement
Name(s) to watch: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Larry Nance Jr., De'Andre Hunter
The Hawks are better than they were a year ago but aren't yet an upper-tier contender in the Eastern Conference. Capela and Nance are on expiring contracts. Do the Hawks view Okongwu, who plays 23.7 minutes off the bench, as a replacement starter for Capela (who averages 22.8)? Should the team cash out on Hunter's strong play or hope he can stay healthy to help the team win?
The answers aren't clear yet, but Atlanta doesn't have its first-round pick in 2025 (going to the San Antonio Spurs), so any form of "tanking" is out.
Boston Celtics (17-4)
2 of 30
Goal: Minor tax savings
Name(s) to watch: Jaden Springer
The Celtics have a massive payroll, as they opted to essentially bring back the roster that won in 2023-24. The team values continuity and may have to make some decisions over the offseason with luxury taxes in mind, but in the short term, they may look to clean up on the margins.
That could lead to a Springer trade, perhaps with second-round draft compensation to shed his $4 million expiring salary. Boston wouldn't want anyone back, instead looking to drop its projected tax bill from about $66 million to about $51 million. That would climb slightly with the Celtics needing a 14th player, possibly converting No. 54 pick Anton Watson from a two-way contract.
Brooklyn Nets (9-13)
3 of 30
Goal: Trade just about anyone
Name(s) to watch: Just about anyone
The Nets started the season strong, which may have helped raise the value of some of their many available veterans. Brooklyn projects to have more cap space in July than any other franchise at approximately $56.4 million (more if the team doesn't keep Cam Thomas and gets out of Dorian Finney-Smith via trade).
Ben Simmons' $40.3 million expiring salary may be too large to move, but others like Cam Johnson, Dennis Schröder, Day'Ron Sharpe and Finney-Smith may relocate before the deadline. The Nets may lean toward keeping Nicolas Claxton and Thomas.
Charlotte Hornets (6-15)
4 of 30
Goal: Lottery; opportunistic adds to their young core
Name(s) to watch: Miles Bridges, Nick Richards, Cody Martin, Josh Green
The Hornets are still a little difficult to read given the ownership and front office changes over the last 16 months. LaMelo Ball was tremendous to begin the year but is out nursing a calf injury. Grant Williams (knee) was lost for the year, and Mark Williams (foot) just made his season debut.
The team also owes its first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs if it makes the playoffs (otherwise, it converts to a pair of future second-rounders). With all that in mind, the Hornets should focus on one more year of being awful while building around the Brandon Miller/Ball combination. The bigger picture need is a young center if Williams can't stay consistently healthy.
Chicago Bulls (9-13)
5 of 30
Goal: Move off expensive, veteran contracts
Name(s) to watch: Zach LaVine, Nikola Vučević, Patrick Williams, Jevon Carter
For the past two years, competing franchises expected the Bulls to be a seller at the deadline. However, that didn't materialize until this past summer when DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso were dealt. Chicago should look to complete the job,
LaVine has played well this year, but his contract and recurring knee issues are too scary for most teams; Vučević may be in greater demand. Note that Chicago loses its first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs unless it's in the top 10. Protecting that pick should be the priority over trying to squeak into a short playoff run via the play-in tournament.
Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3)
6 of 30
Goal: Hold (or very delicately get out of the luxury tax)
Name(s) to watch: Georges Niang, Dean Wade
The Cavaliers have the best record in the NBA and shouldn't do anything that might damage that chemistry.
Still, it's barely over the luxury tax by almost $2 million. While the $2.9 million penalty isn't significant, the Cavaliers aren't eligible for the tax distribution that may be near $19 million for franchises under the threshold. The least intrusive move to avoid the tax might be dumping either Niang or Wade, but the more prudent (albeit expensive) path is to hold.
Dallas Mavericks (14-8)
7 of 30
Goal: Hold
Name(s) to watch: None
After a slow start, the Mavericks have course-corrected and are back among the top teams in the Western Conference. The franchise made several changes after losing in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics—needing an adjustment period was predictable.
Dallas seems to value everyone on the roster, even those who don't play big minutes.
Denver Nuggets (11-8)
8 of 30
Goal: Get out of Zeke Nnaji's salary
Name(s) to watch: Dario Šarić, Nnaji
The Nuggets still expect to contend but have limited flexibility to improve. The team has lost depth since its title in 2023 and may need to rely on young players like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther to deliver in the postseason.
Getting out of Nnaji's salary (that goes through 2027-28) would help flexibility, and Šarić hasn't been as helpful as hoped. Denver has little to offer in draft compensation to incentivize teams to take either contract off its books.
Detroit Pistons (9-14)
9 of 30
Goal: Use cap room to facilitate deals
Name(s) to watch: Paul Reed Jr., Wendell Moore Jr.
The Pistons are one of the only teams in the league under the cap with about $10 million in room. That could grow if Detroit trades or waives Reed's non-guaranteed $7.7 million (though if waived, he'd hit the Pistons' cap for what he's earned daily this season).
Detroit could try to part ways with veterans like Tim Hardaway Jr., Tobias Harris or Malik Beasley, but the goal has been to improve, and the Pistons are no longer one of the worst teams in basketball. Instead, perhaps the best path is to take on draft picks, young players, or additional under-30 veterans to help the Pistons continue to grow.
It's worth noting that Detroit must send its first-round pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves if it makes the playoffs. Perhaps there's a cap on how far the front office wants to chase the play-in/playoffs this season.
Golden State Warriors (12-8)
10 of 30
Goal: Improve playoff hopes
Name(s) to watch: Jonathan Kuminga, Gary Payton II, De'Anthony Melton
The Warriors have struggled recently but have shown enough upside to suggest they're a potential playoff contender. The team has gotten everything it had hoped for from Lindy Waters III and Buddy Hield, but Melton was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Kuminga, who didn't extend this past summer, may not be part of Golden State's long-term plans.
Golden State can't add salary in trade, but look for activity as the franchise considers changes before the deadline. One name to watch might be Jonas Valančiūnas of the Washington Wizards.
Houston Rockets (15-7)
11 of 30
Goal: Hold or star chase
Name(s) to watch: Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard, Jeff Green, Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday, Jae'Sean Tate
The Rockets have jumped from awful to just missing the play-in tournament last year and are now the second-best team in the West. The growth of Tari Eason and Amen Thompson as defensive role players supporting the offense of Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün and Fred VanVleet has been impressive to watch.
Still, the franchise had positioned itself with young players, draft picks and movable contracts to make a credible offer on the next star player who demands a trade. But with the recent success, should Houston break up its chemistry if Giannis Antetekounmpo becomes available? Probably so, but it would be costly.
Note: Sheppard is solely on the watch list if the Rockets decide to chase a star.
Indiana Pacers (9-13)
12 of 30
Goal: Improve for the postseason
Name(s) to watch: Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin
The Pacers are in an odd spot. They aren't as formidable as last year when they made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton's shooting has dipped, and the team lost depth at center to free agency (Jalen Smith leaving for the Chicago Bulls) and injury (Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman).
Historically, the franchise doesn't pay luxury taxes, but Myles Turner will seek a new contract. Any trade that adds a multiyear salary may push the Pacers into the tax next season, but that may not deter the team from making improvements in the short term.
Perhaps the most obvious move is to send out Walker, who may not have enough opportunity to develop in Indiana, for a young center to back Turner, like Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
LA Clippers (14-9)
13 of 30
Goal: Avoid tax, improve for playoffs
Name(s) to watch: PJ Tucker, Bones Hyland
The Clippers are better than expected, winning despite Kawhi Leonard's (knee) absence. Coach Tyronn Lue should be second in coach of the year voting behind the Cleveland Cavaliers' Kenny Atkinson.
Still, LA is just over the luxury tax by about $2.5 million. That's close enough that finding deals for Tucker and Hyland (neither is in the rotation) to dip under and eventually get the Clippers out of the repeater tax makes a lot of sense.
Los Angeles Lakers (12-9)
14 of 30
Goal: Add depth at center, improve defensively
Name(s) to watch: D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood
The Lakers haven't had healthy bodies behind Anthony Davis with injuries to Chrisitan Wood, Jaxson Hayes and forward Jarred Vanderbilt. The team is woeful defensively but has shown it can score when healthy (Austin Reaves has missed the last couple of games with a pelvis injury).
The Lakers can't add salary in trade, and Russell seems to be the primary outgoing salary if the team can get a deal. If so, L.A. would need a replacement guard (or wing) who can defend but do more offensively than Gabe Vincent. Keep an eye on the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers as potential trade partners.
Memphis Grizzlies (14-8)
15 of 30
Goal: Playoff depth
Name(s) to watch: Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, John Konchar, Jake LaRavia
The Grizzlies are back in contention after a down year. So far this season, only the Cleveland Cavaliers (121.8) score more points per game than Memphis (121.4). The emergence of Jaylen Wells and Scotty Pippen Jr. as steady rotation players makes Smart and Konchar even more expendable than they already were
Memphis would benefit from a consolidation trade, probably with a good-sized defensive wing as the target (someone like Derrick Jones Jr. would be a great fit).
Miami Heat (9-10)
16 of 30
Goal: Time to move Jimmy Butler?
Name(s) to watch: Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier
The Heat won 46 games last year but are below .500. The team continues to get younger with players like Pelle Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović with prominent rotation roles. Butler, at 35, is significantly older than the rest of the roster. Armed with a $52.4 million player option for next year, Butler hamstrings the team's financial flexibility moving forward.
Moving his $48.8 million salary may be difficult, and the Heat would probably seek a substantial return. But it may be best to get Butler to a team more willing to keep him deeper into his thirties.
Milwaukee Bucks (11-9)
17 of 30
Goal: Give Giannis Antetokounmpo a reason to stay
Name(s) to watch: Bobby Portis, Antetokounmpo
Considering how awful the Bucks were at the start of the season, the recent surge may buy the team some time with Antetokounmpo. Given the sparse resources to improve via trade, Milwaukee had better maintain the current pace for as long as possible.
Antetokounmpo has a long deal with the team, but competing executives are closely monitoring Milwaukee's performance. Some anticipate that the All-Star may force his way out if he believes the franchise has hit a dead end.
Minnesota Timberwolves (10-10)
18 of 30
Goal: Decide on Julius Randle
Name(s) to watch: Randle
The Timberwolves are worse after the Karl-Anthony Towns swap with the New York Knicks for Julius Randle. While Randle has been productive (21.0 points, 4.1 assists per game), the team is idling at .500.
The Towns trade may have been more about finance than basketball, but Minnesota faces a similar situation with Naz Reid hitting free agency this summer (player option). Randle also has an option, but he may struggle to find teams with enough cap room to pay more than the $30.9 million he can earn with the Timberwolves. Minnesota may be better served to find a deal for him (if they can) to afford Reid and maintain flexibility.
New Orleans Pelicans (4-18)
19 of 30
Goal: Decide on Brandon Ingram; avoid tax
Name(s) to watch: Ingram
The Pelicans did not expect to have the worst record in the West, but injuries have derailed the potential of a strong roster. The list has included Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Jose Alvarado and Herbert Jones, among others.
Ingram is the team's leading scorer (22.9), but he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and New Orleans may not reinvest. With limited options this summer (few teams with cap room), Ingram needs a trade to a franchise willing to pay him. That may be difficult, but look for the Pelicans to explore their options before the deadline.
Additionally, New Orleans always avoids luxury taxes, so look for a cost-cutting move that sheds a few million in salary.
New York Knicks (13-8)
20 of 30
Goal: Add size
Name(s) to watch: Mitchell Robinson, Precious Achiuwa
The Knicks are another team that has leveled out after a slow start. Players need to adjust to offseason changes, and New York was very busy this summer. The most significant need is at center, with the loss of Isaiah Hartenstein to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Knicks haven't had Robinson (ankle) and Achiuwa (hamstring) all year. Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti have filled those minutes.
New York needs their two bigs back healthy and productive, but could benefit from an upgrade over both behind Karl-Anthony Towns.
Oklahoma City Thunder (16-5)
21 of 30
Goal: Hold
Name(s) to watch: None
The Thunder will eventually get Chet Holmgren back from a hip injury (hopefully in late January). In the meantime, the franchise has the West's top record and shouldn't mess with productive chemistry.
Orlando Magic (15-8)
22 of 30
Goal: Consolidation tweaks with playoffs in mind
Name(s) to watch: Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze
When Paolo Banchero suffered an oblique injury, it seemed like the Magic were fated to slide in the East. Instead, Franz Wagner took over as the team's best player, and Orlando is right behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
Orlando may choose to hold, but Anthony's role has diminished, and Caldwell-Pope hasn't provided the shooting the team hoped he would. Anthony is expendable, but Caldwell-Pope may be likelier to stay as a 29.8 minute-per-game starter on an excellent Magic squad.
Note that the team may not be interested in adding a heavy multiyear salary, with extensions kicking in next year for Jalen Suggs and Wagner. Banchero is also due a raise starting with the 2026-27 campaign.
Philadelphia 76ers (5-14)
23 of 30
Goal: Hold unless the team surges
Name(s) to watch: KJ Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr.
The Sixers have not met expectations after the summer signing of Paul George. Injuries have been the primary issue, but the chemistry also seems off. Philadelphia may hope to peel off wins like the Milwaukee Bucks were able to in recent weeks, but Philadelphia may have to go through the play-in tournament for a postseason berth.
Should Philadelphia take the season as a loss and not tweak the roster, or should it be aggressive to fix what's broken (when it may just be injury-related at its core)? For better or worse, the Sixers are an interesting team to monitor this trade season.
Phoenix Suns (12-8)
24 of 30
Goal: Hold
Name(s) to watch: Josh Okogie, Bol Bol
The Suns must stay healthy, and Kevin Durant has been missing time—likely the reason for more losses than the team would like.
Okogie, at $8.3 million, is maybe the most expendable player in trade. The Suns cannot bring back more salary than they send out.
Portland Trail Blazers (8-14)
25 of 30
Goal: Trade veterans with the future in mind
Name(s) to watch: Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle
The Blazers are showing signs of progress, but this is not a team built for postseason success. Ayton may be filling time until rookie Donovan Clingan is ready for a more significant role. After this season, Simons has one year left and may get a new deal in Portland. Grant is older than the rest of the team's developing core.
Expect the Blazers to be active at the deadline, seeking youth and picks in return.
Sacramento Kings (10-12)
26 of 30
Goal: Need to improve defensively
Name(s) to watch: Kevin Huerter, Trey Lyles
Sacramento had higher expectations than sub-.500, but that's where they stand. Malik Monk and DeMar DeRozan have missed time. The more significant issue is defense, which isn't too surprising for a team built around the scoring of De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Monk and DeRozan.
Lyles may have the easiest contract to move ($8 million expiring), but the Kings may look to move Huerter, provided they can find a taker for the $18 million he has guaranteed for 2025-26.
San Antonio Spurs (11-10)
27 of 30
Goal: Opportunistic improvements, no rush
Name(s) to watch: Chris Paul, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Tre Jones
The Spurs are on pace after drafting franchise center Victor Wembanyama in 2023. The team has a winning record, added veterans like Paul and Barnes, and should have no reason to rush their process.
If a winning deal presents itself, San Antonio has plenty of draft compensation and movable contracts to get something done. Contenders may be interested in Paul, but the Spurs benefit from having a true point guard on the roster.
Toronto Raptors (7-15)
28 of 30
Goal: Cash out Bruce Brown Jr.'s expiring contract, opportunistic improvement
Name(s) to watch: Jakob Pöltl, Chris Boucher, Kelly Olynyk, Brown
The Raptors' record reflects significant injuries, most notably to Scottie Barnes (who recently returned) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow). Toronto has too much talent to tank and is comfortably in range of the play-in and possibly a playoff berth if it can rack up some wins.
The team took in Brown (who has been out with a knee injury) from the Indiana Pacers last year for Pascal Siakam. Instead of opting him out of his final year at $23 million, Toronto kept him—with many competing executives expecting Brown to be dealt by the deadline.
If the Raptors decide not to press on for the playoffs (or can get back a younger starting center), Pöltl's good season thus far has raised his trade value.
Utah Jazz (4-17)
29 of 30
Goal: Trade veterans with the future in mind
Name(s) to watch: Walker Kessler, Jordan Clarkson, Collin Sexton, John Collins, Drew Eubanks
The Jazz are committed to Lauri Markkanen (who can't be traded this season after extending) but are primarily focused on the lottery and development. Sources suggest Clarkson is more available than Sexton, but Utah's not married to either.
Kessler, 23, is young but is widely thought to be available. He's only $4.9 million for 2025-26 but is extension-eligible this summer.
Washington Wizards (2-17)
30 of 30
Goal: Trade veterans with the future in mind
Name(s) to watch: Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma, Malcolm Brogdon, Richaun Holmes, Marvin Bagley III, Jonas Valančiūnas
The Wizards are objectively bad. The team has several interesting players like Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington, but the team is a long, long way off from respectability. With that in mind, almost anyone else could be moved before the deadline.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X/Twitter @EricPincus.
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