2024 NBA trade deadline: Big questions, targets and draft capital for every team
To help identify which teams will be looking to acquire players for a playoff or championship push, which teams will trade players to accumulate more draft picks and which teams will mostly hold pat with what they have, we have broken down the rosters and draft picks for all 30 teams.
Along with identifying the big questions each team must answer leading up to the Feb. 8 deadline, we’ve listed the players who are off the board (either because they can’t be traded due to some contract restriction or because the team wouldn’t trade them in any situation), potential trade targets, value contracts and the tough-to-move contracts.
Front office discussions: What is the identity of this team? The Hawks have been below .500 before and have been since Quin Snyder took over in March. Is it too premature to start evaluating the Trae Young and Dejounte Murray backcourt? Does Atlanta prioritize 2024 finances now or wait until the offseason? Atlanta will be a luxury tax team in 2024-25 if Saddiq Bey is re-signed. And what is the value of Patty Mills, Garrison Mathews and other depth players?
Off the board: Dejounte Murray (Jan. 9 trade restriction) and Onyeka Okongwu (poison-pill restriction)
Draft capital: The Hawks owe San Antonio unprotected first-round picks in both 2025 and 2027. The Spurs also have the right to swap firsts in 2026. Atlanta has a top-15 protected first-round pick from Sacramento in 2024 (top-12 protected in 2025 and top-10 protected in 2026). It will turn into 2026 and 2027 second-round picks if not conveyed by the Kings. The Hawks are allowed to trade the Kings’ first-round pick and their own first-round pick in 2029 or 2030. They are allowed to swap their own first in 2024, 2028, 2029 and 2030. Atlanta also has five second-round picks available to trade.
Front office discussions: Is there enough frontcourt depth to this roster? Boston has a $6.2M trade exception, up to eight second round-picks and an open roster spot. Do two-way contract players like Drew Peterson and Neemias Queta have any value as potential reserves, especially as frontcourt injury insurance? What is the comfort level from ownership to increase the luxury tax penalty? In the past two seasons, the Celtics have paid $110M.
Draft capital: Boston is allowed to trade a maximum of two first-round picks in the next four years (2024 and 2026). The Celtics can also trade a 2025 first-round pick, but that cannot be combined with the 2024 and 2026 picks. Boston has the right to swap those picks in every season except in 2028 (the Spurs already have swap rights if 2 through 30) and 2029. The Celtics also owe Portland a 2029 first-round pick and have eight second-round picks available.
The finances: The Celtics are $18.2M over the luxury tax and have a projected tax bill of $39.1M. They have two trade exceptions ($6.2M and $1.8M). Boston is not allowed to sign a player waived during the season who had a preexisting salary in 2023-24 greater than $12.4M.
Front office discussions: Has the failed Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden experiment made Brooklyn pause the search for its next star? Brooklyn has five first-round picks from other teams, including four unprotected. What is the best approach to use its two large trade exceptions ($19.9M and $18.1M)? Should Brooklyn take back salary with draft picks or improve the roster with the possibility of going into the luxury tax? Does starting point guard and pending free agent Spencer Dinwiddie fit into the future? Is Dorian Finney-Smith’s on-court play more valuable than adding another first-round pick?
Draft capital: The Nets have unprotected first-round picks from Phoenix in 2025, 2027 and 2029. They also have the right to swap picks with the Suns in 2028. The Nets own a top-eight protected first-round pick from Philadelphia in 2027 or 2028 and also have an unprotected 2029 first-round pick from Dallas. The Nets owe Houston unprotected first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, and the Rockets have the right to swap in 2025 and 2027. Besides the draft capital acquired in previous trades, Brooklyn is allowed to trade or swap its 2028, 2029 or 2030 first-rounders. The Nets have five second-round picks available.
Front office discussions: Is Miles Bridges part of the future, and if not, does Charlotte look to move him? Bridges would need to approve any trade, and the acquiring team would not inherit his Bird rights. What can the expiring contract of Gordon Hayward bring back? What’s a realistic ceiling with this group’s core, and is the new ownership group content with their progression?
