Ranked: Top 5 NBA Trade Chips Heading Into August

With the free agent pool significantly depleted at this point in the NBA's offseason, teams must look at the trade market if they are still hoping to change up their roster mix before training camps open in two months.

With that, let's have a look at the Top 5 most valuable trade chips heading into August, as ranked by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report.

1. Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers

The 21-year-old was having a sensational rookie season last year before he was cut down by injury only 23 games in. He was averaging 15.3 points and shooting 38.3% from long distance. He performed so well in that small sample that he still finished 7th in the balloting for Rookie of the Year, despite missing nearly 60 games.

It would be sacrilegious in Philly to suggest they could trade McCain, but Buckley writes that "a scoring guard with defensive limitations, maybe isn't the best long-term fit with Tyrese Maxey," not to mention the addition of #3 pick VJ Edgecombe to come in and take over his spot.

The enormous upside is there for the future for McCain, but if the Sixers want to make a run at getting out of the Eastern Conference this coming season (it is wide open, with the Celtics and Pacers out of the mix due to devastating Achilles tears for Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively), they could likely bring back a huge haul by trading McCain, that could help them win now.

2. Rockets-owned Two Unprotected First-Round Picks of Phoenix Suns (2027, 2029)

The Suns have traded Kevin Durant and bought out Bradley Beal. Does anyone feel that their future, despite the presence of Devin Booker, is anything but that of a high lottery-pick team in the coming years? The Houston Rockets own two Phoenix unprotected first-rounders, and those picks, as Buckley notes, are "absurdly valuable." Trade assets for Houston to use to bolster their title-contending chances.

3. Kel'el Ware, Miami Heat

Sure, the Heat held tightly to their young, athletic 7-footer this summer, and refused to include him in trade talks to try to land Kevin Durant. But that doesn't mean, writes Buckley, that a more sensible, massive offer couldn't come their way. "There's almost assuredly a return rich enough for Miami to loosen its grip on Ware, but it would take quite a bit."

4. Ron Holland II, Detroit Pistons

The 5th overall pick in last year's draft played 81 games for the Pistons, getting his feet wet with over 15 minutes average playing time per night. The swingman was dominant in Summer League earlier this month, and one Pistons exec gushed, "Did you see a better player out here than Ron?... As a rookie, he just got better every single day. Now, he's going to break out and have an incredible season."

Despite that, Buckley says it's "worth wondering if the Pistons would consider letting him go to get Cade Cunningham a true co-star."

5. Sixers 2028 First-Round Pick (from LA Clippers)

Back to Philly again, still looking for ways to make this a 'win-now' season. This first-rounder that originally belonged to the Clippers could be mighty valuable in three years. By that time, Kawhi Leonard will be 37, James Harden will be 38, going on 39, Bradley Beal will be 35, and their other new additions this summer, Brook Lopez and Chris Paul will be 40 and 43 and well into retirement. Safe to say that the Clips will either be in a complete rebuild by then, or just running on fumes. Either way, that pick that the Sixers own should be a high lottery pick.