2024 Key NBA Trades and Free Agency Moves
2024 Key NBA Trades and Free Agency Moves
Who were the big winners in the first week or so after free agency began in the NBA on June 30 at 6pmET? Let’s also take a look at some of the key trades since the season ended.
In the NBA Draft on June 27 and 28, several minor trades took place. Here are some of the major ones
*Minnesota traded a 2031 first-round pick (unprotected) and a 2030 first round pick swap (top 1 protected) to the Spurs for the eighth pick which became Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham.
*Denver traded the 28th pick, the 56th overall pick, a 2026 and 2031 second-round pick for the 22nd pick from the Suns. The Nuggets ended up taking F/C DaRon Holmes from Dayton.
Before the draft:
*Washington traded F Deni Avdija to Portland for G Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th overall pick (Pitt’s Bub Carrington), a 2029 first-round pick (second-most favorable from Portland), a 2028 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick.
*New York reportedly traded F Mikal Bridges to the Nets for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick (from MIL), one second-round pick and an unprotected pick swap.
*Chicago traded G Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for G Josh Giddey.
*Atlanta (according to multiple media reports) traded G Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for Dyson Daniels, F Larry Nance Jr., a 2025 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick.
Most of these moves were not earth-shaking though there were several huge moves. Caruso is a good defender and he’ll help the Thunder on that end. Giddey needed a new location after being left on the bench in the playoffs. Avdija was a rising star or becoming a very good player with Washington, who apparently is looking for another very high pick in 2025. Portland, you would think, would now deal one of their forwards for picks.
The Knicks made the biggest move in acquiring Bridges, to give them another Villanova former star. They also re-signed O.G. Anunoby to a five-year extension, but did lose C Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency. The Knicks are currently at +950 to win the NBA title next season, which places them fifth. Unfortunately for them, they are in the same division as Boston (-160 to win Atlantic) and Philadelphia (+340) according to Draft Kings.
The Dejounte Murray move was a bit stunning as the Hawks were expected to move him, Trae Young or both. Murray makes the Pels an even stronger team in the West and allows C.J. McCollum to play more shooting guard. The Hawks are now in a semi-rebuild and are +40000 to win the NBA title in 2024-25.
In free agency news, most of the major moves were in-house as LeBron James re-signed with the Lakers as expected and Donovan Mitchell signed an extension with Cleveland.
*Dallas signed guard Naji Marshall (according to ESPN) and acquired G Klay Thompson in a sign-and-trade deal with Golden State. They also traded away Josh Green to Charlotte and veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. to Detroit.
*One of the biggest moves in free agency saw Philadelphia signing All-Star forward Paul George to a four-year deal from the Clippers. They also added veterans C Andre Drummond and G Eric Gordon in free agency. The move to acquire George placed the Sixers as the number two favorite in the NBA at +800.
*Oklahoma City also benefitted from free agency and the trade market with the addition of Caruso. But they also added Hartenstein (according to ESPN) to help Chet Holmgren in the middle.
*Orlando picked up a much-needed veteran in G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (reportedly) to help a young team on both ends of the floor.
*San Antonio adds help in terms of leadership with the signing of Chris Paul (multiple reports) to a one-year deal.
*Washington traded away Avdija and also signed veteran center Jonas Valanciunas to a one-year deal (from ESPN).
*Golden State no longer has the “Splash Brothers”. They did add Kyle (slo-mo) Anderson to a three-year deal (from ESPN) and shooting guard Buddy Hield in a sign-and-trade with Philadelphia.
