Fubo News breaks down the NBA trades that need to happen, including Zach LaVine and Donovan Mitchell. Watch the NBA on Fubo live.
One of the most important dates on the NBA calendar that most casual fans are unaware of has come and gone. As of Dec. 15, 2023, the majority of the league is now available to be traded.
The players that were signed in the off-season become eligible for trades on Dec. 15 while those that were extended have to wait until Jan. 15.
Effectively, the 81 players signed in the off-season are now eligible to be traded while 11 more become eligible a month from now. With all of that in mind, it is NBA trade season between now and Feb. 8 for teams to improve their franchises.
Another small bit of housekeeping as you get the trade machine fired up: There are a few new rules with the new CBA that change how salaries are matched in trades.
If you are a first or second “apron” team (Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns) you can only bring back 110% of a salary in a trade. Example: Boston can trade $10 million worth of contracts for a return as high as $11 million.
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The Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic both have cap space, so they have no restrictions.
For every other team, they can bring back 200% plus $250,000 in trades for $7.3 million in contracts or less, an additional $7.5 million in trades for contracts between $7.25-$29 million and 125% plus $250,000 for contracts over $29 million.
Now with the table set, the new rules and players eligible for trades: Who are the players that need to be traded and the teams that should be making those movies?
Alex Caruso – Chicago Bulls
This Year: 9.4 Million
Total Contract: 2 years, 19.3 Million
Potential Trade Partners: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings
Favorite Trade: Caruso to Sacramento for Davion Mitchell, Kessler Edwards, Juan Toscano-Anderson and two first round picks (2026 Top 14 protected and 2028 swap)
A team is going to need to pony up at least one first and potentially two for Caruso in a trade. He is one of the elite perimeter defenders in the league, while also filling up the stat sheet and developing a career 37.5% shot from three.
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On Sacramento, Caruso gives an elite offense one of the best point-of-attack defenders while not impacting the rotation of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter.
Bojan Bogdanovic – Detroit Pistons
This Year: 20.0 Million
Total Contract: 2 years, 39.0 Million
Potential Trade Partners: Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers
Favorite Trade: Bogdanovic to Memphis for Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Josh Christopher and two second-round picks (2024 and 2025)
There is no reason for Detroit to keep a veteran of Bogdanovic’s caliber. He will create a modest bidding war from teams for a stretch four that will look even better on a competitive team. This season, Bogdanovic is up to 21.1 points per game on 49-42-76 percent splits in eight games. Memphis might need to toss in a first-round pick with protections to outbid other contenders.
Dejounte Murray – Atlanta Hawks
This Year: 18.2 Million
Total Contract: 5 years, 132.2 Million (Player Option)
Potential Trade Partners: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic
Favorite Trade: Murray and De’Andre Hunter to Chicago for LaVine
Both teams need to hit a reset of some kind with the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray duo not working while the “big three” in Chicago never taking off.
For Atlanta, getting off Murray and Hunter for an All-Star caliber player that in theory works better alongside Young allows them to go all-in on offense. They get a little more athletic, dynamic and clean up the rotation.
Chicago makes this move with one eye on next summer when DeMar DeRozan could leave in free agency and Lonzo Ball could opt out of his player option. (It’s unclear why he would do that considering he hasn’t played in well over a year, but stranger things have happened.) Murray becomes the face of the franchise alongside Colby White, Nikola Vucevic, Hunter and an array of young talent.
Donovan Mitchell – Cleveland Cavaliers
This Year: 33.1 Million
Total Contract: 3 years, 105.6 Million (Player Option)
Potential Trade Partners: Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and New York Knicks
Favorite Trade: Mitchell to Miami for Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Kevin Love and two 1st round picks (2027 Top 10 protected and 2029 unprotected)
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Mitchell is more than likely to move on from Cleveland after next season to a bigger market. With Cleveland underperforming, Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee) both out until roughly February – now is the time to strike to maximize value in a Mitchell trade.
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*There is no way if I were Mike Gansey that I allow the trade to go through without Jaime Jaquez Jr, but it is unlikely Miami is willing to open negotiations with the rookie in the conversation
Kelly Olynyk – Utah Jazz
This Year: 12.2 Million
Total Contract: Expiring
Potential Trade Partners: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies
Favorite Trade: Olynyk and second-round pick (2029) to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga, Cory Joseph and Gui Santos
My favorite fake trade for the past 18 months has been getting Olynyk to Golden State. He is a perfect player when healthy in this system. He shot 39.9% from three over the past two seasons (36.9% for his career), a good rebounding rate (14.6%) and block rate (1.8% career). Adding Olynyk gives Golden State another big that can play big while also stretching the defense from three.
The only negative here is giving up on Kuminga for a veteran rotation big man. At this stage Golden State HAS to make win-now moves to maximize Stephen Curry’s greatness or there is no point in keeping the core together at their combined cost.
Kyle Kuzma – Washington Wizards
This Year: 25.5 Million
Total Contract: 4 years, 89.9 Million (descending)
Potential Trade Partners: Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings
Favorite Trade: Kuzma to Indiana for Buddy Hield and two first-round picks (2026 Top 10 protected and 2028 Top 4 protected)
The two big draws in a Kuzma trade are his contract, which descends year-over-year through 2026-2027, a rare asset in the league. He has also evolved into 21.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists per 36 minutes on 45-34-73 splits as he enters his prime.
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Making this move for Kuzma gives Indiana a controlled asset for four years, a great contract, a very good scorer and when engaged a versatile defender. He has been lost in Washington for three years and would have the potential to thrive alongside Tyrese Haliburton.
Malcolm Brogdon – Portland Trail Blazers
This Year: 22.5 Million
Total Contract: 2 years, 45.0 Million
Potential Trade Partners: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz
Favorite Trade: Brogdon to Philadelphia for Marcus Morris, Furkan Korkmaz and two first round picks (2028 Clippers and 2030 Top 10 protected)
Between now and the trade deadline Philadelphia has to turn the expiring contracts of players like Morris, Korkmaz, Robert Covington, Daniel House and others into a rotation player. Brogdon fits in any environment and will be a great fit next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
OG Anunoby – Toronto Raptors
This Year: 18.6 Million
Total Contract: 2 years, 38.5 Million (Player Option)
Potential Trade Partners: Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings
Favorite Trade: Anunoby to Houston for Jalen Green and Victor Oladipo
Yes, teams do not trade top-three picks that are playing well. That is true. Another truth is that this Houston team made one leap this season, has a star building block in Alperen Sengun and is not afraid to accelerate the timeline.
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Anunoby gives head coach Ime Udoka a unique defensive weapon to help improve upon what is already a top three in points allowed and rating. Houston would prioritize resigning Anunoby to pair with Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks.
For Toronto, it is pretty clear the team is set for a seismic change this off-season with a proactive trade like this giving the team a potential 20-plus point scorer to pair with Scottie Barnes going forward.
Terry Rozier – Charlotte Hornets
This Year: 23.2 Million
Total Contract: 3 years, 74.7 Million (Team Option)
Potential Trade Partners: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers
Favorite Trade: Rozier to Los Angeles for D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish and Max Christie
The moment Russell signed his new contract during the off-season he went on the clock for a trade to help Los Angeles bring in an impact player for a championship run. Rozier might not be the name that Los Angeles fans are going to get excited for, but he brings the team everything it needs.
This season Rozier is putting up 23.1 points, 7.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 47-37-87 splits. He is an efficient shooter, scorer and playmaker that opens up the floor for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, as a fourth legitimate scoring option. Charlotte gets off Rozier’s contract, add a good young talent in Christie while opening the door for Russell and Reddish to leave this off-season or be a part of future trades.
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