The 2024 NBA offseason may be slowing down, but some teams still have a lot to iron out before training camps begin in late September.
The Utah Jazz need to make a decision on Lauri Markkanen, who becomes eligible for a contract extension on Aug. 6 and is likely the best player available on the trade market. Brandon Ingram doesn't seem like he'll work out long-term with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Chicago Bulls should still be looking for a trade partner for Zach LaVine. With Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby signing big new contracts with the New York Knicks and Mikal Bridges now coming to town, would Julius Randle still be a fit in the Big Apple or would it make more sense to return home?
As we enter the second half of July, we have some new blockbuster trade ideas to share with you.
Atlanta Hawks receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Winners: F/C Onyeka Okongwu, G/F Dyson Daniels, SG Kobe Bufkin, 2025 first-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers, unprotected), 2025 first-round pick (via Sacramento Kings, top-12 protected)
The Atlanta Hawks made the right decision by abandoning the Dejounte Murray experiment, which gave them an extra draft pick and allowed them to use a younger player.
Unfortunately, this team hasn't gotten any better since Murray left, and their next three first-round picks will go to the San Antonio Spurs either directly or in a draft swap. The Hawks should improve around Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, but they'll be a worse team than last year's No. 1 overall pick. If the Hawks win again, the Spurs will reap the benefits instead.
The goal should be to build a big, physical team around Young. Markkanen, a 7-foot small forward, is now the Hawks' second-leading scorer (23.2 points, 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers) and part of a potentially strong starting five with Young, 6-foot-8 Zachary Lisacher, 6-foot-9 Johnson and 6-foot-10 Clint Capela. Atlanta will still have Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., Garrison Matthews and Cody Zeller on the bench.
The 2025 draft class is expected to be the best in years, and this trade could potentially give the Jazz Five A first-round pick to revitalize the franchise.
Utah already owns unsecured picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves and would add picks from the Lakers and Kings (protected top-12 in 2025, protected top-10 in 2026 and second-round picks in 2026 and 2027 if not transferred). Trading Markkanen would also increase the chances that Utah would retain its own picks (protected top-10s owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder).
The Jazz would also get a young, talented former first-round pick to add to their talent base. The Daniels trade can't be finalized until Sept. 4, but by making this into two separate transactions (working Daniels into Utah's $6.4 million trade exception) the two sides could get the deal done sooner.
Orlando Magic Received: PG Darius Garland, G/F Jaylon Tyson
The Cleveland Cavaliers receive: G Jalen Suggs, C Wendell Carter Jr., G Cole Anthony
The Orlando Magic strengthened themselves this summer by acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope from the Denver Nuggets, but that doesn't solve the team's biggest problem.
This team needs a true point guard who can lead the offense, set up others and shoot the ball. As Paolo Banchero told Ben Golliver: The Washington Post“If it's easy to understand, I want to be the focal point of the offense rather than a point guard.”
The signing of Caldwell-Pope as the team's starting shooting guard has placed Jalen Suggs in the full-time point guard role after averaging just 2.7 assists per game last season. The Magic's scoring attack, which finished the season ranked 22nd in offensive rating (112.9 rating) and 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.68), can look choppy at times.
Darius Garland is the perfect solution: He's a 24-year-old who can grow with the franchise and has averaged 20.6 points, 7.7 assists and shot 38.9% from the 3-point line over the past three seasons.
A starting five of Garland, Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Banchero and Jonathan Isaac, along with Anthony Black, Moritz Wagner, Gary Harris, Jett Howard, Tristan da Silva, Tyson (the Cavs' first-round draft pick this summer) and Goga Bitadze, would make the Magic a powerhouse in the East for the next decade.
For the Cavaliers, Suggs' size (6-foot-5), defense and 3-point shooting percentage (39.7%) would make him the perfect backcourt partner for Donovan Mitchell, who played point guard last season with Garland sidelined and thrived in that role.
Carter's 3-point shooting percentage (37.4%) allows him to play alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and the Cavs could use Anthony as a sixth man behind Mitchell and Suggs. Cleveland could add depth and bolster its defense with a rotation of Mitchell, Suggs, Max Strus, Mobley and Allen, with Anthony, Carter, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Dean Wade and Sam Merrill.
The Indiana Pacers receive: F Brandon Ingram
The New Orleans Pelicans receive: C Myles Turner, SF Aaron Nesmith
Just a few weeks after their Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the Indiana Pacers have found themselves somewhat of an afterthought in the Eastern Division pecking order.
With the Boston Celtics winning a championship, the Philadelphia 76ers signing Paul George, the New York Knicks acquiring Mikal Bridges in a trade and the Orlando Magic acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Indiana may have to make new moves to secure its place among the conference's elite.
With Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam both under contract for the next four-plus years, Indiana has an All-Star guard and big man at its core, and the addition of Ingram (20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists) would give the Pacers another high-level talent, this time on the wing.
Losing Turner will hurt, but the veteran center is in the final year of his contract and Siakam's Toronto Raptors were a much better team last season with him at center (plus-12.9 net rating) than they were as a power forward (minus-3.5 net rating).
A starting five of Haliburton, Andrew Nembard, Ingram, Obi Toppin and Siakam, along with bench talent including Benedict Mathurin, TJ McConnell, Jahreiss Walker, Ben Shepard, Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, gives Indiana a deep and talented group.
The Pelicans could solve their starting center dilemma with Turner, who is a perfect fit next to Zion Williamson given his 3-point shooting ability. Nesmith is a talented defender who shot 41.9 percent from 3-point range last season and would be a key part of New Orleans' rotation.
Los Angeles Clippers get: SG Zach LaVine, 2025 and 2026 second-round picks (via Denver Nuggets), 2028 and 2029 second-round picks (via Chicago Bulls)
Denver Nuggets get: PG Russell Westbrook, G/F Amir Coffey
The Chicago Bulls receive: SG Norman Powell, F/C PJ Tucker, G Bones Hyland, PF Zeke Nnaji
The Los Angeles Clippers fit the bill for teams looking to acquire Zach LaVine, as the UCLA product could serve as a cheaper, younger version of Paul George, who is currently on a short contract.
Adding LaVine's scoring and playmaking to a core of Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Terrance Mann and Ivica Zubac, especially with the additions of Nic Batum, Derrick Jones Jr., Mo Bamba and Kevin Porter Jr., gives the Clippers a chance to at least contend in the West after losing George.
The Clippers also received four second-round picks in the trade, which will help bolster their roster.
The Nuggets turned a little-used bench option in Nagy, who defaulted on his contract, into two rotation players in Westbrook and Coffey, and added Dario Saric to a revamped bench.
Chicago is finally free of LaVine's contract, giving the franchise more financial flexibility going forward, Tucker is an expiring $11.5 million player on a contract that could land him at a championship contender, while Powell (13.9 points on 43.5 percent 3-point shooting last season) could draw interest on the trade market.
Hyland, 23, and Nagy, 23, have both been asked to contribute to championship-caliber teams so far in their careers, so they could actually be developed by a young Bulls team.
The Dallas Mavericks receive: PF Julius Randle
The New York Knicks receive: PF PJ Washington, C Daniel Gafford, SG Jaden Hardy, 2025 second-round pick (via Toronto Raptors), 2028 second-round pick (via Miami Heat)
At 29 years old, Julius Randle is still an All-Star forward, but it's fair to wonder how he'd fit into a new New York Knicks team that traded for Mikal Bridges and re-signed OG Anunoby this summer.
Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby and Randle are all locked in as starters, with Mitchell Robinson being promoted to the starting role following the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. That means Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo will both need to come off the bench, but both still deserve plenty of time and a role. The combination of Brunson, Hart and Anunoby posted a plus-26.3 net rating on 689 possessions last season, but with Randle back in the mix, they'll likely share the duties more frequently going forward.
Randle could opt out of a team-friendly contract next summer, but a new max contract would push the Knicks' annual salary above $200 million, putting them closer to becoming a second-apron tax-deductible team.
If the Knicks feel they can't afford Randle going forward or feel more comfortable playing smaller players and keeping Hart in the starting lineup, the Dallas Mavericks would be an ideal new home for him.
A starting five of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Randle and Derek Lively II would be the most talented group the Mavs have fielded since 2010-11, while a bench that includes Maxi Kleber, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes, Olivier Maxence Prosper, Dante Exum and Dwight Powell would remain.
The Knicks need another center with Hartenstein gone, and Gafford (11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 72.5% shooting) could fill that role as a starter or reserve. Washington (12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks) is a solid forward rotation, and the 22-year-old Hardy is a capable scorer who could come off the bench.
