The NBA offseason is nearly upon us — with a potentially explosive free agency and trade landscape this summer.
It’s the time when front offices broach the trade market for some of their best players while refining the back end of their roster for cheap. Whether that’s for a veteran presence in the locker room, a young prospect with untapped potential, or an accomplished player expected to play quality, yet limited minutes.
Here’s our list of each NBA team’s buy-low free agent and sell-high trade target this summer.
Atlanta Hawks: Tyus Jones, Trae Young
Without a backup point guard on the roster, Tyus Jones could be attained on a cheap deal as a viable option to set up the offense and let the talented Atlanta Hawks wings go to work. He’s also served as a starter during his career, namely for the Phoenix Suns last season.
If Atlanta decides to put the four-time All-Star Trae Young on the trading block, testing out his value, Jones would be a nice backup plan. This would allow the trade package to be more focused on draft picks and developmental pieces instead of acquiring a star guard in return.
Boston Celtics: Taurean Prince, Jaylen Brown
Entering a potentially franchise-altering summer with an extremely expensive top-heavy roster, the Boston Celtics will need to make cheap moves around the edges in free agency.
Taurean Prince fits in that category, as he started 73 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last season while playing under the veteran’s minimum. The market isn’t expected to improve much for him, making Prince a solid buy-low option.
The second-biggest contract on Boston’s books is Jaylen Brown, who signed the supermax worth $285 million across five seasons. With the franchise in a salary cap crisis, getting off Brown’s contract and getting younger could benefit them long term, as Jayson Tatum, the face of the team, recovers from an Achilles’ tear.
Brooklyn Nets: Isaiah Jackson, Nic Claxton
Nic Claxton has put together three consecutive solid seasons for the Brooklyn Nets, finishing well at the rim and blocking shots on the defensive end. With his name potentially on the trading block this summer, a cheap signing replacement could be Isaiah Jackson, who has similar qualities but hasn’t had a consistent starting role in his career.
MORE: Insider Projects Brooklyn Nets “To Be Very Active in Trade Discussions” During 2025 NBA Draft
With proven rim-running, shot-blocking centers at a premium this summer, the Nets could receive a haul in a trade for Claxton while finding his replacement (for the time being) for cheap.
Charlotte Hornets: Doug McDermott, Miles Bridges
With the fourth pick in the draft, the Charlotte Hornets are in prime position to take either Rutgers’ Ace Bailey or Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe. Both function as either a two-guard or small forward. That’s the same type of position that Miles Bridges plays, as he’s averaged over 20 points per game in each of the last three seasons — meaning his value will never be higher.
Bridges is also 27 years old, a bit older than other potential young stars on the roster. While the sharp-shooting Doug McDermott is far from a replacement, he’d provide shooting off the bench, something that All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball needs alongside him.
Chicago Bulls: Seth Curry, Nikola Vučević
Attempting the second-most 3-pointers per game last season, it makes sense for Chicago to make a cheap addition for one of the best percentage shooters in the NBA. Seth Curry’s 43.3% career mark from deep would further help the Chicago Bulls to open up the floor and fire it up.
While Nikola Vučević has expanded his game to beyond the arc, he’s a slow, plodding center who, though averaging 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, holds back his teammates. Broaching his trade market and going smaller in the middle would be the last step of Chicago’s transition to the modern game of basketball.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Guerschon Yabusele, Jarrett Allen
The time is now for the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a change to their big four of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and the big duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Mitchell and Mobley aren’t going anywhere, but Garland and Allen could be moved for a significant return.
With Mobley showing his defensive prowess last season, it may be in Cleveland’s best interest to move him to center full time and send Allen out.
With that, the need for a more physical presence down low, either in the starting lineup or off the bench, would be needed. Guerschon Yabusele, at 6’8″ and 265 pounds, provided just that for the Philadelphia 76ers last season after returning to the NBA from overseas.
Dallas Mavericks: Tre Mann, Klay Thompson
The main focus heading into the offseason for the Dallas Mavericks is adding ball-handlers, as point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss a majority of next season with a torn Achilles.
Enter Tre Mann, who hasn’t yet established himself as a rotational player for a long period of time but showed immense talent and ability last season, scoring 14.1 points per game in 13 games off the bench in Charlotte.
For Klay Thompson, his main pull of coming to Dallas was playing with superstar Luka Dončić and Irving. Now entering a season without either, Thompson could decide to force a trade out. Still a terrific 3-point shooter, he’d have a market around the NBA amongst contenders looking for a player to space the floor.
Denver Nuggets: Jake LaRavia, Michael Porter Jr.
It may seem counterintuitive for the Denver Nuggets to trade Michael Porter Jr. when they have a dire need to add shooting. However, in order to clear cap space, it may have to happen.
As a result of that, Denver could bring in a player like Jake LaRavia, who was the 19th pick in 2022 to the Memphis Grizzlies but never quite received an opportunity to show his skills. LaRavia was traded to the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline, but doesn’t look to be a part of their long-term picture.
A 6’7″ wing, who’s a career 37.1% 3-point shooter, playing with Nikola Jokić could unlock what made him a first-rounder three years ago.
Detroit Pistons: Monté Morris, Jaden Ivey
It’s easy to forget that the Detroit Pistons’ surprise playoff run and six-game first-round series with the New York Knicks came without Jaden Ivey, after he broke his leg in early January.
Ivey was in the middle of a career year, averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. But with point guard Cade Cunningham coming into his own as an All-Star and performing extremely well in the playoffs, Detroit could opt to see what can be brought back in an Ivey trade.
Along with that, the franchise’s goal this offseason should be supporting Cunningham in every way possible. That’ll include reinforcing the guard positions behind him.
While Dennis Schröder was excellent last season, he may have priced himself out of a return. Monté Morris, after a season in Phoenix, is a veteran backup point guard who’s safe with the ball, is a career 38.9% 3-point shooter, and could provide another mature voice in the locker room on a cheap deal.
Golden State Warriors: Trey Lyles, Jonathan Kuminga
Jonathan Kuminga is the obvious choice as a player the Golden State Warriors can sell high, as his trade value went up exponentially after averaging 20.8 points per game in their second-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s not a good fit for the roster and has been benched by head coach Steve Kerr multiple times.
MORE: Warriors Insider Confirms Jonathan Kuminga’s Bold Decision on His Future
While sending out Kuminga, Golden State could bring in a guy like Trey Lyles, who’s been a solid stretch four off the bench for the Sacramento Kings for the past 3.5 seasons. He’d likely be a cheap signing and could further space the floor for Stephen Curry.
Houston Rockets: Precious Achiuwa, Tari Eason
The Houston Rockets have several young players whose names have been mentioned in trade talks. But Tari Eason may have the most potential. He’s a terrific athlete and defender who is developing his jump shot and slashing ability.
While not nearly the offensive threat in transition that Eason is, Precious Achiuwa is a similar type of player defensively and could fill that role off the bench as an inexpensive option.
A number of young players on the Rockets’ roster will be up for potentially expensive contract extensions. The front office needs to explore every avenue to keep the costs of the roster down, and Achiuwa gives them that opportunity.
Indiana Pacers: Dante Exum, Bennedict Mathurin
It’s been proven during the Indiana Pacers’ playoff run that Bennedict Mathurin is simply not the right fit for this roster. He’s a highly talented scorer, yet isn’t the best in Indiana’s up-tempooffense. Averaging 16.1 ppg off the bench in just his third season, Mathurin could be a target for rebuilding teams looking for a potential star.
Certainly not a 1-to-1 replacement, Dante Exum has reestablished himself as a solid NBA role player and is willing to do everything asked of him. His defense is what sticks out, something the Pacers may look to improve this summer. Exum also knocked down 43.4% of his triples for the Mavericks last season, an important skill to have in the modern NBA.
Los Angeles Clippers: Luke Kornet, Norman Powell
If the Los Angeles Clippers can find a trade partner willing to give up young, talented players for Norman Powell, who’s coming off a career year, they should pull the trigger. They have almost no young talent on the roster and don’t look to be eager to part ways with James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, or Ivica Zubac. Powell is the next guy up.
Speaking of Zubac, Los Angeles enjoyed a career-best season from him — yet struggled mightily with him off the floor, cycling through multiple backup centers with little to no success. Luke Kornet is coming off an impressive playoffs with the Celtics and is a proven backup. If he’s cheap enough, he would be a terrific addition as the Clippers aim to once again contend for a playoff spot in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers: Delon Wright, Austin Reaves
The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t trading Dončić. They aren’t trading LeBron James. But they could trade Austin Reaves, who’s the last impact player on the roster who could bring back a significant haul.
Seen as a potential All-Star and in line for a large contract extension, Reaves had his best season — averaging 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game — last season. Rebuilding teams should be clamoring to add Reaves and, in turn, sending back assets to Los Angeles.
Delon Wright is far from a star impact player, but he showed during the playoffs with the Knicks that he can still play defense at a high level and swing games with his effort. The Lakers need cheap additions, and Wright would be just that.
Memphis Grizzlies: Trendon Watford, Ja Morant
Is it finally time to pull the plug on Ja Morant? That’s the question Grizzlies’ brass will have to answer this offseason after a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Still just 25, it’d be intriguing to see how much Memphis could get back in return.
Something missing from the team last season was physicality at the forward positions. All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. is far from that despite his frame. Yet, Trendon Watford has quietly made himself into a quality role player for the Nets and could be a solid addition to the Grizzlies’ bench unit as a physical power forward.
Miami Heat: Kyle Lowry, Kel’el Ware
Needing a steady hand at the point guard position, the potential addition of Kyle Lowry — who played for the Miami Heat from 2021-24 — would help solve that. At 39 years old, he doesn’t have the ability to play a full load every night, but that’s okay for the Heat.
Tyler Herro came into his own last season, largely playing the point, something he can do for stretches of the game while playing off ball alongside Lowry.
Kel’el Ware was a pleasant surprise for the franchise as a rookie, having been picked No. 15 overall and not expected to contribute right away. But that’s what he did, starting 36 games (a majority down the stretch of the season) and averaging 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. With Bam Adebayo a center as well, Ware is expendable and could bring back future draft picks or accomplished players in return.
Milwaukee Bucks: Davion Mitchell, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Easily the most intriguing storyline of the offseason is where Giannis Antetokounmpo plays next year. It could be in Milwaukee. It could be elsewhere. In that case, the Milwaukee Bucks could receive a historic haul in return for the two-time MVP, who would raise the ceiling of his new team exponentially.
Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has not made any firm decisions, but for the first time in his career, he is open-minded about whether his best fit is remaining in Milwaukee – or playing elsewhere, league sources told ESPN.
Story on ESPN: https://t.co/2aTg3Bq8o3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 12, 2025
In the short term, however, Milwaukee has to think about who will handle the ball for them next season with Damian Lillard sidelined for most of the season with a torn Achilles.
Davion Mitchell had a terrific play-in tournament and playoff run with Miami on both ends of the floor, finally looking like the lottery pick that he was in 2021. For the Bucks, he’d be a nice add to handle the ball and shore up their defense at the point of attack.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Santi Aldama, Julius Randle
This one is a little complicated, as Julius Randle has a $30.9 million player option for next season. Yet, the probability of him declining and leaving for nothing is next to none.
A sign-and-trade is more likely, as the Timberwolves can sign him for more money than any other team. If that were the agreement, the exact market would be interesting, but it’d surely be significant, as Randle is an All-Star caliber player.
If Randle is to depart, Santi Aldama would be a nice replacement as a bench piece. He’s averaged double-figure scoring the past two seasons for the Grizzlies as a versatile seven-footer on the wing.
New Orleans Pelicans: Jericho Sims, Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson is another big-name player who could be on the trading block this summer. Though he’s dealt with an immense amount of injuries, Williamson has superstar potential and could be extremely interesting for rebuilding teams needing a marketable star.
With several bloated veteran contracts, the New Orleans Pelicans will be limited with what they can do in free agency. However, they do need to add a backup center behind Yves Missi, who put together a promising rookie campaign.
Jericho Sims hasn’t put it all together yet in his career, but at 26 years old, the high-flyer can finish dunks and challenge shots at the rim in limited minutes.
New York Knicks: Spencer Dinwiddie, Mikal Bridges
With Tom Thibodeau out the door, it remains to be seen if other changes are on the horizon. Two things are true, however. The roster is expensive, and the extension-eligible Mikal Bridges had a disappointing playoffs, leading to the thought that he would be the one moved in a trade. As a two-way player potentially better as the second or third option instead of the fourth, Bridges could bring back good value in a trade.
Along with Thibodeau’s firing, New York’s new coach is far more likely to rely on the bench next season. Though Cameron Payne is in place as the backup PG, he’s inconsistent and erratic at times. Spencer Dinwiddie would be a low-cost, mature player who can come in, do his job of scoring the ball, and mesh with the other veterans on the team.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Tre Jones, Isaiah Hartenstein
There’s next to no holes to poke with this Thunder roster, but while the Isaiah Hartenstein experiment next to fellow seven-footer Chet Holmgren has been a success, his contract is expensive at $28.5 million for the next two seasons.
Getting off his deal, receiving even more draft picks back, and moving Holmgren to center full time could be the move this offseason in order to clear some cap space for the eventual contract extensions of him and Jalen Williams.
The one thing that may need to be added entering next year is an accomplished backup point guard. Oklahoma City has operated largely without one this season, instead opting for Williams’ backup guard Cason Wallace to handle the ball in the second unit.
But Tre Jones, who is one of the top guards in taking care of the ball, could benefit in limited minutes as the conductor of the offense and allow the others to fall into their natural positions.
Orlando Magic: Chris Paul, Wendell Carter Jr.
Considering that journeyman backup point guard Cory Joseph started each of the Orlando Magic’s five playoff games this season, they need a starting-level point guard to run the show.
Though Chris Paul is 40, he played all 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season — the first time in his career that he’s done that. He averaged 8.8 points and 7.4 assists per game and would fit well as a distributor to Orlando’s star forward duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
Meanwhile, the center position has held back the Magic during Wendell Carter Jr.’s tenure with the team. Standing 6’10”, Carter lacks shot-blocking abilities and made just 23.4% of his triples last season. He is what he is: a below-average starting center in the NBA. While Carter may not have the highest trade value, it wouldn’t hurt for the front office to see what they could get in return.
Philadelphia 76ers: Ziaire Williams, Paul George
There’s not a whole lot of realistic pieces the 76ers would trade, as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jared McCain are more than likely not going anywhere. Paul George, however, coming off a very disappointing season, could be moved. A big contract and an aging superstar, anything the 76ers can get back would be a positive.
Ziaire Williams averaged 10.0 ppg last season and knocked down a career-high 34.1% of his 3-pointers. Though he wouldn’t project as a starter in Philadelphia, the 2021 No. 10 pick could further develop into a contributor while on an inexpensive deal.
Phoenix Suns: Jevon Carter, Kevin Durant
It’s been reported that Kevin Durant is almost certainly going to be departing Phoenix via trade, so he’s the obvious choice here. Durant should command a pretty nice trade package in return, as teams will likely be bidding against each other.
Point guard is a dire need in Phoenix, and Jevon Carter could help fill that role. He played for the Suns from 2019-2021 and is a solid shot-maker who plays defense at a proficient level.
Portland Trail Blazers: Jeff Green, Anfernee Simons
The Portland Trail Blazers seem to be stuck between which timeline they want to be on. They have several young players (Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, and Deni Avdija) and several older guys on big contracts (Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant). Simons could have the most trade value, as he’s a proven scorer just waiting to have an impact on a winning team.
Suggesting Jeff Green here may seem odd, but it’s more for his veteran presence in the locker room. Green was a valuable piece during the Nuggets’ 2023 championship run and has served as a mentor to the Rockets’ young core. Serving in the same role in Portland would greatly benefit its young players.
Sacramento Kings: Larry Nance Jr., Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis’ time in Sacramento may be coming to an end. With point guard and pick-and-roll mate De’Aaron Fox traded at midseason, he’s the last big piece left from the Kings’ surprise playoff push two seasons ago.
As an offensive engine but with limited defensive capabilities, broaching what Sabonis’ value is on the trade market wouldn’t hurt. If they can get back young players, it’d be worth it.
To help soften the blow of a Sabonis deal, Larry Nance Jr. could be brought in for a relatively cheap deal. He’s a proven connector offensively in a similar way to Sabonis — yet on a much, much smaller scale. Regardless, Nance would help Sacramento right away as it navigates through yet another trying time in the franchise’s history.
San Antonio Spurs: Gary Payton II, Devin Vassell
Simply put, Gary Payton II is a winning player, much like his father. Despite not having the top-level skills that his dad did, Payton’s defense, movement off the ball, and 3-point shooting from the corner have helped the Warriors in big ways.
Entering this summer with hopes of contending for a playoff spot, adding a playoff-caliber rotation player in Payton would be a great addition for the Spurs.
Devin Vassell, though blossoming into a nice scorer at the two-guard position, may not be seen as a great fit for eventual superstar center Victor Wembanyama. If they decide to go after a big fish, Vassell’s name would be at the forefront as a 24-year-old up-and-coming scorer with All-Star potential.
Toronto Raptors: Luke Kennard, Gradey Dick
The outlook of the Toronto Raptors’ roster is expensive. And while Gradey Dick improved greatly into a rotational shooter for them last season, he’s a potential trade candidate as he may be enticing for teams looking to add shooting on the wing. Besides, Toronto drafted Ja’Kobe Walter in the first round in 2024, who’s also a two-guard.
If they want to keep the shooting element on the roster but for a low price, Luke Kennard is a proven sharp-shooter who’s slated to be a cheap signing this summer.
Utah Jazz: Marvin Bagley III, Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen is one of the only players on the Utah Jazz roster who could be traded for a big haul. If he does become available, the 7’0″ 3-point shooting forward could easily be worth multiple draft picks and several young players, something Utah should be targeting in return.
That would leave a vacancy at the forward spot, Marvin Bagley III’s position. Though he’s disappointed after being the No. 2 pick in 2018, there’s still talent there. Adding him for a short-term, low-salary deal wouldn’t hurt the Jazz as a fill-in in the place of Markkanen.
Washington Wizards: Bol Bol, Khris Middleton
Though the 7’3″ Bol Bol just finished his sixth season, he’s just 25 years old. His talent is still visible, as he possesses guard-like skills, but he just hasn’t put it all together. Projected to be signing for close to the veteran’s minimum, Bol could further develop his game with the rebuilding Washington Wizards.
While it may not give Washington the biggest haul in return, doing right by Khris Middleton and trading him to a contender should be a priority this offseason. Oft-injured and aging rapidly, the time for the former Buck to contribute in meaningful games is dwindling. Getting anything back in a trade would be considered a success.
