NBA trade deadline – Biggest roster holes for 15 contenders — and the chance each makes a major move
We’re now just one month until the NBA trade deadline — a pivotal point in the season that doesn’t just generate a lot of interest from fans but from the teams and players themselves.
Predicting how active a deadline season might be is often a fool’s errand; there are always unexpected developments that either heat up or cool the market. What is predictable, though, is that by early January, teams that consider themselves contenders have identified issues with their rosters and are searching for solutions.
This year is unique as teams navigate challenging trade restrictions brought on by the new salary cap “aprons,” meaning that more significant trades will likely require the help of third teams to make them “legal.” But getting two sides to agree is tough; getting three or even four teams to agree is often nearly impossible.
Understanding all that, here is an early look at the trade market for 15 contenders, their roster holes, what players and assets they have to trade — and the chances they make a significant deal.
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics
Roster hole: Depth
What they have to trade: The Celtics are pick-rich by top contender standards with three tradable firsts and six seconds. Guard Jaden Springer, who is in the final year of a deal that pays him $4 million, is a trade candidate.
Chances of a significant trade: Unlikely. They might make a deal, but with a $65 million luxury tax bill, the deals they’d likely look to do would be to offload salary to potentially open roster spots in case there’s a buyout candidate they’d want to pursue.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Roster hole: Defensive wing
What they have to trade: One first and eight seconds. They have a trove of valuable bench players in the final years of their contracts, led by Caris LeVert ($16.6 million), Ty Jerome ($2.5 million) and Sam Merrill ($2.1 million).
Chances of a significant trade: Unlikely. The team, at 31-4, is playing brilliantly and has great chemistry. For due diligence, the Cavaliers might see what their expiring contracts and picks could yield. But if they do anything, it’ll more likely be a small deal. They’re only $1.9 million into the luxury tax, and getting out would be beneficial long term.
Milwaukee Bucks
Roster hole: Perimeter defense
What they have to trade: They have one tradable first and one second. Brook Lopez is on a $23 million expiring contract. Khris Middleton ($32 million) and Bobby Portis ($12.5 million) both have player options next summer.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. Bucks GM Jon Horst has been one of the most aggressive executives at the deadline over the past decade. He has been on the phones throughout the season looking for deals, but the Bucks are up against second apron restrictions. But they are absolutely trying.
New York Knicks
Roster hole: Size and depth
What they have to trade: One tradable first, eight seconds. Precious Achiuwa ($6 million), Cam Payne ($2 million) and Jericho Sims ($2 million) have expiring contracts. Mitchell Robinson ($14 million) has value but has been out all season.
Chances of a significant trade: Unlikely. The Knicks can’t take on any more money this season. They’re right up against the second apron and hard capped. Their big addition is hopefully the return of Robinson, who is coming off foot surgery.
Orlando Magic
Roster hole: Shooting and offense
What they have to trade: They have five tradable firsts and 12 seconds. They have an $8 million trade exception and are $21 million below the luxury tax. They have expiring contracts with guards Gary Harris ($7.5 million) and Cory Joseph ($3.3 million).
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. The Magic are loaded with assets and apron space and need an offensive talent infusion. But their front office is known for being conservative. The last time the team made a non-draft day deal to acquire a rotation player was for Markelle Fultz in 2019. They did trade for Wendell Carter Jr. at the deadline in 2021, but that was part of a franchise rebuild.
Philadelphia 76ers
Roster hole: Frontcourt size
What they have to trade: They have four tradable firsts and six seconds. They signed KJ Martin ($8 million) in part to use in a potential trade.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. Daryl Morey is one of the most active executives in the history of the league, and he didn’t acquire those picks to actually draft the players. The Sixers are about $6 million below the second apron, so he has some options to structure a trade. If they don’t make a deal, it won’t be because they didn’t probe.
Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks
Roster hole: Defensive wing
What they have to trade: They have two tradable firsts and two seconds. Big man Maxi Kleber ($11 million) and Quentin Grimes ($4 million) are players who have a market.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. GM Nico Harrison has shown himself to be aggressive at the deadline, and last year’s acquisitions — P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford — helped the Mavs’ run to the Finals. Dallas has been one of the most active teams on the phones so far this trade season.
Denver Nuggets
Roster hole: Shooting and depth
What they have to trade: They are not permitted to trade any firsts, and they have one second. Michael Porter Jr. ($36 million) could be available in the right deal, and Zeke Nnaji ($9 million) has been available for the past year.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. The Nuggets had some talks about moving Porter for the Bulls’ Zach LaVine earlier this season. And while those talks are dormant for now, the team’s willingness to involve Porter indicates the 2023 champions are mulling a shake-up to a core that has underachieved this season.
Golden State Warriors
Roster hole: Star to pair with Steph Curry
What they have to trade: They have three tradable firsts and two seconds. They have depth on their team, salaries of all sizes and some expiring contracts in Gary Payton II ($9 million) and Kevon Looney ($7 million). Any big-dollar transaction would probably require including Andrew Wiggins ($26 million). In a star player deal, teams will likely have interest in prospects Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Kuminga’s ankle injury last weekend, which will keep him out at least three weeks, is a complicating factor but not more than his restricted free agency in July in terms of other teams’ interest.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. The Warriors looked at deals for LeBron James, Paul George and Lauri Markkanen in the past year. They have already made one trade so far, for Dennis Schroder.
Houston Rockets
Roster hole: Shooting
What they have to trade: They have four tradable firsts and five seconds. They have a bunch of valuable young players, plus some sizable expiring contracts with Steven Adams ($13 million), Jae’Sean Tate ($7 million) and Jeff Green ($8 million).
Chances of a significant trade: Unlikely. Houston is playing for the long haul and wants to let this team grow together. The Rockets are in position to make a major swing for a superstar, but there doesn’t seem to be one available they’re interested in going all-in for … at least at the moment.
Los Angeles Lakers
Roster hole: Perimeter defense, size
What they have to trade: They have three tradable first and two seconds. They have some midsize salaries they are allowed to aggregate together if needed, like Gabe Vincent’s ($11 million), Rui Hachimura’s ($17 million) and the injured Jarred Vanderbilt’s ($12 million).
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. They already made one deal, their first significant one in nearly two years, to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith. Those first-round picks are still there to be used, but teams who would consider trading them a big-name player would likely seek Austin Reaves, who is having a career-best season, in return, and the Lakers have shown no interest in moving him.
Memphis Grizzlies
Roster hole: Wing defense
What they have to trade: The Grizzlies own all their firsts and are allowed to trade up to four of them, plus five seconds.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. The Grizzlies sense they might be a player (and health, of course) away from making a serious run, and they’re acting like it. They already had serious talks about landing Finney-Smith before losing out to the Lakers. They have some expiring salary with Luke Kennard ($9 million but has trade veto power) and Jake LaRavia ($3 million) they could use to make a deal.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Roster hole: Backup point guard
What they have to trade: They can trade one first and three seconds.
Chances of a significant trade: Unlikely. Minnesota made its big move already by sending out Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. With rookie Rob Dillingham raw and battling injury, the Timberwolves could use a stopgap guard behind Mike Conley. That said, the real question is whether they’d look to retrade the less-than-perfect fit Randle ($33 million) in a splashy move. At the moment, that doesn’t seem probable.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Roster hole: Size, shot creation
What they have to trade: They have up to 10 tradable firsts and 16 seconds. They have a host of young players and players on midsize contracts. They also have an $8 million trade exception and are $9.5 million below the luxury tax.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible. They have all the capital in the world to do it even though they’ve indicated they prefer to avoid midseason changes after last year’s deadline deal for Gordon Hayward didn’t work out. They’ve yet to have their full roster together, which is a reason to push off a deal. But they have positioned themselves to outbid everyone else if they see a player they like.
Phoenix Suns
Roster hole: Stretch big man
What they have to trade: They have one available first and three seconds. Jusuf Nurkic ($18 million) is available. Any big deal would require Bradley Beal ($50 million), and he has a no-trade clause. The Suns’ decision to take both out of their starting lineup starting Monday makes their position on them clear and rather plainly sends a message to Beal about his position with the team as possible trade options develop.
Chances of a significant trade: Possible, which is hard to believe with the Suns having the most trade restrictions and asset limitations in the modern era, but they’re trying. They have not-so-secretly been looking to find a new home for Beal in a way that could also land them Jimmy Butler. A key thing to remember is Kevin Durant has one year on his contract following this season and bypassed signing a short extension last summer.
Source: espn.com