Who Is Available For NBA Trade?
Now that the NBA season is in full swing, there are bound to be some trades. Here’s a look at some of the players who may be on the move.
Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the NBA and he is available for trade. The Cavaliers are looking to rebuild their team and they are willing to trade Kyrie. Kyrie is a great player and he would be a great addition to any team.
Why the Celtics would trade Irving
The most likely scenario is that the Celtics keep Irving for the season and then re-sign him next summer, when he becomes a free agent. But if Irving does hit the trade market, here are some potential suitors.
The New York Knicks have been linked to Irving for months, and they have the pieces to make a deal happen. The Knicks could offer a package built around Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Frank Ntilikina, which would give the Celtics a young star in Porzingis, a veteran scorer in Hardaway and a promising young point guard in Ntilikina.
The Minnesota Timberwolves could also be in play for Irving. They have a young star in Karl-Anthony Towns and another young player in Andrew Wiggins who could interest the Celtics. The Timberwolves could put together a package that includes one of those two players, along with point guard Jeff Teague and shooting guard Jamal Crawford.
The Cleveland Cavaliers would obviously love to have Irving back, but it would be tough to put together a competitive offer for him given their current roster situation. The Cavs could include point guard Collin Sexton, forward/center Kevin Love and shooting guard J.R. Smith in a deal for Irving, but it’s unlikely that would be enough to get him out of Boston.
Where Irving could be traded
The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers are two possible landing spots for Irving, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday, citing league sources.
The Nets have been aggressive in trying to acquire Irving and have been unwilling to include forward Caris LeVert in any deal, league sources told Wojnarowski. The Clippers have been more tentative in talks with the Cavaliers, one source said.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns also have expressed interest in Irving, league sources told Wojnarowski.
Jimmy Butler
It’s no secret that the Timberwolves are looking to trade Jimmy Butler. The question is, who is available for trade? The answer may surprise you. Let’s take a look.
Why the Timberwolves would trade Butler
The Jimmy Butler saga in Minnesota has been one of the wildest stories of the NBA offseason, and it appears to be coming to a head. Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Butler had told Timberwolves management that he would like to be traded, and he has provided them with a list of preferred destinations.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why the Timberwolves would want to trade Butler.
1) He’s in the final year of his contract: One of the biggest reasons why the Timberwolves would want to trade Butler is that he’s in the final year of his contract. If they don’t trade him now, they risk losing him for nothing next summer when he becomes a free agent.
2) His relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns is strained: Another big reason why Minnesota would want to trade Butler is that his relationship with young star Karl-Anthony Towns is reportedly strained. Butler was reportedly angry with Towns for not being more aggressive on the court last season, and their relationship is said to be “unsalvageable.”
3) The Timberwolves are better without him: Despite Butler’s All-Star caliber play, the Timberwolves are actually better without him on the court. Last season, Minnesota outscored opponents by 3 points per 100 possessions when Butler was on the bench and were outscored by 2 points per 100 possessions when he was on the court.
4) They need to start fresh: Finally, it makes sense for the Timberwolves to simply start fresh without Butler. He’s been a great player for them over the past few years, but it seems like his time in Minnesota has run its course. A trade would allow them to move on from Butler and begin rebuilding around Towns.
Where Butler could be traded
The Minnesota Timberwolves and All-Star Jimmy Butler have been engaged in trade talks for the past week, with no resolution in sight. The Timberwolves are reportedly asking for a haul of young players and draft picks in exchange for Butler, who has made it clear that he wants to be traded.
Butler is eligible to sign a five-year, $190 million contract extension with the Timberwolves this summer, but has given no indication that he plans to do so. If Butler does not sign an extension by the end of the season, he will become an unrestricted free agent in July.
The most likely scenario at this point seems to be a trade involving Butler and the Miami Heat. The Heat have been aggressive in their pursuit of Butler, and have reportedly offered a package of players and draft picks that includes guards Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson, as well as forward Justise Winslow.
The Houston Rockets have also been mentioned as a potential destination for Butler, but it is unclear what they would be willing to give up in order to acquire him. The Rockets are unlikely to part with forward P.J. Tucker or guard Eric Gordon, both of whom are key rotation players, while center Clint Capela is also unlikely to be available after signing a five-year, $90 million contract extension earlier this month.
Anthony Davis
The New Orleans Pelicans seem to be off to a great start this season, but that doesn’t mean they’re not looking to improve their roster. One player who has been linked to several trade rumors is Anthony Davis. Davis is one of the best players in the league and would be a great addition to any team. Let’s take a look at some of the teams that could be interested in acquiring Davis.
Why the Pelicans would trade Davis
The New Orleans Pelicans have been one of the most talked about teams of the past few weeks, and it’s all because of one player: Anthony Davis. Davis, who is in the midst of a career year, has made it clear that he would like to be traded from the Pelicans, preferably to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Pelicans have been trying to work out a trade with the Lakers ever since Davis’s request, but so far, they haven’t been able to come to an agreement that is satisfactory for both sides. The Lakers have offered a package that includes players like Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, but the Pelicans have been holding out for more.
There are several reasons why the Pelicans would want to trade Davis, even though he is one of the best players in the league. First, Davis has made it clear that he doesn’t want to play for the Pelicans anymore. This means that even if the Pelicans were able to build a contending team around him, he would still probably leave in free agency when his contract is up in 2020.
Second, by trading Davis now, the Pelicans would be able to get something in return for him instead of losing him for nothing. The Lakers’ offer may not be ideal, but it’s better than nothing.
Finally, even though Davis is a great player, there is no guarantee that he will be able to lead the Pelicans to a championship. The Western Conference is loaded with talented teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, and it’s not clear that the Pelicans would be able to compete with them even if they did manage to keep Davis.
All things considered, it makes sense for the Pelicans to try and trade Anthony Davis sooner rather than later.
Where Davis could be traded
There has been much speculation about where Anthony Davis could be traded in the event that he is traded by the New Orleans Pelicans. Below are some of the most likely destinations for Davis.
Boston Celtics:
The Boston Celtics have been mentioned as a potential destination for Davis for quite some time now. The Celtics have a plethora of young assets that they could potentially offer in a trade for Davis, including Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kyrie Irving.
Los Angeles Lakers:
The Los Angeles Lakers have also been mentioned as a potential destination for Davis. The Lakers could potentially offer up a package including Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram.
New York Knicks:
The New York Knicks have also been mentioned as a possible destination for Davis. The Knicks could offer up a package including Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina, and Kevin Knox.
Kemba Walker
The Boston Celtics could be active before the February trade deadline, and one player who has been mentioned as a potential trade target is Kemba Walker. Walker is in the first year of his four-year, $141 million deal with the Celtics, and he is averaging 22.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
Why the Hornets would trade Walker
With the NBA trade deadline just hours away, the Charlotte Hornets are one of the teams to watch. The team is reportedly willing to listen to offers for point guard Kemba Walker, and there have been several reports linking them to various stars around the league.
There are a few reasons why the Hornets would be willing to trade Walker. First and foremost, he is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent this summer. Given that the Hornets are not currently in a position to compete for a championship, it makes sense for them to try and get something for Walker before he leaves.
Another reason is that Walker has been linked to several other teams, including the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. These rumors have likely only increased Walker’s value, as teams are always looking for potential trade targets who could be on the move.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Hornets have been one of the worst teams in the league this season. They currently sit at 12-33, which is good for last place in the Eastern Conference. With little hope of turning things around this season, it makes sense for them to start looking towards the future.
All things considered, it would not be surprising to see Kemba Walker traded before Thursday’s deadline. He is a talented player who will be in high demand on the open market, and the Hornets would be wise to get something for him now rather than lose him for nothing this summer.
Where Walker could be traded
The Charlotte Hornets are in a tight spot. They’re not bad enough to get a top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but they’re also not good enough to contend for a playoff spot. As a result, they may be forced to trade away one of their best players, Kemba Walker.
There are several teams that could use Walker’s services, but only a few that make sense as trade partners for the Hornets. Here are the most likely destinations for the All-Star point guard:
The Boston Celtics have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference for the past few years, but they’ve struggled to find consistent success in the playoffs. They’ve been linked to Walker in trade rumors before, and they have the assets to make a deal happen.
The Indiana Pacers are another team that has been mentioned as a possible destination for Walker. They’re not as good as the Celtics, but they’re still in the mix for a playoff spot in the East. They also have some young players and draft picks that they could use to sweeten the deal for Charlotte.
The Miami Heat are an interesting option for Walker. They’re not as good as either Boston or Indiana, but they do have some young players and draft picks that they could use in a deal. Plus, playing in Florida would be a comfortable fit for Walker, who is originally from New York City.
Ultimately, it will come down to what Charlotte is looking for in return for Walker. If they’re looking for young players and draft picks, then Boston and Indiana make the most sense. But if they’re looking for a more immediate impact player, then Miami could be their best option.
Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) tall center is a two-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Team member. He was also the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Gasol has been with the Grizzlies since he was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NBA draft with the 48th overall pick.
Why the Grizzlies would trade Gasol
The Memphis Grizzlies may be ready to move on from star center Marc Gasol.
Gasol, who has been with the Grizzlies since they drafted him in 2007, is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Grizzlies have struggled this season, and are currently sitting at 19-28, which is good for 11th place in the Western Conference.
Gasol is averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game this season, but his shooting percentage has dipped to a career-low 45.4%.
With the team seemingly headed for a rebuilding direction, it makes sense for the Grizzlies to trade Gasol before he leaves in free agency.
Here are some potential trade scenarios for Gasol:
Where Gasol could be traded
Marc Gasol is a name that has been bandied about in NBA trade rumors dating back to last season. The 34-year-old center is in the final year of his contract and is owed $24.1 million, which makes him an enticing target for teams looking to shed salary. Gasol also has a 15 percent trade kicker in his deal, which means he could receive up to an additional $3.6 million if he’s traded.
