Ranking the top NBA trade candidates: Brandon Ingram, Jimmy Butler among stars most likely to move in 2024-25 season

Intraseason trades are part of what makes the NBA such a fun league.

Almost every player’s name is thrown out at some point during the year. Some can be fired immediately. Others are more intriguing because they make sense for everyone involved.

When you look at the bigger picture of the NBA, including the cap, tax situation, team needs and the rumor mill, certain names stand out as strong trade candidates.

Here are the ones that make the most sense to move before the 2025 trade deadline, ranked in order of “most likely” to “least likely.”

POSITIONAL RANKING: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

Ranking the top NBA trade candidates for the 2024-25 season

1. Brandon Ingram

The Pelicans have not paid the luxury tax in their entire franchise history. They’re just $1.6 million over the tax line entering the season, meaning there’s a 99.9 percent chance of losing some money making a trade before February.

Ingram could be the guy who moved.

There are rumors that the Pelicans would acquire him, but there isn’t much interest as he’s looking for a max contract once he hits free agency after this season. His $36 million salary this year also makes him difficult to trade.

The Pelicans desperately need help at center, so some sort of trade will likely happen at some point where they gain big man depth and lose a tiny bit of salary.

2. Zach LaVine

LaVine is another great scorer who was recruited without much interest around the league. The Bulls don’t seem willing to invest an asset to move him, so he’ll have to prove he can stay healthy and is worth the $43 million he’ll make this season.

LaVine makes little sense on a Bulls team that should be trying to retain their top-10 protected pick this year. He could be moved to a contender in need of more 3-point shooting and shot creation for an equivalent salary.

MORE: Why Zach LaVine is a better trade candidate than portrayed

3. D’Angelo Russell | 4. Rui Hachimura

The Lakers didn’t have much of an opportunity to do much this offseason, in part because Russell unexpectedly picked up his $18.7 million player option. His departure represents the easiest opportunity for them to upgrade their team. Hachimura’s $35.3 million over the next two seasons is another option that could be combined with Russell to land a big name.

One or both will need to be moved as Anthony Davis and LeBron James proved they still have plenty of gas in the tank at the Olympics. This current roster isn’t good enough to be considered a real contender, and these two stars need help.

MORE: Here’s LA’s path to landing Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young and Zach LaVine

5. Robert Williams III | 6. Deandre Ayton

The Blazers have a crowded center rotation after drafting Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. One of Williams or Ayton could be moved, with Williams being the more likely, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Williams is making just $12.4 million this season, making him an easy fit for many teams. Ayton is a tougher match given his $34.0 million salary and his inconsistent play.

The Blazers are believed to be one of the worst teams in the league and are therefore looking for young players or picks as part of a trade back. Both the Pelicans and Grizzlies need a deep center. They could be potential trading partners.

7. Bruce Brown Jr.

The Raptors know they won’t be a great team this year. Jakob Pöltl said that at the team’s media day.

So Brown’s presence on the roster appears to be primarily for trade policy purposes.

The 28-year-old guard showed he could be a key rotation player for a championship team with the Nuggets in 2023. He is a versatile defender who can do a little bit of everything on offense with his plays, cuts and shots. He has an expiring $23 million contract and could add depth to a playoff rotation.

8. Dorian Finney Smith | 9. Cameron Johnson

The Nets signaled they were taking a step back when they traded Mikal Bridges over the summer and reacquired their own 2025 first-round pick, making tanking a more attractive option this season. They still have some good veterans who can help other teams, most notably Finney-Smith and Johnson.

Wingers are in short supply across the league and both have shown they can be rotation players for contending teams.

Finney-Smith’s shooting numbers have dropped since leaving Luka Doncic and the Mavs, but he is still a good defender, having shot 35.5 percent from deep in his career. Johnson was overwhelmed in Brooklyn but could be a great backup as a high-volume knockdown shooter.

10.James Harden

Harden’s new contract with the Clippers was somewhat of a surprise after they opted to let Paul George leave in free agency. He must now carry the load for them, especially given Kawhi Leonard’s ongoing knee problems.

If he’s unable to get them into the playoffs in a brutal Western Conference, Harden has previously shown he’s quite willing to request a trade.

Harden has a built-in veto on any trade because of the structure of his contract — $33.7 million guaranteed this season and a player option for $36.3 million next season. He could control where he goes if the Clippers falter and want to get younger.

11. Nikola Vucevic

According to Joe Cowley of the Sun Times, Vucevic’s remaining $41.5 million over the next two seasons hasn’t drawn any interest in the trade market.

The two-time All-Star still posts decent scoring and rebounding averages, but his shooting has fallen off a cliff and he is one of the worst rim-protecting bigs in the league. He also makes no sense in a rebuilding Bulls team.

If any team needed some low post scoring and rebounding, look no further than Vucevic. The Bulls wouldn’t ask much to terminate his deal early.

12. Jonas Valanciunas

Valanciunas is a huge body who can grab rebounds and deliver balls into the post with the best of them on offense. His slow feet on defense make him difficult to finish games with, but he can get a lot of minutes during the regular season.

The Wizards signed Valanciunas to a reasonable three-year, $30.3 million contract in the offseason. It was assumed throughout the league that he could be traded immediately due to his low salary.

LeBron James was reportedly willing to take a pay cut if the Lakers could sign Valanciunas in the summer. Los Angeles could be a long-term destination for him, considering James’ interest and Davis’ unwillingness to play center full-time.

13. John Collins | 14. Walker Kessler

Collins and Kessler are both good players, but they didn’t work well together at all. One of them has to go.

Collins’ 3-point touch returned last season after he fully recovered from a hand injury. He is still a good finisher who averaged 15.1 points per game in the 2023-24 season due to his good efficiency. He’s not as bad a relief defender as his reputation suggests, and his $26.6 million salary this season doesn’t look as high as it did a few seasons ago when the Hawks were struggling to get rid of him.

Kessler was bought out, but the asking price was reportedly outrageously high. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Jazz rejected a Knicks offer for two first-round picks over the summer.

Kessler is a great rim protector who needs to work on getting better results and being a more offensive threat.

15. Moses Moody

Moody was expected to play a lot more for the Warriors, but he never found a lasting niche in Steve Kerr’s rotation. The two sides were also unable to agree on an extension.

If the separation between them continues, interest in the all-round shooting guard will be high. The Warriors play better when he is on the field because he finds so many ways to contribute.

Moody and Jonathan Kuminga are the two obvious trade candidates if the Warriors decide to make one final run with Stephen Curry. They have two first-round picks they could move to get more win-now help.

MORE: Why Brandon Ingram and James Harden are ideal Warriors targets

16. Jimmy Butler

Butler and the Heat were unable to agree on an offseason extension, which has caused trade rumors to intensify.

According to NBA reporter Nick Friedell, Butler’s name came up in conversations with the Warriors early in the offseason. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said that “at least some eyes are on Butler” as the next big star to be traded.

The Heat are an expensive team whose trade proposals are limited. They couldn’t add a player making more than Butler’s salary of $48.8 million. If they were to actually move on from him, it would likely be a sign that they would take a step back and add some younger players to their system.