Trade Rumors: DeRozan, Kings, Lakers, Grant, Cavs, Finney-Smith, Okoro, More

While the Kings are among the teams believed to have some interest in Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, there has been a growing sense entering the weekend that Sacramento is more focused on free agent forward DeMar DeRozan, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Earlier reporting from Adrian Wojnarowski named the Kings as a legitimate suitor for DeRozan, who would need to be acquired via sign-and-trade, with a third team likely taking on salary from Sacramento in the deal.

Sean Cunningham of FOX 40 Sacramento (Twitter link) confirms there’s “mutual interest” between DeRozan and the Kings, while James Ham of The Kings Beat (Twitter link) confirms Sacramento has talked to the Bulls about a sign-and-trade and suggests that a third team has been “lined up.”

However, there continues to be competition from rival suitors for the 34-year-old’s services, Ham adds. As John Hollinger of The Athletic writes, it also won’t be easy to construct a three-team trade that gets DeRozan the type of salary he wants, ensures the Bulls don’t take back much money, and has the Kings sending out enough assets to Chicago and a third team to incentivize them to make the deal.

Although there are other teams who could open up a little cap room, Detroit and Utah are the only two teams with significant space still available, and the Pistons are rumored to be keeping their room open for trade opportunities, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Chicago and Sacramento have been talking to Detroit in relation to a possible DeRozan deal.

Here are a few more trade rumors and notes from around the NBA:

  • The Trail Blazers and Lakers have had conversations about Jerami Grant, but if the Blazers are going to send him to Los Angeles, they’d want both of the future first-round picks the Lakers can trade (2029 and 2031), along with matching salaries, according to Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report. The Lakers have been unwilling to meet that price and Portland isn’t in any rush to move its top forward, so the talks haven’t gotten far, Highkin writes, noting that – outside of Rui Hachimura – the Blazers wouldn’t have much interest in the players L.A. could put in a package for Grant.
  • After Zach Lowe reported earlier today that Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is a possible trade target to watch for the Cavaliers, Scotto confirms that Cleveland likes Finney-Smith and has monitored him since Brooklyn acquired him in 2023. Scotto adds that Cavs restricted free agent Isaac Okoro is viewed as a potential sign-and-trade candidate (in general, not specifically for Finney-Smith).
  • Nuggets forward/center Zeke Nnaji and Sixers free agent KJ Martin are two trade candidates to keep an eye on, according to Scotto. Nnaji is beginning a four-year, $32MM contract after not playing a regular role in Denver last season, so his value on the market would be limited. As for Martin, his small cap hold could allow the Sixers to get creative by signing-and-trading him in order to take back more salary than they would be able to accommodate with the cap room they’ll have left over once their major signings are complete.
  • Speaking of the Sixers, they’re on track to add Paul George as a straight free agent signing rather than in a sign-and-trade, according to Marc Stein at Substack. That comes as no surprise, since acquiring George via sign-and-trade would hard-cap Philadelphia at the first tax apron, potentially limiting the team’s flexibility for the rest of 2024/25.

Scotto’s Latest: Beasley, Hield, Nuggets, Martin, Pelicans, Mavs, Cavs

Coming off a season in which he made a career-high 41.3% of his three-point attempts, free agent swingman Malik Beasley was considered the Mavericks‘ Plan B for outside shooting help if they were unable to land Klay Thompson, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

With Dallas no longer in the mix for Beasley, the 27-year-old sharpshooter is receiving interest from the Pelicans, who like the idea of having him stretching the floor alongside Zion Williamson, league sources tell Scotto.

Meanwhile, the Pistons “flirted” with potentially offering Buddy Hield a one-year contract and have considered doing the same for Beasley, Scotto writes, but for now Detroit wants to keep its salary cap space open for trade purposes, since the team is well positioned to take on an unwanted contract or two and receive draft assets for its trouble.

Here’s more from Scotto:

  • The Nuggets and Heat were among the teams to express interest in Hield before he agreed to join the Warriors, per Scotto. However, neither team could realistically match the $8.7MM starting salary Hield got from Golden State. Denver is shopping in free agency with its $5.2MM taxpayer mid-level exception in the hopes of adding a player who can help fill the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope-sized hole in the team’s rotation, Scotto notes.
  • When he declined his $7.1MM player option with Miami, Caleb Martin was hoping for a deal worth at least the full mid-level exception ($12.9MM) and possibly more than that, sources tell HoopsHype, but nothing has materialized so far. The Sixers are among the teams with interest in Martin, but his asking price would have to drop for that to be realistic, according to Scotto.
  • While the Pelicans continue to peruse the trade market for centers – with Wendell Carter of the Magic among the targets on their radar – veteran big man Daniel Theis has been linked to New Orleans as a possible cheaper option in free agency, Scotto writes.
  • The Mavericks, in the market for one more guard, have considered a possible reunion with Spencer Dinwiddie or Dennis Smith Jr., according to Scotto, who hears that Malachi Flynn is another playing Dallas is considering if Dinwiddie and Smith end up elsewhere.
  • Johnnie Bryant (Knicks), Jared Dudley (Mavericks), and Trevor Hendry (Nets) are among the coaches the Cavaliers are eyeing as possible assistants for Kenny Atkinson‘s staff, Scotto reports. Bryant was close with Donovan Mitchell from their days in Utah together, while Dudley and Hendry were with Atkinson in Brooklyn (Dudley as a player, Hendry as a staffer).

Western Notes: Carter, Suns, Nunez, Thunder, Jazz

Kings first-round pick Devin Carter will miss both the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues due to a left shoulder injury, writes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (subscription required).

General manager Monte McNair acknowledged after drafting Carter last week that the former Providence guard was dealing with a shoulder ailment and said the Kings’ doctors would be taking a closer look at it. While the injury will keep Carter out of action this month, McNair expressed confidence that it’s “not a long-term issue.”

The No. 13 overall pick told The Sacramento Bee that he suffered the injury in a pre-draft workout. Asked if he’s feeling pain or discomfort, Carter replied, “I’m feeling fine. I just want to get the team doctor’s opinion and go from there.”

Here’s more from around the Western Conference:

  • Within a story grading the Suns‘ re-signing of Damion Lee, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports says the team remains interested in bringing back Josh Okogie on a new deal worth more than the minimum. Phoenix currently has just one open spot on its 15-man roster, but Bourguet hears from a source that waiving a player like David Roddy or Nassir Little might be a possibility if Okogie is re-signed and another top free agent target (possibly Kyle Lowry) is available. I’d be pretty shocked if the Suns cut Little, who has three guaranteed years left on his contract, but Roddy isn’t owed any guaranteed money beyond this season.
  • Spurs second-round pick Juan Nunez appears unlikely to sign an NBA contract immediately. A report from Spanish outlet Encestando (hat tip to Sportando) suggests Nunez is on track to join Barcelona on a deal that will give him the option to leave for the NBA next summer. The Spanish point guard was the No. 36 selection in last week’s draft.
  • In a pair of stories for The Oklahoman, Joel Lorenzi explores Isaiah Hartenstein‘s fit in Oklahoma City and examines what the Thunder‘s roster will look like after trading for Alex Caruso and adding Hartenstein in free agency. Lorenzi, who is projecting Caruso to start and Hartenstein to come off the bench, suggests the veteran center’s play-making and screening will help make the offense more versatile, which the Thunder could’ve used in this year’s playoffs.
  • The Lauri Markkanen trade rumors are a reflection of the Jazz‘s awkward current position, according to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (subscription required). As Larsen details, if they hang onto Markkanen, the Jazz risk winning too many games next season to have a legitimate shot at landing a future star in the 2025 draft; but there are no guarantees they’ll be able to draft that future star even if they do trade him, and going that route would further delay their timeline for contending.

Warriors Notes: Hield, DeMarco, Thompson, Anderson

The Warriors conducted their recruitment of Buddy Hield while the veteran sharpshooter was in Valencia, Spain, where he’s looking to secure an Olympic berth for the Bahamian national team. According to reporting from The Athletic, Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco – who is the head coach for the Bahamas – served as a “helpful ally” for Golden State’s front office in those recruiting efforts.

Hield’s decision to join the Warriors had been trending in that direction for a couple days before he made up his mind, per The Athletic. A late Wednesday call from Warriors head coach Steve Kerr helped seal the deal for Hield, who slept on it before finalizing his decision on Thursday.

As Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes within the same story, Hield, De’Anthony Melton, and Kyle Anderson are three veterans with varying skill sets who will help the Warriors solidify their rotation, but the club is still probably “a large move away from being considered any type of fringe contender.”

Here’s more on the Warriors:

  • When the Warriors negotiated the Klay Thompson sign-and-trade with the Mavericks, they had the option of taking back Josh Green or another one of Dallas’ mid-sized contracts (likely Maxi Kleber), but they preferred to use the Thompson trade exception to go shopping in free agency for a player they liked more, sources tell Slater of The Athletic.
  • While Anderson averaged 22.6 minutes per game during the regular season for Minnesota last season, his playing time declined to 15.4 MPG in the playoffs. Slater suggests that – as long as the Warriors’ roster is healthy – the forward’s playing time in Golden State may end up closer to that postseason average.
  • Thompson took to Instagram on Friday to send a heartfelt farewell to Warriors fans and his longtime franchise. “Oh Bay Area, there are not enough words and images to convey how I really feel about y’all,” he said as part of a longer statement. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for the best times of my life. It was such an honor to put that Dubs jersey on from day one. … Don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened. Until we meet again. Sea captain out.”
  • Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic takes a closer look at the legacy Thompson leaves behind in the Bay Area following his 13 years and four championships with the Warriors.

Timberwolves Re-Sign Luka Garza

JULY 5: Garza’s new contract with the Wolves is now official, per the NBA’s transaction log.


JULY 1: Luka Garza will return to the Timberwolves on a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). It’ll be a minimum-salary deal, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune.

The 25-year-old center saw limited playing time in 25 games last season, averaging 4.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per night. He’s stuck behind Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid in Minnesota’s frontcourt.

Garza was one of the top players in college basketball at Iowa in 2021, but he wasn’t drafted until the 52nd pick because of concerns about how his game might translate to the NBA.

He spent his first season with Detroit, then joined the Wolves in 2022 on a two-way contract that was converted to a standard deal in April.

While Garza hasn’t seen a ton of playing time at the NBA level, he has excelled in the G League, averaging 31.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game with a .618/.442/.778 shooting line for the Iowa Wolves in 18 NBAGL outings over the past two seasons.

The agreement with Garza leaves Minnesota with five remaining free agents: Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris, T.J. Warren, Jordan McLaughlin and Daishen Nix.

And-Ones: Team USA, Bonuses, Summer League, Draft, Tavares

The members of the U.S. Olympic team that will compete in Paris this summer have arrived in Las Vegas, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Team USA will hold a pre-Olympic camp in Vegas from July 6-8 and will be joined by a 15-man Select Team for scrimmaging purposes.

Led by LeBron James (two Olympic gold medals, 20 All-Star berths) and Kevin Durant (three gold medals, 14 All-Star berths), the 12-man Olympic roster is as formidable as any team USA Basketball has fielded in the 21st century, with 84 combined All-Star nods. It will make picking a starting lineup a challenging task for head coach Steve Kerr.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Kerr said on Friday, per Reynolds. “I’m guessing that all 12 players on this roster will be in the Hall of Fame someday. So, how do you pick five out of 12? The idea is, you find combinations that click, and you find two-way lineups that can be effective at both ends. Our big job in Las Vegas is to find five-man combinations that fit and to just ask all 12 guys to fully commit to the goal of winning a gold medal no matter what it looks like, no matter who’s playing.”

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Expect NBA teams to include unlikely incentives less frequently in player contracts going forward, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Those unlikely bonuses don’t count against the cap if they’re not earned, but they do count when determining a team’s position relative to the tax aprons, giving high-spending teams less wiggle room below those aprons. For instance, the Heat – who are operating in between the first and second aprons – would presumably prefer not to have to account for the $1.5MM unlikely bonus Tyler Herro would earn for winning Defensive Player of the Year.
  • With the Bulls, Magic, Nets, Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, and Hawks among the teams announcing their Summer League rosters on Friday, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points has updated his tracker of the Summer League squads from around the NBA.
  • While no concrete decisions have been made yet about next year’s draft schedule, the expectation is that the NBA will want the second round (ie. the second day) to start in the evening instead of the afternoon, Marc Stein writes at his Substack. The second day of the 2024 draft began at 4:00 pm Eastern time on June 27 so as not to compete with the U.S. presidential debate that was scheduled for that evening.
  • There had been some speculation in the spring that Walter Tavares might try to make an NBA comeback this summer, but the former Hawks and Cavaliers big man – who has been a star in Europe since 2017 – won’t be going anywhere, having signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid, the Spanish team announced in a press release. The all-time EuroLeague blocks leader, Tavares has won a pair of EuroLeague championships with Madrid in 2018 and 2023.

2024/25 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker

Two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry three extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.

First introduced in 2017, two-way deals have undergone some rule changes in recent years, and the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement has updated them further. Here are some key points to remember:

  • Teams can now carry three players on two-way contracts, rather than two.
  • Two-way players are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their team’s 82 regular season games. If a team isn’t carrying a full 15-man standard roster, its two-way players can only be active for a combined 90 games.
  • Players on two-way contracts will earn $578,577 in 2024/25, half of the rookie minimum.
  • Two-way contracts can’t be signed after March 4.

You can check out our glossary entry to learn more about two-way contracts.

NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2024/25 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2023/24 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.

If a two-way signing has been reported by a trusted source but isn’t yet official, we’ll list it in italics and link to the report, updating the info as necessary. Players who are in the first year of two-way contracts that cover two years (the maximum length), will be noted with an asterisk (*) once that info is confirmed.

This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2024/25 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.

Here are 2024/25’s two-way players:

Updated 11-5-24


Atlanta Hawks

  1. Seth Lundy, F
  2. Keaton Wallace, G
  3. Dominick Barlow, F

Boston Celtics

  1. Drew Peterson, F
  2. JD Davison, G
  3. Anton Watson, F

Brooklyn Nets

  1. Jaylen Martin, G/F
  2. Yongxi Cui, G/F *
  3. Tyrese Martin, G

Charlotte Hornets

  1. KJ Simpson, G *
  2. Moussa Diabate, C
  3. Jared Rhoden, G

Chicago Bulls

  1. Adama Sanogo, F
  2. DJ Steward, G
  3. E.J. Liddell, F

Cleveland Cavaliers

  1. Emoni Bates, F
  2. Luke Travers, G/F
  3. JT Thor, F

Dallas Mavericks

  1. Brandon Williams, G
  2. Kessler Edwards, F
  3. Jazian Gortman, G

Denver Nuggets

  1. Trey Alexander, G
  2. PJ Hall, F/C
  3. Spencer Jones, F

Detroit Pistons

  1. Daniss Jenkins, G
  2. Cole Swider, F
  3. Alondes Williams, G *

Golden State Warriors

  1. Pat Spencer, G
  2. Reece Beekman, G
  3. Quinten Post, C

Houston Rockets

  1. Jeenathan Williams, G/F
  2. N’Faly Dante, C
  3. Jack McVeigh, F

Indiana Pacers

  1. Quenton Jackson, G
  2. Tristen Newton, G
  3. Enrique Freeman, F

Los Angeles Clippers

  1. Jordan Miller, F
  2. Trentyn Flowers, G/F
  3. Kai Jones, C

Los Angeles Lakers

  1. Armel Traore, F/C
  2. Christian Koloko, C
  3. Quincy Olivari, G

Memphis Grizzlies

  1. Cam Spencer, G
  2. Yuki Kawamura, G
  3. Colin Castleton, C

Miami Heat

  1. Dru Smith, G
  2. Keshad Johnson, F
  3. Josh Christopher, G

Milwaukee Bucks

  1. Ryan Rollins, G
  2. Stanley Umude, G
  3. Liam Robbins, C

Minnesota Timberwolves

  1. Jaylen Clark, G
  2. Jesse Edwards, C
  3. Daishen Nix, G

New Orleans Pelicans

  1. Jamal Cain, F
  2. Trey Jemison, C
  3. Brandon Boston Jr., G/F

New York Knicks

  1. Kevin McCullar, G/F
  2. Jacob Toppin, F
  3. Boo Buie, G

Oklahoma City Thunder

  1. Adam Flagler, G
  2. Ajay Mitchell, G
  3. Alex Ducas, G

Orlando Magic

  1. Trevelin Queen, G
  2. Mac McClung, G
  3. Empty

Philadelphia 76ers

  1. Justin Edwards, G/F
  2. Jeff Dowtin, G
  3. Lester Quinones, G

Phoenix Suns

  1. Collin Gillespie, G
  2. Jalen Bridges, G/F
  3. TyTy Washington Jr., G

Portland Trail Blazers

  1. Justin Minaya, F
  2. Bryce McGowens, G
  3. Taze Moore, G

Sacramento Kings

  1. Mason Jones, G
  2. Isaac Jones, F/C
  3. Isaiah Crawford, G/F

San Antonio Spurs

  1. David Duke, G
  2. Harrison Ingram, F
  3. Riley Minix, F

Toronto Raptors

  1. D.J. Carton, G
  2. Ulrich Chomche, C *
  3. Jamison Battle, F

Utah Jazz

  1. Jason Preston, G
  2. Micah Potter, C
  3. Oscar Tshiebwe, F/C

Washington Wizards

  1. Justin Champagnie, G/F
  2. Tristan Vukcevic, C
  3. Jared Butler, G

Magic Re-Sign Trevelin Queen On Two-Way Deal

JULY 5: Queen’s deal is done, according to the NBA’s official transaction log.


JULY 4: The Magic will bring back free agent guard Trevelin Queen on a two-way contract, league sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter link).

Queen, 27, has spent much of his time in the G League since going undrafted out of New Mexico State in 2020, though he has also had stints with Houston, Indiana, and Orlando at the NBA level. He appeared in 14 NBA games while on a two-way deal with the Magic in 2023/24, averaging 2.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 11.8 minutes per night.

Although he’s been buried on NBA depth charts, Queen has been a star in the G League in recent years. He won both the regular season and Finals MVP awards in 2022 and made the All-NBAGL Second Team in 2024 in addition to earning MVP honors in this year’s G League Next Up Game at All-Star weekend. In 35 total games for the Osceola Magic this past season, he put up 23.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, and 2.4 SPG with a .493/.313/.816 shooting line.

Queen received a two-way qualifying offer from the Magic last week to make him a restricted free agent, so in all likelihood, he’ll simply accept that offer.

Orlando will still have a pair of two-way open slots after officially signing Queen. Admiral Schofield and Kevon Harris were their other two-way players last season, but Schofield signed a deal with a French team and Harris is an unrestricted free agent.

Trade Rumors: Markkanen, DeRozan, Young, Cavaliers

The Jazz continue to listen to trade offers for Lauri Markkanen, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe (subscriber link), who hears from sources who say the Heat are among the teams interested in the star forward.

As Lowe writes, Markkanen’s situation is complicated because he’s on a below-market contract that will pay him $18MM in 2024/25, which is the final season of his contract. That makes a standard contract extension – which can’t start above 40% of his current salary – unlikely. Rival teams may not be willing to give up a major haul of assets with no guarantees that the 27-year-old would stick around beyond next season.

Utah could potentially get more value in return for Markkanen in several months if the team renegotiates and then extends his contract. However, that scenario is also tricky.

As Marc Stein details (Substack link), Markkanen becomes eligible for a renegotiation and extension on August 6, but he won’t be trade-eligible for six months if he signs a new deal. That means if he signs the extension on the first day he’s eligible to, he would only be eligible to be traded for one day during the season: February 6, the day of the deadline. If the extension is signed on August 7 (or later), Markkanen would not be eligible to traded during the upcoming season.

While it’s not surprising that the Heat have shown interest in the Finnish star, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald casts doubt (via Twitter) on the feasibility of the team actually acquiring him. As Jackson notes, Utah has placed a high asking price in previous talks with Miami, which lacks future first-round picks to offer.

One team interested in Markkanen seems confident that he’ll eventually be traded, per Stein. Utah’s own 2025 first-round pick is top-10 protected, so the Jazz could be incentivized to tank ahead of a strong draft class. Utah has also struggled to acquire a second star to build the roster around him.

Here are some more trade rumors from around the NBA:

  • The Kings appear to be the frontrunner to acquire DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade with the Bulls, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who made the comments on SportsCenter (Twitter video link; hat tip to RealGM). However, Wojnarowski said a third team would likely to be need to be involved to absorb salaries, as Chicago is reluctant to add to its payroll. A six-time All-Star, DeRozan remains the top free agent left on the market.
  • According to Lowe, the trade market for Hawks point guard Trae Young “is as chilly as it has ever been.” Sources tell Lowe that the Spurs and Lakers — two teams linked to Young — haven’t expressed much recent interest in the three-time All-Star. Lowe says San Antonio appears unmotivated to help Atlanta regain control of its own first-round picks in a deal for Young.
  • Lowe hears rumors of Darius Garland potentially requesting a trade from the Cavaliers following Donovan Mitchell‘s extension have “quieted,” which confirms a report from his ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst. According to Lowe’s sources, the Cavs are still on the hunt for a 3-and-D wing, with Nets forwards Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith worth monitoring, though Cleveland only has one tradable first-round pick (2031). Stein has also heard that center Jarrett Allen will likely be difficult to acquire after Kenny Atkinson was hired as head coach, which means the Cavs could have the same core together entering next season.

Clippers Sign Cam Christie To Four-Year Deal

4:08pm: Christie has officially signed with the Clippers, per NBA.com’s transaction log.


10:34am: The Clippers plan to sign second-rounder Cam Christie to a four-year, $7.9MM contract, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

The 46th overall pick of June’s draft, Christie was one of the youngest players selected, as he won’t turn 19 until later this month. He averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 39.1% from three-point range in his lone college season at Minnesota (33 games, 30.1 minutes per contest).

The Clips will be using the second-round pick exception to sign the 6’5″ guard, with the fourth year being a team option. Based on the reported terms, Christie will almost certainly receive a rookie minimum — a four-year, minimum-salary deal for a rookie would work out to $7,895,796.

Christie is the younger brother of guard Max Christie, who agreed to a four-year, $32MM deal to return to the Lakers.