This NBA offseason will be filled with star players in trade blocks, but these three players, who are not expected to be included in the rumor, could mention their names.
Looking forward to the 2025 NBA offseason, it’s clear that some of the sport’s biggest names are moving, or at least included in the fair share of mock trading.
Zion Williamson, Lamelo Ball and Kevin Durant may not have made their formalities into franchise plans and may be shipped for future assets. The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to shop Paul George, and after signing a contract extension last season, Lori Markanen will be trade qualifying.
Of course, the team may offer the best players in draft capital as Cooper Flag headlines the 2025 draft and many of the talent behind him.
As fans prepare for the predicted name mentioned, they can notice at least three players moving, even if they are a bit overlooked.
CJ McCollum owes $30.6 million next season when he turns 34. The New Orleans Pelican is in the midst of the youth movement and may trade Zion Williamson, but only one year remains in McCollum’s consistent production and his contract.
The Memphis Grizzlies may want to add veterans to the locker room, or they may hope that the Miami Heat will run things and give them a better chance next season by adding veteran talent.
In any case, the Pelican can trade for young players who fit draft capital and rebuilding timelines without a reason to expand after DeJounte Murray returns to the lineup.
McCollum is in the middle of his 10th season, averaging 20 points in a row per game, and is a reliable secondary scorer and facilitator, so any team looking for a proven, consistent boost in the backcourt may be interested in his service.
After De’aaron Fox arrives in San Antonio at this trade deadline, the Sacramento Kings appear to be poised to be mediocre for the next few seasons. With Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk, Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan signing over the next two seasons, their CAP situation prevents them from adding more free talent and simply can’t break through in a loaded Western Conference.
Fox could apply some pressure as his contract was nearing the end, and he could have left the King without doing anything. Meanwhile, Sabonis is team controlled from 2027-28 and doesn’t boast the same leverage as the Fox had, but one of the league’s best rebounders and better scorers should be enough to allow the Kings to begin rebuilding.
Sabonis leads the league in rebounds in his third season, and is one of the better scorers and passersby in center position.
If Nicola Jokic couldn’t make everything better, Sabonis is a routine All-NBA selection, and teams like the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks might line up doors to add him, depending on how they go about off-season.
In the 2024 draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent future picks and pick swaps to the San Antonio Spurs for Rob Dillingham, who was selected as the eighth overall pick at the University of Kentucky.
At the time, Dillingham was a belief that he would eventually take over as a franchise point guard and become Anthony Edward’s long-term running mate. Instead, rookies average 5.1 points per game, usually only showing up during garbage hours.
Minnesota recently achieved success with Edwards, Donte Divinsenzo and Nickaire Alexander Walker sharing ball handling missions when Mike Conley rested. Rebuilding teams like the Spurs, Washington Wizard, or the Phoenix Suns are unlikely to allow the wolves to reveal their initial investments again, but they may steal the flyer from him.
In college, Dillingham averaged 12.5 points per game with 44.4% shooting from Deep.