With many stars facing uncertain futures with their current teams, it's still possible that a big trade could happen before the end of the 2024 NBA offseason.
Lauri Markkanen would be an ideal fit for a Western Conference contender with plenty of draft picks. If the Charlotte Hornets want to rebuild around Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball is the perfect point guard for an Eastern playoff team in need of offensive power. The New York Knicks may be forced to sell Julius Randle due to his player option next summer, and Brandon Ingram is still searching for a new team ahead of his 2025 free agency.
The NBA offseason isn't over yet, and these five big trades will be brewing before the 2024-25 season officially begins.
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Winners: PG Nikola Topic, F Ousmane Dieng, F Kenrich Williams, 2025 first-round pick (via Utah Jazz), 2027 first-round pick, 2029 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick, 2028 second-round pick
The Thunder already have big wins in the 2024 offseason with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, but no other team has as many draft weapons to trade for Markkanen, who would help turn Oklahoma City's once small frontline into three 7-footers.
A starting five of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Markkanen, Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein would be a strong addition to the Thunder's rebounding weaknesses, while a bench of Lou Dort, Caruso, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams would add immense depth to Oklahoma City's roster.
The trade creates a big gap between the Thunder and the rest of the West. It adds another 20-point-per-game player to Oklahoma City's starting lineup, but it has minimal impact on the team's future draft picks.
The Jazz will be fully committed to rebuilding, a smart strategy with the top draft picks expected to be available in 2025 and 2026. Utah will acquire its own top-10 protected first-round pick in 2025 from Oklahoma City, as well as two unprotected first-round picks and three future second-round picks.
Topic will likely miss the entire 2024-25 season because of a partially torn ACL, but he may be the best pure point guard in the 2024 draft class. Dieng, 21, is the No. 11 overall pick in 2022, and Williams could turn into a contender for additional draft capital.
Orlando Magic Received: PG LaMelo Ball
The Charlotte Hornets receive: G Anthony Black, F/C Wendell Carter Jr., G Cole Anthony, 2025 first-round draft pick, 2025 first-round draft pick (via Denver Nuggets, top-five protected).
The Magic still lack creativity on offense and are one All-Star point guard short to truly challenge the best teams in the Eastern Conference in the coming years.
Ball is a passing wizard who frequently makes highlight passes that neutralize defenders, and the soon-to-be 23-year-old is averaging 23.9 points, 8.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while also taking a ton of 3-pointers (and making them), which is exactly what Orlando needs with its roster.
The starting five of Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac is very well balanced defensively and with only one member (KCP) over the age of 26. If Ball suffers another ankle injury, the bench could still feature Jett Howard, Moe Wagner, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze and Tristan da Silva, with Jalen Suggs potentially returning to the starting lineup.
As currently configured, the Hornets aren't good enough to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and probably aren't bad enough to land the No. 1 pick and Cooper Flagg. With a new front office and coaching staff in Charlotte, taking a step back and trading Ball might be the best course for the franchise, especially with this type of package.
Black is the No. 6 overall pick in 2023, Anthony (24) and Carter (25) are both on impressive contracts with big potential, and the Hornets would get two more first-round picks in next year's loaded draft.
Charlotte needs to rebuild around Brandon Miller and add young players and draft picks while also improving its chances of landing the No. 1 pick in 2025.
The Toronto Raptors receive: SF Brandon Ingram, SG Jordan Hawkins, F Matt Ryan
The New Orleans Pelicans receive: C Jakob Poeltl, G/F Bruce Brown, 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected, via Indiana Pacers)
The Pelicans will likely still be looking for a way to make Brandon Ingram their starting center before the season begins, and Poeltl could be one of the best available players.
The 28-year-old Poeltl averaged 11.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field for the Raptors last season, but the Raptors originally acquired him to play with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. With the Raptors now rebuilding around Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, he may not be a long-term fit in Toronto.
Poertl is a big, talented defender who will make just under $20 million per season over the next three years. Since joining Toronto, he has posted swing ratings in the 98th and 91st percentiles, respectively (plus-14.1 and plus-9.6 overall) and could help solve the Pelicans' starting center problem.
Meanwhile, Brown gives New Orleans a veteran who can play a substantial role off the bench. Brown's contract is for $23 million and is expiring, meaning he will be out of contract at the same time Trey Murphy III's rookie-scale contract expires.
New Orleans could go with a starting five of Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Murphy, Zion Williamson and Poeltl, with CJ McCollum, Brown, Jose Alvarado, Yves Missy and Daniel Theis on the bench, and a 2026 draft class expected to be loaded with talent and almost certainly one that will get an additional first-round pick from the Pacers.
The Raptors continue to get younger, bolstering their offensive potential with Barnes at the helm, while Ingram (26) and Hawkins (22) will add to the core of a current team that also includes Quickley, RJ Barrett, Grady Dick, Jacobe Walter and Ochai Agbaji.
Toronto will have Kelly Olynyk, Chris Boucher and rookie Jonathan Mogbo in the big man rotation to fill the void left by Poeltl's departure. A starting five of Quickley, Barrett, Ingram, Barnes and Olynyk would have plenty of floor spacing, length and offensive talent.
If the Raptors and Ingram can find common ground on a new contract, this could be a low-cost purchase opportunity for the former All-Star.
Los Angeles Clippers get: F/C Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves get: F Cameron Johnson, F Dorian Finney-Smith, SG Terrance Mann, 2030 second-round pick
The Brooklyn Nets receive: SG Norm Powell, PF Kobe Brown, G Bones Hyland, F/C P.J. Tucker, 2031 first-round pick (unprotected via Los Angeles Clippers), 2031 second-round pick (via Los Angeles Clippers)
The Clippers are in danger of missing the Western Conference playoffs next season and will likely be looking for a third star to join Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Towns, 28, is a four-time All-Star and would bring a new dimension to Los Angeles' offense with his ability to stretch the floor. Towns could be in the starting lineup alongside Ivica Zubacs, or head coach Tyronn Lue could go with a wing-heavy approach and place Towns at center with Nicolas Batum or Derrick Jones Jr. in the opening five. Either way, acquiring Towns would help the Clippers stay in the top six in the West.
To build a consistent winning team and avoid future second base apron opportunities, the Wolves will almost certainly have to opt out of Towns' current four-year, $220.4 million contract.
Johnson (13.4 points, 39.1% 3-point shooting) will replace Towns in the starting lineup as a stretch-the-floor big man, while Finney-Smith and Mann would add depth to Minnesota. It's a move driven by financial reasons, but a rotation of Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, Mike Conley Jr., Johnson, Finney-Smith, Mann, Rob Dillingham and Joe Ingles should keep the Timberwolves at the top of the West.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn would accelerate its rebuild by collecting draft picks, expiring salary (Tucker), young players (Brown, Hyland) and a veteran who can be sold at the trade deadline (Powell).
The Houston Rockets receive: PF Julius Randle
The New York Knicks receive: PF Jabari Smith Jr., C Jock Landale, F Jeff Green, 2027 first-round pick (top five protected)
If the Rockets want to make a big push in the West standings next season, acquiring an All-Star power forward in the prime of his career could help.
The 28-year-old Randle, a Texas native, would bring balance to a young Rockets team after averaging 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game last season and would slide into a Houston starting five that also includes Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Alperen Shenggun.
While the 21-year-old Smith has All-Star potential, Randle is currently the better player to lead the Rockets to the playoffs.
For the Knicks, who went 21-15 without Randle and reached the second round of the playoffs, the move is intended to give them more financial flexibility in the future while remaining in title contention now. Smith could start at power forward, or the Knicks could move OG Anunoby to the 4 position and keep Josh Hart or Donte DiVincenzo in the opening lineup.
While Smith has two years remaining on his rookie deal, Randle and Green are in the final year of their contracts or have no guaranteed salary for next season, and not getting an extension for Randle could save the Knicks a lot of money in 2025.
Randall would also give the Knicks a backup center to Mitchell Robinson, but Smith and Green could also see time at the position. The Knicks would also get a future first-round pick, which is important after giving up five players in the Mikal Bridges trade.
