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Trade rumors rankings: Dejounte Murray, Bruce Brown, D’Angelo Russell and more

The 2023-24 NBA trade deadline is upon us. Will we see a flurry of trades? Will any big names be dealt? Or will it just be role players switching teams?

Just today, we saw the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz swap Kevin Knox for Simone Fontecchio and the Boston Celtics acquire rugged big man Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies. The biggest trade on Wednesday came late in the afternoon when the Minnesota Timberwolves picked up Monte Morris from the Pistons.

But what fans want is to see major players get moved, although the likelihood of that happening by tomorrow seems slim.

Regardless, below are the players who have appeared most often in trade rumors over the previous week, as judged by appearances on our Trade Rumors page.

Delon Wright (Washington)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of teams are reportedly interested in veteran point guard Delon Wright of the Washington Wizards, including the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets, according to our own Michael Scotto and veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein.

Wright is averaging 4.4 points and 2.8 assists this season on 37.1 percent shooting from three and is on an expiring contract.

For the latest Delon Wright trade rumors and salary info, click here.

D'Angelo Russell (LA Lakers)

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The run of great form Los Angeles Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell has been on of late might have gotten him off the trade block. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently said the following on the matter:

Adrian Wojnarowski: D’Angelo Russell playing the way he’s played over the last several weeks, I think has changed the view of it in LA. I’m not saying that it’s not impossible for them to trade D’Angelo Russell, I think it is far less likely.

Another report from ESPN attached Russell’s name to the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets, which makes sense considering each of those teams has players that the Lakers have reportedly had interest in.

Russell is more or less on an expiring contract, as he’s owed $18.7 million for 2024-25 but owns a player option on that year, one he’ll more than likely decline to hit free agency, especially if he keeps up this level of play.

For the latest D’Angelo Russell trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Bojan Bogdanovic (Detroit)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

A popular name at the trade deadline yet again this year is Detroit Pistons swingman Bojan Bogdanovic. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer, the Philadelphia 76ers could be an option for the Croatian forward:

Another target for the Sixers is Pistons guard Bojan Bogdanović, sources said, who is on the books for $20 million this season, but has just $2 million guaranteed for 2024-25. Detroit has long shown an interest in a reunion with Tobias Harris, league sources told Yahoo Sports, but in any deal where the Sixers bring back Bogdanović, it would seem Philadelphia doesn’t want to part with Harris.

However, both Wojnarowski and Pistons beat writer James Edwards tamed expectations, indicating that Detroit is likely to keep Bogdnovic past the trade deadline barring a great offer coming in.

Bogdanovic has one more season left on his deal with Detroit so we’ll probably go through this song and dance next trade deadline once again. Maybe at that point, the Pistons will be more willing to trade the soon-to-be 35-year-old as opposed to losing him for nothing in the 2025 offseason.

For the latest Bojan Bogdanovic trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Andre Drummond (Chicago)

Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Chicago Bulls big man Andre Drummond, averaging 7.9 points and 8.5 rebounds this season on 55.2 percent shooting, is reportedly the likeliest Chicago player to be traded this deadline, according to Stein:

The 76ers, I’m told, have indeed registered interest Chicago’s Andre Drummond, joining the likes of Boston and Dallas. Drummond is widely regarded as the Most Likely Bull To Be Traded this week after literally months of trade speculation in the Windy City.

Drummond responded to the trade rumors recently:

Drummond is an experienced and productive backup center who’s on an expiring – and cheap – contract. This situation looks more like when? and not if? as far as the former UConn standout getting traded.

For the latest Andre Drummond trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Tyus Jones (Washington)

Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

According to Scotto, various teams have an interest in veteran point guard Tyus Jones:

Tyus Jones has drawn trade interest from the Magic, Spurs, Nets, Lakers and Timberwolves, league sources told HoopsHype. The Wizards value Jones as a potential piece going forward and are open to re-signing him in free agency this summer. As recently reported by HoopsHype, Washington would covet a future first-round pick to consider parting with Jones.

With the Timberwolves acquiring Morris, though, we can almost certainly rule them out of the Jones sweepstakes at this point.

As far as how expensive Jones might be on the trade market, according to Fischer, Washington might be willing to come down to multiple second-round picks for the former Duke Blue Devil.

For the latest Tyus Jones trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn)

John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the Nets’ struggles this season, our own Scotto reported this week that the team is not looking to rebuild but instead plans to build around its best player, Mikal Bridges:

Brooklyn is not looking to rebuild, league sources told HoopsHype. Instead, the Nets hope to build alongside Mikal Bridges, who’s locked in for $23 million next season and $24.9 million in the 2025-26 season. Given Bridges’ contract, Ben Simmons’ $40.3 million salary expiring after the 2024-25 season, and the rest of the roster, the Nets have a two-year window where they can potentially add more star power to improve the team. Doing so could shift Bridges to a second or third offensive option, depending on who Brooklyn can acquire.

Stein reported similarly, writing that the Nets are insistent on not trading the former Villanova standout and have rebuffed offers from two interested parties, the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans.

For the latest Mikal Bridges trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Malcolm Brogdon (Portland)

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Despite his age not fitting in with the Portland Blazers’ timeline, veteran point guard Malcolm Brogdon said he’s not focused on the trade deadline…

…while Wojnarowski said that the former Virginia Cavalier is unlikely to be traded this deadline.

Stein reported that Brogdon lobbied to the Blazers to keep him this trade deadline, too:

Malcolm Brogdon has been openly lobbying the Trail Blazers to keep him beyond Thursday’s trade deadline. Long considered one of this season’s Most Likely To Be Traded players after landing in Portland before the season started when Boston acquired Jrue Holiday from the Blazers

This is a good reminder that players are humans and even though most might think Brogdon might prefer to end up on a contender this season, perhaps the notion of being traded for the second time in months and having to uproot his life once again doesn’t appeal to the 31-year-old point guard, which is perfectly reasonable.

For the latest Malcolm Brogdon trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Kelly Olynyk (Utah)

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the 76ers are interested in versatile big man Kelly Olynyk of the Jazz.

With Joel Embiid out for the foreseeable future, Olynyk could be a great depth piece at center for Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, local reports out of Utah indicate that the Jazz appear likely to trade Olynyk by Thursday:

I think there is a fairly good chance that Olynyk is going to get moved before the deadline. I’ve been told about at least four teams that have registered interest in Olynyk and heard that there could be even double that number.

The Athletic reported similarly, too:

Tony Jones: He remains a likely trade candidate, according to multiple league sources. Olynyk has registered widespread interest, particularly among likely playoff teams, because of his status as an expiring contract, but more importantly his versatility on offense.

We’ll see where Olynyk ends up but the underrated, skilled big man could help contenders out in a variety of roles.

For the latest Kelly Olynyk trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Alex Caruso (Chicago)

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

According to one local Bulls beat writer, Chicago would have to be seriously impressed by a trade offer to consider moving veteran guard Alex Caruso:

According to a source close to the situation, there have been plenty of calls about Alex Caruso, but the front office would need an offer that completely blew them away to trade Caruso.

Our own Scotto reported similarly this week, laying out just how highly the Bulls value the two-way role player:

Elsewhere, Chicago continues to have a high asking price on Alex Caruso of the equivalent of two first-round picks to consider moving the All-Defensive guard. Caruso is signed for $9.89 million next season, which is considered a great value across the league, given his production

Wojnarowski, meanwhile, said that Chicago expects an OG Anunoby-level trade offer to part ways with Caruso:

Adrian Wojnarowski on Bulls: ‘If they’re going to trade Alex Caruso, they want a lot for him like an OG Anunoby-type deal as what’s been described to me.’

Finally, NBC Sports Chicago reported that the Golden State Warriors were one of the teams to inquire about Caruso but that the Bulls rebuffed them because they’re focused on chasing a playoff spot.

Bold, if nothing else.

For the latest Alex Caruso trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Bruce Brown (Toronto)

Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Sarah Stier/Getty Images

It seems like just a matter of time before talented swingman Bruce Brown gets traded, as one Toronto Raptors beat reporter wrote that the Raptors have already received a first-round-pick offer for Brown. That’s what many reporters had set as the Raptors’ asking price for the 27-year-old, so maybe Toronto is waiting to see if another team offers more than one first-rounder before agreeing to that deal.

Recently, Yahoo! Sports mentioned the New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks as two teams interested in Brown while Wojnarowski said on a podcast that he believes there’s a very good chance the 2022-23 NBA champion gets traded by the deadline.

Some contender is going to get a very valuable and impactful role player when it picks up Brown, who’s basically on an expiring contract, as he has a team option on his deal for next year.

For the latest Bruce Brown trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Dorian Finney-Smith (Brooklyn)

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Another popular name on the trade market ahead of the deadline is that of Nets two-way swingman Dorian Finney-Smith, who Brooklyn values quite highly, according to Scotto:

As noted during a guest appearance on YES Network, the Nets are not interested in a late first-round pick nor a pick in the 2024 NBA Draft in any trade talks for Dorian Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype. For Brooklyn to consider trading Finney-Smith, it would take a future first-round pick starting in 2025 or beyond that has a chance to be a potential Top 20 pick, sources said. Besides Bridges, Finney-Smith has drawn the most trade interest of any Net player heading into the deadline.

SportsNet New York mentioned the Milwaukee Bucks as having an interest in Finney-Smith while Yahoo! Sports reported that the Dallas Mavericks are no longer being part of the sweepstakes for the former Florida Gator.

For the latest Dorian Finney-Smith trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Bobby Portis (Milwaukee)

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Stein has been on top of the Bobby Portis trade front over recent days, first reporting that the Mavericks had discussed a Grant Williams-for-Portis swap before reporting the next day that Milwaukee would need more from Dallas to get the bucket-getting big man.

Portis talked to the media about the trade scuttle (via The Athletic):

“I was really trying to find my way in the league still and find a niche. But for guys that probably hear (trade rumors), it is probably tough on them, for sure, if they like a place or whatever it is. But, for me, personally, I ain’t heard nothing. And, if it do happen, God got good things for me in store.”

Portis has two years left on his deal after this one on a team-friendly price and is averaging 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds on the campaign while hitting 37.7 percent of his threes.

For the latest Bobby Portis trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Andrew Wiggins (Golden State)

D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Stein also had the following to report on the Andrew Wiggins trade front:

The Warriors, league sources say, are expected to explore their Andrew Wiggins trade options right up to the deadline.

Meanwhile, Fischer mentioned the Bucks and Mavericks as having an interest in the former No. 1 overall pick:

Andrew Wiggins is the Warrior who’s generated the most significant trade chatter around the league. He remains a player in consideration for the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Although in order for Milwaukee to reach Wiggins’ $24.3 million salary, the Bucks would need to include forward Bobby Portis in any outgoing package, and Milwaukee, sources said, is going to think long and hard before sacrificing Portis in any deal at this deadline.

Shams Charania also threw the Indiana Pacers into the mix as a potential Wiggins suitor:

Wiggins, now injured and performing overall quite poorly this season, has three years and $84.7 million left on his contract after 2023-24, so good luck to the Warriors if they do want to offload the former Kansas Jayhawk.

For the latest Andrew Wiggins trade rumors and salary info, click here.

LeBron James (LA Lakers)

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

This one is pretty cut and dry: Unless GOAT candidate LeBron James outright demands a trade, the Lakers will not be trading him (via The Athletic):

As Paul made clear in an interview with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, James “won’t be traded, and we aren’t asking to be (traded).” A high-ranking Lakers source, meanwhile, scoffed at the idea that the Lakers would even consider trading James. But so long as the goal remains for this partnership to continue, it certainly behooves the Lakers to take James’ voice into account. If, that is, he chooses to use it in a direct manner with team officials rather than this sort of passive-aggressive style.

The same report said the Lakers are hopeful James will retire in their jersey.

So there you have it. Maybe James likes to play games at times with cryptic messages here and there – the hourglass tweet or wrapping himself in a Knicks towel are two prime and recent examples of that – but ultimately, those moves seem to just be his way of putting pressure on the Lakers into being aggressive, be it at the trade deadline or in free agency, while he’s still as good as he is and likely nothing more.

For the latest LeBron James trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Dejounte Murray (Atlanta)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The prospects of Dejounte Murray getting traded seemed much higher just a week ago.

Now, according to Stein, there is some belief out there that Murray could still be dealt but that he himself isn’t optimistic that will happen:

One source close to the process optimistically insisted Tuesday night that a Dejounte Murray deal that would send Murray out of Atlanta has not been extinguished as a possibility. I am less optimistic personally, but the source certainly has me curious. On Trade Deadline Eve, then, Murray appeared to be most accomplished player in the league who could still be dealt this week … barring an 11th-hour surprise name that had yet to reveal itself as of this printing.

Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes said today that the New Orleans Pelicans are interested in the Atlanta Hawks guard while Wojnarowski said on a podcast that the Hawks do not have any offers that include multiple first-round picks for Murray.

Finally, Fischer said that aside from the Lakers, the only other team he’s heard has put in an offer for Murray is the Utah Jazz.

So we’ll see what ends up happening with Murray but for now, the odds of him getting traded by the Hawks appear to be trending down.

For the latest Dejounte Murray trade rumors and salary info, click here.

Story originally appeared on HoopsHype