A few things happen on December 15th that indicate that trade season has arrived. 80 players became trade eligible and teams can now put multiple minimum contracts together in a trade, so let’s dive into some teams to watch and one deal that already happened.
Warriors acquire Dennis Schroder
This is an interesting move for Golden State because they play a very specific way of basketball and I am interested to see how Schroder fits that. This is a good move, another ball handler was needed for the Dubs and Schroder provides them that. They had lost De’Anthony Melton for the season and dealing 3 second round picks and a 2-way player for Schroder is good business. However, I also like this deal for the Nets, they need to tank and Schroder was hurting that. 2026 and 2028 second round picks from the Hawks and a 2029 second round pick from the Warriors is a nice haul. It is interesting that the Nets had to toss in a 2025 top 37 protected second rounder from Miami but overall, this is a good deal from both sides. There were reports that Golden State wanted Cam Johnson to be a part of this deal and they would have had to include Jonathan Kuminga. I would have done that if I was the Warriors but they did not.
Nets
With Schroder gone, the Nets teardown has begun. Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson are the next 2 players out the door. Finney-Smith would likely go for a similar price that Schroder did, a handful of 2nd round picks. There are a lot of teams who could make a Finney-Smith trade so I think that’ll happen. Cam Johnson is the other guy who I think will be traded by the deadline. The Timberwolves are a good team for Johnson and if the Nets want Jaden McDaniels, that deal works with the new apron rules. The Grizzlies are another good spot and one that I think would change their team, more on that later. A lot of teams are going to want Johnson because he is having an awesome season, averaging a career high 18.6 points and 3.0 assists per game with 4.2 rebounds per game on shooting splits of .48/.43/.87. He can dribble, pass and shoot and is a plus defender. He’s really good and someone is going to fork over a lot to get him.
Nuggets
The Athletic reported this week that the Denver Nuggets were preparing to make an offer to the Chicago Bulls for Zach LaVine. This one is interesting to me because it’ll depend on how the Bulls feel about Michael Porter Jr. that will determine if there can be a deal here. Zeke Nnaji is in the first year of a 4yr/$32m contract so while his $8.8 million works in this deal, I don’t think the Bulls would take him for LaVine. An offer of Porter, Dario Saric, 2024 first round pick DaRon Holmes II and a 2031 protected first round pick could get the job done. Maybe Chicago requires that pick to be unprotected but even then I would do it, LaVine changes the way you have to guard Denver. MPJ has had a very good season averaging 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and a career high 2.8 assists per game on 51% from the field and 38.5% from 3. If the Bulls like him, I think there can be a deal here. However, LaVine is better than Michael Porter Jr. so if the Nuggets have an opportunity to pull this trade off, they should do it.
Pelicans
The Pelicans are one of the most interesting teams on the trade market. We know they want to move Brandon Ingram but his high ankle sprain could complicate that. He clearly is not going to get them what they thought he would so it will be interesting to see if they trade him just to trade him. They just traded for Dejounte Murray in June so he is not going anywhere and Trey Murphy’s contract extension makes him nearly impossible to trade. That leaves us with C.J. McCollum, Herb Jones and, yes, Zion Williamson. Herb Jones is a simple one, if you want to offer the farm for Jones, it’ll be considered. Other than that, it’s a hard no. McCollum is not a valuable asset and one I’m sure they’d move for next to nothing just to get off the $30.7 million they owe him next season. A team like the Pistons could make a McCollum deal with their $14 million in cap space. The last name we are going to talk about is Zion. The Pelicans need to pick a lane, either build around Williamson or move him, in year 6 it still does not feel like they have picked a lane. I would be fascinated to see what his market looks like because when Zion is right he is incredible but how often is he on the court? Injuries have played a big part for him. I think the Pelicans will be active with Ingram and McCollum as the names to watch.
Magic
Orlando needs another guard who can create for himself and others. Anthony Black is good but I am worried about relying on him during a playoff series and Cole Anthony’s regression is real. There are 2 names that jump out to me, D’Angelo Russell and Collin Sexton. Russell would be cheaper because I think the Lakers just want off of him. Since the Magic are under the first apron they are able to take back $7.5 million more than they are sending out. So Anthony for Russell straight up is a legal trade. I think since Anthony is on the books for $13.1 million next season and Russell is a free agent, Orlando would need to toss in a pair of 2nd round picks but that should be okay. Sexton would be more expensive to acquire. A deal could be Anthony, the better of Orlando and Denver’s 2025 first round picks and 2 future second round picks for Sexton. If I am the Magic, I would do that trade before any Russell trade. One more name to keep an eye on for the Magic is Zach LaVine. He would change that team and, in my opinion, instantly make them a real threat in the Eastern Conference. A deal could be LaVine and Torrey Craig for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, 2023 lottery pick Jett Howard and a future first round pick. Whether it is a big deal for LaVine or not, I think the Magic should make a trade before the deadline.
Trail Blazers
Portland is an interesting one. We know they likely want to move Deandre Ayton and Jerami Grant but both seem unlikely to happen at this moment. The only Grant team I can think of is the Lakers and that seems unlikely to happen right now and I don’t see any team doing an Ayton deal. That leaves us with Robert Williams and Anfernee Simons as trade chips. Orlando could be a Simons team if Portland decides to go in that direction. The Spurs are another Simons team, Simons could be a guard to play with Victor Wembanyama in the future. Simons for Keldon Johnson and the Hawks 2027 unprotected first round pick is one that both sides could agree to. Maybe Portland wants something else in a deal but I think that Hawks pick is very valuable and would be enough. Robert Williams is a very easy contract to move. The Rockets had interest in him last year and he could fit well reunited with Ime Udoka. The Hornets, Raptors, Lakers, Grizzlies and Kings are other teams that make a lot of sense for the Timelord.
Grizzlies
Memphis has a lot of different avenues they can take. The first is stand pat. The Grizzlies are really good as is 18-9, 2nd in the West, 5th in offense, 6th in defense, 4th in net rating. The roster is one that can make some real noise in the Western Conference playoffs. They could make a small move like targeting players using John Konchar's $6.1 million salary or package Konchar with Jake LaRavia at $3.3 million. Players like Robert Williams, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cody Martin, Jordan Clarkson and Jonas Valanciunas could be targets in that range for the Grizzlies. Or they could go the route of the big swing, not the Jimmy Butler type swing but still a big swing. Cam Johnson would be a game changing addition for Memphis. A shooter like that in the starting 5 with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey would make Memphis even better than they already are. An offer of Marcus Smart, a future first round pick and maybe one of Memphis’ young players is one that could work for both sides. Is GG Jackson or Jaylen Wells too expensive, maybe but that is the conversation Memphis needs to have because the time to strike is now. I love Marcus Smart but Johnson is a better fit with this roster and I think the Grizzlies need to strike on that because they are really good and their core is starting to hit their prime. While they still have the chance to make a move like this, they need to make it.
Trade season is here and I am excited to see all the moves that happen ahead of the February 6th deadline.
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