Even now, before starting lineups are set and rotations are confirmed, every NBA team has a big board of trade targets stashed in a conference room.

Because even as rosters are just barely coming together, executives have to continuously think about how to shake them up. Just as trade chatter has no offseason, teams around the league are always thinking about how to address needs that still linger after the draft and free agency.

Here, we'll look at each team's roster and surrounding circumstances in order to diagnose the types of players they might have eyes on during the year. From stars to support pieces, everyone's in play. We'll get into specific names and try for variety, but as usual, a choice few three-and-D wings will show up more than once.

As much as the league changes, the need for those plug-and-play pieces remains a constant.

Atlanta Hawks

1. Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dyson Daniels won't get the Atlanta Hawks out of the league's bottom 10 on defense all by himself, so Oklahoma City Thunder shutdown artist Lu Dort profiles as a sensible target. If OKC believes it can get enough out of Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace on D, it could justify sending Dort to Atlanta in a deal potentially involving Bogdan Bogdanović, whose playmaking would address a need in OKC.

2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

This won't be the last time DFS appears as a target. The Nets have little need of the veteran combo forward as they steer hard into what might be a multiyear tank. If Atlanta isn't comfortable with Zaccharie Risacher and De'Andre Hunter checking tough opposing wings (which it shouldn't be), Finney-Smith could help.

3. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs

If things go sideways early, and the Hawks determine the Trae Young era has run its course, the most logical trade partner is the one who has several of their first-round picks. Vassell would help match salary, sure, but his offensive skills would pair nicely in the backcourt with the defensive-minded Daniels. Young for Vassell, more matching salary and several first-rounders could reposition the Hawks for a quick rebuild.

Boston Celtics

1. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

It's hard to imagine the scenario in which the Boston Celtics would part with Derrick White or Jrue Holiday, two players whose salaries exceed Turner's expiring $19.9 million figure for 2024-25. But if Kristaps Porziņģis never gets right after offseason surgery and Al Horford starts to look his age, perhaps Boston would weaken the guard rotation to shore up the center spot. One of last year's defining features in Boston was five-out spacing. Turner provides that.

Indiana would have to include another player or trim cash to onboard Holiday, but White would be a clean financial fit.

2. Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers

Reunion, anyone?

Williams was his best self with the 2021-22 Celtics, earning an All-Defensive second-team nod and finishing among the top 10 in Most Improved Player voting. He's been hurt on and off ever since, makes a tricky $13.9 million for the second-aproned Celtics and should be in demand as a trade chip for several other teams. But Boston's center rotation feels fragile, and Williams was once viewed as a key piece of the team.

3. Torrey Craig, Chicago Bulls

The Celtics don't exactly have a weakness on the wing, but Craig seems like the type of minimum-salaried vet who could step in and provide 10 solid minutes in a playoff game.

Brooklyn Nets

1. Future First-Round Picks

When you're projected to win somewhere between 15 and 20 games, it's a pretty good sign you're a long way from relevance. That's why every trade the Brooklyn Nets consider this season should focus on maximizing future draft equity.

Getting control of their own 2025 and 2026 first-rounders back from the Houston Rockets was a start, but the Nets need as many shots as possible at landing a cornerstone.

2. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Everything seems fine at the moment, but it was only a couple of months ago that it seemed like Garland might shake loose from the Cavs. If Cleveland gets off to a rough start in 2024-25, and if Garland continues to appear minimized with Donovan Mitchell taking the playmaking reins, maybe it'll be time to reconsider breaking up its two-small backcourt.

Brooklyn needs everything, but its most glaring roster hole is at the point. Garland has an All-Star nod in his past and would be a massive upgrade at a position of clear need. Plus, he's still just 24 years old.

3. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Brooklyn's books will be clean once Ben Simmons' $40.3 million disappears after this season, which makes the prospect of paying Ingram $200 million over the next four a little easier to handle. Considering the sour tone things seem to have taken between Ingram and the Pels, this could be a shrewd buy-low move.

Charlotte Hornets

1. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

When looking for teams who'd consider giving Ingram the $200 million extension he covets, the Hornets stand out as a real option. They've got the hometown angle to play with one of the best high school players to come out of North Carolina in years, one who also grew up rooting for Duke.

It'd be easy enough to sell the Pelicans on a package built around Miles Bridges, particularly if Ingram is just going to walk in free agency. Offensively, at least, Ingram would add to an exciting core that already includes LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller.

2. Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers

If you have a clear sense of where Walker fits in the Pacers' future, you're in the minority. After trading to get him in the 2023 draft, the Pacers essentially shelved Walker and went about committing resources to players at his position. Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin both got new deals this offseason.

Charlotte could offer the Pacers a rotation forward like Cody Martin and picks for a crack at Walker, who still has a great draft pedigree, youth and plenty of upside he'd be more likely to tap into with more opportunity.

3. Jonas Valančiūnas, Washington Wizards

Presumptive starting center Mark Williams, who logged 19 games last year, is already hurt again. While the strained tendon in his left foot isn't expected to cost him as much time as last year's back injury, it's not exactly a great sign that a player whose early career is probably best defined by health concerns is already dealing with another one.

It's not clear the Hornets care about winning in the short term, but Valančiūnas comes cheap at $10 million per year. Charlotte may be rebuilding, but it still needs to set up Ball and Miller for success. Part of that is having a serviceable big to set screens, rebound and keep things flowing smoothly on offense.

Chicago Bulls

1. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

It may not seem sensible to add another guard to a team that already has two good ones in Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, but neither of those two is likely to extend off of their current deals and will hit free agency in 2026.

Reaves would be a key piece in the return for Zach LaVine if the Bulls and Lakers can agree on a deal to send the two-time All-Star to L.A.—one whose shooting and playmaking would allow Chicago flexibility in the way it builds out the rest of the roster.

2. Jordan Hawkins, New Orleans Pelicans

The Bulls need to trade Nikola Vučević if they're going to get serious about rebuilding, the Pelicans need a center and Hawkins is the type of rising offensive talent who belongs on a team trying to start over.

Though the Pels should probably look to move CJ McCollum in an effort to cut costs and give Hawkins an opportunity, it's possible their win-now goals make Hawkins, a sweet-shooting second-year guard, likelier to move.

3. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

The clock's ticking on Ivey as Cade Cunningham's backcourt partner in Detroit, but the Bulls can afford to be more patient with the former No. 5 pick's shooting issues. Chicago needs young talent but shouldn't be in the business of sending out draft equity, which makes the out-of-favor Ivey a worthwhile target.

Oh, and if you're wondering about Ivey's fit next to Josh Giddey in Chicago, don't. The Bulls shouldn't be planning around him and must instead collect young talent, regardless of position.

Cleveland Cavaliers

1. Cody Martin, Charlotte Hornets

Martin might be a better solution to the Cleveland Cavaliers' hole at the 3 than anyone on the current roster, and he's definitely an upgrade over Georges Niang, whose $8.5 million salary matches up nicely with that of the Hornets' forward.

Martin has had a hard time with injuries over the last two seasons, playing a total of just 35 games. The last time he was fully healthy, he averaged 7.7 points on a 48.2/38.4/70.1 shooting split. His size, defensive energy and serviceable spot-up shooting would slot cleanly between the Donovan Mitchell-Darius Garland backcourt and the Jarrett Allen-Evan Mobley front line.

2. Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

Dosunmu shot 40.3 percent from deep and bumped his scoring average to a career-best 12.2 points per game last year. If the Cavs include some second-round equity, they might be able to steal the 24-year-old from a Bulls team that can't realistically expect to extend him off his current $7 million salary.

3. Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

A bigger, costlier swing than Martin or Dosunmu, Johnson still might be worth it. He offers greater size and more shooting prowess (career 39.2 percent from deep) than either of the aforementioned options and is under contract for two more years after this one.

His remaining $70 million could be tough to float for an already packed Cavs payroll, but Johnson's offensive impact would be significant.

Dallas Mavericks

1. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson should combine to more than offset the loss of Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency, but it's not like anyone's ever said a team can have too many defensive-minded combo forwards.

Plus, DFS emerged as a quality starter during his six-plus years with the Dallas Mavericks, endearing himself to Luka Dončić in the process. Marshall has never played a major role on a big-time winner, and Thompson is nearing the end of the line as an impact player. Meanwhile, Finney-Smith started 80 games for the Dallas team that made the West Finals in 2021-22.

2. Bogdan Bogdanović, Atlanta Hawks

Just as there's no such thing as having too many three-and-D wings, it's also impossible to over-index on playmaking guards. Dallas could use one more of those—unless Jaden Hardy is ready to take on a larger role.

Bogdanović is one of the best reserves in the league, capable of manning either guard spot while contributing reliable three-point shooting and enough facilitation to lead second units. Whether starting when Kyrie Irving needs a night off or coming off the bench to shred opposing backups, the seven-year vet would offer a huge lift to an already stacked rotation.

3. Gary Payton II, Golden State Warriors

Who wouldn't love an injection of chaotic defense next to Dončić and Irving's offensive brilliance? Dallas doesn't have an ace disruptor in the backcourt, and Payton, when healthy, causes as much trouble as anyone at the position. Though the Mavs may never embrace a true uptempo attack, the deflections and steals Payton generates could nudge them into more frequent transition opportunities.

Denver Nuggets

1. Cody Martin, Charlotte Hornets

Martin could be an upgrade on the role Justin Holiday filled a year ago, and his salary matches up nicely with Zeke Nnaji's. In an ideal world, Martin would reprise his 38.4 percent three-point shooting from his last healthy season, 2021-22, and take up some of the slack for the departed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

2. Corey Kispert, Washington Wizards

Another affordable wing shooter the Nuggets could fit into Nnaji's salary slot, Kispert comes with looming contract-extension concerns. Not only that, but Denver doesn't have any second-rounders to add as sweeteners, which means the Wizards would have to either really want Nnaji or somehow expand the deal to justify Denver including a future first-round swap.

3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

If Denver wants to do anything consequential, its best option may be moving Michael Porter Jr. and his $35.9 million salary (plus two more years after this one at an average annual value of just under $40 million).

LaVine makes about $7 million more than MPJ this coming season, so Denver would have to find some other way to trim salary ahead of this hypothetical deal—perhaps by dumping Nnaji on a rebuilder with a pick swap attached.

Would that be worth it for LaVine? Maybe not, but Denver is among the league's trickiest trade teams because of its second-apron restrictions and lack of picks.

Detroit Pistons

1. Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls

Though the Detroit Pistons' signings of Tobias Harris, Paul Reed and Malik Beasley suggest they're trying to win a few more games this season, they also need to do a little fact-finding. Specifically, they should test out various options next to Cade Cunningham.

It doesn't look like Jaden Ivey or Ausar Thompson are ideal running mates because of their poor shooting, and the veteran Beasley doesn't offer the supplementary playmaking you'd like to see from the 2.

Ball is exceptionally risky after multiple years lost to a knee injury, but he could give Detroit a sense of what life would be like with a perfect role-playing combo guard next to Cunningham. Best of all, the Bulls might give up a pick to offload Ball's expiring $21.4 million salary.

2. Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

If the Pistons want A-plus shooting to offset their lack of that skill at other positions, MPJ is the man for them. If the Nuggets want to trim salary or replace Porter Jr. with two or three rotation pieces, Detroit can certainly accommodate them.

At 26, Porter Jr. isn't too old to be viewed as part of the Pistons core.

3. John Collins, Utah Jazz

Rather than focus on players who could help Detroit improve and/or figure out the right fit with Cunningham, our last target is all about asset management. John Collins is set to make $26.6 million this year before a $26.6 million player option in 2025-26, but his production doesn't square with his salary.

The Pistons still aren't good enough to scoff at taking on bad money with draft assets attached. Of the teams that have a player like that, the Jazz are one of the only ones with picks to spare.

Golden State Warriors

1. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Butler's demonstrated excellence in the biggest games would certainly have appeal to a Dubs team that may only have one last ride in it—if that. Of course, Butler also comes with massive financial concerns. He'll hit free agency after 2024-25 (assuming he declines his player option) and will likely want a pricey extension.

2. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram is representative of the larger point that, while star-level players are available on the market, there might not be one quite luminous enough to lift the Golden State Warriors into the true contender tier. Still, a 27-year-old forward with an All-Star nod in his past and a knack for generating his own offense is almost exactly what the Dubs need as Stephen Curry ages past the point of running the whole show on his own.

3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

LaVine could do a credible Klay Thompson impression and then some, bringing more slashing verve and shot creation to an offensive package with similarly deadly outside shooting. The cost is the issue, and the Warriors may have already missed the opportunity to onboard LaVine when he was viewed as a negative asset, possibly with additional picks coming in as sweeteners.

It feels like LaVine's value is already climbing, but Golden State could still justify sending out unwanted salary with, say, one first-rounder to get something done.

Houston Rockets

1. Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

It'd be fascinating if a trend emerged in which teams surrendered talent to get their own draft picks back. The Houston Rockets were part of one such exchange when they returned control of the Brooklyn Nets' 2025 and 2026 first-rounders for four future assets of the Phoenix Suns'. If things go sideways for Phoenix early in the year, perhaps the Rockets could dangle some of those with matching salaries attached to bring Durant into the fold.

2. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

In an ideal world, it'd be Booker—not Durant—heading to the Rockets in a deal that sent back the Suns' own draft capital. Booker is younger, under contract for two years longer than Durant and is likely to outproduce KD going forward. He ranks second only because it's harder to imagine Phoenix making him available.

3. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

In contrast to the Booker and Durant options, a Butler trade would be more of a rental with an option to buy, likely to materialize only if Houston felt it was one player away from serious contention right now. That's not an impossible scenario, but the longer contracts of the other two stars above make a little more sense for Houston's timeline.

Indiana Pacers

1. Terance Mann, LA Clippers

Time has passed and the roster has changed, but it wasn't so long ago the Indiana Pacers prized Bruce Brown's jack-of-all-trades game in free agency. Maybe they'd have interest in Mann's similar profile.

Recently handed a three-year, $47 million extension, Mann is now locked into a contract that makes him a more intriguing acquisition. It feels telling that ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported in the wake of the deal that Mann "is immediately eligible to be traded."

2. Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic*

What do you get for the team that has everything but defense? A guy who defends everything!

Isaac just got a five-year, $84 million extension from the Magic, but his injury history means he's probably forever ticketed for low minutes and is somewhat duplicative on a team that already does just fine on D. Orlando might value the offensive contributions of someone like Bennedict Mathurin more, and it could use const-controlled players with one big extension already handed to Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero coming due for his own pay raise next summer.

3. Haywood Highsmith, Miami Heat

Like Isaac in Orlando, Highsmith just inked a new deal with the Heat. That makes a trade unlikely, but who knows what could happen in Miami with Jimmy Butler in a walk year. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the Heat could do some tear-down work, and a Highsmith-for-Mathurin or Highsmith-for-Walker swap could give Indy the defensive boost it needs.

*Isaac can't be traded until Jan. 2, 2025

LA Clippers

1. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

Somebody has to provide the main salary ballast in a potential Kawhi Leonard trade, but Andrew Wiggins and his $26.3 million figure wouldn't be the key piece of any such deal. If the Clips are going to move Leonard, a pure hypothetical at this point, a prospect with some star potential has to be the centerpiece.

Golden State has yet to extend Kuminga, which may or may not indicate it still has questions about his long-term outlook. If the Clippers move Kawhi, they could do a lot worse than landing a possible All-Star forward in his age-22 season.

2. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Another rookie-scale player who may not be cornerstone material for his current team, Mathurin could be part of a deal that sends Mann to an Indy team in need of defensive upgrades.

An intuitive scorer who flashed impressive foul-drawing craft as a rookie, Mathurin isn't a clear fit on a Pacers team that already has Tyrese Haliburton and extended guards Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell this offseason.

3. Bruce Brown Jr., Toronto Raptors

The main incentive to acquire Brown is his expiring $23 million contract. The Clippers could send Norman Powell to the Raptors, with whom he spent the first five-and-a-half years of his career, for Brown and expect to get back at least a couple of second-rounders in the bargain.

Brown is also only 28 years old. If his recently scoped knee heals up and he looks as good as he did in a sixth-man role for the Nuggets two years ago, the Clips could even flip him for a first-rounder at the deadline.

Los Angeles Lakers

1. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Assuming they want to maximize their chances at short-term success, the main priority for the Los Angeles Lakers is adding a load-carrying scorer who can take the pressure off LeBron James and Anthony Davis—ideally one who can pull defensive attention out toward the perimeter with his shooting.

If he's healthy, that's a pretty good description of LaVine, the only guy in the league to average at least 24.0 points and shoot better than 38.0 percent from three across at least 250 games from 2019-20 to 2022-23.

L.A. probably should have targeted LaVine months ago, when his market was nonexistent.

2. Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

Another pricey shooter, MPJ comes at about a $7 million discount in 2024-25 salary compared to LaVine but also has another two costly years left on his deal. Porter Jr., like LaVine, comes with major health concerns. But he played 81 games in 2023-24, is a better shooter (career 41.0 percent from beyond the arc) and uses his 6'10" size to provide more defensive help than the Bulls guard.

3. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards

Kuzma would come cheaper than either LaVine or Porter Jr. and, in the distant past, showed more defensive oomph than either of them. His declining contract slips all the way to $19.4 million in the final year, 2026-27, and the cost in outgoing personnel (aka matching salary) would likely be lower for the Lakers. Kuzma is set to earn $23.5 million this coming season, $19 million less than LaVine.

Memphis Grizzlies

1. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

If the Memphis Grizzlies get some early evidence that Zach Edey isn't ready to handle full-time starting center duties, a quick pivot to someone like Stewart would make sense. Though undersized, the Pistons big man brings exactly the kind of tenacity that plays well in Memphis.

If his 38.3 percent three-point stroke from last year is more than a blip, Beef Stew could also pair nicely with Jaren Jackson Jr. in rare two-big, five-out looks.

2. Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers

Williams and Jaren Jackson Jr. would be a fearsome frontcourt pairing as long as RWIII can stay healthy. JJJ won Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, and Williams finished seventh the year prior.

Due to make just $12.4 million this year and $13.3 million in 2025-26, the oft-injured Williams is worth the risk.

3. Mark Williams, Charlotte Hornets

This would be an opportunistic attempt at a sort of reverse jinx. The Grizzlies fell apart due to injury last year, and they already have health issues facing GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. Maybe adding Williams, who's dealing with a strained tendon in his foot that'll cost him training camp reps, will paradoxically exterminate the injury bug in Memphis.

Even if this is just about the Grizzlies buying low on center depth, Williams makes sense as high-upside insurance for Edey.

Miami Heat

1. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram would be a great test of the Miami Heat's rejuvenation machine. There are a few too many pieces of evidence that Ingram may not be the best teammate or the most committed worker. His refusal to defend consistently and add more volume to his three-point game also confound.

The Heat have brought the best out of distressed assets plenty of times before, which could make Ingram a buy-low option. Of course, this is where we make the obligatory mention of his $200 million extension expectations. If the Heat can coax out the best version of Ingram, though, he'll probably be worth that number.

2. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

Turner is ticketed for free agency this summer, so adding him would be a gamble. But few teams are better positioned to entice a flight risk to stay put.

Winters in Miami would feel a little different than they do in Indiana, and the Heat could do some exciting stuff on both ends with Turner and Bam Adebayo manning the frontcourt spots. Adebayo's perimeter mobility would pair perfectly with Turner's rim protection, and the spacing Turner offers as a shooter would bring offensive dimensions the Heat have rarely enjoyed.

3. Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

If you think it's a certainty that Lillard's second year with the Milwaukee Bucks will turn out better than the first, you've got an admirable level of confidence. Sure, Dame should improve after a difficult transition season on and off the court, but Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez might be past their expiration dates, and it's hard to be sure Doc Rivers is the right coach for the Bucks—or any other team.

If the opportunity arises, Miami could reignite the pursuit of Lillard it began last offseason.

Milwaukee Bucks

1. Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

What's the best Milwaukee could hope to get for Bobby Portis' $12.5 million salary and a 2031 first-round pick? The answer might be Coby White, but a Bulls regime that probably won't be in place when that selection conveys isn't going to swing that deal. Maybe they'd do it for Dosunmu, though, a player who'd slot right into Milwaukee's rotation and provide defensive cover for Damian Lillard.

2. Cody Martin, Charlotte Hornets

The Bucks can't aggregate salaries or take back more money than they send out in a trade and have few sweeteners to offer beyond their distant 2031 first- and second-round picks. That's how you end up getting excited when someone as inconspicuous as Martin actually makes sense as a target.

If the Hornets would take back Patrick Connaughton and that 2031 second-rounder, Milwaukee could actually upgrade the wing rotation—a seemingly impossible task given its constraints.

3. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

It's hard to imagine a trade between conference rivals built around a swap of free-agent-to-be starters at the same position, but maybe the offense-only Pacers would value Brook Lopez's more decorated defensive track record.

For the Bucks, who'd have to deal with Turner's impending unrestricted free agency, the pitch would be about championship contention. Whether or not Milwaukee could sell Turner on staying, the fact that he's a full eight years younger than BroLo justifies the thought of pursuing him.

Minnesota Timberwolves

1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

Every trade target is going to seem odd for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who just swung the biggest deal of the offseason by sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick.

Maybe the long-term approach that motivated the offseason trade for Rob Dillingham could persist in a swap for Sixers rookie Jared McCain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker's expiring $4.6 million is a close match for McCain's rookie-scale deal, and the Duke product would come with the added bonus of four years of cheap team control.

2. Duop Reath, Portland Trail Blazers

Randle won't provide the stretch Towns did. If the Wolves aren't comfortable relying on Naz Reid to cover for the loss all by himself, Reath would be worth considering. As a 27-year-old rookie last year, Reath shot 35.9 percent on 10.0 three-point tries per 100 possessions. Lauri Markkanen was the only other player listed at 6'11" or taller who was that accurate on similar volume.

3. Bones Hyland, LA Clippers

You can understand the thinking behind the Dillingham acquisition. Beyond giving the Wolves another young prospect who might be able to grow alongside Anthony Edwards once Mike Conley is out of the picture, the rookie's scoring-spark game fits on a team that struggled more on offense than defense last year.

If Dillingham isn't ready to contribute on a winner quite yet, maybe the more experienced Hyland could fill that same role as a stopgap.

New Orleans Pelicans

1. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

Apologies to those who thought the incessant Turner-to-Pelicans chatter was finally over. The combination of New Orleans' weakness at the position and Turner's expiring contract will keep this hypothetical swirling around the rumor mill all the way up to the trade deadline.

Turner's perimeter shooting isn't necessarily game-changing (35.8 percent last year), but it's good enough to create the spacing dimension New Orleans simply hasn't had at the position. If you're trying to unlock five-out looks that create space for Zion Williamson to get downhill, Turner's the guy.

Indiana is a playoff team, though. Unless it's abundantly clear Turner isn't going to re-sign this summer, the Pacers almost certainly won't trade him. In fact, even then, Indy may decide he's too valuable to their goals this season alone.

2. Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks

The Turner thinking applies here as well. Lopez offers similar spacing but even better interior defense. At 36, Lopez may not have many quality years left. But he's anchored championship defenses in the recent past and has missed just seven games over the last two years. If the Bucks fall apart, New Orleans should swoop in for Lopez.

3. Robert Williams III, Portland Trail Blazers

Williams has appeared in just 41 games in the past two seasons, including six in 2023-24. When healthy, he's a tremendous mistake-eraser as a help defender—one who can clean the glass and even contribute offensively with better-than-you-think passing.

New York Knicks

1. Nick Richards, Charlotte Hornets

If the New York Knicks still crave more center depth behind Towns, they could package up a draft asset with Precious Achiuwa to land Richards from the Hornets.

Charlotte may be unwilling to part with Richards cheaply due to prospective starter Mark Williams' latest injury, but Achiuwa still has some intriguing upside as an undersized, multi-skilled big. The Knicks need size and rebounding with Hartenstein gone and Micthell Robinson set to miss significant time, so they can justify another small deal to shore up a weakness. Richards is a legit 7-footer who grabbed 3.5 offensive boards per 36 minutes last season. You know Tom Thibodeau will be into that.

2. Jaden Hardy, Dallas Mavericks

Hardy played less as a sophomore in 2023-24 than he did as a rookie, and it's hard to see him ever settling into a major on-ball role as long as Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving are running the offense in Dallas.

The Knicks lost some playmaking in the Towns deal, and Hardy, who can get his own looks off the dribble, profiles as an exciting low-cost option.

3. Marcus Sasser, Detroit Pistons

Sasser had a handful of hot shooting streaks as a rookie last year but seems to have fallen out of favor with the Pistons, who have several higher-upside prospects in need of minutes. He could still be a bargain-basement shooting stand-in for the departed DiVincenzo in New York, which is suddenly leaning hard on Deuce McBride to handle backup guard duties.

Oklahoma City Thunder

1. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Too ambitious? Not for the pick-laden Oklahoma City Thunder who, in addition to having the assets to land a big fish, have the specific draft equity that should interest the floundering LA Clippers.

OKC's haul from the Clips in the Paul George trade included swap rights on LA's 2025 first-rounder and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder. Send those back with more attached and some matching salary, and the Thunder could get the Clippers out of the long-term bind they're in.

Oh, and adding Leonard without giving up too many core pieces could solidify OKC as a title favorite.

2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

Perhaps a bit of a letdown after Leonard, DFS could still fill a need in the combo forward department, giving the Thunder more length and versatility on defense. This is a conservative name to toss out, but Finney-Smith should be eminently gettable for a pick and matching salary, two commodities Brooklyn should covet during its rebuild.

3. Malcolm Brogdon, Washington Wizards

On the off chance Jalen Williams isn't ready to run high-end second units on his own, the Oklahoma City Thunder could take a look at another backcourt playmaker. Say what you want about Josh Giddey's limitations, but he was a slick passer with a facilitating mindset. Swapping him for Alex Caruso was a net gain because of the latter's shooting and defense, but it could leave a bit of a void in the playmaking department. Brogdon could fill it.

Orlando Magic

1. Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers

Long linked to the Orlando Magic in the bustling fake-trade industry, Simons offers premium long-range shooting (38.5 percent on 8.8 attempts last season) and capable secondary facilitation. More of a shooting guard than a floor general, Simons would be an intriguing fit with Jalen Suggs, who could shield him from tough opposing matchups.

Also, we need to consider the fact that it's been too long since an Anfernee suited up for the Magic. Last time Orlando had one of those, things went pretty well.

2. Collin Sexton, Utah Jazz

Sexton is one of the best scorers nobody seems to know about. Losing the better part of two years to injury (58 games across 2021-22 and 2022-23) and toiling recently for a forgettable Jazz team will do that, but Orlando should have him on its radar.

The combo guard totes a career scoring average of 18.9 points per game on a 46.9/38.3/85.9 shooting split, with the added benefit of coming cheap. Sexton is under contract through 2025-26 with an annual value that falls below 13 percent of the salary cap.

3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

The Magic have operated pretty conservatively in this latest rebuild, except when it came to Franz Wagner's extension. Even that was a bet on organic growth, an approach Orlando seems to favor over wild spending in free agency or bold trades.

LaVine could be ruled out of their plans because of his contract, which still has three years and $138 million on it. That said, he's the kind of scoring spark this bottom-10 offense needs.

Philadelphia 76ers

1. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

The Philadelphia 76ers completely remade themselves over the summer and still somehow have a trove of assets to trade, led by their own 2029 first-rounder and an unprotected future first from the LA Clippers. That'll put intriguing names in play, including Eason, a defensive ace the Rockets could part with as they try to figure out how to pay their other 19 (only a slight exaggeration) recent draftees.

Eason played just 22 games due to injury last year but averaged 9.0 points, and 6.0 rebounds while ranking in the 96th percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus as a rookie in 2022-23. Throw him out there with Philly's star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, and the 23-year-old would add tremendous grit and defensive energy to the mix.

2. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

The only way Johnson would ever be attainable is if he makes it clear he has no interest in extending with the Hawks. A breakout player last season, the power forward brings immense athleticism and huge scoring potential. If the Sixers put major draft capital on the table—the 2028 Clippers pick plus their own 2029 and 2031 firsts—maybe Atlanta listens.

3. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers

Avdija just arrived in Portland at the cost of a future first and the No. 14 pick, so it's hard to imagine the Blazers parting with him for picks. But Philadelphia can offer some very tantalizing options for the two-way forward who made real gains as a shooter last season.

Phoenix Suns

1. Duop Reath, Portland Trail Blazers

On a minimum salary and surrounded by a gaggle of other centers—Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III and Deandre Ayton—Reath could be gettable even for the highly inflexible Suns. His shooting at the center spot would juice the offense and clear out the middle of the floor for Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to do some mid-range cooking.

2. Kelly Olynyk, Toronto Raptors

The Phoenix Suns can't aggregate salaries and can't take back more cash than they send out in a trade, so almost all of their targets will cost them someone they don't want to deal or require a handful of precursor moves to gain flexibility.

Olynyk is a good example. His floor-stretching shooting and underrated passing from a big-man spot would add a dimension the Suns don't currently have, but adding his $12.8 million salary would mean giving up either Grayson Allen ($15.6 million) or Jusuf Nurkić ($18.1 million). Both are more valuable to Phoenix than Olynyk would be.

3. Jevon Carter, Chicago Bulls

The 2022-23 version of Carter would have been ideal for the Suns. In 81 games with the Bucks that year, the veteran point guard shot 42.1 percent and contributed with his usual tenacity on defense. With the Bulls last season, Carter's shooting slipped to 32.9 percent and his role shrunk from 22.3 minutes to 13.9 minutes per game—despite going from a contender to a lottery team.

If 2023-24 was a blip, the Suns could do worse than adding an excellent backcourt defender whose shooting would make for a strong off-ball fit next to their stars.

Portland Trail Blazers

1. Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets

The Portland Trail Blazers should try to operate as an outlet for the desperate. Any cap-strapped team dealing with second-apron restrictions and depth issues could turn to the Blazers and find a willing trade partner who can provide multiple rotation-caliber players in exchange for unwieldy contracts.

The Nuggets are one such team, and they could view a package built around Jerami Grant and Dalano Banton worthwhile for the costlier but younger and better-shooting MPJ.

2. John Collins, Utah Jazz

Porter Jr. wouldn't come with picks attached, but someone like Collins would. That's the beauty of Portland's situation; it can also operate as a dumping ground if it wants to.

Any team with bad salary and picks to deal could come to the Blazers and find myriad trade options. Portland could extract at least one high-value first-rounder or a couple of lower-upside selections in exchange for taking on Collins' deal.

3. Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs

Johnson falls somewhere between Porter Jr. and Collins on the "desirable talent" to "we just want the picks" spectrum. Once viewed as a potential high-end starter in San Antonio, the burly forward slid into a reserve role during the first season of his four-year, $74 million deal.

Still, Johnson averaged 22.0 points per game in 2022-23 and has shown flashes of both foul-drawing craft (5.3 free-throw attempts per game two years ago) and accurate long-range shooting (39.8 percent in 2021-22). Whether Portland could squeeze a first-rounder out of the Spurs with Johnson or not, he's a worthwhile target.

Sacramento Kings

1. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

Things would have to go sideways in a hurry for the Sacramento Kings to bail on the DeMar DeRozan experiment this season. Odds are, the Kings will figure out how to make the offense work and find ways to survive defensively with their new configuration.

In the event of disaster, Sacramento could bundle up DeRozan and another $6 million in salary as part of a package to land Grant, a more versatile defender and superior off-ball weapon. Maybe there'd be a way to build something around Kevin Huerter's $16.8 million salary, perhaps by roping in Trey Lyles and Jalen McDaniels, but that'd also require the Kings to send out every last shred of draft equity they have.

2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets

It's clear the Kings are going to have to figure out how to defend with a roster that skews overwhelmingly toward the offensive end. Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray can't guard everybody.

Finney-Smith is making his umpteenth appearance as a trade target precisely because he brings solid defense and low-usage play, which fits on all 30 teams. He'd be particularly useful in Sacramento.

3. Matisse Thybulle, Portland Trail Blazers

Though not as well-rounded as DFS, Thybulle is far more disruptive on D. A blocks-and-steals master, the Blazers wing could help the Kings muck up possessions in spectacular fashion, triggering the transition attacks that made them so dangerous two years ago.

San Antonio Spurs

1. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Adding Young would mean an almost top-down stylistic change for his acquiring team, but no organization has the malleability San Antonio does with Victor Wembanyama. On defense, specifically, Wemby might be the best player in the league to solve the problems Young causes.

The main drawback would be taking the ball out of Wembanyama's hands, but it's not yet clear he'll develop into an offensive alpha who dominates touch time. Young could raise the level of San Antonio's attack while Wemby ensures elite production on the other end.

Atlanta's interest would stem from the potential to get back the first-rounders it sent away in the Dejounte Murray deal a couple of years ago.

2. Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

How much fun would it be to watch Şengün orchestrate the offense while Wemby dominates on the other end?

If Houston doesn't signal a full long-term commitment to its gifted center, the Spurs should be aggressive in pursuing a player who could give them the ability to trot out some truly unprecedented lineups in which everything on both ends centers around frontcourt players.

Hypothetically, you could surround a Wemby-Şengün duo with three oversized wings, creating lineups the league's never seen before.

3. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

The logic on both of these players is similar: Sengün and Kuminga are both extension-eligible and may not secure commitments from their teams ahead of restricted free agency in 2025. If the Spurs overwhelm the Rockets or Warriors with pick-heavy trade packages, they might be able to pry these prized up-and-comers loose.

Şengün might make the one-big looks San Antonio gravitated toward last year less common. But he's probably also easier to get because the Rockets can't pay all of their rookie-scale players coming due for new money.

Toronto Raptors

1. Corey Kispert, Washington Wizards

The Toronto Raptors are thin at the wing spots, and Gradey Dick's shooting is more important than it should be.

Kispert and his career 38.8 percent hit rate from deep could alleviate pressure on the second-year guard and also give the Raptors a full-season audition ahead of restricted free agency in 2025.

2. Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat

Costlier than Kispert at $19.4 million this year, Robinson is an even more decorated marksman. Stephen Curry is the only player to make at least 1,000 threes since 2019-20 with a higher conversion rate than Robinson's 40.0 percent.

Jakob Poeltl said the quiet part loud when he explained at media day that the Raptors aren't exactly going for it in 2024-25, and that diminishes the odds of adding someone like Robinson. But the veteran sniper would create more space for Toronto's young players to explore. Maximizing opportunities for Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley should be a priority.

3. Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls

We were getting too near the end of this thing without another mention of Ball, whose expiring $21.4 million salary is a close match to Bruce Brown's $23 million. The difference between those two is all about upside and fit.

Ball is only a year younger than Brown but was a star-level role-playing starter when he was last healthy. His reliable shooting, highly intelligent connective passing and ball-hawking defense would be ideal next to Immanuel Quickley in Toronto's backcourt. Brown is a short-timer with the Raptors, so it'd be worth sending out a little draft equity to the Bulls for a shot at being the team with which Ball resurrects his career.

Utah Jazz

1. Coby White, Chicago Bulls

While this isn't necessarily a positive in a macro sense, the Utah Jazz's lack of clarity in their direction allows them to onboard a player like White, who fits neatly into a rebuild or more of a go-for-it approach.

Coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he averaged career highs in points (19.1), rebounds (4.5) and assists (5.1), White could either be a caretaker for or a complement to second-year guard Keyonte George. It should go without saying the Jazz have the picks to go after whoever they want.

2. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Adding Ingram (and extending him) to play next to Lauri Markkanen would send a clearer signal about Utah's intentions to compete in the near term. The tricky part of pairing those two offensive-minded forwards would be figuring out how to do it without also sending out potential defensive anchor Walker Kessler in the package going to New Orleans, a team that needs a paint-protecting center.

3. Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks

If the Knicks want to cut their payroll and add depth after adding Karl-Anthony Towns, maybe the Jazz could offer up Walker Kessler and Jordan Clarkson or John Collins in a package that brought back a future first and several seconds for Robinson.

Washington Wizards

1. Moses Moody, Golden State Warriors

Entering his fourth NBA season, Moody still has no clear path to a major role with the Warriors. Worse still, it's hard to see him securing a significant deal in restricted free agency with the Dubs, who have major commitments on the books and players like Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski ahead of him in the "likely to get paid" pecking order.

The Washington Wizards should be all over the 22-year-old wing, who has shot at least 36.0 percent from deep in all three of his pro seasons while also contributing solid perimeter defense.

2. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

When you're as early in the rebuild process as the Wizards, you can afford to take risks on second-draft prospects. Ivey is one such option.

Inconsistent three-point shooting and substandard (to put it kindly) defense make Ivey a difficult fit next to Pistons cornerstone Cade Cunningham, but Washington doesn't have the type of promising young talent that dictates what skills his supporting pieces need. Maybe Ivey could reset his career and operate without worrying about fitting a specific mold with the Wizards.

3. Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers seem like they're trying to marginalize their two recent first-round picks, neither of whom seem to matter as much now that Indy is focused on contending in the present. Mathurin could be more than a fourth guard in the Wizards' rotation, and Walker, well...maybe he'd actually see the floor in Washington.

Both players have real talent. Mathurin, in particular, flashed electric scoring chops as a rookie in 2022-23. The Wizards offer low expectations and high levels of opportunity for young players who've fallen out of favor with their original teams.

Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.

Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@gt_hughes), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.