NBA Trade Block Big Board: Fantasy Deals for Top Rumored Players

Slowly but surely, the NBA trade market is starting to take shape.

It may be a while yet before any major deals get done, but teams have started plotting their paths and discussing swaps that might be worth pursuing between now and the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

With the rumor mill moving, it's time to update our trade big board with both the latest buzz and deals that could realistically be coming down the pipeline. As always, the big-board rankings attempt to reflect each player's trade value based on everything from ability and statistics to contract status, ease of fit and a not insignificant amount of subjectivity.

The Buzz

The Jazz were a lottery team last season, and they've fallen further in the standings since. It comes as no surprise, then, to hear they are "open for business," as B/R's Chris Haynes put it.

If Utah shifts the franchise's focus at all, Clarkson would likely be on the move. The 31-year-old has had a rough start to this season, but he is a proven point-producer who can consistently create offense (mostly for himself, but also for his teammates) off the dribble. He is best deployed as a quick-strike sixth man, but a team that's light in the backcourt and looking for scorers might see him as a starter.

The Trade

Jordan Clarkson to the Houston Rockets for Victor Oladipo, Jock Landale, a 2027 first-round pick (top-seven-protected), a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick

Houston has fueled its launch on the strength of its sixth-ranked defense, but this team badly needs more offensive punch. The Rockets don't have a 20-point scorer on the roster, nor a double-digit scorer on the second unit. Clarkson would immediately add more zip, plus he'd be another veteran voice to help lead this young locker room where it wants to go.

Utah would do this deal strictly for the picks. A protected first and a pair of seconds may not sound like a ton, but that's a healthy haul for a 31-year-old non-star. Clarkson has never been the most efficient scorer, so his game isn't guaranteed to age gracefully.

The Buzz

Virtually everything is malfunctioning in the Motor City at the moment, where the Pistons are carrying a 24-game losing streak into Thursday's bout with the Utah Jazz. Bogdanović, though, is one of the few exceptions, as the 34-year-old has shown no ill effects from the calf strain that delayed his season debut.

The scoring forward is once again impressing with both his scoring volume (21.1 points per game) and efficiency (49.6/42.4/75.7 shooting slash). He should be easy to market to any and all offense-seeking shoppers, which might be why Detroit doesn't feel rushed to make a deal. The Pistons have simply "expressed that it would take a large offer" to get him, per The Athletic's Fred Katz.

The Trade

Bojan Bogdanović to the Orlando Magic for Gary Harris, Chuma Okeke, a 2024 first-round pick (top-10-protected), a 2026 second-round pick (via ORL, DET or MIL) and a 2028 second-round pick (via LAL or WAS)

If the Magic hope to have any playoff success, then their 18th-ranked offense needs an upgrade. They have outstanding needs for scoring and shooting, and Bogdanović could help on both fronts.

The Pistons clearly want to get some value back for Bogdanović, and they'd have multiple paths to it with this deal. The picks would be the biggest prizes, but Harris might have value (to them or someone else) as a three-and-D guard. And while the stars have yet to align for Okeke, he'd be the kind of no-cost flier a long-term rebuilder should be taking.

The Buzz

LaVine is a two-time All-Star and one of the league's better offensive players, but you wouldn't know that by his trade market. Thanks to his colossal contract, injury history and a noticeable lack of team success on his resume, his trade buzz is basically a few cricket chirps.

That has led The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry to believe that "all signs are pointing" to LaVine eventually being sent to the Los Angeles Lakers, who certainly need an offensive lift. The Sacramento Kings could be interested at the right price, per The Athletic's Sam Amick, but that feels like an odd fit for a club that needs defense more than offense.

The Trade

Zach LaVine and Andre Drummond to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier and a 2024 first-round pick (top-10-protected, via DAL)

While a LaVine-Jalen Brunson backcourt would be defensively challenged, the upgrade from Barrett to LaVine in scoring, shooting and playmaking could be worth it. LaVine could relieve some of New York's inside-the-arc congestion and widen the attack lanes for Brunson and Julius Randle. Drummond, meanwhile, could give some relief to a center rotation that could be without Mitchell Robinson all season, as Shams Charania reported for The Athletic and Stadium.

As for Chicago, it could have visions of building a long-term core around Barrett, Patrick Williams and Coby White. Its finances would become much easier to manage after unloading LaVine and bringing back Fournier, who holds a $19 million team option for next season. And while this pick can't crack the top 10, it would have a non-zero chance of landing somewhere near the middle of the first round.

The Buzz

Not much has been said about Brogdon's situation in Rip City lately, but maybe nothing more needs to be said. The Blazers are in the infant stages of plotting their post-Damian Lillard path, and the 31-year-old Brogdon is almost certainly a mere placeholder in that blueprint.

He's also a good trade chip to have, particularly in a market that appears short on sellers. His injury history is lengthy, but when he plays, he produces—at both ends and on or off the ball. He's also been a part of five different playoff trips with three different teams. Win-now shoppers will have an interest, and executives think they may be willing to part with "a protected first-round pick in this year's draft" to get him, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

The Trade

Malcolm Brogdon to the Toronto Raptors for Chris Boucher, Thaddeus Young, Malachi Flynn and a 2026 first-round pick (lottery-protected)

If the Raptors aren't going to tear down their roster, then they should be looking to strengthen it. Adding Brogdon would certainly do that. They could use more scoring, creation and spacing, and he could help in each area. Getting him could also bump Dennis Schröder to the bench, where he arguably fits best and could give the group better offensive direction.

If the Blazers did this deal, they'd so for the pick. Young is a salary-filler, and Flynn may be little more than that despite being a relatively recent first-round pick (No. 29 in 2020). Boucher can play, though, and his blend of shot-blocking and three-point shooting could entice someone to part with an asset or two for him before his contract is up in 2025.

The Buzz

While the Bulls seem ready to move LaVine, things are far less certain with their other veterans. There is actually interest between the franchise and DeRozan in a new contract, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, though those talks are stalled. Chicago is, however, listening to offers on DeRozan.

This still feels likely to end up with a trade, as rebuilding seems best for the Bulls, and the 34-year-old DeRozan can't help them with that beyond whatever future-focused assets they'd get in return for him.

The Trade

DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso to the Miami Heat for Kyle Lowry, Nikola Jović, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick swap

The Heat haven't reeled in a whale in a while, and they could feel urgency to act with Jimmy Butler now on the wrong side of his 34th birthday. This swap would cost some of their top trade assets, but it could be worth it to gain DeRozan's inside-the-arc offensive prowess and Caruso's tenacious point-of-attack defense. This could be the trade that puts the Heat, who are 14th in both offensive and defensive efficiency, on the championship track.

If the Bulls are big believers in Jović, a skilled 6'10" swingman who can't legally down an adult beverage until next summer, this could be enough for them to punt on this season and focus on their long-term outlook. The pick and swap—neither of which would be protected—could prove hugely valuable should Miami backtrack once Butler exits his prime. Lowry, whose $29.7 million salary is expiring, could become a buyout candidate after making the money work in this move.

The Buzz

The Bulls are doing everything they can to get Caruso off a list like this. To date, they've been "flat-out resistant" to overtures for the 2022-23 All-Defensive first-teamer, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

That won't keep the trade winds from swirling around Caruso. Not when Chicago lacks both a championship upside in the short term and a rich collection of long-term assets. The Bulls have played better of late, but they haven't even cracked the Play-In Tournament field yet. A roster reset feels inevitable, and a Caruso trade seems like their best option for getting that going.

The Trade

Alex Caruso to the Sacramento Kings for Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte, a 2026 first-round pick (top-four-protected), a 2024 second-round pick and two 2025 second-round picks (via SAC and POR)

The Kings are eager to make an upgrade, but they're worried about the contracts Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby will likely command this summer, per The Athletic's Sam Amick. They also don't appear in obvious need of an offense-first contributor like Zach LaVine.

Caruso, then, could be the ideal target. He'd be one of their best bets to improve their 22nd-ranked defense, and he could find several offensive fits as a ball-moving connector, a capable spot-up shooter and a savvy off-ball cutter. Plus, he holds one of the league's best bargain contracts, as he's owed just $9.5 million this season and has only a partial guarantee for his $9.9 million 2024-25 salary.

The Bulls clearly won't let Caruso go for cheap, but they wouldn't with this deal. Beyond the lightly protected first-rounder and the three second-rounders, they'd gain two lottery picks from the 2021 draft in Mitchell (No. 9) and Duarte (No. 13).

The Buzz

OG Anunoby cracks the short list of the league's most logical trade candidates this season. Toronto could be on the verge of a roster reset around Scottie Barnes, as multiple key players will have free agency awaiting them upon this campaign's conclusion. That almost certainly includes Anunoby, who could easily find more than his $19.9 million player option on the open market.

Just because he's an obvious trade candidate, that doesn't mean he'll be a cheap one, though. The Raptors, who have held onto impending free agents before, "are expected" to target Keegan Murray in a trade involving either Anunoby or Pascal Siakam, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. Murray, who sounds like he's off-limits, was last summer's No. 4 pick and one of last season's All-Rookie first-teamers.

The Trade

OG Anunoby to the Memphis Grizzlies for Luke Kennard, Ziaire Williams, a 2024 first-round pick (via MEM, WAS or PHO), a 2026 first-round pick (top-five-protected) and a 2028 first-round pick

The Grizzlies may sense a chance to salvage their season after the electric return of Ja Morant, and the amount of ground they need to make up might require an aggressive addition. Anunoby could be the long, two-way wing this roster has needed for years, and if Memphis is prepared to cover the cost of his upcoming free agency, it should have a contending core with him, Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr.

As for the Raptors, they should be aiming for draft assets. They wouldn't necessarily need to keep and spend all of these picks, but they could use one or two to make a splashy trade once this roster proves it's ready for one. Williams' age (22) and physical tools still combine to form an interesting upside, and Kennard could up the club's spacing until it finds a way to flip him for additional assets.

The Buzz

The Raptors feel like a perpetual wild card this time of year, and this season is no different. They could control the trade market with plug-and-play contributors like Siakam, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. to offer, but they could just as easily keep them around the same way they did with Fred VanVleet last season and Kyle Lowry in 2021.

Still, rival teams believe "now, more than ever" that Toronto will move on from at least one of Siakam or Anunoby by the deadline, per The Athletic's Shams Charania. If this becomes an either-or situation, Siakam seems the likeliest to go, since he's older and a trickier fit with Scottie Barnes given his plummeting three-point percentage (26).

The Trade

Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for Buddy Hield, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, a 2026 first-round pick (top-four protected), a 2027 second-round pick (via UTA) and a 2028 second-round pick (via DAL)

The Pacers have had their sights set on Siakam for a while, and it's hard to imagine that interest has dissipated. Neither Obi Toppin nor rookie Jarace Walker has fully filled their hole at power forward, and coach Rick Carlisle sounds like he can't stomach much more from his leaky defense.

Siakam isn't a shutdown stopper, but he is a capable defender with some flexibility on that end. He's also been an all-league performer at the power forward spot, not to mention the second option on a title team (the 2018-19 Raptors). Pair him with rising star Tyrese Haliburton and shot-blocking, three-point splashing center Myles Turner, and Indy might have a trio capable of making some playoff noise.

Toronto's interest in this package would hinge somewhat on its feelings about Toppin, a 25-year-old coming into his own as an offensive weapon. If the Raptors felt like he could be a keeper, they'd do well to land him and the three picks they'd get, not to mention the assets they'd potentially collect in future deals involving either Hield, a lights-out shooter, or McConnell, a two-way playmaking point guard.

The Buzz

It's possible both Jazz fans and front-office members will roll their eyes at Markkanen's inclusion, and they're certainly within their right to do that. He's a 26-year-old star who should keep getting better. Giving up a talent like that is never easy and seldom advisable.

With Utah sliding down the standings, though, it could take some time to get things turned around. Markkanen could absolutely help with that, but if someone put a Godfather offer on the table for him, that might offer even more assistance.

"Do I expect Utah to trade Lauri? No," one general manager told Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. "But they are saying they're willing to listen. They are willing to listen to calls on everyone, but it's a matter of meeting their price like Minnesota did for Rudy [Gobert]."

The Trade

Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Ousmane Dieng, Tre Mann, Dāvis Bertāns, a 2024 first-round pick (top-four-protected, via HOU), a 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via MIA), a 2026 first-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick

While Thunder general manager Sam Presti largely downplayed the possibility of an acceleration trade during media day, he didn't close the door on that option completely.

"Perhaps at some point when we have a little more information, the team has demonstrated its capability, played in high-performing games, and we see where our limitations are, potentially," Presti told reporters.

Well, that more information has now become a scorching 17-8 start during which OKC has posted top-10 efficiency ranks on offense (10th) and defense (third). This could be the perfect time to splurge, especially since Markkanen is on the same timeline as the Thunder's 25-year-old MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Between those two, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and the squad's strong supporting cast (which would get a size boost from the 6'11", 240-pound Olynyk), Oklahoma City could be ready to crash the championship race right now.

If the Jazz moved Markkanen, they'd need to overwhelmed with incoming draft picks, and this deal would check that box. Of the four first-round picks, two would definitely be unprotected, and Miami's 2025 first could become unprotected in 2026 if it hasn't conveyed by then. Bertāns would simply be salary-filler, but both Dieng and Mann would have a chance to stick with Utah long-term.

The Buzz

The Cavaliers aren't interested in dealing Donovan Mitchell and "have maintained a commitment" to their current core, per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer. However, Cleveland's stance has done nothing to stop "the incessant chatter among rival executives that Mitchell will inevitably bolt when he can reach the unrestricted market in 2025," Fischer wrote.

So, if rival teams are talking about a possible Mitchell trade, then we should do the same.

The Cavaliers weren't playing great even before losing Darius Garland to a facial fracture and Evan Mobley to arthroscopic left knee surgery. If they can't gain traction between now and the Feb. 8 trade deadline, the whispers about Mitchell could reach an ear-splitting volume. He could reach free agency in 2025, and there's long been speculation that the New York native might be eager to head home.

If Cleveland can't envision making a prolonged playoff run between now and then, it might have to at least entertain the idea of a Mitchell deal. Doing it now instead of next season would help maximize the return and potentially recoup at least some of the many assets Cleveland sacrificed to acquire him last offseason.

The Trade

Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Thomas, Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, Noah Clowney, a 2027 first-round pick (via PHO) and a 2028 first-round pick

For all of the lines connecting Mitchell to the New York Knicks, a trade to Brooklyn would still bring him back to the Empire State. Plus, he'd team with a strong second option in Mikal Bridges, a dynamic defensive center in Nic Claxton, a three-and-D ace in Cam Johnson and some solid role players around that quartet.

Brooklyn likely needs to up its star power if it hopes to win big during Bridges' prime, and Mitchell is the brightest star residing anywhere near the trade market. For as good as Thomas has been this season, Mitchell remains a superior scorer and shot-creator. Plus, Spida has proved his offensive proficiency can carry over to the postseason.

If Cleveland actually brokered a Mitchell blockbuster, it should aim for a package that helps both now—the Cavs could be plenty competitive with healthy versions of Garland and Mobley alongside Jarrett Allen—and later. This deal would do that.

Thomas has exploded in his third season and should factor prominently in the Most Improved Player award race, if not the All-Star voting. Finney-Smith fills the coveted three-and-D archetype about as well as anyone. Dinwiddie can pop for 20 points or double-digit assists any night. All three could immediately step into substantial rotation roles.

Plus, the Cavs would still get two future firsts from teams with uncertain far-out futures, and a recent lottery pick in Clowney, this summer's 21st selection. Cleveland would also find a resolution to the Rubio situation, as the team and the point guard "have begun discussing the possibility of parting ways" as he remains away from the team to focus on his mental health, per Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor.

Statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference and NBA.com and current through games played on Dec. 20.

Zach Buckley covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on X, @ZachBuckleyNBA.