With the NBA season drawing closer to the festive period, a well-known phenomenon is set to commence. Indeed, the period for player transactions is almost upon us.
Starting Monday, agreements inked during free agency become eligible for trade, granting team executives considerably more leeway than before.
As customary, some organizations are looking to postpone their competitive windows, while others aim to accelerate their timelines, presumably to achieve victory sooner rather than later.
We are examining the franchises that ought to be divestors, with the understanding that teams already committed to long-term rebuilds (such as the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Utah Jazz) are excluded, as their strategic direction is already clear.
Without further preamble, let’s proceed with this discussion.
Absolutely not. We are not advocating for a Jaylen Brown trade or a complete overhaul. Such a move would be absurd and unhelpful upon Jayson Tatum’s return.
However, the Celtics are $12 million above the luxury tax threshold, and getting below that amount would help them avoid the repeater tax. Therefore, this motivation should be purely financial.
Naturally, rival teams are aware of Boston’s financial constraints, and those in a position to assist (like Brooklyn) will likely demand a hefty price.
Oh my. Should Giannis Antetokounmpo be traded midseason, a massive reshuffling would officially begin in Milwaukee.
Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, Bobby Portis, and Kevin Porter Jr. would find themselves at the center of extensive trade discussions — and justifiably so. There is simply no incentive for established veterans to remain with a squad that no longer boasts an MVP contender.
The Bucks will refrain from becoming sellers until Antetokounmpo is actually dealt, so this entire scenario hinges on Milwaukee making a swift decision before the February 5 NBA trade deadline.
Should the Bucks move Giannis Antetokounmpo, a complete organizational dismantling would be necessary.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
It’s widely acknowledged that they avoid drastic measures, as is their custom, but if there’s any NBA team requiring a comprehensive overhaul, it’s the Bulls.
After an initial 5-0 start, their record has slipped to 4-14, and their play has been utterly lethargic. A significant portion of the roster appears mentally disengaged, their influence over the long-term futures of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu is minimal, and now might actually be the prime opportunity to trade Josh Giddey for the best possible return.
Regrettably, even if the Bulls were to embark on a rebuild, they are constrained by an ownership group seemingly indifferent to the organization’s welfare, rendering any such effort largely pointless.
While LaMelo Ball can be captivating to observe, his consistent availability for only 20-35 games each season causes that excitement to wane.
The Hornets must implement substantial alterations, particularly to accommodate the arrival of Kon Knueppel, who has emerged as the NBA’s top rookie thus far and appears to be a foundational player.
Offloading Ball now might seem like a gamble, but not when considering his frequent absences from the court. The alternative, retaining him and burdening the salary cap with his nearly $40 million salary, presents a far worse prospect.
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for the current season and likely needing the next to regain his form, maintaining the existing roster makes little sense.
T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin could both present appealing trade options to acquire draft capital, which would help align the team with Haliburton’s developmental timeline.
That said, they are not compelled to make immediate, sweeping changes, especially given their control over most of their own future first-round picks. Nevertheless, they should be receptive to trade inquiries — and many of them.
The era featuring Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. in Memphis was entertaining, controversial, and at times surprisingly effective. However, that dynamic has now shifted.
Morant appears to be disengaged, and Jackson’s capacity to be a vital contributor for the Grizzlies in a playoff context is questionable.
Now is the opportune moment to liquidate assets, reset, and construct a team around Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, while capitalizing on the team’s established knack for unearthing talent in the later rounds of the draft.
Cooper Flagg represents the future, and seemingly everyone recognizes this except Dallas. Trading Anthony Davis prior to the deadline would be the appropriate timing, as it minimizes the risk of another injury, which must be a consideration.
Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Russell, and Klay Thompson should also not remain on this roster long-term, even if the front office reasonably prefers to defer certain decisions until the offseason.
Can the Mavericks accumulate sufficient draft assets or young talent to complement Flagg? It’s a challenging endeavor given the significant financial commitment to Davis, who has an additional two years and $111 million remaining on his contract after this season concludes.
It’s impolite to use the expression “it’s not over until the fat lady sings,” so instead, let’s say “it’s not over until the ample writer sings,” and ladies and gentlemen… I’m performing in the opera.
These Kings are finished. Simply done. They lack any semblance of consistency, their offensive execution is chaotic, they rank among the league’s weakest defensive units, and the roster composition is dreadful.
Dismantle the entire structure, piece by piece, until you expose the inner workings. Then dismantle those too, so the entire foundation can be rebuilt. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis… they all require new destinations — and soon.
Well, this situation is rather awkward. While the Clippers can offload players, they won’t regain control of their own draft picks, thus making a full rebuild less appealing.
Nevertheless, trading players for the chance to recover at least some of the lost draft capital is preferable to their current predicament, so if they receive compelling offers for James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, they should be highly attentive.
(If the Clippers are strategic, they will inform interested teams that these players are available if said team facilitates a transaction through which the Clippers reclaim some of their own draft selections. This will not be simple, but it would be a shrewd approach.)
You know, achieving success is inherently difficult when one consistently acts against one’s own interests, as the Pelicans have demonstrated throughout the summer.
Certainly, an attempt could be made to construct a team around Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. That would be entirely defensible, and such a strategy could easily be conveyed to the fanbase.
However, the more significant query is this: Does anyone truly trust the current front office to correctly handle even a two-way contract, let alone the comprehensive process of divesting major assets? If you are currently shaking your head no, then you are perceptive.
