The NBA trade deadline was four months away. That may feel like life on the NBA calendar – Teams play more than 50 games in a season, and will see many lucky franchises – but it doesn’t slow down the NBA rumor mill.
Which players would be available is already a talking point, and those conversations will only lead to more. Here are seven names to watch, the seven players most likely to be traded before March.
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Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)
“I think Kevin Durant said it best: There’s only one Kyrie walking in the world…Kyrie, as a player, we really believe in him. We really believe that he can succeed on our team.”
Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri keeps saying everything like the authority above is trying to throw cold water on the idea that the Mavericks are going to trade the 19th-time All-Star point guard. Ujiri and Mavericks fans — and basketball fans everywhere — want to see what Irving and his legendary teammates look like next to the fast-rising Cooper Flagg. Ujiri talks up the fit in Dallas Irving and how the point guard can lift this team to new heights.
I don’t need it. League sources tell NBC Sports that several teams are watching the site, waiting to see how Irving looks coming off of missing all of last season because of a torn ACL, but those teams are interested in a trade. Those parts will be called The reality is that the 34-year-old Irving, who is free agent this summer, is not the same age as the 19-year-old Flagg, and eventually the Mavericks want to build more on Flagg’s timeline. Ujiri can say whatever he wants, but teams around the league believe that if the right offer comes his way at the deadline, Irving will be on the move.
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Anthony Davis (Wizards)
Wizards forward AJ Dybantsam led off with a No. 1 goal, followed by Trae Young with a . massively overpay new four-year contract and promising big man of the future Alex Sarr.
Then there’s Anthony Davis, the 33-year-old NBA champion and 10-time All-Star, who remains one of the best big men in the game when he’s healthy (but he’s gone healthy). Washington has other concerns: Davis isn’t in the era of Dybants or Sarr (not like Young), plus Davis is extension-eligible and looking for another big payday. The witches postponed the talks until later in the contract period.
If Davis stays healthy and looks good as we approach the trade deadline, the Wizards will get a call. Quality big men, especially those who can protect the rim, are in high demand, and the Wizards can find Davis a position where he can compete for a second ring while he plays small players and reads, which is a better fit for Dybants’ timeline.
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Domantas Sabonis (Kings)
The Kings have been trying to find a new home for Sabonis for more than a year, but it may finally happen at this year’s deadline. Although it probably isn’t.
His output isn’t production, Sabonis is an effective double-double machine who can work as a center on the offensive line and strong on the boards. He will show his worth this season as he is a great addition to Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. joining, placing shelves and hand-dead-shots. Plus, Sabonis has great passing quality. What slowed the trade is Sabonis’ salary: $45.4 million this season and $48.6 million next season, both years fully guaranteed. In pre-season, teams don’t want to pay a player who isn’t a star. However, maybe at the deadline a team that just needs great quality will call Sacramento and make a deal. Otherwise, wait for one next summer.
Michael Porter Jr.
The Brooklyn Nets are building and Michael Porter Jr. it is not at that time. Coming off his best season, MPJ is a bucket that averages 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, and is a career 39.8% beyond the arc. He’s 6’10” who’s 28-year-old, and $40.1 million contract expired. That’s why the Nets just bought a ball-dominant forward in Julius Randle.
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The Nets have what they hope is their future bullpen — Mikel Brown Jr. and Egor Dëmin – and if Porter Ir can be traded for a young player or more read, which makes sense to rebuild the team (this does not control his season).
Max Strus (and every veteran in the clippers)
The Clippers have a lot of work to do moving forward with this roster, whatever the future holds (as are Darius Garland and Keaton Wagler’s backcourt ideas). The Clippers could have read even more when they just gave up a bunch on the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration block and penalty. Not that Max Strus is going to be a first-rounder, but once he’s healthy and if he shows he adds value — as he did in the last game of the Cavaliers’ season — he could hold the Clippers back in the second round. You take that.
Sion Williamson (Pelicans)
Free Trey Murphy.
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Other teams will appeal to Murphy and Herb Jones, but where are the Pelicans with Zion Williamson? Could the Pelicans pick up that No. 1 trade?
New Orleans’ situation is more focused on the future with Derik Queen at the four, and last season we learned that Queen and Williamson can’t play together. Maybe team president Joe Dumars is trying to move Williamson, who is coming off a relatively healthy season (62 games), where he averaged 21 points and 5.7 rebounds a game. The challenge is that Sion is making $42.2 million this season and has $44.9 million next season, so it will be difficult for the team to get him. However, rumors are flying.
Also, Dumars could just trade Trey Murphy.
Daniel Gafford (Mavericks)
Daniel Gafford’s disposition in a trade depends on whether Dereck Vive can get and stay healthy. If he does, and if rookie Morez Johnson shows he can handle big backup minutes, then Gafford becomes available.
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We mentioned above how the center position is in demand, and teams that don’t want to pay for someone like Anthony Davis will appeal to Gafford. The seven-year NBA veteran is rock solid on both ends of the court, a pick-and-roll great who averaged 9.5 points and 6.9 rebounds a game last season. He also has a reasonable contract, which is worth $17.3 million this season with two more years to come for a little more than $37 million total. As the deadline approaches, expect a lot of Gafford news.
Honorable mention; Tyler Herro and anyone else not only drafted in Milwaukee, Jarrett Allen in Cleveland (if things go sideways and the Cavs need to move, this is the most logical player to trade), Zach LaVine in Sacramento, Jrue Holiday in Portland, Jalen Green in Phoenix. Free Trey Murphy.
Some people want to put Joel Embiid on these tables. Good luck with that. The oft-injured center is making $58.1 million this season, and two more seasons into his career, he has $130 million. No team will take that contract unless the 76ers add multiple first round picks or add quality young players. Philly didn’t do it. Meaning Embiid each.
Also, the Knicks are not trading Karl-Anthony. It’s an easy, clickbait story to say that other teams are paying attention — of course they are, that’s because other front-line jobs have to be paid — but the Knicks aren’t trading him at the deadline. The story of KAT’s future only gets interesting if he doesn’t get an extension before the June 30 deadline (and hits the free agent market). So far it’s all speculation.