It was a busy week for NBA trade rumors, and though things are settling down, there is more to be discussed. Let’s start in the Bay.
It is Stephen Curry week for the Golden State Warriors, as the team can officially lock him into an extension starting on Saturday. Because he is 38 years old, the deal can’t run past two years, putting Curry’s max offer at two years and $137 million. (Hard to believe given how good star players are now into their late 30s, but until recently, the over-38 rule was an over-36 rule.)
The Warriors have the potential to have a massive amount of cap space next season, more than $100 million, depending on how they manage cap holds and trades. And depending on Curry’s extension.
Curry is not going to be traded. It’s an interesting thought exercise to consider what your team’s trade package for him might be, but he wants to retire in the Bay Area, and the Warriors want him there. Still, go ahead and work the trade machine. It’s the late August doldrums in the NBA, and trade machines are fun.
NBA Trade Rumors: Stephen Curry’s Warriors Move Will Send a Signal
But, in the real world, there are three possibilities here for Curry and the Warriors, and each can be taken a signal for where the franchise is heading next, and how much Curry is willing to give up to get them there:
Curry signs a straightforward extension. He gets two years, with the first year at $66 million. The Warriors could still carve out some cap space, but not nearly enough to land a max-contract guy. This is the most likely outcome, and certainly, Curry does not owe the team a discount, not after all he has contributed to the franchise.
Curry signs a discount extension. But Curry could give the Warriors a discount. Even if he were to accept, say, two years and $100 million, it could give the front office enough room to make a run at top free agents, or make strong offers for restricted free agents that teams would not match. It would afford the Warriors the chance to add another legitimate star, and might be the best option for both sides, if Curry were willing.
Curry does not sign an extension. This would be the wild card. There would be speculation that the Warriors could trade Curry, and that he is not signing an extension because he wants out. But, more likely, it would give the Warriors the option of using $100 million in cap space, then circling back and signing Curry, a bit like the Cavaliers and James Harden this offseason. If Curry wants to choose havoc and chaos, this is the way to go, and any fan of NBA trade rumors is a fan of havoc and chaos.
Dejounte Murray Will Be Watched
One guy who has been under the radar on the NBA trade market is former All-Star Dejounte Murray of the Pelicans, for obvious reasons. Murray was struggling in 2024-25 when he tore his Achilles tendon, and he considered retiring. But he worked his way back on the floor last year for 14 games, and averaged 16.7 points with 6.4 assists.
He is signed at $32.7 million this year, with a player option for $30.7 million in 2027-28. If he comes back shows some of his old form this season–at age 30–teams will be willing to bring him in with the notion that he could opt out after the season and sign a longer-term deal at smaller money.
“He is a guy I am interested to see how he looks, because just getting back last year was a really good thing for him, and if he can still play and defend at his usual level, there is going to be a market for him,” one general manager said.
GettyDejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans
NBA Trade Rumors: Rehabbing Cam Whitmore
Cam Whitmore was supposed to be a Top 10 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, but concerns about him off the floor caused him to drop to No. 20. He has not lived up to the billing of a first-rounder at all, though, averaging 10.5 points in three seasons. The Cavaliers are hoping to find a trade partner willing to take a gamble on rehabbing Whitmore’s NBA career, but it is probably a longshot. The Cavs have until August 29 to waive and stretch Whitmore’s salary ($5.4 million for this upcoming season).
OK, let’s revamp this NBA trade rumors Big Board …
NBA Trade Rumors: Which Guards Are on the Market?
Dejounte Murray, Pelicans. Teams will want to see how he looks now that he should be fully healed from his Achilles tendon injury, but expect him to be a trade candidate as the deadline nears.
Jamal Murray, Nuggets. Maybe? It’s not likely to happen now, but the finances in Denver are grim. It’s not hard to see a Jaylen Brown situation here.
Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers. (Remaining contract four years, $90 million.) Sharpe averaged 20.8 points last season, but he is not a high-efficiency guard, and that will hurt his value on the market. Portland is not looking to thin out its guard logjam–yet. But that figures to change, with Sharpe likely the one to move.
Jordan Hawkins, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: one year, $7 million.) Hawkins never lived up to his lottery billing after his impressive UConn tournament run in 2023, so the fact that he is on the trade block is probably not exactly newsworthy. Still only 24, but he is a career 37.4% shooter.
Ty Jerome, Grizzlies. (Remaining contract: two years, $19 million, including player option.) Jerome took advantage of the mess in Memphis last year and averaged 19.7 points, shooting 42.0% from the 3-point line. The Grizzlies will need to thin out their roster, and the 29-year-old Jerome really does not fit here. He would have good value if Memphis wants to flip him for future assets.
Dalton Knecht, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $10 million, including two teams options.) Knecht showed some promise as a rookie but fell off in Year 2 and is now a contract filler in a potential trade. It has been surprising that no team has been willing to gamble on his upside–he is only 25.
NBA Trade Rumors: Everyone Wants Wings
Moses Moody, Warriors. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) Moody is potentially going to be ready for the start of the season, and is said to be staying put. But if the Warriors do anything trade-wise this summer, speculation holds it will involve Moody.
Trey Murphy, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: three years, $88 million.) There have been rumblings that the Pelicans would deal Murphy, and equal rumblings have indicated they won’t. Murphy is a favorite in NBA trade rumors, but New Orleans is slow-playing any potential trade.
Saddiq Bey, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: one year, $6.5 million.) Bey came back with a strong season last year after tearing his ACL, averaging 17.7 points and shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.7% from the 3-point line. It was for a bad team, but he showed he still could be an adequate wing off someone’s bench.
Patrick Williams, Bulls. (Remaining contract: three years, $54 million,) It would be symbolic and probably cathartic for fans to see Williams dumped as a new front office and coaching staff comes in. But Williams’ contract is prohibitive.
Jonathan Kuminga, Hawks. (Remaining contract: Free agent.) He is the last remaining free-agent prize who might not be all that prized, it turns out. The Lakers, Bucks, Kings and Timberwolves are among the teams interested, but it’s hard to find a path to make a deal happen for most teams. Kuminga is desperately looking for a sign-and-trade (Atlanta has his rights) to rescue his summer.
Michael Porter Jr., Nets. (Remaining contract: one year, $40 million, partial guarantee.) Porter will wind up in the trade-candidate bin if extension talks falter.
Derrick Jones Jr., Clippers. (Remaining contract: one year, $10 million.) Jones is a defensive ace still, and his expiring contract gives the Clippers some wiggle room to move him. They’re caught in the Aspiration pause, however.
Kyle Kuzma, Bucks. (Remaining contract: one year, $20 million,) His expiring contract is attractive and if the Bucks pull a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson, Bennedict Mathurin or Jonathan Kuminga, he could be involved.
DeAndre Hunter, Kings. (Remaining contract: one year, $25 million.) The Kings want to keep him as an expiring contract they could potentially flip, but he’s being mentioned as a possible target in the summer market.
Royce O’Neale, Hornets. (Remaining contract: two years, $21 million,) The Hornets would not be able to trade O’Neale with anyone else yet, so they could wait on a deal. But the team has gotten calls about moving him on after he was traded last month.
Jake LaRavia, Lakers. (Remaining contract: one year, $6 million.) Hustles, plays every game, but inconsistent. His contract makes him an attractive piece, though, as the Lakers figure out how to finish their roster.
Herb Jones, Pelicans. (Remaining contract: four years, $82 million, including player option.) Jones is a popular name on the market, but the Pelicans are said to want two first-round picks, and with Jones having struggled with injuries and his 3-point shot in the past two seasons, that’s probably too steep. His remaining contract scares off potential suitors, too.
Cam Johnson, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: one year, $23 million.) The Peyton Watson move probably means Johnson stays put, but he will be very trade-able in the coming months before the deadline. Johnson was a disaster in his lone season in Denver, and he has been a prominent feature on the NBA trade rumor mill for years now. He still has enough of a reputation around the league to warrant trade interest, but the Nuggets value the fact that he has an expiring contract.
PJ Washington, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 4 years, $90 million.) Like Gafford, Washington is aging out of the Mavericks’ timeline, as he turns 28 this summer. He’s a stretch 4 who plays good defense, but his shooting has been suspect–he made just 32.5% of his 3s last year. Like Gafford, they’re hoping to get a first-round pick, but the contract is prohibitive.
GettyJake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Trade Rumors: Big Men Can Be Expensive
Jalen Smith, Bulls. (Remaining contract: one year, $9 million.) Plenty of teams are still on the hunt for a backup center, and Smith would be a nice fit in multiple situations. The Bulls could cash in for younger assets.
Nikola Jovic, Heat. (Remaining contract: four years, $62 million.) There is trepidation about trading for Jovic, who is certainly available and is still only 23 years old. But the remaining contract is a hefty bite for teams to take. Are the Mavericks the answer?
Grant Williams, Hornets. (Remaining contract: one year, $15 million.) The Hornets are not quite done with their roster, and Williams’ expiring deal has some value. He can still be a worthy big man off the bench.
Zeke Nnaji, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: four years, $32 million.) Dumping Nnaji would get the Nuggets under the second apron and free them up to resolve Peyton Watson’s situation. The Hornets are a potential landing spot.
Jarred Vanderbilt, Lakers. (Remaining contract: two years, $26 million.) The Lakers have been trying to find a taker for Vanderbilt, but no one has been eager to take on his contract. It’s possible the Lakers will use him in their rotation, much to JJ Redick’s chagrin, and attempt to trade him during the season.
Aaron Gordon, Nuggets. (Remaining contract: three years, $110 million.) Someone may have to go depending on how the Peyton Watson ordeal finishes. It could be Gordon, though his recent injury history makes that tough.
Daniel Gafford, Mavericks. (Remaining contract: 3 years, $54 million.) Gafford will be 28 in October, and with the Mavs focused on getting younger, moving him along has been one of the team’s top options. They’re hoping to get a first-round pick for Gafford, but that might be a big ask because of his contract.
NBA Trade Rumors: Stephen Curry’s Big Warriors Week, All-Star Monitored & Big Board