The trade season in the NBA began on December 15th, when many players became available for trades. The Nets and the Warriors made the first big trade, with Dennis Schroder changing teams. The small trade showed the Warriors are ready to make some moves to improve their chances of winning another title with Steph Curry. But what are some other top trade targets that can help the Warriors and other contending teams? Let’s take a look at players that might get traded and chance the championship odds.
Top 7 Tradeable Players Who Can Swing Championship Odds
We have to acknowledge that maybe neither of these players will be traded when the deadline passes. But if any of them changes teams, there will be new title favorites. Some of these top trade targets are more likely to get traded; others are less likely.
LeBron James
We have to start with the biggest name, LeBron James. There have been LeBron to Warriors-rumors for almost a year. Things are looking similar this time around, with both the Lakers and Warriors in the play-in. Neither team wants to remain there. The Lakers, for their part, have said that LeBron and Anthony Davis are off-limits. But how long will James tolerate mediocrity?
Will he finally ask for a trade and team up with Steph Curry? All the fans around the world want to see it. If it happens, it will put the Warriors back in the contending category, while the Lakers will move on and try to rebuild around AD.
Jonathan Kuminga
Recently, the Warriors have marked Jonathan Kuminga as untouchable. But, it is no secret that the Warriors are big game hunting. They tried to trade for a big name in the summer and failed. They will probably try again as the deadline approaches.
There is no way for the Warriors to trade for an All-Star caliber player to put next to Steph without giving up Kuminga. With Brandin Podziemski playing poorly, his value is lower and the Warriors need to part with Kuminga if they go all-in. LeBron James is again among their top trade targets, but there are other big names out there as well.
Jimmy Butler
From the moment Pat Riley said that they would not extend Jimmy Butler in the summer, his name has been around trade rumors. The latest report says Jimmy has four preferred destinations. No surprise each of these teams would contend with an experienced scorer like Jimmy.
Butler might be the biggest name on the market, and the moment he switches teams, the championship odds change. The Heat are no longer contenders in the East, and it seems like they are best served pivoting around Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and other young players.
Michael Porter Jr.
It looks like the Denver Nuggets realized they cannot expect young players to contribute to a championship-contending team. They have a couple of more seasons with Nikola Jokic playing like the best player in the world, and they cannot waste them.
Recent reports say that the Nuggets are in play for more than five different players, including Zach LaVine. Denver has limited assets, and they cannot acquire a big-name player without giving up Michael Porter Jr. Zeke Nnaji will not do it. For his part, Porter is having a great season, shooting over 50% from the floor. But where’s smoke, there’s fire, and the Nuggets might be willing to part with their forward.
Bobby Portis
Fresh off of winning the Emirates NBA Cup, the Bucks again look like one of the best teams in the league. Here is an interesting stat: after going 2-8 in the first 10 games of the season, the Bucks have the best record at 12-3. Yes, many of those wins came against lower opponents, but they still have the best record in a 15-game stretch.
Winning has silenced trade rumors surrounding the Bucks, but Bobby Portis’ name continues to appear. At one point, Portis was considered untouchable after the 2021 title run. If the Bucks want to improve around the edges, they might explore trading him for another suitable piece. It is worth noting that the Bucks are a second apron team and cannot take back more salary.
Mitchell Robinson
When he is healthy, Mitchell Robinson is one of the best defensive big men in the league. The problem for the Knicks is that he is rarely healthy. Robinson played 31 games last year and 59 the year before. He has yet to step on the floor this season.
The Knicks need a backup center, and they are in a position where they have to decide whether to keep Robinson and hope for the best in the playoffs or try to swing a trade and get a more reliable backup center. When healthy, Mitchell is a difference-maker in the playoffs. Yet, at this point, it seems like the Knicks can get something for a player who hasn’t contributed at all this season.
Jonas Valanciunas
Among the top trade targets in the league, Jonas Valanciunas is the hottest big man name and will have plenty of suitors. When the Wizards made a sign-and-trade for Valanciunas in the summer, it was obvious they wanted to flip him for some assets.
Stuck at the bottom of the standings, the Wizards do not need a 32-year-old center who is still producing. There are plenty of teams out there that would love to get him, including the Lakers, Knicks, and Golden State Warriors. All three will be significantly better and have better championship odds with Jonas on their roster.
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