The vast majority of the NBA became trade-eligible a month ago, on December 15th. There have been a few moves since then, but not much, and nothing significant or splashy. With the February 6th deadline looming, another list of trade-eligible players was released today, January 15th. There are some interesting names to watch in the coming weeks in both conferences.
NBA Unveils New Lists of Trade-Eligible Players
NBA’s Latest Trade Eligible Players Bunch
Now, why was this latest group of players only made trade-eligible today as opposed to the December 15th date? It boils down to certain criteria the players had to meet or failed to meet, thus being forced to wait it out for another month. The criteria to be made eligible this time around comes down to four things that had to have happened in the offseason: The player re-signed with his previous team, he got a raise of at least 20%, his salary is above the minimum, or his team was over the cap and used Bird or Early Bird rights to sign him.
Meeting this criteria are 18 players now trade eligible: Precious Achiuwa, OG Anunoby, Goga Bitadze, Miles Bridges, Max Christie, Nic Claxton, Haywood Highsmith, Isaiah Joe, Johnny Juzang, KJ Martin, Tyrese Maxey, Malik Monk, Josh Okogie, Scotty Pippen Jr., Immanuel Quickly, Obi Toppin, Aaron Wiggins, and Patrick Williams.
Considering this list, a handful of names representing the East and the West could very well be traded between now and February 6th.
Eastern Conference
The Brooklyn Nets are heading for a rebuild; that is no secret. They’ve already begun making moves, and Claxton could be another player they trade soon. His four-year, $100 million extension, which he recently signed, gives the impression that the Nets want him around for the long term. However, considering recent developments, that isn’t necessarily part of their plans. His contract is hefty, yes. However, what he offers—wing span, size, rim protection, versatile defense—could be enough for teams to trade for him, provided the Nets shop him.
Another player to watch for is the New York Knicks’ Achiuwa. With Karl-Anthony Towns in the picture, the Knicks center position is more sound than ever. Yet, the depth at the same position is lacking, and the Knicks might be in the market to upgrade. With Mitchell Robinson slated to return soon, it could mean the end of Achiuwa in NY. He is a valuable trade asset for the Knicks, who need to address their depth issues.
Western Conference
Since firing Mike Brown, the Sacramento Kings have played a significantly much better brand of basketball under Doug Christie. At the time of the switch, they were several games under .500 but have managed to climb back up to a 20-20 record. Still, the Kings have some flaws, defensively and depth-wise. It wasn’t long ago that the Kings were rumored to make some moves due to their underperforming season. Monk, a solid role player and offensive contributor, could fall into a trade package for the Kings to fix some of their issues. If Sacramento still intends to improve despite their recent turnaround, keep an eye on Monk’s availability.
Memphis Grizzlies’ Scottie Pippen Jr. is another Western player who might be sacrificed for overall team improvements. The Grizzlies are actively hunting, as evident by their recent connections to the Nets and their players. The Grizzlies need size and length at the perimeter, on both ends of the floor. Given their playoff trajectory, it is likely Memphis will be involved in a trade or two. Pippen is a prime candidate to be included. His solid production could benefit any team, averaging 10.4 points, 4.7 assists, and shooting 38% from three.
