NBA Trade Season Incoming: Names Available to Trade December 15th

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Over a month and a half into the 2024-25 NBA season, the beginning of trade season is on the horizon. On December 15th, 2024, numerous players will be available to be traded due to signing new contracts and NBA trade restrictions. With the start of the season seeing many surprises with some teams jumping up the standings and others falling far below expectations, many players are rumored to be trade targets.

DeMar DeRozan

In his 16th season in the NBA and first with the Sacramento Kings, DeMar DeRozan is still a capable scorer who would be valuable to numerous contenders across the league. In 17 games, DeRozan is averaging 22.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 4.4 APG. While he is shooting over 50% from the field for the fourth time in six seasons, he is shooting his lowest percentage from beyond the arc since the 2020-21 season. For the Kings, they are not meeting the expectations many set for them.

Currently 10-13 and 12th in the Western Conference, the Kings are neither in playoff or play-in contention. In the first year of his three-year, $73.8 million contract, DeRozan’s contract will be more appealing to teams over the next few years with the salary cap expected to increase. With the West stacked, the Kings could choose to move DeRozan in hopes of finding younger pieces to further build around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

In his second year with the Philadelphia 76ers, Kelly Oubre Jr. has provided solid scoring given the Sixers’ current situation. In 19 games, Oubre has averaged 12.9 PPG and 4.9 RPG. Just two seasons ago, Oubre was averaging over 20 PPG and is still capable of being that scorer. Oubre has one of the better contracts in the NBA with a two-year, $16.3 million deal. Having a player option for the 2025-26 season, trading for him would be a high-risk, high-reward situation. With the Sixers being one of the worst teams in the league and the odds of bouncing back not looking good, Philly could trade Oubre is a player to move on from if they decide to have a fire sale.

Jonas Valanciunas

Another team that is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Washington Wizards are not only the worst team in the East, but the league as a whole, putting up a 2-18 record. With the team losing every game in the month of November, the Wizards are expected to remain at the bottom of the East. While Wizards players like Kyle Kuzma have been in trade rumors going back to last season, the team’s biggest trade target this season is big man Jonas Valanciunas. In his 12th season and first season with Washington, the 32-year-old big man is still a solid center in the league.

In 19 games so far this season, Valanciunas is averaging 12.1 PPG, and 7.7 RPG, mainly coming off the bench. In the first year of his three-year, $30 million contract, Valanciunas has a cheap contract that is attractive across the league. Valanciunas has already been linked to several teams, with the Los Angeles Lakers being the team being brought up in the most rumors. It is expected that Valanciunas will be moved before the 2025 trade deadline.

Paul George

Of the players available to be traded on December 15th, Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George is the biggest name that could legitimately be traded. PG has had many ups and downs to start the 2024-25 season. In only 10 games so far this season, George is averaging 15.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 2.1 SPG. PG has missed numerous games this season due to injuries, something that has played a significant role in the Sixers 5-15 record. For Philly, it may already be clear that the superstar trio of Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey is not going to work out.

The biggest issues in trading Paul George are his four-year, $211 million contract and the 15% trade kicker that is a part of his contract. Set to increase in each of the next three seasons, PG will be nearly 38 making $56 million in the 2027-28 season. While his contract will be one of the harder contracts to trade, no contract in the league is truly untradable. For Philly, the Sixers may have to explore the possibility of PG trade to save their future.

Other Notable Names

Other notable names available to be traded on December 15th include Luke Kornet (Boston Celtics), Caleb Martin (Philadelphia 76ers), Tobias Harris (Detroit Pistons), Mo Wagner (Orlando Magic), Russell Westbrook (Denver Nuggets), Joe Ingles (Minnesota Timberwolves), De’Anthony Melton (Golden State Warriors), Derrick Jones Jr. (Los Angeles Clippers), Kevin Porter Jr. (Los Angeles Clippers), Luke Kennard (Memphis Grizzlies), Javonte Green (New Orleans Pelicans), Daniel Theis (New Orleans Pelicans), and Chris Paul (San Antonio Spurs).