In case anyone was wondering, it is officially NBA trade rumor season. The NBA trade deadline is February 8th at three p.m., and teams will fall into two categories: buyers and sellers. There are a plethora of players who are likely to be traded.
On one side, teams are looking to trade valuable assets to playoff contenders for future assets and draft picks. These are the sellers. On the other side, playoff contenders are looking for that one trade piece to put them over the top. These are the buyers.
Eastern Conference Most Likely to Be Traded
Instead of doing a normal “Who are the buyers and who are the sellers at the trade deadline?” column (here’s a great piece by the SB Nation crew you should check out), I thought it would be fun to dive into each team’s roster and salary cap and find which players are the most likely to be traded.
Disclaimer: “most likely to be traded” 100% does not equal “will be traded”, and some teams did not have obvious tradeable pieces. Others had to have “honorable mention” sections because there was more than one candidate.
Atlanta Hawks
Dewayne Dedmon – ’17/18 stats – 10.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Contract: $6 million this year, player option for $6.3 million in ’18-19
The Hawks are obvious sellers at the trade deadline this year. Dedmon gets the nod because he could be a helpful addition to any playoff team needing to bolster their front-court. He is a productive two-way center who has flashed legitimate three-point range in the ATL (16-for-42, 38%).
Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers should really inquire about the Southern Cal product. Dedmon will come at a much cheaper trade price than big-name centers DeAndre Jordan and Marc Gasol.
Honorable Mentions: Kent Bazemore, Marco Belinelli, Ersan Ilyasova
Boston Celtics
Marcus Morris – ’17/18 stats – 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Contract: $5 million this year, $5.4 million for ’18-19
Here is the thing: unless a young mega-star like the Pelicans Anthony Davis is on the market (hint, he is not this season), the Celtics are unlikely to make a trade. Perched atop the Eastern Conference, the team is in a great spot even after the horrific Gordon Hayward injury on opening night.
After combing through their roster, the only player who might be on the move is their Morris twin. He is still trying to work his way back into the rotation in his first Boston campaign after an early-season injury.
With the emergence of young studs Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the front office may look to move Morris to obtain more front-court depth.
Brooklyn Nets
Joe Harris – ’17/18 stats – 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Contract: $1.5 million this year, unrestricted free agent this summer
Playoff teams can never have enough shooting.
In Brooklyn, Harris is taking five threes a game and draining them at a 39 percent clip. His prolific shooting should make contenders in need of another bench scorer give GM Sean Marks and the Nets a call.
Slot Harris into a bench role on a contender, and maybe he gets hot and gets you a win. It is well worth the small price you would pay to extract him from Brooklyn.
Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker – ’17/18 stats – 21.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists
Contract: $12 million this year and ’18-19
This one is hard. There was a #WojBomb dropped on Friday saying that the Hornets were open to moving their franchise star. Also, check out this Last Word piece from over a week ago (by yours truly) about the future in Charlotte.
Walker is one of the biggest names on the trading block this season. The electric guard from UCONN is an all-star caliber point guard that will help any team that trades for him. The catch here is that one of the honorable mentions below (on a horrible contract) is probably the price for getting an under-paid Walker.
For some interesting trade ideas involving Walker, check out this piece from Bleacher Report.
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Marvin Williams, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Nicolas Batum
Chicago Bulls
Nikola Mirotic – ’17/18 stats – 17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Contract: $12.5 million this year and a club option for the same figure in ’18-19
After missing time due to having his face broken by teammate Bobby Portis, Mirotic has been an inferno from downtown (45.7% on 6.4 attempts per game). His 17.7 points per game lead the Bulls and is Mirotic’s career best by over six points.
Teams like the Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz are interested in making a trade for the sweet-shooting forward, per reports. He would slot in well in Detroit, spacing the floor next to a traditional center (cc: Andre Drummond).
Cleveland Cavaliers
Iman Shumpert – ’17/18 stats – 4.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Contract: $10.3 million this year, $11 million player option next year
The Cavs are trying to trade for everybody. This tweet from J.E. Skeets (NBA TV’s “The Starters”) really sums up the situation:
The Cavaliers are pursuing separate deals for Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Shaq, Jesus Shuttlesworth and Air Bud in advance of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, according to my sources.
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) January 20, 2018
If I have to choose one particular player for this exercise, it would be Shumpert. The Cavs would like to get themselves out of his deal (especially that player option next year), and he has been included in every trade fantasy coming out of Cleveland.
Shumpert offers some value as an on-ball defender and as a (pretty inconsistent) three-point shooter. For any deal, he would probably be paired with (at least) an expiring Channing Frye contract and various picks.
An interesting thought experiment that has permeated the national media lately is “Should the Cavs trade free-agent-to-be LeBron James?” With his unsure future, you at least think about the hypothetical, although there is next to no chance the Cavs trade the King.
Honorable Mentions: Channing Frye, J.R. Smith
Detroit Pistons
Stanley Johnson – ’17/18 stats – 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Contract: $3.1 million this year, $3.9 million in ’18-19, restricted free agent in the summer of ’19
It is probably time for a change of scenery for Stanley Johnson. The Arizona product, a former top-10 pick, has never been able to find his offense in Detroit (career 36.3% from the floor, 29.9% from three).
Johnson has shown positive flashes on the defensive end and is averaging a career-high 1.3 steals a game. If someone’s shooting coach can tinker with his shot, Johnson could be in for a renaissance.
As The Ringer’s Bill Simmons likes to say, always buy low on young former lottery picks.
Indiana Pacers
Al Jefferson – ’17/18 stats – 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists
Contract: $9.8 million this year, $10 million in ’18-19
When looking at the Indiana Pacers’ roster, no one really jumps out as a potential trade guy. Jefferson gets the nod here because it would make sense for the Pacers to try to unload Big Al (plus a pick of some sort) on a lottery team for some cap relief.
The front office would probably feel much better about giving up a pick after getting two solid future pieces in the Paul George trade last summer (Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis).
Miami Heat
Justise Winslow – ’17/18 stats – 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists
Contract: $2.7 million this year, $3.4 million in ’18-19
To reiterate, always buy low on young former lottery picks.
Winslow has never completely found his footing in Miami, with injuries being the main culprit (only appeared in 18 games last season). While on the court, Winslow has shown high-level defensive chops and some intriguing playmaking ability.
However, his shooting limitations may limit his ceiling. He has made 20-of-46 threes this year (43.5%), but small sample size alert. Any team who trades for him will hope that his jumper comes along and he can impact the game in a Draymond Green-esque role.
Milwaukee Bucks
Thon Maker – ’17/18 stats – 4.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists
Contract: $2.7 million this year, $2.8 million in ’18-19, $3.6 million in ’19-20
The Milwaukee Bucks already completed their big trade of the season, flipping Greg Monroe for Eric Bledsoe. This makes it unlikely they complete another big trade, but they have been linked to DeAndre Jordan.
If they decide to make a move, it would probably involve second-year center Maker. The 7’1″ big flashed an intriguing skill set in limited minutes last year but has not taken a step forward this year as many expected.
If the Bucks do swing for the fences in a Jordan trade, Maker would almost assuredly be involved as a prospect with major untapped potential. It would be interesting to see his development if he is traded with three seasons left on his rookie deal, as it would be a calculated bet against Maker by the Bucks.
New York Knicks
Kyle O’Quinn – ’17/18 stats – 6.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Contract: $4.1 million this year, player option for $4.3 million in ’18-19
The Knicks have too many centers, and their best player is possibly playing out of position at the four because of it. However, some of the center contracts in the Big Apple are just untradeable.
The remains of one-time defensive stalwart Joakim Noah are making at least $17.8 million per year through the end of the ’19-20 season. Not great.
O’Quinn’s contract is pretty easy to move, and he could provide value to a playoff contender. Moving him would allow more minutes at the five for Latvian legend Kristaps Porzingis and young prospect Willy Hernangomez.
Orlando Magic
Mario Hezonja – ’17/18 stats – 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists
Contract: $4.1 million this season, unrestricted free agent this summer
Orlando has not had the best luck with lottery picks in the post-Dwight Howard era. Hezonja was the fifth pick in 2015 and has not yet put it all together.
Coming over from Europe, Hezonja was a brash, athletic shooter with deep three-point range. In his NBA career, he has shot 34.9 percent from deep as a rookie and has never surpassed that (31.7 percent this season).
This season has seen him improve his overall field goal percentage to a career-best 45.5 percent , and he is shooting an impressive 71.9 percent within three feet of the basket.
He is still only 22 years old and definitely worth a flyer.
Honorable Mentions: Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton
Philadelphia 76ers
Dario Saric – ’17/18 stats – 13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Contract: $2.4 million this year, $2.5 million in ’18-19, team option for $3.5 million in ’19-20
This is a case of untapped potential. Saric has fit in nicely as the nominal starting power forward in Philly, and his numbers are up in his sophomore campaign. Plus, he has three seasons left on his deal. There is no real reason for a move.
However, it seems as if Saric could do so much more playmaking for a team without a Ben Simmons-type. His shooting is improving (36% on five attempts from three) and his rebounding is impressive playing next to Simmons and Joel Embiid.
That cheap contract makes Saric all the more attractive to teams across the league. By moving Saric, the Sixers might be able to get a stop-gap answer at point guard while Markelle Fultz re-learns how to shoot a basketball.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Anderson, Jerryd Bayless
Toronto Raptors
Jonas Valanciunas – ’17/18 stats – 11.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists
Contract: $15.5 million this year, $16.5 million in ’18-19, player option for $17.6 million in ’19-20
Valanciunas has been in trade conversations for years. This season, he is averaging a career-low 21 minutes per game and both his scoring and rebounding are the lowest they have been since his rookie year. However, since the Raptors are in second place in the east, they might not feel the urgency to make a move.
With the emergence of young Jakob Poeltl and Valanciunas’ lengthy contract, it makes sense for the Raptors to try to move him. Valanciunas has shown some flashes of a jump shot (plus an ugly but effective pump fake) that might get another team to pull the trigger.
As is common with these selections, somehow he’s only 25 years old.
Washington Wizards
Marcin Gortat – ’17/18 stats – 9.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Contract: $12.8 million this year, $13.6 million in ’18-19
The Wizards need an upgrade at center. Gortat has been a staple in their starting lineup since 2013, but the 33-year-old center is beginning to decline. His scoring and rebounding are the lowest they have both been during his Washington tenure.
While Gortat has always shown a nice pick-and-roll chemistry with John Wall, his contract does not meet the expected impact that he will have over the next two seasons.
Any center upgrade would ship out Gortat in return. The Wizards could choose to swing for the fences in a DeAndre Jordan trade, which would have to include blossoming swingman Kelly Oubre Jr.
They could also settle for a cheaper option like the Hawks’ Dedmon (this article just literally went full circle).
All player stats taken from basketball-reference.com and contract figures taken from spotrac.com
Main Photo
CHICAGO, USA – MARCH 22: Tobias Harris (34) of Detroit Pistons in action against Nikola Mirotic (44) of Chicago Bulls during the NBA match between Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States on March 22, 2017. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
