Five NBA players likely to change teams this season

The NBA season has yet to begin, but there are already a few players who should keep a travel bag packed and look to rent, not own. Here are five players who are likely to change teams during the 2024-25 NBA season.

Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram's contract expires after this season, but he and the Pelicans don't seem close on a new deal. New Orleans also has two young forwards, 24-year-old sharpshooter Trey Murphy III and 26-year-old Herb Jones, who made the all-defensive first team last season. Their center position could most generously be described as "unsettled."

While it might be intriguing to see the Pelicans run out a lineup with Zion Williamson at center alongside newly acquired Dejounte Murray and all three small forwards, Ingram's the most likely player to be moved to get some size in return. With Murphy approaching a contract extension and C.J. McCollum likely untradeable at $64M for the next two seasons, Ingram could be the odd man out.

Jonas Valanciunas, Washington Wizards

Washington signed Valanciunas to play alongside No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, who should start the season at power forward. But the 7-foot Sarr is a future center and the Wizards have veteran Richaun Holmes as a backup to play alongside their rookie big man.

Valanciunas can't be traded until Dec. 15, but his veteran pedigree and reasonable two-year, $20.3M deal makes him an attractive trade piece. LeBron James was reportedly willing to take a pay cut to add Valanciunas, so he could end up in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey for the stretch run.

D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

Russell is the best of a group of players who Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka signed to one-year deals with player options last summer. They all opted in, which limited the Lakers' flexibility this year; their only notable additions were rookies Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.

The Lakers' starting point guard opted into his expiring $18.7M deal after a season in which the Lake Show often desperately needed his scoring. At the same time, his defense was lacking, and Russell acknowledged his "lack of professionalism" at the team's media day. With his deal expiring, Russell may be the Lakers' best trade asset, but he's too good to help a rebuilding team tank and not really good enough to start for a true contender. Expect him to find a new home at the trade deadline.

Robert Williams, Portland Trail Blazers

For a Blazers team that has former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton and just drafted center Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 pick, the only thing keeping Williams from being traded is his health. Williams missed all but six games last season with a knee injury, continuing his career-long injury woes that have kept him out of 57 percent of his possible games.

Williams and his knee were cleared to play only for him to suffer a hamstring strain that may keep him out through the season opener. When healthy, Williams has been a game-changing defender, making the all-defensive second team in 2022. If Williams can demonstrate an ability to stay on the court, Portland can ease its logjam at center and get future assets by trading him.

K.J. Martin, Philadelphia 76ers

When the 76ers signed Martin to a two-year, $16M deal with the second year non-guaranteed, it was almost certainly to create a trade asset for themselves. The forward got a huge raise on last year's $1.93M deal after a season in which he averaged 3.7 points in 12.3 minutes per game. But the Sixers, who can't take in more salary in trade than they send out, gave Martin extra money to facilitate trades.

The 23-year-old Martin is a serviceable player, but with four forwards ahead of him on the depth chart, he's a luxury for Philadelphia — a luxury who doubles as a useful trade chip.