NBA early trade preview: Seven players to watch for 2024-25

With the 2024-25 NBA season fast approaching, league executives will start to take closer looks at their rosters and rotations to see how they fit, what they lack, what they have in excess and how realistically they can compete for the postseason and beyond.

We’re still more than four months from the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but there are already star-level names that will come up throughout the season as trade candidates.

With that in mind, we identified seven players — a list that could have included Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle before they were traded for each other — who are most likely to find their names in those conversations and where they would potentially fit if dealt.

Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls guard, 29, is an effortless scorer at times, averaging 24.9 points on solid shooting efficiency over his past five seasons. It’s well understood the Bulls, in the midst of a rebuild, would like to deal LaVine to turn the page. Yet there are multiple challenges involved in doing so.

Chicago hasn’t benefited much by having LaVine on the court. Last season, the Bulls were outscored by 5.4 points per 100 possessions with LaVine playing; compared to just 0.6 points when he sat.) Between LaVine’s health (he played only 25 games last season because of a foot injury that required surgery) and contract (he’s owed $138 million over the final three years of his deal, including a player option for 2026-27) it could be difficult for the Bulls to complete a trade.

It’s hard to identify a team that feels like a natural fit. But could the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, who could potentially collect an asset or two, be willing to take on LaVine’s contract? Would the Bulls be willing to take Ben Simmons’ expiring contract off Brooklyn’s hands in such a move? Still, LaVine produces when he’s healthy. And if he can rehabilitate his value meaningfully, there might be additional upside for a rebuilding team such as Brooklyn.

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles point guard might have been dealt in February if not for averaging 22.8 points and 6.4 assists on a blistering 46% shooting on 3-pointers in the month leading up to the deadline. It gave the Lakers hope he’d turned a corner in terms of consistency and could be a factor come playoff time.

But when the postseason arrived, the 28-year-old shot 38.4% overall, including a scoreless 0-for-7 showing in Game 3 against Denver that was sandwiched between an 8-for-16 outing in Game 2 and an 8-for-14 performance in Game 4.

This past summer, he opted into the final season of his two-year deal, meaning another team could take him on short term via trade to finish the campaign. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said he’ll take 30 games or so to evaluate how the Lakers look, but don’t be surprised if Russell’s name resurfaces in trade talks, especially if any offensive inconsistency returns midway into the season.

The Orlando Magic, who could still use more perimeter shooting and guard play, could have interest if Russell becomes available.

Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors

Brown is perhaps the likeliest player to switch teams before the trade deadline. The 28-year-old, who won a title as a key reserve with the Denver Nuggets, plays with a young, rebuilding Toronto team that probably picked up his $23 million team option with the intent of dealing him later.

It might make sense to move him given the Raptors made a clear choice to turn the page by trading OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam last season. Brown is a solid secondary ball handler, decent defender and an ace in transition, making him a natural fit for contending teams. His contract shouldn’t be a burden to teams, since he’s in the last season of his deal.

Keep an eye on a potential Denver reunion if third-year wing Christian Braun struggles in his expanded role after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left for Orlando in the offseason. Brown fit with the Nuggets before and almost certainly would again.

Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards

After the trade deadline last season, the 29-year-old forward said the Wizards asked if he wanted an out from Washington’s tough season. Specifically, they had asked him for sign-off on a trade to Dallas. Kuzma, who averaged 22 points, six boards and four assists, ended up turning down the opportunity, saying he preferred “to stay and continue to build something.”

But after watching the Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals with the Wizards still in the early phases of what seems like a lengthy rebuild, will his feelings change this season if Washington poses a similar question a few months from now? Kuzma won a title as more of a role player in 2020 with the Los Angeles Lakers, and other contenders probably would have interest in him now, as the type of player he was then and the one he has become since.

Miami could use Kuzma’s scoring — and the Heat being a competitive enough team in an enticing enough market — for him to decide it’s worth moving on from Washington.

Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Few scorers are better plug-and-play options than the 28-year-old combo forward. He has playoff experience, and is both a capable defender and excellent perimeter shooter who has converted 39.2% from 3 over his five-year NBA career.

Several teams probably would part ways with assets for a player with Johnson’s skill set — particularly now that Mikal Bridges is a Knick and as the Nets continue their rebuild. But it’s also feasible Brooklyn could simply opt to keep him for now. Until the right offer comes along, Johnson is a formidable player on a reasonable contract who has three seasons remaining at an average of $23 million per year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers just extended both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley earlier this summer. But if the team struggles offensively to get up enough 3-point shooting in the first couple of months under new coach Kenny Atkinson, it’s possible Cleveland could look toward Johnson to help better space the court. After all, the Cavs played their best basketball last season when its star bigs were split up, and the team compensated by playing lineups that spaced the court and launched 3s.

Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

The 30-year-old forward was an awkward fit for the rebuilding Blazers after they moved on from Damian Lillard (and then Jrue Holiday) last summer. But Grant remained in Portland and, while playing only 54 games, knocked down more than 40% of his 3s for a second consecutive season. The 3-point production paired with his length and experience, would benefit a competitive team in need of a big wing, especially after he made the leap from a fourth option in Denver to a lead ball handler in Detroit a few years back.

Now, he has settled somewhere in between those roles while averaging 20 points, similar to Kuzma’s time as a Wizard. The New Orleans Pelicans could make sense given they often play small with Zion Williamson at center, and the club is often snakebitten. His skill and athleticism would make him a good fit.

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans