Ultimate NBA summer trade guide: 100 players, split into 11 tiers, who could be dealt during 2025 offseason – https://t.co/oxGFeoO02H https://t.co/y1BAzBcGAj— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 4, 2025
Ultimate NBA Summer Trade Guide for Top 100 Players
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June 4, 2025 2 Comments
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
Tier 1: The stars
The following players are both obvious candidates to be 2026 All-Stars and plausibly available through trade.
1. Kevin Durant, Suns — $54,708,609 (2025-26 salary)
He was nearly traded to Golden State at the deadline, but he didn’t want to return to his old team. His current one needs a retool, and has no other high-end players to trade to kickstart one unless it surprisingly puts Devin Booker on the table. However, Durant is 37 and on an expiring contract. He’s not going to cost nearly as much to get as he did in 2023, so the field is theoretically wide-open for him. There will be plenty of interest from win-now teams, but Durant has the leverage to get to a preferred destination.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks — $54,126,380
The best player potentially on the trade market, and if he is indeed moved, he would be on the short list of greatest players ever traded. This is a 30-year-old two-time MVP eager to jump back into the championship picture. We don’t yet know for certain whether or not he will force a move, but if he does, every team in the NBA should consider making an offer.
3. Jaylen Brown, Celtics — $53,124,264
The Celtics are currently looking at a $493 million payroll for next season, when they may not have Jayson Tatum at all. They are going to shed money, so everyone but Tatum is probably available here. Keeping Brown and Tatum means paying two stars supermax contracts. That might not be feasible in the new CBA world. Boston won’t trade Brown without getting a haul back, but it would be naive to think he’s not on the table.
4. Lauri Markkanen, Jazz — $46,394,100
Another year, another disappointing lottery result for Utah. The Jazz are now three years into their rebuild without a top-four pick to show for it. The whole point of this rebuild has been to get access to the sort of star power that is only available at the top of the draft, and unless they want to get punished for violating the NBA’s player participation policy again next year, they might need to trade Markkanen to ensure they’re bad enough for another bite at the high lottery apple. They considered a move last offseason, but now that he’s locked into a long-term deal, almost anyone is a plausible suitor.
5. Trae Young, Hawks — $45,999,660
One of the few remaining star free agents of 2026 that hasn’t already been moved, this is a pretty simple calculus. Atlanta will presumably offer Young an extension this offseason. If he takes it, great. If he doesn’t they have to explore a trade before he can walk for nothing. They’ve looked into Young trades in the past, though, and the market has been limited. How much interest will he generate now?
6. Ja Morant, Grizzlies — $39,446,090
He’s never played 70 games in a season, his off-court problems have been a major distraction, and last season ended in disaster. The Grizzlies have messaged that they aren’t trading Morant, but they have to make some substantial change if they hope to bounce back in the monstrous Western Conference. Anyone and everyone should be on the table.
7. Zion Williamson, Pelicans — $39,446,090
Williamson has been in and out of trade rumors for years now, and like Morant, he comes with both health problems and off-court issues. Joe Dumars is the new general manager in New Orleans, and without knowing his agenda, we have no way of knowing how gettable Williamson is. He has MVP-level talent, though, so there will always be interested parties.
8. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies — $23,413,395
Like Young, he’s a star 2026 free agent, so if he doesn’t want to stay in Memphis, he can force the Grizzlies to trade him now. The twist here is that Memphis can’t extend him as easily as Atlanta can Young. They need to create cap space to do so through a renegotiation-and-extension. They’ve taken steps in that direction and may take more, but the ball is in Jackson’s court for now. If he isn’t satisfied with what Memphis can offer or would merely prefer to play elsewhere, he has the leverage to move.
I didnt realize Markkanen made that much on last year’s 28th highest payroll team. I would prefer Kessler, but Ainge won’t give him up for 1 young talent, a veteran proven player and 2 draft picks (maybe 1 outright, and 1 swap)…..So it ain’t gonna happen.