Save for the New York Knicks-Minnesota Timberwolves stunner, the NBA has been fairly quiet on the trade front.

A combination of history and simple logic informs us this lull won't last.

As soon as the 2024-25 campaign tips off, teams will start learning about themselves and getting a better feel for what might be possible this season—and what obviously isn't. Toss in the mid-December expansion of the trade-eligible player pool, and the basketball world could be wheeling and dealing again in no time.

While we can't say for certain which players will head where, we can fire up the trade machines and piece together a quartet of believable blockbusters that land somewhere within the realm of possibility.

Bulls, Nuggets Swap Pricey Scorers

Denver Nuggets receive: Zach LaVine

Chicago Bulls receive: Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji

It's tough to find the balance between Denver's win-right-now talent at the top of its rotation and the many young players now comprising its back end. Maybe three-time MVP Nikola Jokić is such a game-breaking talent that it doesn't matter, but it's possible the cap-conscious front office has presented him with a puzzle even he can't solve.

If the young players struggle with consistency, and the Jokić-Jamal Murray twosome can't cover up for them, Denver might have to hit the trade market for additional firepower. Good thing there just so happens to be a two-time All-Star and career 20.5-points-per-game scorer who's been stuck on the trade market for the last year-plus.

Granted, Zach LaVine would've been traded by now if not for his colossal contract and injury history. It's tricky to find a match. Then again, Michael Porter Jr. holds a similar reputation for being overpaid and has some scary injuries behind him, so these might be the perfect trade partners (with Zeke Nnaji added primarily to make the money work).

LaVine, a career 38.2 percent three-point shooter, could feast on open looks and dart through the cutting lanes created by Jokić and Murray. Unlike Porter, LaVine is also more than comfortable finding his own shots (and, to a lesser extent, setting up his teammates), meaning he could ease the burden on Jokić and Murray or keep things moving when they need a breather.

Porter, a career 41 percent perimeter shooter, could get a free pass for his creation limitations in Chicago, where the Bulls will be funneling all the developmental touches toward Coby White, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis anyway. Giddey and a finally healthy Lonzo Ball are two of the better ball-movers in the league, and their passes could have extra potency if they found Porter.

As mentioned above, Nnaji would mostly be in this deal to make the money work, but a rebuilding Bulls team could show him more patience than the championship-or-bust Nuggets ever have. He may not have much potential to offer at this point, but he is a 23-year-old former first-round pick, so Chicago could see some low-risk, moderate-reward upside in bringing him aboard.

Warriors Find Their Center in Three-Team Trade

Golden State Warriors receive: Mitchell Robinson

New York Knicks receive: Josh Green

Charlotte Hornets receive: Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, a 2026 second-round pick (via ATL, from GSW) and a 2028 second-round pick (via ATL, from GSW)

The Warriors have admittedly tried—and notably failed—to take bigger swings than this. For Dubs fans who've spent any time over the past year daydreaming about LeBron James, Paul George or Lauri Markkanen, the suggestion of Mitchell Robinson may not move the needle much.

The front office may see things differently.

If they think they'll need an impact big to hang with the NBA's elite, they might see Mitchell Robinson as a viable option. This deal wouldn't go down any time soon, as the bouncy big man may not hit the hardwood until the next calendar year, but the fact he's hobbled now should help keep his trade cost reasonable. This isn't a bargain price, but it is an opportunity for Golden State to potentially add a starter without coughing up any of its best assets.

A healthy Robinson is a dynamic, above-the-rim center. He's an explosive lob-finisher, an active glass-cleaner and a don't-even-think-about-it rim-protector. He's almost a souped-up Trayce Jackson-Davis with more size and length and better hops. Robinson could be the ideal anchor for this defense and a lob threat teams must constantly monitor on the offensive end.

As for New York, the Karl-Anthony Towns trade may have rendered Robinson expendable, and the Knicks could consider dealing him to fill a need elsewhere. Their wing rotation thins out quickly behind Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, so they might seek out Josh Green as another three-and-D support piece. If he could ever ramp up his three-point volume, he'd be hugely helpful.

Charlotte, meanwhile, might be drawn to tone-setters like Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, particularly if it looks this team could be in the play-in picture. The Hornets have plenty of young talent, all of which could benefit from being around proven winners (and tireless workers) like Looney and Payton. Throw in a couple of future second-rounders from an Atlanta Hawks franchise with a very uncertain path in front of it, and that could be enough for Charlotte to bite.

Hornets Make Bold Move for Brandon Ingram

Charlotte Hornets receive: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Miles Bridges, Nick Richards, a 2027 first-round pick (top-two protected, via DAL), a 2029 second-round pick (via DEN) and a 2030 second-round pick (via DEN)

Despite trade buzz that preceded the offseason, Brandon Ingram never found a new home this summer. Perhaps his old home could emerge as his next landing spot.

Should the Hornets show some early signs of life—the above trade couldn't happen before Dec. 15—they might consider forking over a few assets to bring the North Carolina native and former Duke star back home. Even if you grant Charlotte the best-case scenarios for LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams, this roster might still need another perimeter scorer and shot-creator to take the next step.

Ingram, the No. 2 pick of the 2016 draft, checks those boxes about as well as anyone on the trade market can. He hasn't lingered on the trade market for a lack of talent; he's one of only 13 players to average at least 20 points and four assists in each of the last five seasons. His issues as a trade target stem from his upcoming free agency and a laundry list of injury issues behind him.

However, the Hornets—not a destination franchise by any measure—might be willing to look past that for the chance to add a star. Even the chance that his next contract becomes an overpay may not be a deal-breaker, since Charlotte still has a couple of seasons of paying rookie-scale money to Miller and Williams left.

The Pelicans, meanwhile, have the wing depth to get by without Ingram, and they'd even replace a lot of his scoring here by getting Miles Bridges, who averaged an even 21 points last season (0.2 more than Ingram, by the way). And since he's less ball-dominant and more of a play-finisher, he might prove an easier fit with Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum.

Plus, New Orleans would address its massive void at the center spot with Nick Richards, who might be a walking double-double if utilized as a full-time starter. The Pelicans would also pick up three trade assets to help replenish some of what they sacrificed in the Murray trade.

Cavaliers, Suns Blow Up the Internet

Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns receive: Darius Garland and Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers and Suns aren't exactly mirror images of one another, but they do share some similarities that could make them potential trade partners. Namely, they both have an urgency to compete and just enough question marks around their roster to wonder whether that's actually possible.

Phoenix is about as top-heavy of a team as you'll find, and all three of its stars—Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal—carry injury concerns. Cleveland, meanwhile, counts a pair of redundancies within its core four: small, offensive-minded guards and space-killing bigs.

If it's a few months into the 2024-25 season and both of these teams are struggling to find their footing, they just might be open to an internet-breaking blockbuster.

Cleveland's roster has long been begging for a star wing and a shooter with size. Durant could check both boxes with ease. Even at 36 years old, he ranks favorably among basketball's best net-shredders, and his ability to play both on and off the ball makes him a fit with anyone.

Plant him in the old stomping grounds of his old training partner, and Durant might define the term difference-maker. He and Donovan Mitchell would put opposing defenses into countless pick-your-poison scenarios. Durant could also allow Cleveland to stay big and versatile defensively at the 4 spot without sabotaging the spacing the way the Evan Mobley-Jarrett Allen pairing has.

Speaking of Mobley, Phoenix might view the arrival of him and Darius Garland as a chance to extend its competitive window without abandoning the championship race. A roster with those two, Booker and Beal would still be awfully competitive this season, but there would also be some obvious longevity perks by swapping out Durant for the 23-year-old Mobley and 24-year-old Garland.

If the Suns can ever solve the puzzle of unlocking Mobley's perimeter offense, they might have the perfect pick-and-roll (or even pick-and-pop) partner for Booker. And while Phoenix did a heck of job point-guard shopping on a budget this summer (Tyus Jones and Monte Morris), those players aren't close to the same caliber as Garland, who's been a nightly source of 19.9 points, 7.4 assists and 2.3 three-pointers over the past four seasons.