An engrossing postseason wrapped up with the New York Knicks ending a 53-year title drought. Attention now turns to the offseason, with several high-profile players potentially available via trade.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Trade candidates don’t get bigger than a two-time NBA MVP. Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a top-five player in the league. Interest in absorbing his massive salary, and the right to extend him on his next contract, has not been as widespread as some might have expected, but the offseason should still produce real trade scenarios for the Bucks.
Several teams have already been ruled out as suitors. Among those still involved, reporting suggests at least one team has made a formal offer to Milwaukee. The Celtics, Heat, and Timberwolves have all shown considerable interest, and given the complexities of the CBA, this is likely to end up as a three- or four-team deal.
Kevin Durant
Did the Rockets ever really get over the burner phone scandal? All will likely be revealed in the coming years. Something certainly was not right in Houston for most of the season, and it might be time for yet another Kevin Durant trade.
Houston took its short-term swing on Durant, a move that did not vault the team anywhere near the level of the Spurs or Thunder. This could be a chance to right the ship by flipping him for assets more aligned with the timeline of Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Şengün.
Durant just scored 26 points per game and posted his 12th All-NBA season. Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, and Minnesota are all plausible fits.
Isaiah Joe
Chet Holmgren seemingly is not available. Aaron Wiggins probably isn’t either. The Thunder may look for some salary relief this summer, and they could recoup useful assets by flipping Isaiah Joe and the $11 million he is owed through 2027-28.
Joe became no more than a role player in the Finals, and his workload fluctuated throughout the playoffs. He is one of the best three-point shooters in the league and would start at the two for plenty of good teams.
Toronto, Detroit, and Portland are sensible landing spots.
Brandon Ingram
If Toronto is going to be aggressive in the trade market this summer, Brandon Ingram is likely on his way out. The same could apply to RJ Barrett, who becomes a free agent next summer, though Barrett looks like the better long-term fit.
The Raptors would have to attach assets to move off Jakob Poeltl. Ingram will not garner much in the way of draft capital, but his salary will be necessary if Toronto wants to pursue Durant, Antetokounmpo, or another high-priced star.
Zach LaVine
A perennial trade candidate, Zach LaVine is entering the final year of a bloated contract. He should be tradeable without the Kings needing to attach draft assets, and some teams might talk themselves into a single year of LaVine as a third scoring option.
This probably shapes up as Sacramento taking back a longer, less favorable contract in exchange for a future asset. Memphis could offer up Ja Morant's remaining two years, or the Timberwolves may find a way to move off Randle's contract to add more scoring next to Anthony Edwards.
Nic Claxton
Nic Claxton's descending contract is designed to be traded. Owed less than $45 million over the next two seasons, he is a reliable starting center who can block shots and finish at the rim.
Durable and still only 27, Claxton should hold real value as a trade asset. Some front offices won’t want to pay a limited offensive center that much, but he makes sense for several organizations.
There could be a path for Claxton to play alongside Chet Holmgren as an Isaiah Hartenstein replacement, or perhaps he is the screen-and-roll big the Lakers have been searching for.
Julius Randle
With two years left on his deal, including a 2027-28 player option, Julius Randle is a prime trade candidate. His salary is the key piece in any deal the Timberwolves might pursue for a star.
Think of Randle as a high-volume veteran scorer for a rebuilding or play-in caliber team. He won't draw much interest from true contenders, but he could make sense in Portland, Phoenix, or Brooklyn.
Jarrett Allen/Evan Mobley
Cleveland will not trade both, but moving either Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley is increasingly possible after another disappointing playoff exit. Mobley, of course, would be the nuclear option, while Allen's trade value is more limited.
The Cavs still have not solved their wing problem. De'Andre Hunter, Keon Ellis, and Max Strus have all been tried there. None has made the position his own.
There are not many paths forward given Cleveland's lack of high-value assets. Something will happen though, and it will probably involve one of their starting bigs.
Anthony Black
Orlando's roster is going to get expensive if Anthony Black lands the extension he is hoping for. It feels like either Black or Jalen Suggs will end up being the odd man out, unless the Magic decide to run it back with a roster that has yet to win a playoff series.
Black made a real step forward last year, pushing his scoring up to 15 points per game. His three-point shot remains a work in progress, but he is a useful playmaker and a capable defender who can guard positions one through three at minimum.
This is the kind of second-tier draft talent rebuilding teams should be paying attention to.
Zion Williamson
Every Pelican besides Derik Queen should be considered a trade candidate. New Orleans could land a real haul for Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones.
The Pels may choose to keep Murphy and Jones and instead go in a different direction by moving Zion Williamson. The former first overall pick has now played more than 60 games in a season only twice since 2020-21.
The combination of star power and untapped upside should be enough to lure a couple of teams into making offers. Imagine what a healthy Zion could do for basketball in Sacramento, Phoenix, Chicago, or Brooklyn.
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