2024 NBA Trade Deadline Primer

Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertJanuary 17, 2024

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The 2024 NBA trade deadline is about one month away.  So far, we’ve seen three in-season trades. The Philadelphia 76ers traded James Harden to the LA Clippers just a few days into the season. The Toronto Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks in a deal that saw RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley head to Toronto. And last week, the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards hooked up in a salary-clearing trade for the Pistons.

Two weeks or so out from deadline day is when things usually start to pick up. Teams that insisted on multiple first-round picks for their players come down to a single first-round pick, while their partners in trades come up from offering a couple of second-rounders to offering that single first-rounder. As desperation increases, so does reasonability in trade talks.

Here’s what each of the 30 NBA teams are working with to trade as we sit a month from the deadline.

Atlanta Hawks

Cap/Tax Picture: $9.7 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $23.0 million (John Collins)

Draft Pick Situation: Hawks owe two future firsts (2025 and 2027) to the Spurs, as well as a swap in 2026. Atlanta is owed a first-round pick from Sacramento, which should come this year or next. Hawks have at least four tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Dejounte Murray or Saddiq Bey. If Atlanta goes for a big reset, Murray will be traded. If it’s a smaller deal, then it’ll be Bey.

Boston Celtics

Cap/Tax Picture: $5.6 million over the second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $6.2 million (Grant Williams)

Draft Pick Situation: Boston owes a 2029 first to Portland. They also have a top-1 protected swap with the Spurs in 2028. Boston has at least eight tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Take your pick of Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk or Lamar Stevens. All are on minimum deals, and that’s probably how the Celtics are working at this deadline. All of their significant salary is tied up in key players who aren’t getting traded.

Brooklyn Nets

Cap/Tax Picture: $8 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $19.9 million (Joe Harris), $18.1 million (Kevin Durant), $6.8 million Patty Mills, $4.5 million (Kyrie Irving)

Draft Pick Situation: Sean Marks refilled his draft pick coffers when he traded away James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. The Nets still owe two of their own picks to the Rockets, along with a couple of swaps. But Brooklyn has added five extra first-round picks. The Nets have at least six tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Royce O’Neale. He has the easiest deal to move at $9.5 million. Maybe Brooklyn goes bigger, but even then, O’Neale is probably a part of any trade.

Charlotte Hornets

Cap/Tax Picture: $29.8 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Hornets owe a protected first-rounder to the Spurs, but own all the rest of their own first-round picks. Charlotte has at least nine tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Miles Bridges. Bridges’ signing the one-year qualifying offer was a signal this is probably a short-term relationship between him and the Hornets. If a team can get past the off-court issues, Bridges won’t cost all that much in trade. Gordon Hayward would be a strong second choice here, but his contract may prove to be too large to move in-season.

Chicago Bulls

Cap/Tax Picture: $1.7 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $10.2 million (Lonzo Ball – Disabled Player Exception)

Draft Pick Situation: Bulls owe a protected first-round picks to San Antonio in the coming years. Chicago doesn’t have a fully clear first-rounder until 2028. Chicago has a lottery-protected first owed to them from the Trail Blazers. The Bulls also have two truly tradable second-round pick, as others all have conditions attached.

Most Likely to be Traded: Zach LaVine. The star guard has already asked for a trade, and he’s back from injury now. It’s a massive contract to move, but feels like Chicago will eventually find a taker from a playoff team that is desperate for some scoring.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cap/Tax Picture: $3.2 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Cleveland owes three future first-round picks to the Jazz, as well as two years of swap rights to Utah. The Cavs have at least seven tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Isaac Okoro. There isn’t a great choice here, after Ricky Rubio took a contract buyout. Okoro is in the final year of his contract, so maybe Cleveland looks to move him before he hits restricted free agency in July. As for Donovan Mitchell…that’ll be a summer thing, if even then.

Dallas Mavericks

Cap/Tax Picture: $3.5 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $4.9 million (Davis Bertans)

Draft Pick Situation: Dallas owes a first to New York that should convey this season. The Mavericks also owe a pick to Brooklyn in 2029, and the Spurs have swap rights in 2030. Dallas has at least three tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Tim Hardaway Jr. or Richaun Holmes. The Mavs don’t have any large expiring contracts, so that means moving Hardaway or Holmes is the best path toward and upgrade, likely combined with a draft pick or two.

Denver Nuggets

Cap/Tax Picture: $4.7 million under the second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Denver owes future first-round picks to Orlando and Oklahoma City. They won’t be able to trade a first-round pick at this deadline. The Nuggets have at least three tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Reggie Jackson. There isn’t a great choice for Denver. They like and need their kids, because they are a source of production on value contracts. Jackson waived his no-trade clause when he re-signed, but the Nuggets seem more like to stand pat at the deadline.

Detroit Pistons

Cap/Tax Picture: $27.7 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Detroit owes a heavily protected first to New York that may not convey for at least a couple of seasons. The Pistons have at least six tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Bojan Bogdanovic or Alec Burks. We find ourselves here again. Detroit is the worst team in the NBA. They don’t really need these two veteran wings, but they keep hanging onto them. Maybe this is year?

Golden State Warriors

Cap/Tax Picture: $26.6 million over the second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Warriors owe a 2024 top-4 protected first-round pick to the Trail Blazers (via the Grizzlies and Celtics). Golden State also owes the Wizards a top-20 protected first-round pick in 2030. The Warriors have at least three tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Chris Paul. Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody have agitated about playing time recently, but Paul’s pseudo-expiring $30.8 million contract is a huge trade chip. This is also the last season the Warriors can take on money in a trade. Maybe they take one more big swing at fortifying their title core.

Houston Rockets

Cap/Tax Picture: $22.0 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $4.5 million (Kevin Porter Jr.)

Draft Pick Situation: Houston has a couple of first-rounders coming from Brooklyn. They also owe two protected picks to Oklahoma City, and there are swap rights in the mix too. The Rockets should have at least at least seven tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Victor Oladipo. There’s little to no chance Oladipo ever suits up in this second run through Houston. His contract was kept specifically as a tradable asset.

Indiana Pacers

Cap/Tax Picture: $8.3 million under the cap

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Pacers also have all of their own first-round picks, plus an additional 2024 pick that will likely be in the mid-to-late 20s. Indiana has at least 10 tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Bruce Brown or Buddy Hield. This one is semi-easy. Hield asked for a trade on the eve of the season, but has continued to play without causing even the smallest stir. Brown and Hield are also the largest expiring contracts (Brown has a 2024-25 team option) the Pacers will probably put in play via trade. If they make a big move, it’s highly likely Brown and/or Hield will be involved.

LA Clippers

Cap/Tax Picture: $17.3 million over the second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Clippers owe two more first-round picks to the Thunder (or 76ers), plus two years of swap rights. They also an additional first-round pick, plus a potential swap to the 76ers. LA has at least three tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: P.J. Tucker. The Clippers haven’t used Tucker as a rotation player since he came over in the James Harden trade. If they make a deal to further fortify their rotation, he’s likely to be involved.

Los Angeles Lakers

Cap/Tax Picture: $1.3 million over the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Los Angeles owes New Orleans first-round pick in either 2024 or 2025, pending a Pelicans potential deferment. The Lakers owe a top-4 protected first to Utah in 2027. That means they can really only trade their 2029 first-round pick. Los Angeles has five tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: D’Angelo Russell. When Russell waived his right to block a trade by signing a 1+1 deal with the Lakers last summer, it set him up to be trade. His $17.3 million contract is likely to be the best piece of salary-matching Los Angeles has in a trade.

Memphis Grizzlies

Cap/Tax Picture: $5.8 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $12.4 million (Ja Morant – DPE (pending approval)), $7.4 million (Dillon Brooks), $6.3 million (Steven Adams – DPE)

Draft Pick Situation: The Grizzlies have all of their own first-round picks, including favorable swap rights on two picks in 2024 and 2020. Memphis has two tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Luke Kennard or John Konchar. This one is a little messy, because the wheels have really come off the season for Memphis due to several injuries. If they want to add a younger player, or some draft capital, Kennard could be moved. A smaller deal for Konchar could be likely to bring back a second-round pick or a young player who has washed out elsewhere.

Miami Heat

Cap/Tax Picture: $28,840 under second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $9.5 million (Victor Oladipo), $7.2 million (Max Strus), $4.7 million (Dewayne Dedmon)

Draft Pick Situation: The Heat owe one lottery-protected first to the Thunder, but own all of their other first-round picks. The Heat have at least two tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: No one. This might be cheating, but unless Miami is making a big move, they probably aren’t trading anyone. And big moves are usually something the Heat save for the summer. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Cap/Tax Picture: $3.1 million over the second tax apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Bucks don’t own any of their own first-round picks outright. From 2024 through 2027, they are controlled by the Pelicans. From 2028 through 2030 they are controlled by the Trail Blazers. Milwaukee has at least two tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: No one. The Bucks have no real tradable salary at the deadline. Any significant salary belongs to rotation players. And the smaller salaries aren’t enough to get Milwaukee any real upgrades. They’ll probably stand pat at the deadline.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Cap/Tax Picture: $2.4 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $3.7 million (D’Angelo Russell)

Draft Pick Situation: Minnesota owes Utah three future first-round picks (and one swap), only one of which is lightly protected. Because of the Stepien Rule, the Wolves can’t deal another first. The Timberwolves have four tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Shake Milton. The Wolves don’t have a lot of tradable salary that isn’t attached to rotation players. Milton’s $5 million could be a deal to get Minnesota an additional rotation player, as Milton hasn’t filled the bench-scoring role the Wolves had in mind for him.

New Orleans Pelicans

Cap/Tax Picture: $2.9 million over the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Pelicans own all of their own first-round picks and two extra first-rounders courtesy of the Lakers and Bucks. They also have swap rights on two other years with Milwaukee too. New Orleans has at least two tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Kira Lewis Jr. The Pelicans have never paid the tax in franchise history. It’s highly unlikely they’ll break that streak this season. Look for New Orleans to move Lewis in a tax-avoidance trade, probably using a second-round pick to do so.

New York Knicks

Cap/Tax Picture: $6.0 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $6.8 million (Obi Toppin), $5.2 million (RJ Barrett)

Draft Pick Situation: The Knicks own all of their own first-round picks. They have some extra picks coming their way, but all are encumbered with protections. The most likely picks New York will see will come from Dallas in 2024 and Milwaukee in 2025. It’s unclear if Detroit or Washington will ever convey first-rounders to New York, but they could move them to another team to wait out. The Knicks have at least nine tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Evan Fournier. If New York makes another big trade before the deadline, Evan Fournier and his $18.8 million pseudo-expiring contract will be involved. If Fournier isn’t traded ahead of the deadline, don’t be surprised if the Knicks pick up their $19 million team option for next season, simply to keep him as a tradable salary for 2024-25.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Cap/Tax Picture: $12.2 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Oklahoma City has seven extra first-round picks headed their way from a combination of the Rockets, Clippers, Jazz, Heat, 76ers and Nuggets. In addition, the Thunder have all of their own first-round picks, or can swap them for better picks in several years. Oklahoma City has at least 21 tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Davis Bertans or Tre Mann, Aleksej Pokusevski. Bertans will be involved if the Thunder are making a big move. If it’s a smaller move, Tre Mann or Aleksej Pokusevski could be traded. None are regular rotation players and none have a place in Oklahoma City long-term either.

Orlando Magic

Cap/Tax Picture: $34.3 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Magic have an extra first coming from the Nuggets, in addition to all of their own first-round picks. Orlando has at least 12 tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Chuma Okeke. We could have picked someone flashier like Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris or Jonathan Isaac, which would indicate a big trade. But something smaller like moving Okeke seems to be more likely, if not quite as fun.

Philadelphia 76ers

Cap/Tax Picture: $4.3 million over the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $6.8 million (James Harden)

Draft Pick Situation: The Sixers first-round draft picks in the closer-in years are tied up because they owe protected picks to both the Thunder and Nets. In 2028, Philadelphia picks up an extra pick from the LA Clippers, and they have their own picks in 2029 (can swap with LAC 4-30) and 2030. The 76ers have at least six tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Robert Covington/Marcus Morris or Furkan Korkmaz. The former pairing will likely be involved if the Sixers pull the trigger on a big trade before the deadline. They combine for over $28.8 million in outgoing salary. If Philadelphia is delaying the big moves to the summer, then look for Furkan Korkmaz to get moved in a tax-avoidance trade.

Phoenix Suns

Cap/Tax Picture: $4.9 million over the second apron

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $6.5 million (Cameron Payne), $4.9 million (Dario Saric)

Draft Pick Situation: Phoenix’s draft pick situation is unique and a mess. Every Suns first-round pick is either owed to another team or tied up in complicated swap rights. Phoenix has at least six tradable second-round picks, but it cost them swap rights for several years of first-round picks to acquire them.

Most Likely to be Traded: Nassir Little. There isn’t a great choice for the Suns. Nine players are on minimum contracts and five non-minimum salaries are tied to starters. That leaves Little as the only non-minimum salary that belongs to a non-starter. That makes him the most tradable guy.

Portland Trail Blazers

Cap/Tax Picture: $5.5 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $8.8 million (Damian Lillard), $8.3 million (Gary Payton II)

Draft Pick Situation: Portland owes a lottery-protected pick to Chicago. Those protections carry out through 2028, but the pick should likely convey before then, if Portland’s rebuild goes the way they hope. The Trail Blazers have extra first-round picks coming from the Warriors, Bucks and Celtics, plus swap rights in two years with the Bucks. The Blazers have at least seven tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Malcolm Brogdon. Portland is flush with younger guards and Brogdon could return younger players and/or draft picks to add to the rebuilding stash. If, for some reason, Brogdon isn’t traded by the deadline, look for a deal to come over the summer.

Sacramento Kings

Cap/Tax Picture: $18.0 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Kings owe a protected first-round pick to the Hawks, but own the remainder of their own first-rounders. Sacramento has at least five tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Davion Mitchell. Sacramento is looking for upgrades and they’ve reportedly offered Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter to teams. But that’s going to be in a pretty big trade. Mitchell has fallen out of the rotation. So, if he’s not part of a bigger deal, the Kings could move him in a smaller deal to get him to a place where he can play.

San Antonio Spurs

Cap/Tax Picture: $28.2 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: The Spurs own all of their own first-round picks. They have extra protected firsts coming from the Hornets, Raptors and Bulls. They also own two unprotected Hawks first-round picks, and swap rights in separate years with Atlanta, Boston and Dallas. San Antonio has at least 16 tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Doug McDermott or Cedi Osman. Both veteran players are reportedly on the market. Neither will net a huge return for the Spurs, but could see San Antonio pick up a couple of extra second-round picks.

Toronto Raptors

Cap/Tax Picture: $1.9 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $4.4 million (Precious Achiuwa)

Draft Pick Situation: Toronto owes a protected first-round pick to San Antonio, but owns all the rest of their own first-rounders. The Raptors have at least four tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Pascal Siakam. It seems almost inevitable at this point that Siakam is getting moved. The real question: Who else follows him out the door?

Utah Jazz

Cap/Tax Picture: $29.3 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: None

Draft Pick Situation: Utah owes one protected pick to Oklahoma City. Beyond that, the Jazz have eight additional first-rounders coming their way, mostly from the Cavaliers, Lakers and Timberwolves. Utah has two tradable second-round picks.

Most Likely to be Traded: Talen Horton-Tucker. If the Jazz do a big deal to add to what has been a surprisingly good team, Horton-Tucker will probably be a part of it. If Utah does some rebalancing and asset-collecting, keep an eye on Kelly Olynyk getting moved.

Washington Wizards

Cap/Tax Picture: $21.2 million under the tax

Notable Traded Player Exceptions: $12.4 million (Kristaps Porzingis), $9.8 million (Monte Morris), $5.4 million (Bradley Beal), $3.5M (Mike Musala)

Draft Pick Situation: The Wizards owe a protected first-round pick to the Knicks, but own all of their other first-rounders. They also have the ability to swap several years of picks with the Suns, plus they own a top-20 protected Warriors pick in 2030. Washington as has least 14 tradable second-round picks. 

Most Likely to be Traded: Take your pick. The Wizards are about six months into a long-awaited rebuild. They could trade just about anyone, minus Deni Avdija, Bilal Coulibaly and maybe Corey Kispert. The most likely guys are Tyus Jones or Delon Wright, but don’t be surprised if multiple Wizards get moved.