NBA Trade Rumors: Nets, Warriors, Lakers, Kings, New Labor Rules

December 15, 2024

As we enter the heart of the NBA trade season, the Brooklyn Nets are not done making moves, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanovic, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Cameron Johnson are reportedly among the current or likely trade candidates for the Nets.

These players, each with their unique strengths and varying levels of trade value, could be on the move as Brooklyn looks to reshape its roster.

Nets’ Step Towards Long-Term Success

In a trade that surprised many, the Nets sent Dennis Schroder to the Warriors. This move was a significant one, but as general manager Sean Marks explained in a quote relayed by the New York Post’s Brian Lewis, via Stein, it was part of the team’s broader vision for sustained success.

“The ultimate goal is long-term sustainable success. So we’re weighing a lot of factors in here,” Marks said. “It’s never easy to see one of your own leave, but at the same time looking at the big picture here, this is what’s best for our organization long term.”

It’s a tough decision to let go of a player like Schroder, but it signals that the Nets are committed to building a team that can compete at a high level in the long run, rather than settling for short-term fixes.

Warriors, Lakers To Stay Active

Speaking of the Warriors, the team has already made a move, and it’s widely expected that they won’t stop there. Stein noted that Golden State, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, will likely remain active in the trade market over the next six weeks.

While the Lakers are said to be prioritizing depth rather than pursuing star-level players, they’re still expected to make at least one move before the February trade deadline.

With their roster in a state of flux, the Lakers are looking to build a more well-rounded squad to maximize LeBron James’ championship window.

Kings Aggresive In Pursuit Of Upgrades

One team that has been repeatedly mentioned as being active in the trade market is the Sacramento Kings, Stein wrote.

They have been described as one of the league’s most aggressive teams in seeking an upgrade.

According to Stein and others, the contracts of Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles are being floated around as trade bait, with Lyles’ expiring $8 million salary particularly drawing attention.

If the Kings can pull off a deal to add another piece, it could elevate them into a higher tier of contention in the Western Conference. We think.

New CBA Rule Sparks Trade Activity

Perhaps one of the most important factors in this year’s trade season is the new wrinkle introduced by the 2023-24 NBA labor agreement.

As part of the new deal, a change in aggregation rules allows players traded by Dec. 16th to be aggregated in future trades before the season’s trade deadline, Stein wrote. This provides teams with greater flexibility and incentivizes early trade activity.

Under previous rules, players could not be combined with other players for another trade within 60 days of being acquired.

However, this new exception means that teams can now combine recently acquired players — such as Schroder and Melton — before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, even if they’ve been with their new teams for less than 60 days.

This change is expected to lead to a flurry of activity — as teams looking to make moves before the deadline will be eager to get deals done early, knowing they have more flexibility in the weeks leading up to the February cutoff.

In conclusion, the Nets, Warriors, Lakers, and Kings are just a few of the teams expected to be active in the trade market, with new labor rules making this an even more intriguing period for roster moves.

The NBA trade season is in full swing, and with teams eyeing upgrades and trying to build for the future, we should expect plenty of drama as we approach the February deadline.