NBA Rumors: Key Names To Watch As Trade Season Begins Again

December 17, 2024

The NBA trade season is officially underway, and with Dec. 15 marking the day when most of this summer’s free agents became trade-eligible, the rumors are already swirling.

It’s a key date in the league’s calendar because, with so many new signings now eligible to be moved, the trade market really starts to heat up. The likes of Thomas Bryant (now with the Pacers) and Dennis Schroder (heading to the Warriors) are just the tip of the iceberg as teams look to make moves.

Why the delay until mid-December? Well, teams don’t have much cap space or roster flexibility early in the season, and the rules around matching salaries make trades trickier during the opening months.

While it’s always difficult to navigate trade talks during the regular season with roster limits, Dec. 15 is seen as the unofficial start of trade season. As Sam Quinn of CBS Sports points out, it’s when the bulk of free agents from the previous offseason become eligible to be traded, opening the door for more activity.

So, who could be on the move now that the floodgates have opened? Well, there’s no shortage of potential candidates.

One player to watch is Jonas Valanciunas. The Wizards are clearly in rebuild mode with a 3-21 record, and with rookie Alex Sarr emerging as the future at center, it makes sense for the 32-year-old Valanciunas to be moved.

Teams like the Lakers, who were reportedly interested in him before he signed with Washington, could be major players here. The Lakers are desperate for a big man and have some mid-sized contracts they can trade to make it work.

Then there’s De’Anthony Melton, who was traded to the Warriors as part of their deal to land Schroder from the Nets.

Melton, out for the season with an ACL injury, is still valuable as salary-matching filler and could be moved again before the deadline.

Melton’s status makes him an intriguing asset because he can be moved again without the usual 60-day salary aggregation restrictions.

As the trade deadline approaches, don’t be surprised if teams like the Nuggets (with Dario Saric), the Clippers (with Nicolas Batum), or the Grizzlies (with Luke Kennard) become more active.

These players aren’t essential to their respective teams’ success, but they’re all on contracts that could help facilitate a larger deal, should the right opportunity come up.

And of course, you can’t ignore the big names. James Harden is playing well enough that a trade seems unlikely, and unless something dramatic happens, it’s hard to see a team taking on the risk of his contract.

Paul George and DeMar DeRozan are also tough sells at the moment, especially given their underwhelming seasons so far.

But then there’s LeBron James — always the wild card. While a trade is highly unlikely, especially with the Lakers struggling, don’t completely rule it out.

The Warriors at least inquired about him last season, and if things don’t turn around in LA, who knows? A trade might not be as far-fetched as we think.

So, while blockbuster deals like the one that sent James to a new team seem improbable, don’t be shocked if the next few weeks bring more unexpected moves.

The market has just opened up, and it’s already clear that this season’s trade deadline could be filled with surprises.