Updated 2025 NBA Trade Block Big Board Realistic Landing Spots
A hyperactive start to the 2025 NBA offseason could soon give way to the dog days of the basketball summer.
There are still some difference-makers on the market—or realistically within arm's reach of it—but not as many as there were.
Teams have been busy filling out their rosters and thereby reducing their flexibility, too. Plus, we've heard more talk of which trade candidates aren't actually available, such as the Cleveland Cavaliers' core four, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White in Boston and—if you take Joe Dumars' words at face value—even rumor-mill regular Zion Williamson.
Where does that leave the trade market? Well, it's funny you should ask, since we're here to rank the 10 best players theoretically up for grabs while also spotlighting a realistic landing spot for each one.
10. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors
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While being linked to potential high-end pursuits, the Raptors have "continued to gauge the trade market on RJ Barrett," per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
It's a sensible stance for Toronto to take, which is not at all intended to slight Barrett. It's just that his imperfect fit with Scottie Barnes was made even more awkward by the deadline addition of Brandon Ingram, as all three like to work with the ball in their hands and none is a particularly deft shooter from distance.
Barrett has his warts, as he's been brutal from the free-throw line (career 69.7 percent) and shaky at times defensively, but he's also a 25-year-old who has flashed special scoring ability and improved playmaking.
Over the past two seasons, he has averaged 20.6 points on 48.1 percent shooting, plus 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Landing spot: Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are neck-deep in a long-term rebuilding project, but they could still have interest in a potentially discounted deal for Barrett (perhaps making salary relief the primary piece of their offer). They need blue-chip talent and scoring threats of any kind, plus he's young enough to stick around with whatever nucleus they build next.
9. Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets
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The Nets lost 56 games this season and are probably stepping backward after subtracting Cam Johnson and adding five first-round rookies.
They will need a defensive anchor of Nic Claxton's ilk at some point, but probably no time soon, making him one of the league's most logical trade candidates.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who just added Deandre Ayton, "have mulled internally" a Claxton pursuit since last season, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Any team with an opening at center and questions about the defensive end has surely explored the option.
Claxton, 26, wasn't great in 2024-25, but he wasn't exactly positioned for greatness by a Brooklyn roster that churned through 24 players, none of whom was a top-shelf passer and few of whom were reliable defenders.
In the right setting, the 2019 second-round pick could shine as an offensive play-finisher who provides both paint protection and switchability on defense.
Landing spot: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets have shipped out Mark Williams and Jusuf Nurkić this offseason, but they've yet to bring in a replacement big. Claxton could fill that void while forming a prolific pick-and-roll partnership with LaMelo Ball and backbone-ing a defense that's had a bottom-third efficiency in each of the past two seasons.
8. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (Restricted Free Agent)
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It's been a brutal market for restricted free agents, and Jonathan Kuminga might be feeling that squeeze as much as anyone.
In extension talks last October, the scoring swingman was hoping to fetch a salary "well beyond" $30 million, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole. He may not even approach that number in this market.
The Warriors are running through sign-and-trade scenarios with "several teams on periphery," per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, but there is "nothing near the finish line."
Timing clearly hasn't worked in Kuminga's favor, but the right suitor could still deem him worthy of a rather significant investment. There are certainly gaps in his game, but he's also a 22-year-old with a career scoring average of 20.5 points per 36 minutes on 50.7 percent shooting.
Landing spot: Sacramento Kings
The Kings have eyes on Kuminga, as they should. For a team with one playoff berth to show for their last 19 seasons, their pool of young talent is unforgivably shallow. They need all the upside they can get, even if his limitations as a shooter would present challenges in a frontcourt already featuring Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan.
7. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
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The Kings are clearly hoping to capitalize on Domantas Sabonis' prime, yet their win total backtracked for the second time in as many seasons. Maybe that's why Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported they "are expected to explore trades for DeMar DeRozan" earlier this offseason.
Sacramento might find traction on a DeRozan deal. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Heat have "been linked to" the six-time All-Star.
DeRozan won't hold the widest appeal, as he's about to turn 36 and never added an outside shot to his arsenal. However, win-now shoppers seeking more half-court creation and scoring won't find many better alternatives.
His production slowed slightly this past season, but he was still good for 22.2 points (on 47.7 percent shooting) and 4.4 assists (against 1.4 turnovers) per outing.
Landing spot: Miami Heat
Remember when Pat Riley vowed to make changes after Miami's worst season in a decade? Well, it's been crickets in South Beach ever since. The Heat need a shake-up in the worst kind of way, plus they have a longstanding need for half-court offense. DeRozan could deliver all of that and not really get in the way of future pursuits, since his 2026-27 salary is only partially guaranteed.
6. Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat
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If the Heat are able to deliver on their aforementioned promise to change, they probably need an Andrew Wiggins deal to make it happen.
Their other sizable salaries are attached to players they wouldn't want to give up (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro) or potential trade partners wouldn't want (Terry Rozier).
Wiggins should hold a decent amount of trade appeal, though. For teams willing to pay $28.2 million for a support piece, he offers plenty of support at both ends. His point-of-attack defense remains an asset, his complementary scoring still comes in waves and his range shooting really perked up the past five seasons (1.9 threes per game with a 38.1 percent splash rate).
The Heat, at least, believe the 30-year-old is a real trade asset, as NBA insider Jovan Buha relayed that Miami's asking price from the Los Angeles Lakers would involve Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura and a first-round pick.
Perhaps no one pays quite that much, but Wiggins should have suitors willing to cough up a not-insignificant asset or two.
Landing spot: Golden State Warriors
Yes, the Warriors just sent Wiggins to Miami in February, but that was just the necessary means to an end (namely, getting Stephen Curry a bona fide co-star in Jimmy Butler). Golden State remains in need of perimeter defense and support scoring, and Wiggins could settle right back into his old role, only with even less pressure to score now Butler is around.
5. Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
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Walker Kessler might be more of a trade target than a trade candidate. When his name surfaces on the rumor mill, it's almost always because someone (usually the Lakers) wants him and not because the Jazz seem interested in letting him go.
They appear to have ears open, though, but only if someone is willing to meet a sky-high price. NBA insider Jovan Buha reported having "heard nothing but" Utah seeking two first-round picks and a young player for Kessler.
That's a big ask for a non-star, but the 23-year-old is very good at what he does. He is essentially a 7-foot barricade around the basket on the defensive end and a rebounder, screen-setter and finisher on the other.
This past season, Kessler became only the fourth player to average 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 65-plus percent from the field.
Landing spot: Indiana Pacers
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said this team's "No. 1 priority" for this offseason was re-signing Myles Turner. Indiana fumbled that bag, losing the 29-year-old—to the division rival Milwaukee Bucks of all teams—and having no obvious means of replacing him. Making an aggressive deal for Kessler would ensure the Pacers have a premier paint protector not only for next season but also the ones beyond when a healthy Tyrese Haliburton will be back running the show.
4. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
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The Lakers "have never shown interest in trading Reaves," according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, but that has never stopped folks from talking about the possibility.
As Woike put it, "there are skeptics around the NBA, mainly because there's pressure for the Lakers to aggressively upgrade their roster."
The skepticism goes beyond that. Reaves only has one guaranteed season left on his contract, so his days of being one of the Association's best values are numbered. Plus, he's an imperfect fit as a backcourt partner with Luka Dončić, since both are offense-first (offense-only?) players who work best on the ball.
Maybe the Lakers keep Reaves anyway, but it isn't hard to envision them using his trade value to bring their roster better balance.
The 27-year-old would have plenty of suitors, too, since he already produces like a near-star (20.2 points and 5.8 assists) and will still make role-player money for the upcoming season.
Landing spot: Toronto Raptors
Toronto has seemingly had an appetite for a major addition this offseason, and Reaves could be a strong fit. He would simultaneously check off boxes for perimeter shooting and support scoring, plus he'd have a long enough runway in front of him to grow alongside this core.
3. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
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There isn't as much trade talk around Lauri Markkanen as there was this time a year ago, but maybe there should be.
While he was busy celebrating his 28th birthday this offseason, the Jazz have been busy pushing their competitive window further out into the future.
Beyond making this draft's ultimate risk-reward gamble by spending the No. 5 pick on Ace Bailey, Utah also gave away Collin Sexton and bought out Jordan Clarkson. If John Collins had any kind of trade market, he'd surely be gone, too.
With the Jazz aiming to keep the top-eight-protected pick they owe the Oklahoma City Thunder, it's only natural to assume more losses are imminent in Salt Lake City.
Is this really how Markkanen wants to spend his prime? Because if he wanted to find his way to a more competitive club, there could be a significant market for a 7-footer with three-point range, self-sufficient scoring and flexibility on defense.
Landing spot: Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers showed real competitive fire down the stretch, and they'll only get feistier with the addition of Jrue Holiday. They still need more scoring and better spacing, though, and Markkanen would provide both while forming a laughably stingy and wholly disruptive defensive tandem with Donovan Clingan, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara.
2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
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While LeBron James picked up his $52.6 million player option for next season, he didn't exactly commit to his club while doing so.
In fact, news of his decision was accompanied by quotes from his agent, Rich Paul, about how they'd be "closely monitoring the Lakers' moves and whether the team is positioning itself this offseason to field a title-contending roster," per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Things have felt "a little crunchy and dicey" ever since, as The Athletic's Sam Amick put it. While the likeliest scenario still has James staying put with the Purple and Gold—he's tricky to trade at his age (40) and salary ($52.6 million), plus he has a no-trade clause—the possibility of a move clearly can't be outright dismissed.
The days of the 21-time All-Star challenging for the "best player on the planet" title are behind him, but he remains a full-fledged elite. In 2024-25, he averaged a cool 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds while earning All-NBA second-team honors.
Landing spot: Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks reportedly only want James as a bought-out free agent, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin, but they could cobble together a compelling argument with losing any of Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving or Cooper Flagg, all three likely among the leading reasons James might have interest in joining Dallas. Also high up that list would be head coach Jason Kidd, whom James played with on Team USA and later for when he was an assistant on L.A.'s 2019-20 title team.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
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Apologies to any Bucks fans (or front-office members) hoping their bold move for Myles Turner might silence the Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation, but you kind of knew that wouldn't be the case, right?
The basketball fit of Turner and Antetokounmpo should be a fun one, though it may not look much different from the Antetokounmpo-Brook Lopez tandem.
Beyond that, this roster underwhelms in other spots, the asset cupboard is basically empty and, because they waived and stretched Damian Lillard's remaining nine-figure salary to sign Turner, there's now a $22.5 million stain on the payroll for each of the next five seasons.
So, we're right back on Antetokounmpo trade watch with no feel for whether the Turner trade makes him more or less confident about his championship chances in Milwaukee.
Outside looking in, the Bucks appear in need of a total reset, and the trade market would offer that opportunity with an almost limitless collection of roster-rebuilding assets available to them.
Landing spot: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have both one of the league's richest collection of trade chips and a desire to accelerate their maturation, a process started with their deadline deal for De'Aaron Fox. Acquiring Antetokounmpo would be a different degree of going-for-it entirely. San Antonio would have two unstoppable two-way forces in Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama, and the roster wouldn't have to be gutted around this towering twosome. Get a deal for the Greek Freak done, and the Spurs will have spawned the NBA's next dynasty.
