NBA: Most Likely Trade Candidate by Team
?Atlanta Hawks: Paul Millsap
What it would take: If Atlanta have a bad start they could choose to start over. Schroeder has a new contract and will be around for a few seasons. If Millsap is unhappy and the team is struggling they can flip him for pieces or young players
Who would be interested: Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Milwaukee, Oklahoma, Orlando, Toronto and Washington
What offers will they get: High draft picks and young players
Example offer: Norman Powell, Toronto #1 and Jonas Valunciunas for Paul Millsap
Likelihood: 15%
Boston Celtics: Jae Crowder
What it would take: You have to think the Celtics are unlikely to do a trade unless a star becomes available. In this case their draft picks become a handy proposition while Crowder is usually mentioned as part of any big deal
Who would be interested: Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indiana, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Oklahoma, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: DeMarcus Cousins for Jae Crowder, Jaylen Brown and Celtics #1
Likelihood: 25%
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
What it would take: The Nets have made moves which suggests the aim is very much the future. A future that Lopez will likely be past it for? Probably, so if he has a strong half of the season and a contender needs a scoring contender they will make the trade
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Portland and Washington
Example offer: Brook Lopez for Portland #1 and Noah Vonleh
Likelihood: 30%
Charlotte Hornets: Draft Pick
What would it take: The Hornets are in an interesting position where not a lot of moves make sense. The likeliest move is flipping a future draft pick for a player that can help in the run in
Who would be interested: Everyone loves a draft pick
Example offer: Greg Monroe for Charlotte #1
Likelihood: 5%
Chicago Bulls: Taj Gibson
What would it take: It was a difficult decision between Gibson and Butler. Gibson could be a trade either benefitting the future or right now. If it goes well and he is surplus to requirement a few teams would be interested in a defensive big man while a team in reset mode would also happily get rid of the big man handing over to Portis and Mirotic
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Golden State, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Brandon Knight for Taj Gibson and Michael Carter Williams
Likelihood: 12%
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Love
What would it take: Claims of rifts in the dressing room were loud and often in the last two seasons but a ring should quieten them right down? You would assume so but even this offseason trade rumours persisted. If something happens behind closed doors or the team starts awfully, Love will be the blamed man.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Clippers, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Sacramento, Toronto, Washington and Utah
Example offer: Carmelo Anthony for Kevin Love
Likelihood: 1%
Dallas Mavericks: Deron Williams
What would it take: The point guard could be traded for numerous reasons, the most likely is Seth Curry is better than they expect and he is the future point guard. A market for Deron Williams as a seventh man on a playoff team probably exists
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Indiana, New York, Orlando, Sacramento and Washington
Example offer: Deron Williams for Frank Kaminsky
Likelihood: 1%
Denver Nuggets: Jusuf Nurkic
What would it take: Lots of Nuggets have trade potential. Nurkic could be the first man out. They seem to have decided that Jokic is the man for the foreseeable future at centre. Faried, Gallinari and Chandler can all play power forward while Nurkic may not even be able to play there. He also figures as part of a larger offer for a star
Who would be interested: Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Indiana, Lakers, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Gordon Hayward for Jusuf Nurkic, Jamal Murray and Will Barton
Likelihood: 6%
Detroit Pistons: 1st round pick
What would it take: If the Pistons start strong or the Cavaliers suffer a major injury they will believe the Eastern Conference is their for the taking. In that case you would expect Van Gundy to go all in. If that meant a draft pick and Marcus Morris, I am sure the Pistons would take that
Who would be interested: Everyone loves a draft pick
Example offer: Jabari Parker for Stanley Johnson and Detroit #1
Likelihood: 4%
Golden State Warriors: Patrick McCaw
What would it take: The Warriors are the least likely team of all to trade this season. If they do it will likely be one of their younger pieces for a vet who will help in the playoffs. The other scenario is they choose to get rid of Igoudala or Livingston ahead of free agency for a young role player. I just do not see them affecting their championship chances with that. An injury to a key rotation players increases the chances
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Dallas, Clippers, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Patrick McCaw for Jason Terry
Likelihood: 1%
Houston Rockets: Patrick Beverley
What would it take: If the guard combination of Harden and Gordon is working and the team needs an improvement elsewhere. Trading Beverly would be a risk given the injury history of Gordon but if he could increase their title odds in the case of a Warriors injury you have to imagine he would be sacrificed
Who would be interested: Brookyln, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Sacramento
Example offer: Patrick Beverley for Greg Monroe
Likelihood: 4%
Indiana Pacers: Monta Ellis
What would it take: Monta is probably a bad team, good stats player. So if the Pacers team led by Turner, George and Teague take off then Ellis may struggle for a place. Rodney Stuckey may replace him for his strong defence and they will try and get a player who can play more of a role on a better team.
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Memphis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Philadelphia and Sacramento
Example offer: Monta Ellis for Terrence Jones
Likelihood: 3%
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Paul
What would it take: A backroom chat where Paul suggests he is not returning in a Clippers uniform. The same conversation could happen with Blake Griffin. Interesting locations for Paul include the Bulls, Knicks and Cavs where he can play with one of his friends. Imagine Knicks or the Bulls manage to make the trade and head into a number 8 seed clash with Cleveland
Who would be interested: Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Lakers, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Antonio and Utah
Example offer: Chris Paul for Jimmy Butler
Likelihood: 5%
Los Angeles Lakers: Lou Williams
What would it take: The young Lakers of Ingram, Clarkson, Russell, Nance and Randle are the priority for the season. Deng and Mozgov are the veterans who can help build a strong culture. Williams is a shooter who is not team first. Does he fit in Los Angeles or does he belong on a playoff team who needs a scorer. That seems to make more sense.
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Memphis, New York, Orlando, Sacramento and Washington
Example offer: Lou Williams for Deyonta Davis
Likelihood: 10%
Memphis Grizzlies: Wade Baldwin
What would it take: Memphis have three possible paths. They are really good and trade young guys for veterans and a playoff run. They struggle and trade as many veterans as possible. Or they are somewhere in between and pick one of the routes. Wade Baldwin was seen as a steal when they drafted him and if he impressed but cannot get minutes behind Conley a trade may suit both teams.
Who would be interested: Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Antonio
Example offer: Ben McLemore and Rudy Gay for Wade Baldwin
Likelihood: 2%
Miami Heat: Goran Dragic
What would it take: If the Heat are .400 heading into the all-star game then you think they would be tempted to blow it up. They have their own draft pick this year but not next. They have Winslow and Whiteside. If the team struggles Dragic will almost definitely be traded for young pieces and draft picks.
Who would be interested: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Sacramento
Example offer: Emmanuel Mudiay and Kenneth Faried for Goran Dragic
Likelihood: 10%
Milwaukee Bucks: Greg Monroe
What would it take: The Bucks have never really managed to fit Monroe into their team. He is a great scorer but struggles on defence. They have found him a role as a sixth man and perhaps that is his eventual destiny but there still has been numerous rumours that Monroe is being shopped.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Greg Monroe for New Orleans #1
Likelihood: 15%
Minnesota Timberwolves: Nikola Pekovic
What would it take: The youth movement takes over and Pekovic sees his minutes reduced. Towns and Dieng are the bits here and Pekovic is traded to be a scorer off the bench.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Nikola Pekovic for Minnesota #2 and Cleveland #2 (both via Boston)
Likelihood: 4%
New Orleans Pelicans: Draft pick
The Pelicans are in such an odd position. Anthony Davis is one of the top ten players in the league. Jrue Holiday has never stayed on the court for enough time. Buddy Hield is an intriguing role. They signed role players this summer. Everyone else in the team seems like the kind of player that will not be here if this team is good. Because of that is hard to predict who will be traded! Asik has no trade value! Maybe Galloway or Frazier plays well and gets traded? Given the track record of the team, I imagine the most likely is they trade a draft pick attempting to make the playoffs.
Who would be interested: Everyone loves a draft pick
Example offer: Greg Monroe for Pelicans #1
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
What would it take: This iteration of the Knicks struggle to a poor record. Rose and Noah are so bad they have basically no trade value. They finally realise they need to start building around Porzingis. This makes him expandable!
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Clippers, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Orlando, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Carmelo Anthony for Denver #1, Kenneth Faried and Will Barton
Likelihood: 1%
Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook
He signed a contract extension in the summer and is on track to put up momentous stats! But the team has struggled. They look bad and Russ may struggle to get them to the playoffs. In that case, does he look to leave. Quite possibly and Sam Presti is known for pulling the trigger on a deal.
Who would be interested: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Indiana, Lakers, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Antonio and Utah
Example offer: D'Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr, Julius Randle and Future Lakers #1 for Russell Westbrook
Likelihood: 4%
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
Orlando is a very strangely constructed roster with far too many bigs. The one who seems to be the most likely to be traded is Nikola Vucevic. A similar player to Monroe in he probably should be a sixth man he improved last year. Someone could take a flyer on him.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Charlotte #1 for Nikola Vucevic
Likelihood: 10%
Philadelphia 76ers: Jahlil Okafor
What would it take: Okafor and Noel both seem likely to be traded. I think Noel is the better long term piece and feel that the Sixers would rather keep him. For Okafor you can probably repeat the Monroe and Vucevic discussions. He is a brute in the low post and will feast on second units.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Kelly Oubre and Sheldon McClellan for Jahlil Okafor
Likelihood: 15%
Phoenix Suns: Brandon Knight
The Suns in this current iteration were built on an intriguing two point guard set. Bledsoe and Dragic were sensational together. Subsequent additions have not worked so well but now it looks like Bledsoe and Booker have sealed the guard spots. Knight is one of the best sixth men of the year and better than most starters. He puts up strong numbers from the bench but the team is losing and chooses to cash him in
Who would be interested: Atlanta. Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, Nee York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Antonio
Example offer: Nerlens Noel for Brandon Knight
Likelihood: 7%
Portland Trail Blazers: Allan Crabbe
Portland has a lot of money tied in from next season in a team that you think tops out as a playoff team. If the front office agrees then they have to make a change. The backcourt is being built around but they have two expensive small forwards in Crabbe and Turner. If Turner is a strong fit off the bench then they may choose Crabbe to trade.
Who would be interested: Brooklyn, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento and Washington Example offer: Sam Dekker and K.J McDaniels for Allan Crabbe
Likelihood: 6%
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
What would it take: The superstar that has seen more column inches devoted to his trade than any other. He is probably the best centre in the league. He is also a bad dressing room guy who has never been on a good team. Still, there looks to be little chance that he remains in Sacramento when he gets the choice and this may be the optimal time to trade him.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Bradley Beal, Tomas Santoransky, Otto Porter and Washington #1 for DeMarcus Cousins
Likelihood: 15%
San Antonio Spurs: LaMarcus Aldridge
What would it take: The Leonard and Aldridge core does not look like ever competing for a title. The whispers about his struggles to set in have only got louder and Kawhi is the franchise number one. A bad team could see him traded.
Who would be interested: Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Emmanuel Mudiay and Danilo Galinari for LaMarcus Aldridge
Likelihood: 4%
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
What would it take: Lowry is due to get paid this year adding to the contracts of DeRozan as Carroll. If the team is struggling at the all star break and Lowry has indicated he will look elsewhere then the Raptors should take a trade. The ceiling of this team could be lower than they hope and resigning Lowry will be limiting the team.
Who would be interested: Atlanta. Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Antonio
Example: Kyle Lowry for Serge Ibaka and Elfrid Payton
Likelihood: 3%
Washington Wizards: John Wall
What would it take: Discontent and the team struggles. Wall and Beal have reportedly had issues and if the two fail to coexist then one has to go. You expect it to be Beal but Wall will only have two seasons left on his current contract after this year. What if he suggests that he will not return. Then it is the optimum time to trade him.
Who would be interested: Atlanta. Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento and San Antonio
Example: John Wall for two Sacramento #1s, Ben McLemore and Willie Cauley Stein
Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors
What would it take: Another place where a potential ceiling has been reached. Utah may struggle more than expected when Gobert and Favors team up. They also have Trey Lyles on the bench who figures as a better fit with either man. You feel they will trade Favors rather than Gobert and hope for a huge return.
Who would be interested: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Lakers,
Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Toronto and Washington
Example offer: Derrick Favors for Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss
