The NBA trade deadline is getting closer: Who are the candidates for changing the team?
NBA trade deadline is right behind the corner. 10th of February is the day, that many NBA fans are excited about. Some teams get better, others blow it all up. So far we saw only 2 bigger trades that we will talk about later. For a deadline as important as this one, that can change the league’s landscape, we have prepared a list of players and teams, that we should be watching out for.
Trades up until today.
Portland has sent Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Los Angeles Clippers. In exchange they got Eric Bledsoe, Justis Winslow, Keon Johnson and a second-round pick in the 2025 draft (via Detroit).
Indiana has sent Caris LeVert and second-round pick of 2022 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Pacers got Ricky Rubio, protected 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
How has last years trade deadline ended?
The last day of the last year’s trade deadline has finished with some big trades. We saw Nikola Vučević going to Chicago and that was only a pick of an iceberg in Chicago trades. Victor Oladipo has left Houston for Miami in exchange for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and a first-round pick. The bigger trades were also Aaron Gordon to Denver and Evan Fournier to Boston. Players changing teams were also JJ Redick, Norman Powell, Gary Trent Jr., Daniel Theis, Nemanja Bjelica, Rajon Rondo, Lou Williams, Jeff Teague, JaVale McGee, James Johnson and Cory Joseph.
Ben Simmons
The most talked-about name of this years trade deadline is Ben Simmons. It is known that Ben does not want to play in Philadelphia anymore and he has even before the season asked for a trade. But 76ers general Manager Daryl Morey wants a lot in exchange for Simmons. Plausible trade partners for Simmons are Sacramento, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington and Brooklyn. Morey has already denied some trade offers. Some reporters are saying that Philly is planning to wait till the end of the season and then try to get James Harden in a deal.
Jerami Grant
Detroit Pistons are not interested to trade Grant for just any price, his value is quite high and a few teams are interested in him. The teams that were mentioned the most as potential trade partners, were Chicago and Utah. Most probably, in that case, the Bulls would have to let go of Patrick Williams. Grant would be badly needed for the Utah team, as the injury sidelined Joe Ingles. Grant had already stated in the past that he wants to be the main figure on the team and not its fourth or fifth option.
Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis
The Indiana duo has been in trade rumours for almost every NBA team. The Pacers have publicly stated that every player on the roster is available for trade. They are probably more willing to let go of the older players. Myles Turner has stated that he wants a bigger role on a team, the role that he can not get, playing with Sabonis. The teams that need a good defensive presence on the centre position are very interested in Turner. Charlotte was mentioned the most. On the other side, we have Domantas Sabonis, that does not have as big of a role in the time since Rick Carlisle took over the team. Sabonis is more of an offensive weapon, also not bad on the defensive end, that is why he is on the radar of many teams. What offer would be good enough for Indiana Pacers?
Christian Wood
Similar to Jerami Grant, Christian Wood is also on a team without a lot of ambitions. But his salary is half as big as Grant’s so, his move is more plausible. Houston is waiting for an offer that would knock them out of their seat. Miami is mentioned a lot, but we will have to wait and see.
Harrison Barnes and most of the Sacramento team
What exactly is going on with the Sacramento Kings, only they know. Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield, De’Aaron Fox and probably a whole lot of other players are available for trade. It is true that they are not playing at the highest level, the Kings are the team that is at the bottom of the stands for quite some years now. Fox would be interesting for the 76ers. Barnes and Hield would be interested for almost any team in the league.
John Collins
Rumours are going around the league that Atlanta is willing to part ways with John Collins. He is in his first year of a 5-year contract. He was one of the main figures of Atlanta’s last year’s success. This year is not going, ass planned. They have parted ways with Cam Reddish, that went to New York and the future of the team is unclear. Can Boston make a move for him?
Bradley Beal
Beal wishes to stay in Washington till the end of his career, an honourable wish. High salary in a high profile city but no winning seasons. A wish for winning could lead Beal out of Washington. As a possible destination, Boston is mentioned, which only has room for him in case of breaking up the young duo Tatum-Brown. There are also Atlanta and Philadelphia as possible suitors, but the trade is highly unlikely.
Danilo Gallinari
A teammate of John Collins is also available for trade. Many teams are interested in his services, the only problem is his high salary. The Toronto Raptors are interested in him and they have an ace up their sleeve with a high salary that they are not planning on anymore. Gallinari would help any team that would get him. The only question is are the rumours true?
Goran Dragić
Slovenian captain has already left Toronto some time ago as part of a deal made between Goran and Nick Nurse. An experienced playmaker would be a great acquisition for any team that would get him. The only problem there is his high salary – 19 million dollars. Atlanta would take in his salary and then buy out his contract. Dallas Mavs are the most talk about destinations for Goran.
Teams suitable for rebuild
We have already talked about Sacramento and Indiana, which have already offered most of their teams players. With both, the players that have been chosen in this year or last years draft, are not on the table. Wish players should we watch out for?
Indiana Pacers: Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Torrey Craig, Jeremy Lamb in Justin Holiday.
Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Marvin Bagley III in Richaun Holmes.
There are more teams that could part ways with players on the team and go into a rebuild. The two that are most likely to trade away their teams are…
Houston Rockets: John Wall, Eric Gordon, Christian Wood in Daniel Theis.
Portland TrailBlazers: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Lary Nance Jr. in Jusuf Nurkić.
Other players that could be traded
There are plenty of players that we should keep an eye on. Which are these players?
- Jalen Smith (Phoenix Suns)
- Dario Šarić (Phoenix Suns)
- Thomas Bryant (Washington Wizards)
- Aaron Holiday (Washington Wizards)
- Montrezl Harrell (Washington Wizards)
- Spencer Dinwiddie (Washington Wizards)
- Kendrick Nunn (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Talen Horton-Tucker (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Mitchell Robinson (New York Knicks)
- Jalen Brunson (Dallas Mavericks)
- Dorian Finney-Smith (Dallas Mavericks)
- Bogdan Bogdanović (Atlanta Hawks)
- Terrence Ross (Orlando Magic)
- Garry Harris (Orlando Magic)
- Chris Boucher (Toronto Raptors)
- Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)
- Dennis Schroder (Boston Celtics)
- Josh Richardson (Boston Celtics)
- Bojan Bogdanović (Utah Jazz)
- Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz)
- Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz)