Latest NBA Trade Rumors and Team Plans as 2025 Draft Approaches
While the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder battle in the Western Conference, and the New York Knicks look to come back from 0-2 against Indianapolis in the East, the rest of the NBA is looking toward the future and rebuilding their rosters through trades and the upcoming draft.
What is the current buzz surrounding squads such as the Philadelphia 76ers, star Paul George and their No. 3 pick? What are insiders reporting about the San Antonio Spurs and their pick a spot earlier?
Who did the Lakers target during the season in attempt to fill the void at center?
Find out with this collection of rumors from across the league.
Philadelphia's Paul George Plans
1 of 3
The 76ers' disastrous 2024-25 season had some thinking the team may be inclined to package Paul George and the No. 3 pick together ahead of the NBA draft in return for a superstar player or one of the top two picks.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported for The Stein Line that those recent reports and expectations are a "misread" (h/t Yahoo Sports).
He wrote, "There have been no indications that they are looking to package George with the No. 3 pick or try to move him on his own."
Furthermore, Fischer noted that the team is more likely to trade down, not out, of the draft and would be willing to listen if an under-performing lottery team like Utah or Washington wanted to talk about moving up.
George only played in 41 games this past season, for a team that was mostly out of the hunt very early on. He, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid only played together 15 times, meaning the team and its front office have no idea what that trio looks like.
Giving up on it and looking for another star to replace George, or attempting to trade up in the draft, would only serve to set the team back.
If the Sixers can trade back and acquire some additional draft picks, or a player or two that adds depth to a roster that clearly did not have enough of it this season, it would be better off.
The Lakers Failed in Their Pursuit of a Big Man
2 of 3
One of the most consistent storylines throughout the 2024-25 season was the Lakers' need for a center. Anthony Davis filled the role until he was traded to Dallas as part of the deal that netted Luka Dončić, but the team never had a consistent, reliable big man at that key position.
The front office understood the issues that presented and attempted to make a deal for one, eyeing Atlanta's Onyeka Okongwu.
On the Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcast, ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin reported that the team attempted to acquire the 24 year old center but failed to complete the deal.
It is not difficult to see why the Lakers would attempt to bring Okongwu on board. The big man had one of the best seasons of his young career, tallying 13.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and just under one steal per game while shooting 56.7 percent from the floor and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc.
In theory, he would have been a great and much-needed addition to a Lakers team missing that all-important presence in the five spot.
It will be interesting to see if the Lakers, still seemingly in need of a big man, revisit those discussions and attempt, again, to bring him into the mix before the start of next season.
Spurs Draft Plans
3 of 3
The San Antonio Spurs have the last two NBA Rookie of the Year award winners on their roster in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, with the potential to add another contender for the hardware this year as the possessor of the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
The team may not be inclined to select at that spot, though, with ESPN's Jeremy Woo reporting that "wide speculation" is that San Antonio will field calls for the pick. Still, he noted that the expectation is that Rutgers guard Dylan Harper will be the pick.
"Rival teams expect the Spurs will entertain their options, but the wide assumption is Harper will be the pick, barring a blockbuster move," Woo wrote.
The team could be one of the potential suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo should the Bucks megastar become available but barring an otherworldly deal that presents itself to the organization, there is no reason to trade out of the No. 2 spot.
Continuing to build the young foundation of the team so that it can succeed, compete, and win for the foreseeable future should be first and foremost on the mind of the front office, including new team president and former head coach, Gregg Popovich.
While there are questions about Harper and why he and potential No. 3 pick Ace Bailey did not win at Rutgers if they are as good as advertised, the consensus second-best player in the draft scored 19.4 points and tallied 4.6 rebounds and four assists during last season.
His shooting percentage from the floor was a pedestrian 48.4 percent, something he will need to improve upon in the NBA, but he has the raw talent to join Wemby and Castle as one of the best and brightest young trios in the league.
The potential is there and barring a scenario in which the team can land a genuine game-changer in a headline-grabbing trade, sticking to the and building one of the dominant young teams in the league, at a time when the usual suspects are getting older, is the right call.
.png?w=480)
