Top 5 NBA Trade Targets Heading Into the 2024-25 Seaason

There were a couple of major blockbusters this past offseason in the NBA, both involving the New York Knicks, as they made huge headlines bringing in Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But who will be the next names we'll be hearing on the trade market?

With the help of Zach Buckley at Bleacher Report, we look at the top 5 trade targets for the new season.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

With the Miami Heat apparently not willing to cough up the max extension that Butler is looking for, he's set to walk into free agency after the season. Will Pat Riley allow that to happen? If the Heat aren't in the conversation of serious contenders in the Eastern Conference this year, a trade at the deadline wouldn't be entirely shocking. And it will certainly be the talk of the NBA.

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

This has been percolating all offseason, as Ingram is another star who's wanting a max extension that his team is not willing to offer. Ingram was the subject of plenty of trade rumors this past summer and we expect that to continue into the season. The Pelicans are in desperate need of help at center, and perhaps Ingram could be used to help fill that need.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

No, he didn't get dealt this past offseason as many predicted, though his backcourt partner from last season in Atlanta, Dejounte Murray, did. But Young isn't out of the woods yet with the Hawks, who have been mediocre through most of his run there. They could pull the chute and go all-in rebuild.

Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards

His name was also floated for much of the offseason, as the bottoming-out Wizards have no need for a star forward in his prime, with three years to run on a $90 million contract. But for other teams around the league, that deal is considered "highly attractive", per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

Grant falls into the same boat as Kuzma, but with a much higher salary attached to him. He originally went to Portland to team up with Damian Lillard in 2022-23, and then signed a massive 5-year, $160 million extension with them after that season, just weeks before Portland sent Lillard to Milwaukee and embarked on a rebuild.

Grant and his huge contract are no longer needed in the Pacific Northwest, and a trade is almost inevitable. One Western hopeful is noted as a primary destination.