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JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers <\/p>\n
It was a wild October week on the NBA trade rumor mill, so let\u2019s look back \u2026<\/p>\n
The Knicks were, again, the news of the week after having declared in a bizarre statement that they will cease and desist with all contract extension talks as they prepare for the season. The organization\u2019s goal was to turn attention to the team\u2019s title defense, but in typical Knicks fashion, the statement had the opposite effect\u2013it only served to cast a brighter light on the fact that the Knicks are pinching pennies in the wake of the first championship at MSG in 53 years. <\/p>\n
It also made Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, the two biggest names in need of extensions, even more sympathetic characters than they\u2019d been before. Could they now be trade candidates? <\/p>\n
Kristaps Porzingis Presents an NBA Trade Rumor Conundrum<\/p>\n
Out West, the Warriors are already in high stress mode thanks to the shocking (sarcasm) health issues of Kristaps Prozingis, who is not at training camp and is dealing with an illness that the team admits it does not know how to identify. Porzingis has been dealing with this since his time in Boston in 2024-25, and it has rendered him an almost useless player because he can\u2019t practice and his availability is constantly in question. <\/p>\n
The first issue is, why did the Warriors pay Porzingis $23 million guaranteed (two years, $40 million, but only $3 million guaranteed for next year) if they knew they did not have any answers for this? Porzingis finished the season with the Warriors\u2013did no one on their celebrated medical staff raise a red flag on signing him again?<\/p>\n
And don\u2019t count on trading Porzingis. Sure, he can still be used as a chip on the NBA trade rumor mill because his contract next year is not guaranteed, and because the Warriors could package him with picks in a trade for a more useful player from a team that might like to trim payroll\u2013Aaron Gordon? Trey Murphy?<\/p>\n
Maybe, except that salary dumps are not really the mood of the NBA these days.<\/p>\n
Yes, a team that is facing apron problems going forward could see Porzingis as an expiring deal. But there are only a small handful of teams in that situation (Denver, Oklahoma City, Orlando, for example). In recent years, the value here would be for teams looking to tank. Those teams would gladly take on Porzingis and picks, and that\u2019s where the Warriors would most likely get value. But rule changes to prevent tanking have dried up that market, and moving a guy with Porzingis\u2019 availability issues for someone useful will be that much harder.<\/p>\n
Steve Kerr said he\u2019s texted with Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis wasn\u2019t at practice today\/Kerr hasn\u2019t seen him, Kerr said he\u2019ll check in with Porzingis today.<\/p>\n
Asked if he + team knew behind-the-scenes what exactly Porzingis is dealing with.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d <\/p>\n
Yes, Bronny James Is a Lakers Asset<\/p>\n
This generated conversation this week, so we will bring it back. <\/p>\n
We reported more than a year ago that the Lakers had interest in developing Bronny James not as the son of a Hall of Fame father but as a 3-and-D point guard who can defend a few positions, knock down shots and run the offense as No. 3 point guard. And they\u2019re doing that.<\/p>\n
Other teams have taken notice of James, too, though. The Lakers will need to drop one player from the roster, and the presumption\u2013rightly\u2013is that it\u2019s likely to be Dalton Knecht. But don\u2019t rule outa Bronny James trade, not because the Lakers are seeking to sump him but because he could bring in draft assets\u2013even a second rounder or two, which is what James would bring. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely interest there,\u201d one executive said of other teams nosing around on James. \u201cHe\u2019s gotten much better in a short period. He knows his role, and it\u2019s hard to find young guys who just want to excel in their role.\u201d<\/p>\n
Again, we\u2019re not talking first-round picks, and dumping Knecht is still probably the Lakers\u2019 path. But Bronny James being traded because of his own ability and not because of his dad would be a great story.<\/p>\n
Kyrie Irving\u2019s Long Road Back<\/p>\n
And finally, another look at Kyrie Irving as a trade candidate, now that we know now why Irving took as long as he did to come back from the ACL surgery he had 18 months ago.<\/p>\n
From Kevin Gray of DLLS Cowboys: \u201cMavericks G Kyrie Irving revealed today that he had a Grade 2 calf strain during last season in December that set him back 8 weeks as he was recovering from his torn ACL.\u201d<\/p>\n
NBA types are especially wary of calf strains, as they can sometimes signal an Achilles tendon problem. Irving and the Mavericks did well to catch it in time before damage could be done, and the delay in his ACL rehab was worth it. But Irving remains a top NBA trade rumor name\u2013his health and production will be monitored very closely into January and February.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tMavericks G Kyrie Irving revealed today that he had a Grade 2 calf strain during last season in December that set him back 8 weeks as he was recovering from his torn ACL #MFFL<\/a> <\/p>\n NBA Trade Rumors: Guards on the Market<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start the Big Board with the guards \u2026<\/p>\n De\u2019Aaron Fox, Spurs. (Remaining contract: four years, $223 million). We\u2019re putting De\u2019Aaron Fox back on the board because though it will be tough to trade a guy with four years and $223 million on his upcoming contract, he does figure to crop back up in NBA trade rumors if, in fact, he plays well coming out of the gate. He does not have a long-term future in San Antonio, but he does have a long-term contract.<\/p>\n Kyrie Irving, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: two years, $82 million<\/a>, player option in second year.) To be clear, nothing is imminent on a Kyrie Irving trade and there have not been active discussions on moving him. The guy is coming off a torn ACL, after all. Like a lot of veterans, the idea is to play him through January, build value and see if something can be done at the deadline. The Mavs won\u2019t be afraid to keep him around, but they\u2019re configuring the roster around youth.<\/p>\n Darius Garland, Clippers. (Remaining contract: two years, $87 million.) The Clippers are licking their wounds after the five-first-round-pick penalty from the Aspiration-Kawhi Leonard scandal settled in, and while it is not clear which path the team will take next\u2013or the ramifications from the fact that their owner and GM are currently suspended\u2013collecting draft picks and cap space would be a good idea. Garland is the only player on the roster who could potentially warrant a package of two first-rounders though his injury history would be an obstacle.<\/p>\n Ja Morant, Blazers. (Remaining contract<\/a>: Two years, $87 million.) Hard to imagine Morant easing all the fears teams would have about him by February, but a summer trade would make some sense. <\/p>\n Jrue Holiday, Blazers. (Remaining contract: Two years, $72 million, player option.) He\u2019s the best realistic trade chip the Blazers have and would be coveted by contenders if Portland decides its backcourt is too crowded. If Damian Lillard and Ja Morant play well, and Shaedon Sharpe comes back, moving Holiday makes sense. <\/p>\n Dejounte Murray, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: two years, $63 million, player option.) Teams will want to see how he looks now that he should be fully healed from his Achilles tendon injury, but expect him to be a trade candidate as the deadline nears.<\/p>\n Jamal Murray, Nuggets. (Remaining contract; three years, $161 million.) Maybe? It\u2019s not likely to happen now, but the finances in Denver are grim. It\u2019s not hard to see a Jaylen Brown situation here. The Nuggets can continue to make changes around the margins, but with Nikola Jokic\u2019s contract situation looming, they might need to do something drastic.<\/p>\n Mikal Bridges, Knicks. (Remaining contract: four years, $150 million.) It would make the most sense for the Knicks to trade Bridges if they seek payroll flexibility going forward, so we\u2019ll slide him on this list. But the Knicks appear determined to try to hammer the team under the second apron for as long as it can stay there\u2013there will be a breaking point, though, and the Karl-Anthony Towns extension is just the beginning.<\/p>\n Ty Jerome<\/a>, Grizzlies. (Remaining contract: two years, $19 million, including player option.) Jerome took advantage of the mess in Memphis last year and\u00a0 averaged 19.7 points, shooting 42.0% from the 3-point line. The Grizzlies will need to thin out their roster<\/a>, and the 29-year-old Jerome really does not fit here. He would have good value if Memphis wants to flip him for future assets, but the Grizz do not have much else at point guard. <\/p>\n Jalen Suggs<\/a>, Magic. (Remaining contract: four years, $115 million, team option.) Suggs has been in the NBA five years, and had one good season as a two-way guard who could knock down 3s (2023-24, averaging 12.6 points and 39.7% 3-point shooting). Every other year in the league has been ugly and injury-riddled for Suggs. Unfortunately for the Magic, Suggs\u2019 one good year was when he was up for an extension. We can\u2019t rule out Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner trades, but only if the season truly goes South.<\/p>\n Dalton Knecht<\/a>, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $10 million, including two team options.) Knecht showed some promise as a rookie but fell off in Year 2 and is now a contract filler in a potential trade. It has been surprising that no team has been willing to gamble on his upside\u2013he is only 25. If the Lakers can\u2019t move him, he could be outright cut. <\/p>\n Jaden Hardy, Lakers. (Remaining contract: one year, $6 million.) The Lakers need to drop a player, and Hardy is a good candidate if they can find a taker. <\/p>\n NBA Trade Rumors: Wing Candidates<\/p>\n Everybody needs wings, and good ones are hard to find \u2026<\/p>\n Josh Hart, Knicks. (Remaining contract: two years, $43 million, team option.) Someone will have to go for the Knicks, and Hart would not be preferred, but he is possible. Given his contract and his overall usefulness, he would have plenty of takers.<\/p>\n OG Anunoby, Knicks. (Remaining contract: three years, $136 million, player option.) If someone has to go from the Knicks to make the finances work under the second apron, Anunoby would be the third least likely to do so\u2013he showed his versatility and value during the playoffs. But he would also be the most desirable possible trade candidate on the Knicks roster, giving them a chance to recoup their losses and add assets. Longshot, but not impossible.<\/p>\n Trey Murphy<\/a>, Pelicans<\/a>. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.) There have been rumblings that the Pelicans would deal Murphy, and equal rumblings have indicated they won\u2019t. Murphy is a favorite in NBA trade rumors, but New Orleans is slow-playing any potential trade.<\/p>\n Michael Porter Jr., Nets<\/a>. (Remaining contract: one year, $40 million, partial guarantee.) Assuming the Nets\u2019 contract talks do not reignite with Porter, he will be a top trade focus all winter. His extension talks appear to be faltering<\/a>, though they are not dead. He is a fringe All-Star, though, and is seeking to be paid like one. If the Nets do not want to go too far on a contract, the question would be whether another team would, and what the Nets could get in return.<\/p>\n Brandon Ingram, Raptors\/Clippers. (Remaining contract: two years, $82 million, player option.) The Clippers should be seeking to do what they can to pile up draft picks, and moving off of Brandon Ingram next offseason could fetch them one. But he had offseason foot surgery, and it remains to be seen how that will affect him.<\/p>\n Moses Moody<\/a>, Warriors. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) Moody is potentially going to be ready for the start of the season, and is said to be staying put. But if the Warriors do anything trade-wise this summer, speculation holds it will involve Moody.<\/p>\n Derrick Jones<\/a> Jr., Clippers. (Remaining contract: one year, $10 million.) Jones is a defensive ace still, and his expiring contract gives the Clippers some wiggle room to move him. They\u2019re caught in the Aspiration pause, however.<\/p>\n Kyle Kuzma<\/a>, Bucks. (Remaining contract: one year, $20 million,) His expiring contract is attractive and if the Bucks pull a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin or Jonathan Kuminga, he could be involved.<\/p>\n DeAndre Hunter, Kings. (Remaining contract: one year, $25 million.) The Kings want to keep him as an expiring contract they could potentially flip, but he\u2019s being mentioned as a possible target. If Sacto can get back an asset without taking long-term money, he could be dealt at the deadline.<\/p>\n Royce O\u2019Neale<\/a>, Hornets. (Remaining contract: two years, $21 million,) The Hornets still have some sorting to do. O\u2019Neale is not a long-term piece, of course, but he has value. The team could hang onto him, see how he fits and flip him at the deadline.<\/p>\n Jake LaRavia<\/a>, Lakers<\/a>. (Remaining contract: one year, $6 million.) Hustles, plays every game, but inconsistent. His contract makes him an attractive piece, though, as the Lakers are still figuring out the back end of their roster.<\/p>\n Herb Jones, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: four years, $82 million, including player option.) Jones is a popular name on the market, but the Pelicans are said to want two first-round picks, and with Jones having struggled with injuries and his 3-point shot in the past two seasons, that\u2019s too steep. His remaining contract scares off potential suitors, too.<\/p>\n Cam Johnson<\/a>, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: one year, $23 million.) The Peyton Watson move probably means Johnson stays put, but he will be very tradeable in the coming months before the deadline. Johnson struggled in his lone season in Denver, and he has been a prominent feature on the NBA trade rumor mill for years now. But teams wanted the Nuggets to include picks in a Johnson deal, and that was not happening. He still has enough of a reputation around the league to warrant trade interest, but the apron-addled Nuggets value the fact that he has an expiring contract. They need that space for Nikola Jokic next summer.<\/p>\n PJ Washington, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 4 years, $90 million.) Like Daniel Gafford, Washington is aging out of the Mavericks\u2019 timeline, as he turns 28 this summer. He\u2019s a stretch 4 who plays good defense, but his shooting has been suspect\u2013he made just 32.5% of his 3s last year. Like Gafford, they\u2019re hoping to get a first-round pick in a deal for him, but the contract is prohibitive and the production is not worth it.<\/p>\n NBA Trade Rumors: Center\/Power Forward Market<\/p>\n And of course, there are the big guys on the NBA trade rumor mill \u2026<\/p>\n Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks. (Remaining contract: two years, $118 million<\/a>, player option.) The pressure has been ratcheted up, and the Towns-Knicks marriage is getting more and more fragile. Still, it is a very slim chance that the guy who takes the fall for the Knicks\u2019 unwillingness to go into the second apron will be Towns\u2013he is too valuable. His contract extension, though, could be the catalyst for a major Knicks trade, and we can\u2019t rule out the possibility that Towns himself will be on the move for the right package.<\/p>\n Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves. (Remaining contract: two years, $74.5 million, player option.) It would take some seriously fast development from Joan Beringer to make the Wolves comfortable with moving Gobert, but we can\u2019t rule that out. <\/p>\n Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors. (Remaining contract: two years, $40 million, team option.) Porzingis could be useful as an expiring contract on the trade market, but with no teams tanking this season, it might be hard to find a deal that brings back anything of value.<\/p>\n Paolo Banchero, Magic. (Remaining contract: five years, $245 million, player option.) Good luck finding a taker for that deal. But if the Magic continue to flop, he will be a big name on the NBA trade rumor mill. <\/p>\n Myles Turner, Bucks. (Remaining contract: Three years, $84 million, player option,) We\u2019ve been back and forth on Turner as a trade candidate for two reasons: One, the Bucks don\u2019t want to give him up now because the team does not want to fall off completely with Giannis Antetokounmpo gone. He is also coming off a bad year, so he needs time to rebuild value. And, two, Turner is still on a prohibitive contract that scared teams off this summer. If he gets a good start going, he will be a viable cadidate in January and February. <\/p>\n Aaron Gordon<\/a>, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: three years, $110 million.) The Nuggets will have a second-apron crunch next year, as has been well documented. That is one reason they did not want to move off the expiring contract of Cam Johnson this summer, and probably won\u2019t do so this season\u2013they value the $23 million Johnson will leave behind when he hits free agency. The Nuggets plan to give Nikola Jokic a $360 million extension next summer, but they\u2019re going to need more flexibility. Dealing Gordon could do it, though his contract and health issues make that difficult.<\/p>\n Jalen Smith, Bulls. (Remaining contract: one year, $9.4 million.) There has been interest in Smith, and the Bulls could cash in on him as the season gets rolling and teams clearly have big man needs.<\/p>\n Nikola Jovic<\/a>, Heat. (Remaining contract: four years, $62 million<\/a>.) There is trepidation about trading for Jovic, who is certainly available and is still only 23 years old. But the remaining contract is a hefty bite for teams to take.<\/p>\n Grant Williams<\/a>, Hornets<\/a>. (Remaining contract: one year, $15 million.) The Hornets are expected to be busy on the trade market this season, and Williams\u2019 expiring deal has some value. He can still be a worthy big man off the bench.<\/p>\n Zeke Nnaji<\/a>, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: four years, $32 million.) The Nuggets shopped Nnaji this summer, but there were no takers. He does not have a weighty contract, but four years is lengthy for him. We\u2019re keeping him on the candidate list, but his value isn\u2019t great. <\/p>\n Obi Toppin, Pacers<\/a>. (Remaining contract: two years, $31 million.) A foot injury torpedoed his season last year, and even when healthy, he\u2019s a bench player who give you about 18 minutes a night. The Pacers will likely do something to get themselves under the luxury tax, either now or at the deadline.<\/p>\n Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) We\u2019re putting Vanderbilt into the category of players who were not dealt this summer but could go at the deadline\u2013if they can show some life and revive their value early in the year. The expectation is that Vanderbilt will play, and if he earns back a bit of JJ Redick\u2019s trust, he could regain some value on the market.<\/p>\n Daniel Gafford<\/a>, Mavericks<\/a>. (Remaining contract: three years, $54 million.) Gafford will be 28 in October, and with the Mavs focused on getting younger, moving him along has been one of the team\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n