As free-agency options start to dwindle, NBA fans should start looking to the trade market for options as far as their team’s roster constructions.
Today, we’re going to take another look at the NBA trade market as we present another edition of our Trade Rumor Rankings series. For those still unaware, this series ranks the 10 players who have appeared most often in trade rumors over the previous week, based on appearances on our Trade Rumors page.
With star players like Mikal Bridges already traded this summer, let’s take a look at some other big names who could be on the move in the coming days or weeks.
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Russell Westbrook (LA Clippers)
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News that former league MVP
Russell Westbrook was opting into the final year of his deal with the Los Angeles Clippers led some to believe the future Hall-of-Famer would be staying put in Los Angles, but that apparently is not the case, as
Yahoo Sports reported recently that the Clippers are looking to trade Westbrook and his roughly $4 million salary:
Russell Westbrook opted into his $4 million for this 2024-25 season, and now the Clippers are working to find a trade for Westbrook, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Nuggets have already considered avenues to add Westbrook, sources said.
The Clippers' actions have backed up that idea, as the team
recently came to terms with free-agent point guard
Kris Dunn , making it all but certain Westbrook is on the way out of L.A. According to
Tony Jones of The Athletic, the Utah Jazz, Dunn's former team,
are open to helping facilitate a sign-and-trade involving Dunn and Westbrook, one that obviously would send the former triple-double machine to another team. The most interesting bit of news surrounding Westbrook's immediate future
came from Denver Nuggets beat writer ,
Harison Wind , who said
Nikola Jokic himself is pushing Denver to go after the still-effective floor general:
“I’ve been told that Nikola Jokic actually has been pushing behind the scenes to get Russell Westbrook to Denver,” said Nuggets insider Harrison Wind. “I’ve been told that Nikola Jokic wants Westbrook in Denver. He wants to play with him. It’s not the first time he’s wanted to play with him.”
We'll see where Westbrook ends up but he was solid last season and in his role, can still be an impactful piece on a good team.
For the latest Russell Westbrook trade rumors and salary info, click here . Devin Booker (Phoenix)
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Just because a player is mentioned on this ranking, that doesn't mean they're going to get traded. In fact, sometimes, players who are very unlikely to get traded make their way onto these lists. That's the case with Phoenix Suns superstar
Devin Booker , who was mentioned in trade rumors this week but in more of a
wishful thinking by other teams sense. Case in point,
according to The Athletic , the Houston Rockets view Booker as a potential franchise centerpiece:
So, who are the Rockets interested in as franchise centerpiece material? League sources say that Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (who is 27 and widely expected to sign an extension with the Cavs soon), the Suns’ Devin Booker (also 27) and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson (23) would all fit the bill. The only problem, of course, is that none of them are expected to be available anytime soon.
That came just days after the Suns made it clear they wouldn't be splitting up their Big 3, though... https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1806000359263060404 ...so for now, don't expect to see Booker going anywhere. Maybe things change if the team has another unceremonious first-round playoff exit next year but even then, Booker is probably the least likely Suns player to be traded.
For the latest Devin Booker trade rumors and salary info, click here . Andrew Wiggins (Golden State)
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In what should come as a surprise to no one, the Golden State Warriors are shopping former No. 1 overall pick
Andrew Wiggins . Since his breakthrough championship-winning campaign in 2021-22, Wiggins has missed a lot of time mostly due to personal matters – and even when he has played, he's struggled mightily to make a big impact.
According to our own Michael Scotto :
Klay Thompson’s tenure in Golden State may not be the only one coming to an end. The Warriors are also shopping Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins in trade talks, league sources told HoopsHype.
He was reportedly also almost traded to the Chicago Bulls this offseason... https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1807579059754357084 ...so time really might be ticking on Wiggins' Warriors tenure. Of course, that will also require a team being willing to take on his salary (Wiggins has three years left on his contract, which will peak in 2026-27 at
$30.2 million , with a player option on that campaign), and that might be easier said than done. Though considering how salaries are exploding, maybe Wiggins at $30.2 million at age 31 may not be so bad if he can regain his form from a couple of years ago. The fact that Canada announced Wiggins wouldn't be joining the team in the upcoming Olympics also raised some eyebrows as far as the Warriors shopping the Canadian swingman and not wanting him to get hurt, but apparently, it was a mutual decision. Even so, Wiggins' future in Golden State is looking hazy right now.
For the latest Andrew Wiggins trade rumors and salary info, click here . Jimmy Butler (Miami)
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It's been established that Miami Heat star
Jimmy Butler won't be going anywhere this summer, as he'll instead play the next season of his deal and then decide on his player option for 2025-26 (
$52.4 million ) next year. Both
the Heat ...
Meanwhile, the Heat have shown no interest in trading Butler, league sources said. Theoretically, they could still trade him this summer if they found a deal that suited them, but Butler’s unwillingness to immediately sign an extension would likely limit the return they would receive for their best player.
...and Butler... https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1806006681085595897 ...have not shown any interesting in ending their partnership this summer. Butler seemingly really likes it in Miami considering the team could have extended him this summer, chose not to and yet, things have remained peaceful between the two parties. Recently, The Athletic stated that Butler would like to
finish his career out with the Heat:
Based on everything we’ve heard up until now, Butler would prefer to sign a long-term deal next summer and finish his career in Miami rather than go elsewhere. It would be a great way to tie a bow on his final years as a pro and solidify him among the most beloved Heat players to wear the uniform. If so, he must prove he can remain on the court and avoid the off-court jousting with higher-ups that spoiled his relationship with his previous three teams. He’s missed 99 regular season games in the five seasons he’s been with the Heat. Even amid this successful five-year run, there have always been whispers about Butler’s antics away from the court — good-natured or not — and how much the Heat would tolerate them if they weren’t winning.
But if the team suffers another first-round playoff exit with Butler missing even more time in 2024-25 due to injury or personal reasons, might that change? Regardless, as far as this summer, don't expect any more drama around Butler and the Heat.
For the latest Jimmy Butler trade rumors and salary info, click here . Dorian Finney-Smith (Brooklyn)
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With the Brooklyn Nets fully in a rebuild after the Bridges trade, logic indicates other veterans from the team should be considered prime trade candidates. One such piece is former Florida Gator
Dorian Finney-Smith , who our own
Scotto wrote recently is a potential Philadelphia 76ers trade target:
The 76ers have exploratory interest in trading for Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype, but nothing is considered imminent there.
The Los Angeles Lakers were also recently mentioned (by
The Athletic ) as a potential landing spot for the two-way wing. With basically just one year left on his contract (Finney-Smith has a
player option for 2025-26 worth just $15.4 million - he'll opt out of that almost certainly), Finney-Smith should garner a nice trade asset or two for the Nets this offseason, potentially even quite soon.
For the latest Dorian Finney-Smith trade rumors and salary info, click here . D'Angelo Russell (LA Lakers)
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Lakers guard
D'Angelo Russell is no stranger to trade rumors, and those are heating up again this summer, with Los Angeles perhaps looking to swing a move this offseason. Our own Scotto
wrote recently :
D’Angelo Russell trade candidate to monitor With D’Angelo Russell exercising his player option for $18.69 million for the upcoming season, keep an eye on him as a potential trade candidate, given his expiring contract.
What's more, according to
Chris Haynes , the Warriors declined a trade that would have brought back Russell to Golden State: https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1807879912587776264 The Athletic added further fuel to the fire, reporting the Lakers
would rather trade Russell over his backcourt mate,
Austin Reaves :
“From the Lakers’ side, I’ve been told that internally there is a sense that there is a clear ceiling to the Austin Reeves-D’Angelo Russell backcourt, and with Reeves being the younger player, the better defender, the better playoff performer, and on a team-friendly multi-year contract, the Lakers would prefer to keep Austin Reeves out of a trade. If they are going to split up this backcourt, they’re looking to trade Russell, who they also tried to trade at the 2024 trade deadline.”
Charania
also wrote :
How long Russell remains a Laker is another matter altogether. After failing to trade Russell ahead of the 2024 trade deadline, the Lakers are expected to be aggressive in pursuing Russell-centric trades, according to league and team sources. Russell’s expiring contract immediately becomes one of Los Angeles’ more valuable trade assets, particularly for salary-matching purposes.
Maybe the Lakers enter 2024-25 with the same roster but if a change is made, expect Russell to be a prime candidate to be moved.
For the latest D'Angelo Russell trade rumors and salary info, click here . Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn)
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As discussed in the Finney-Smith slide, the Nets are clearly set to embark on a rebuild, making veterans like
Cameron Johnson prime trade candidates. Our own Scotto
recently discussed the matter , mentioning two teams as having an interest in the sharpshooter:
Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has drawn recent trade interest from several teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings, league sources told HoopsHype. The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic also registered exploratory trade interest in Johnson, league sources told HoopsHype.
Kings beat reporter
Jason Anderson likewise mentioned the Kings as a potential landing spot for the former UNC standout: https://twitter.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1806130100569813024 Johnson is signed through 2026-27 when his contract will peak at $23.6 million, and although he's already 28, Johnson's game should age quite well. As well will his salary considering how much new contracts for average starters are going for. Johnson is a solid trade asset for Brooklyn, we'll see when the Nets find a deal for him but it should be soon.
For the latest Cameron Johnson trade rumors and salary info, click here . Zach LaVine (Chicago)
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The ongoing saga between the Bulls and
Zach LaVine remains in limbo, as Chicago has been unsuccessful in trying to trade the former All-Star 2-guard. The situation is an ugly one,
according to beat writer Joe Cowley :
An NBA insider told the Sun-Times on Tuesday that the relationship between LaVine and the team’s top brass is completely shattered and “filled with mistrust.” LaVine and his representation at Klutch Sports feel like they were misled on possible trade destinations, and the Bulls thought LaVine “opting” for season-ending right foot surgery when rehab on the injury was still on the table was a counterpunch thrown below the belt.
Cowley also said that the Bulls have been shopping LaVine all over th league, presenting "dozens of options" in the last few months:
The Bulls continue shopping LaVine to anyone that picks up the phone and have presented dozens of options in the last few months alone, according to one source. While there is a scenario in which LaVine is not moved and returns to the Bulls, he would do so to a locker room that would welcome him back, but a front office and ownership group that consider it the worst-case scenario.
LaVine getting traded no longer seems impossible, however, as Bulls beat writer
KC Johnson mentioned two teams as
having an interest in LaVine :
KC Johnson: “I’m led to believe that there are still two teams—again, everything’s fluid. This is Monday morning. I’ve been led to believe that there are two teams that are still at least having conversations with a glimmer of hope, however you want to phrase it. I don’t want to be aggregated poorly. I’m just grasping for the best way to phrase it myself. What I will say is I’ve written the Kings and Warriors are the two teams I’m still monitoring. But we said all along, it may not happen and I gained some traction on this podcast by saying there is a scenario in which Zach LaVine returns, and that scenario is the Bulls can’t find a trade for him. So we’ll see how it plays out. It is fluid but, yes, it is still an organization priority to try to trade Zach.”
That's interesting considering the Warriors reportedly declined a trade offer for LaVine that would have cost them
Andrew Wiggins and
Chris Paul , both of whom Golden State wants – or wanted to – trade away to begin with. https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1807579059754357084 So we'll see what happens here, as LaVine's contract and injury history are not so sightly, but maybe Chicago can pull off what seems very difficult right now.
For the latest Zach LaVine trade rumors and salary info, click here . Lauri Markkanen (Utah)
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The Warriors, despite having a tough tax situation, are still swinging for the fences this summer. One big player they are seemingly after is Utah All-Star
Lauri Markkanen : https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1808235943406850413 Our own Scotto discussed what a trade package for Markkanen might look like,
writing :
The leaguewide belief is that the Jazz would only consider moving Markkanen for a sizable trade package similar to what the Knicks gave up to acquire Mikal Bridges – a player Utah tried to acquire and pair with Markkanen. For context, New York overwhelmed the market for Bridges, who has two years on his contract, by agreeing to trade four unprotected first-round picks, an unprotected pick swap, and a protected first-round pick. Markkanen is owed $18 million this season in the final year of his contract.
He also mentioned potential landing sports for Markkanen, including Golden State:
The Warriors, Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves, and Pelicans are among the teams who’ve expressed interest in trading for Lauri Markkanen, league sources told HoopsHype.
Adrian Wojnarowski was one of the first reporters to connect the Warriors with Markkanen... https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1807851831671824714 ...while Windhorst mentioned the San Antonio Spurs
being interested in the Finnish big man :
The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs reportedly have interest in trading for Lauri Markkanen this offseason with the Utah Jazz exploring his trade market. The Oklahoma City Thunder have also been linked with Markkanen previously. “There’s some other teams that are looking at Markkanen,” said Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective Podcast on Monday morning. “I think San Antonio is one of them.”
All in all, Markkanen will have no shortage of suitors, as he's a talented modern big man with great skill level, so it'll be interesting to see if someone blows the Jazz away with an offer.
For the latest Lauri Markkanen trade rumors and salary info, click here . Brandon Ingram (New Orleans)
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The likeliest All-Star to get traded this offseason remains New Orleans Pelicans swingman
Brandon Ingram . Our own Scotto very recently
wrote :
Another team to potentially keep an eye on for Ingram is the Sacramento Kings, HoopsHype has learned. For now, there’s only been exploratory interest from Sacramento in an Ingram pursuit. While talks haven’t escalated yet with Sacramento for Ingram, the Kings have separately dangled a general trade package elsewhere around the league, including Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, the No. 13 pick, which turned out to be Devin Carter, and future draft picks in the years to come as trade bait during the NBA Draft, league sources said.
NBA reporter
Jake Fischer also wrote that Golden State could be a suitor for the former Duke standout:
The Warriors face their own predicament, having already agreed with Paul to move back his contract’s guarantee date for the final year and $30 million on his deal. What big swings are still out there, as Golden State has also put Andrew Wiggins on the trade block, according to league sources. The options range across a spectrum of upside, from sending out picks for Brandon Ingram to potentially acquiring one with Zach LaVine, sources said.
Ingram is entering a contract year, making $36.0 million in 2024-25 before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer. Could he be traded and extended by his next team? Certainly. We'll just have to wait and see if the former No. 2 overall pick, who looks like he could use a change of scenery, does get dealt in the coming days or weeks.
For the latest Brandon Ingram trade rumors and salary info, click here . 1
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