The NBA trade market isn't moving much at the moment, but that could change soon.

With the pool of trade-eligible players set to expand in mid-December, and clubs pushing closer to the quarter-mark that is so often cited as a big enough sample from which to draw large-scale conclusions, each day draws us nearer to potential roster-reshaping chaos.

It's an appropriate time, then, to compile the latest ranking of the league's top 10 realistic trade candidates and start firing up the trade machines to work out ways in which they might find a new hoops home.

10. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

The buzz

LaVine has been a rumor-mill regular for the last year, and nothing has changed that status. Both he and veteran center Nikola Vučević "know the Bulls are looking to trade them," per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, though a deal may not come together until "the market shifts closer to the trade deadline in February."

The trade

Zach LaVine to the Denver Nuggets for Michael Porter Jr. and Zeke Nnaji

Maybe LaVine's trade value will look better closer to February, but for now, it's hard to see teams giving much of anything for him given the money he's owed and the resume worries with his previous injury issues and lack of team success. Denver might be willing to look past all of that, though, if it thought his shot-making and creation would make life easier for Nikola Jokić. If the Nuggets feel they need a shake-up, their options will be limited by their draft-pick shortage, so it might have to be one of these change-of-scenery type swaps.

Chicago, meanwhile, might hold similar medical and financial concerns with Porter yet still prefer him since he's younger, far less ball-dominant and easier to fit with its core. It might even hold out hope that the 26-year-old has more off-the-bounce elements to his game than he's been able to show in Denver. Nnaji primarily makes the money work here, but maybe the Bulls believe the 23-year-old could blossom with more consistent floor time than he's found with the Nuggets.

9. Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

The buzz

The Nets "are expected to be open for business," per The Athletic's Sam Amick, and 'no one is likely off the table." Cam Thomas, who is ticketed for restricted free agency after this season, "is widely considered to be available."

The trade

Cam Thomas to the Orlando Magic for Jett Howard and a 2028 first-round pick (top-four protected)

Despite some gaudy point totals, Thomas's trade value might not be towering. His game is pretty one-note (he's a scoring specialist who isn't always super efficient), and his impending free agency comes with plenty of unknowns. The Magic, though, might be willing to beat the market since they've needed an offensive upgrade in the backcourt for years. If Orlando could even field an average offense—which feels doable with a Thomas-Paolo Banchero-Franz Wagner trio—that might be enough to contend given the strength of its elite defense.

If Brooklyn can find a lightly protected future first, that's probably a deal worth making. Throw in a cheap flier on Howard, last year's No. 11 pick who has yet to consistently crack the Magic's rotation, and that might be enough for the Nets to bite, especially if they're unenthused about the idea of paying Thomas next summer.

8. Cameron Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

The buzz

Cameron Johnson may not be Brooklyn's leading scorer or best defender, but he might offer the most combined value at both ends. He might also be among the team's priciest players to get in a trade, as Brian Lewis of the New York Post previously reported the Nets "have had consistently high trade demands for Johnson."

The trade

Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers for D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick swap and two 2025 second-round picks (via LAC and LAL)

If the Lakers like their chances of having both LeBron James and Anthony Davis come playoff time, they might be less focused on finding a third star than they are on finding the right fits around the two stars they have. It'd be hard to argue against the on-paper fit for Johnson and Finney-Smith, who might be the top three-and-D wings on the market.

Between the future first and the swap, Brooklyn would control two of the more desirable, down-the-road draft assets in the Association. The two second-rounders have a non-zero chance of adding at least one player to the rotation. The removal of any win-now pressure might allow Hood-Schifino to flourish as a two-way playmaker. Russell and Hachimura would likely only be placeholders until the Nets can flip one or both at a later date to effectively increase their return on this deal.

7. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers

The buzz

Several teams "checked in" on Jerami Grant over the offseason, per SNY's Ian Begley. Grant became one of the league's most obvious trade candidates as soon as Damian Lillard wanted out of Portland, and it feels as if the Blazers could let Grant go at any moment.

The trade

Jerami Grant to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, a 2025 second-round pick (via MIL), and two 2027 second-round picks (via CLE and DEN)

The Cavaliers are off to a blistering start, yet it still feels fair to wonder whether they have enough two-way wings to escape the East. If they see the position as a potential problem, they might also deem Grant as a possible solution. He has shined in defense-first support roles on good teams before, and his increased offensive responsibilities on some not-so-good teams of late could help him keep Cleveland's offense moving when Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland take a seat.

Portland could have trouble finding a first-round pick for Grant, a 30-year-old non-star who's owed $102.6 million over the next three seasons. It might make sense, then, for the Blazers to pounce on this batch of second-rounders and hope they can extract additional assets in trades involving one or both of LeVert and Niang.

6. Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards

The buzz

With the Wizards still laying the foundation for their post-Bradley Beal rebuild, it might just go without saying that their veterans are all available in trades. Kyle Kuzma hasn't been mentioned much of late, but over the offseason, HoopsHype's Michael Scotto revealed Kuzma's contract was considered "highly attractive" in the trade market.

The trade

Kyle Kuzma to the Los Angeles Clippers for P.J. Tucker, Nic Batum, Bones Hyland and a 2031 first-round pick

If the Clippers could ever get a healthy Kawhi Leonard on the floor, they might have more fight than anyone anticipated after Paul George exited in free agency. They might not have enough to truly contend, though, so this would be their shot at getting over the hump. Given their trade budget, they'd struggle to do better than Kuzma, who might be energized by joining a competitive club and be able to dig in defensively since he wouldn't be carrying such a heavy offensive burden.

The Wizards, meanwhile, would do this deal solely for the pick, which would immediately become one of the league's most coveted assets. L.A.'s long-term future is a giant question mark, so an unprotected future first from this franchise might one day deliver a jackpot prize. Tucker and Batum would likely be in and out of the District pretty quickly (ideally traded in different deals, but potentially just waived), but Hyland could stick around for a bit. He has shown a knack for quick-strike scoring when given the opportunity.

5. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

The buzz

The Warriors "are more willing than ever" to ship out Jonathan Kuminga "in a trade of significant magnitude," per The Athletic's Sam Amick. That felt between-the-lines legible somewhere between them not extending Kuminga and him losing his starting spot after only three outings.

The trade

Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, De'Anthony Melton (trade-eligible on Dec. 15), Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, a 2028 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick (via ATL) and a 2028 second-round pick (via ATL) to the Miami Heat for Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love (trade-eligible on Dec. 15)

If the Heat don't trust Butler to stay healthy often enough to justify the cost of his next contract, they might be ready to reshape their roster around Bam Adebayo. Between him, Kuminga, Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović, Miami's frontcourt might be set for the next half-decade. Podziemski would add more creation to the group, Santos could be a developmental project to undertake and the incoming first increases the franchise's trade budget. Melton, who's out for the season after tearing his ACL, would make the money work, with the two second-rounders incentivizing Miami to take on his expiring salary.

If the Warriors are convinced Stephen Curry needs a costar to make a championship run, they probably aren't doing better in this market than Butler (unless the world's biggest fans of Kuminga and Podziemski happen to reside in Milwaukee's front office). Butler has the experience to adjust on the fly, the playmaking ability to help bring even more out of Curry and the competitive fire to form a kindred-spirit type of bond with Draymond Green. Love's range, vision and IQ have always made him an on-paper fit for this system.

4. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

The buzz

While Atlanta may well be making calls about Trae Young—the Hawks are moving their offense away from him—it's possible no one is answering. As The Ringer's Kirk Goldsberry shared on The Bill Simmons Podcast, "there's no market for [Young]."

This sentiment has been shared before, so the Hawks could have a lot more difficulty dealing the three-time All-Star than some might expect.

The trade

Trae Young and Cody Zeller to the Los Angeles Lakers for D'Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick

The Lakers, who have been linked to Young in the past, might still feel they need more star power and shot creation around LeBron James and Anthony Davis to contend for the crown. There would certainly be defensive questions upon Young's arrival, but he could up the team's three-point volume and ease James's burden on the offensive end. And if anyone could successfully anchor a defense behind a Young-Austin Reaves backcourt, it just might be Davis. Zeller, who hasn't played this season due to personal reasons, would simply help make the money work.

The Hawks may not get much value beyond the 2029 first here, but that's still a coveted asset (especially in return for someone with seemingly little to no interest). Plus, they'd gain a future second and might have better luck developing Hood-Schifino, last year's 17th pick. Russell is an on expiring contract, while Hachimura and Vincent will be next season, so Atlanta wouldn't be tied long-term to any of the three unless it wanted to.

3. Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

The buzz

Since the trade market isn't really open yet, there hasn't been recent activity regarding Brandon Ingram. But given his uncertain future in New Orleans, everyone seems to understand what's happening here. The Pelicans and Ingram's representatives clearly have a different idea about the kind of money he's worth, and that disagreement could lead to a deal at some point.

"There is a financial reality to this," Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said over the offseason. "And where I think we can go in terms of keeping this group together, might not be as far as he and his agency would like us to be able to go. So for now, we're going to play it out."

The trade

Brandon Ingram to the Charlotte Hornets for Grant Williams, Josh Green, Nick Richards and a 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected)

Despite high-end contributions from LaMelo Ball, the Hornets can't climb out from the bottom third in offensive efficiency. Their floor general needs a costar, and Ingram, a North Carolina native, would be up to the task. He is far more threatening than anyone else Charlotte has on the roster, and he's just young enough (27) to envision a long-term core crystallizing between him, Ball, Brandon Miller and, if he could ever get healthy, Mark Williams.

New Orleans, meanwhile, would probably maximize its Ingram return by finding a trade partner who views Ingram more as a rental, and Charlotte could be that team. Here, the Pelicans finally upgrade their center spot with Richards and fetch a future first-round pick, while also adding depth on the wings but still keeping the runways clear for Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III.

2. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

The buzz

With Jimmy Butler barreling toward unrestricted free agency next summer, trade speculation could swirl around the six-time All-Star throughout the season.

Things have been relatively quiet of late, but maybe that's because everyone already understands the situation. As far as the most recent buzz, Butler was listed as a "name to monitor" for the Golden State Warriors, per The Athletic's Sam Amick, while the Houston Rockets have been "increasingly mentioned by monitoring rivals as a team to watch" for Butler, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

The trade

Jimmy Butler to the Houston Rockets for Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Steven Adams and a 2027 first-round pick (top-three protected)

The Rockets are off to a strong start, but they still might be a star away from true contention. And they seemingly believe Butler—who grew up just outside of Houston—has enough wattage to fill that void. He fits the gritty, defense-first approach of coach Ime Udoka and could use his playmaking and gravitational pull on defenders to make life easier for Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green and Fred Vanvleet.

The Heat, meanwhile, could reset their roster to maximize Bam Adebayo's timeline. If Miami's developmental staff works its magic on Smith, the No. 3 pick of the 2022 draft, he could be an ideal frontcourt partner for Adebayo, since Smith contributes around the basket on defense but can play away from it on offense. Brooks and Adams already have the requisite toughness to fit the team's #culture, while the lightly protected first could allow the front office to search for more in future trades.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The buzz

Things have been mostly quiet in Milwaukee since CBS Sports' Bill Reiter reported late last month that "teams are circling—and hopeful" that Giannis Antetokounmpo could force his way out. It would take that kind of demand for anything to happen, though, as the Bucks seemingly wouldn't consider moving their franchise face unless he forced the issue.

That said, NBA insider Marc Stein more recently added that "whispers have begun to percolate" about the Houston Rockets potentially making a "down-the-road" push for the two-time MVP.

The trade

Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Isaiah Hartenstein (trade-eligible on Dec. 15), Cason Wallace, Nikola Topić, Jaylin Williams, 2025 first-round pick (lottery-protected, via MIA), 2026 first-round pick (via OKC, HOU or LAC), 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected, via DEN) and 2029 first-round pick

While a blockbuster trade would be out of character for Oklahoma City, any conversation about the best player on the market feels like it should start with the team holding the deepest collection of trade assets. The Thunder have so many trade chips they can add to this list of picks and prospects and still not really disrupt the rotation or empty the cupboard.

Antetokounmpo would slide into the Sooner State and immediately slot into a 1A-1B type partnership with fellow MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City would have true "Big Four" potential with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren still nowhere near their respective peaks, plus there would be sufficient depth around this quartet. As uncharacteristically aggressive as this feels for the Thunder, even they might concede that this could unlock legitimate dynasty potential.

Should the Bucks ever reach the point of needing to move Antetokounmpo, they'd certainly have to see it as a self-destruction and immediately prioritize building up their next core. Wallace, Topić and Williams are all 22 and under, and while Hartenstein might be a touch too old for a youth movement (26), Milwaukee shouldn't have trouble sniffing out a separate deal to convert him into more roster-building assets.

Because the Thunder's pick collection is so strong, the specifics (and even the quantity) of the selections listed here almost don't matter. The Bucks might ask for different or additional draft picks or swaps, but for now, that's four future firsts with light or no protections, as the 2025 pick from the Miami Heat becomes unprotected in 2026 if it doesn't convey.