Just before the 2019 trade deadline, the Toronto Raptors acquired Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies, hoping that he would be the final piece of a championship-worthy puzzle. On their way to their first title in franchise history, they outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, who had made playoff-focused moves of their own at the deadline, acquiring Tobias Harris and Nikola Mirotic, respectively.
This time around, we might not see the same level of activity. Deadline-day moves that actually affect the outcome of the season are rare, which is why the Detroit Pistons' acquisition of Rasheed Wallace in 2004 and the Houston Rockets' acquisition of Clyde Drexler in 1995 are seen as legendary.
The Gasol move, however, should serve as a reminder of what is possible. Leading up to the deadline, which is 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, every contender and fringe contender has been trying to improve its roster with the playoffs in mind. The same might be true of teams that are just outside of the playoffs, although their intentions aren't as clear at the moment.
Given how limited most contenders are in terms of tradeable contracts, and given how few toxic deals remain on the market, executives will have to get creative to get anything substantial done. But hey, no one saw the Bucks' offer for Mirotic -- four second-round picks -- coming this time last year. Here is an exhaustive list of names worth thinking about, along with what you need to know about each player's situation:
The most relevant, most tradeable names to know
Typically, a player of Gallinari's caliber would fetch a first-round pick near the deadline. He can play both forward spots, can score in all sorts of ways and doesn't kill you defensively. He is also 31 and on an expiring contract, so he is of little use to Oklahoma City beyond this season. If the offers aren't acceptable, the Thunder could just keep him and hope to work out a sign-and-trade.
You can't pay everybody, and the Kings decided to pay Harrison Barnes last summer and Buddy Hield at the beginning of this season. This could get in the way of them retaining Bogdanovic in restricted free agency in the summer. He is overqualified for the role he has now, and I can think of a couple of Eastern Conference contenders that could use his combination of shooting and playmaking. There is nothing, however, stopping the Kings from holding onto him, re-signing him and figuring the rest out later.
Morris isn't quite shooting 50 percent from 3-point range anymore, but he has still presumably raised his trade value with his marksmanship -- he might even be able to return a first-round pick. Unlike many of the other Knicks on short-term contracts, though, Morris is on a straight one-year deal and would be strictly a rental. He said he wants to stay, though, and New York reportedly isn't set on trading him.
Back in the lineup after a foot injury, he should be a prime target for playoff teams. Like his brother, Morris is having an amazing year from 3-point range -- he's taking more than six and a half per 36 minutes and knocking down more than 40 percent of them, both easily career highs. Unlike his brother, he is cheap: $3.2 million this season, with a $3.4 million option for next season.
Finally, in the last season of the bargain contract he signed in Boston, Crowder's $7.8 million salary could be packaged with Iguodala or traded in a separate deal. He is known as a tough 3-and-D guy, although he hasn't shot 3s all that accurately outside of his fantastic 2016-17 season. Given how well the Grizzlies have been playing, though, his price tag has likely increased.
The Pistons aren't going anywhere and need to rebuild, and Rose could actually get them something worthwhile in return. He's only owed $7.3 million this year and $7.7 million next year, and he has been efficient running pick-and-rolls. A surprising number of contenders need more playmaking in the backcourt, so it would be shocking if he finished the season in Detroit.
The big names who will be functionally difficult to move
Paul has been brilliant for the Thunder, and his play so far this season should have eased short-term concerns about age- and injury-related decline. That he is again an All-Star is one of the league's best stories. Still, he is a 34-year-old point guard who is making $38.5 million this season and will make $44.2 million in 2021-22. It would take a bold front office -- and perhaps a desperate one -- to put together a realistic trade package for him.
Well before all the drama, it was almost impossible to imagine the 31-year-old staying with the Cavaliers for the duration of his contract, which has three years and $91.5 million remaining after this season. It is trickier than you'd think, though, to identify teams that can take on his $28.9 million salary and convince themselves that he is the missing piece. Ideally, he would be a starting center next to a rim-protecting power forward, playing in games that matter again.
DeRozan has never shot better from midrange than this season, and he has been on an absolute tear since late December, making the most of the space provided by LaMarcus Aldridge's overdue 3-point shooting. He has contributed to the Spurs' terrible defense, though, and he's still turning down open 3s. San Antonio is in not exactly rebuilding and nowhere near contention, so the 30-year-old could be available, but young teams won't want him, contenders will be wary of his weaknesses and everything is complicated because of his $27.7M player option for next season and the team's turnaround.
On New Year's Day, Aldridge's $24 million 2020-21 salary became fully guaranteed. That's a hefty price tag, especially with his defense declining. His shooting, though, has totally transformed the team, and it should have also increased his trade value. Aldridge isn't what he used to be, and only contenders should be interested, but there is clear evidence of how he can affect an offense.
Drummond's box-score stats are ridiculous, but averaging around 18 and 16 doesn't go as far as it used to if you aren't also dominating defensively, too. He has a $28.7 million player option, which he could decline and sign an extension. The Hawks, a briefly rumored landing spot, are interesting, but would he and the team be comfortable with a wait-and-see situation? Drummond can be a free agent in a few months, but he is not a typical rental.
Detroit should pretty clearly blow it all up and start over, but trading an injured Griffin will be next to impossible, especially because when he was on the floor he was not the same as he was before last April's knee injury. There would obviously be takers if anybody could be sure he would get back to getting back to last year's level of production, but that's a bold bet to make.
Wiggins has done some of what the Wolves wanted him to do this season, improving his shot selection and decision-making, but he hasn't been able to sustain his strong start. His contract was thought to be as close to untradeable as it gets mere months ago, and while it looked like that was changing, suitors would have to talk themselves into their ability to bring the best out of him consistently.
The not-quite-as-big names who will be functionally difficult to move
Thompson will turn 29 in March, and he will be a free agent in July. Neither of these facts bodes well for his long-term future with the team that drafted him. The low-usage, defense-first center makes sense as a rental for a playoff team that needs more oomph on the inside, but his $18.5 million salary is an obstacle to completing a deal. While conventional wisdom dictates that it is unwise to give up much for a player who can walk in a few months, perhaps teams that don't have cap space next summer will value his Bird rights.
Who's looking to acquire a non-star center making $27.5 million next season? The answer might be nobody, and Adams' 7.5 percent trade kicker doesn't help matters. Nevertheless, he is an interesting name because he's 26 years old and it's easy to say that teams like the Celtics and Clippers could use him.
Given how he transformed the Raptors with his defense and passing last season, suitors don't have to be particularly imaginative to picture him raising another team's ceiling. It does take some creativity, however, to come up with anything approaching a logical trade for him -- he would only make sense on a championship hopeful, and there isn't a championship hopeful that can easily accommodate his $25.6 million expiring contract.
At $23.2 million, Ibaka makes a little less than Gasol, and he might also be viewed as less essential to the Raptors' short-term identity. Even if Toronto was willing to move him, though, the market presents the same hurdle.
Kuzma's occasional scoring outbursts notwithstanding, the 24-year-old forward has been an awkward fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, largely because the latter does not want to play center. The problem is that, with a $2 million salary, he is an equally awkward fit on the trade market: Moving him for a guard would be ideal, but that guard would have to be good and cheap.
Another theoretical trade candidate, Valanciunas is a good bet to play elsewhere during the life of his contract, which declines in salary over the next couple of seasons. He is a strong (and sometimes dominant) offensive player and rebounder, but there are concerns about his ability to stay on the floor against the league's best teams in the playoffs, so I'd be surprised if he were moved in this market. I'm not sure if Memphis' surge has made a trade more likely or less so.
'I wonder if they'd actually trade this guy'
The reasons not to trade Lowry are simple: He's the greatest Raptor ever, he is having another All-Star season and Toronto has played well enough to be confident it can make a deep run in the playoffs. Everyone has a price, though, and maybe there is a team out there that can offer the Raptors the kind of deal that they can't turn down.
VanVleet's bet on himself is about to pay off, and the only reason the Raptors should even consider trading him is if they think it will pay off too handsomely. He will be 26 in the summer, young enough for a rebuilding team to throw a ton of money at him. Of the five rebuilding teams that can easily have max cap space, only New York needs a point guard, but VanVleet has proven he can defend shooting guards and play off the ball.
Everybody wants Bertans, who is shooting only slightly better in Washington than he did in San Antonio but has done it while firing away from absolutely everywhere, contested or not. Bertans is one of the best shooters in the game, and the Wizards should be in no rush to trade him unless they are completely blown away by an offer or they get the impression they won't have a chance to retain him when he hits unrestricted free agency in July.
Fournier might have the highest production-to-hype ratio of anyone in the NBA this season, inheriting the title from teammate Nikola Vucevic. The 27-year-old guard is averaging about 20 points, launching 3s more frequently and more accurately than ever before. The Magic are in a tough spot, though, because he can be a free agent this summer and they already have an expensive roster.
Dinwiddie has spent much of the season carrying an enormous load for a banged-up Nets team that absolutely needed it. His role has already changed multiple times, though, and it's fair to wonder if he will ever play on the same team with a healthy Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert. Everybody wants multiple playmaking options, and Dinwiddie is (for now) on a bargain contract, but at a certain point Brooklyn will have to think hard about how it wants to allocate its resources. The way Dinwiddie has played, it is easy to envision several teams trying to poach the 26-year-old and let him run the show.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reported in mid-December that Holiday was available, and David Griffin quickly denied it. The Pelicans have since turned their season around, so a fire sale looks much less likely. While Holiday has not made an offensive leap, he did not get in the way of Brandon Ingram making one, and his defensive talent remains ridiculous.
If the Pelicans have their sights set on the playoffs, Favors likely isn't going anywhere. He has stabilized their defense, and he was acquired in part to set an example for their young players. If winning becomes less of a priority, though, New Orleans could turn into a seller, and Favors, who is on a $16 million expiring contract, would become a fascinating trade piece. (It's worth watching how he fits next to Zion Williamson, who is clearly capable of playing center.)
Redick is in a similar situation to Favors, except he is owed $13 million next season and clearly complements Zion. He has been incredible for the Pelicans' offense, and he sets an example for their young players with the way he approaches the game. He is only on this list to account for the possibility that New Orleans shifts into sell mode.
Would the Knicks punt on the Randle experiment before the first year is over? I'm not saying it's likely, but I wonder if they'd consider it. Randle is sort of salvaging what looked like a disastrous season, and potential suitors might think his salary will be worth it outside of New York's cramped offensive environment. He signed a three-year, $62.1 million deal, but only $4 million of the third season is guaranteed.
Rozier has been lights-out on catch-and-shoot 3s, and he has paired well with Devonte' Graham in the backcourt. It is unclear if the Hornets are totally committed to keeping that combo intact, though, and they reportedly discussed a trade centered around Rozier and Randle.
The Magic just re-signed Ross on a four-year, $54 million deal, and he hasn't been able to replicate last season's production. For teams who were interested in him last summer, though, it's not that difficult to talk yourself into him shooting a higher percentage in a healthier offensive environment. If Orlando cares about this season, though, getting worse on the wing is not a great plan.
Russell remains a divisive player despite his 2019 All-Star selection, his max contract and his semi-regular scoring explosions. If the Warriors believe that he can become more efficient and improve defensively, maybe he will fit just fine when the Splash Brothers are back. There were good reasons, though, that trade rumors started the moment that Golden State acquired him.
The Heat almost traded Dragic in the summer, and then they moved him to the bench, where he has had his best season in a few years (when healthy). His $19.2 million contract is expiring, and while Miami doesn't necessarily need to make any moves, its front office is fond of star-hunting.
That he's on this list is a credit to him: Harris is the kind of player every team wants, a dead-eye shooter who can attack closeouts and makes few mistakes. He is underpaid at $7.7 million, but that won't be the case for long, as he will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Given that he loves Brooklyn and would be an ideal complementary player next to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, it is tempting to assume that the franchise will pay whatever it takes to keep him. That could happen, but the luxury tax will be an issue.
Phoenix should not trade Baynes if it cares about getting its season on the right track. But maybe it shouldn't care about this season. The Suns could not sustain their strong start, and Baynes plays the same position as Deandre Ayton. They need to figure out how much they are willing to pay to potentially re-sign Baynes, the likelihood that he will want to stay and how much they value whatever they can get back for him in a trade.
Saric has been generally solid for the Suns, at least before his recent leg injury, but it is unclear if he has done enough for them to retain him in restricted free agency. There hasn't been much buzz about the forward, aside from speculation about a Kevin Love deal, but he's worth monitoring.
In the first season of a two-year, $30 million deal, the 24-year-old Oubre is finally a full-time starter and he has smoothed out some of his game's rough edges. Phoenix is taking calls on him, though, according to the New York Times' Marc Stein, and maybe the plan is to sell high.
Why would the Pistons trade their best building block when he's only 23 years old? Great question! They discussed a deal with the Suns, though, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, and would have received a first-round pick as part of the package. My best guess at the rationale: Their roster is expensive, and they aren't sure they want to sign Kennard to the kind of rookie extension he would accept this coming summer.
If the Kings are interested in spacing the floor for De'Aaron Fox, then trading Bjelica isn't the brightest idea. He'd have real value on the trade market, though, and at 31 he isn't exactly on Fox and Marvin Bagley's timeline. Bjelica is making $6.8 million this season and $7.1 million next year, which is nothing for a big man who consistently makes more than 40 percent of his 3s.
Harrell is in a similar position to VanVleet in that he is a wildly productive player who will be 26 next summer and eligible for a massive raise. If the Clippers don't think they can keep him on a reasonable salary, then trading him might make sense, especially if they are able to strengthen their frontcourt defense in the process. Presumably, though, it would take an extremely compelling offer to get them to break up the Lou Williams-Harrell pick-and-roll combo.
Injuries have ruined what was supposed to be a breakout season for the Warriors big man, whose three-year, $15 million deal was seen as a bargain when he re-signed last summer. Looney is still just 24, and he's finally playing again, so trading him now doesn't seem like the best idea. He represents Golden State's easiest path to getting under the luxury tax, though, and he likely has more value than some of its other role players.
Jones has become important to the Heat's defense, especially with Winslow out of the lineup. One of the most athletic players in the league, he is also occasionally used as a roll man, where he provides vertical spacing you'd usually get from bigs, not wings. He's on a minimum contract now, but he'll be a 23-year-old unrestricted free agent in July, and if Miami doesn't want to risk losing him for nothing, it could move him.
Caruso isn't just a random dude Lakers fans love. He's a productive role player who has hit 38 percent of his career 3-point attemps and defends better than most of the guards on the trade market. As such, he has positive trade value, and if Los Angeles is trying to make an upgrade, he could help get a deal done. According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, teams have called the Lakers about him.
The 24-year-old center has always been a smart player with great passing instincts and touch, and he has grown into a valuable defensive presence in San Antonio. The only reason the Spurs would trade him is if they aren't prepared to match the kind of offer sheet he'll get in restricted free agency this summer. (If I was running Charlotte or Cleveland, I'd try to pry him away.)
Need a vet in the frontcourt?
Young has been better lately, but he has mostly looked uncomfortable in Chicago's new offense. There's no reason, however, that the 31-year-old can't be as productive as he was with the Pacers last season if he were given a similar role. Still an excellent defender, the Bulls had the right idea when they signed him, but integrating him has been complicated.
DeRozan and Aldridge get more attention, but the 33-year-old Gay is far easier to acquire because he only makes $14.5 million. Teams are always looking for big, versatile forwards, and Gay isn't even a rental -- he has another year on his contract at the same number.
Harkless fits with the Clippers defensively, and it would be sort of a shame if they didn't get to throw him out there with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the playoffs. His offensive limitations have been exposed in the playoffs before, though, and his $11 million expiring contract is tradeable. If Los Angeles sees a way to increase its championship odds, he could be sacrificed.
Davis has been out of the rotation in Utah for most of its turnaround, as Quin Snyder's coaching staff has made Tony Bradley the backup center. The 30-year-old broke his left fibula in early November, and he hasn't been himself in the Jazz's system. A buy-low candidate on a $4.4 million expiring contract, Davis would be a bargain if he goes elsewhere and returns to his previous level of production.
Yet another defensive-minded Grizzlies vet, the 28-year-old Hill has played a key role this season but would be of more use on a win-now team. Suitors might not trust his hot 3-point shooting, though, and with a $12.8 million expiring contract, his contract is tougher to absorb than Crowder's. (Also, um, Memphis is now sort of a win-now team.)
Williams continues to age gracefully in Charlotte, making around 40 percent of his 3s while playing fewer minutes than ever before and a significant chunk of them as a small-ball center. As valuable as he is in the Hornets' locker room, they would have to consider moving him if contenders are lining up to rent him. (Contenders are likely hoping he'll be bought out.)
A perfectly capable but unspectacular center, Zeller's on/off numbers have consistently painted him as a force for good in Charlotte … until this season, in which the Hornets have been significantly better on defense with him on the bench. Always more of a traditional pick-and-roll big man, the 27-year-old is finally wading into new territory, launching more than two 3s per 36 minutes but converting less than 30 percent of them. He is making $14.5 million this season and owed $15.4 million next season; improving that percentage would serve him well when it comes to his next contract.
Gibson is tradeable on account of his contract -- $9 million this year, $9.5 million next year if the team wants to keep him -- and his track record. His numbers with the Knicks don't look good, but that shouldn't necessarily scare away teams looking for defensive help in the frontcourt.
The Sixers coaching staff clearly doesn't trust O'Quinn, who in the 2020 calendar year has played a total of 26 minutes in three games despite Joel Embiid missing three weeks. O'Quinn is a skilled passer and a solid but unspectacular team defender. In the limited playing time he has received in Philadelphia, he has been willing to take 3-pointers. If he ever starts making them, he could get his career back on track.
The Spurs have buyer's remorse on Carroll's three-year, $20 million contract, and they're trying to find him a new home now that he's completely out of their rotation, per CNBC's Jabari Young. The 33-year-old isn't the defender he used to be, but gave the Nets decent minutes off the bench last season.
The Thunder didn't know they were going to trade Paul George and Russell Westbrook when they negotiated a two-year, $4.3 million deal with him last summer. He has a player option for the second season, and he has not been an every-single-night rotation player in Oklahoma City.
Need a vet in the backcourt?
Another Detroit guard, the 28-year-old Galloway has quietly had a career season, thanks to improved 3-point shooting and finishing around the rim. The Pistons signed him with the mid-level exception (MLE) three years ago, so his $7.3 million expiring salary is easy to match for teams seeking short-term backcourt help.
Do the Spurs value Mills' experience and institutional knowledge more than whatever they can get for him on the trade market? He is under contract for another season, so San Antonio shouldn't be in a rush to move him, but he is also 31 years old on a team with a bunch of young guards on the roster.
Augustin has value to the Magic as a backup point guard, but he's on a $7.5 million expiring contract and what to do with him is one of the many decisions they have to make. Orlando is in an odd place: It is a playoff team despite being under .500 and having a miserable offense, and it has a pretty expensive roster. Will Augustin's suitors be willing to give up the kind of asset that makes moving him worthwhile?
As Moore showed in a 25-point outburst against Houston in late December, he is a capable microwave scorer. He is also a floater artist who has shot better than 42 percent from deep in the last three seasons, but New Orleans has so much depth that he has received many DNP-CDs this year. The 30-year-old is making $8.7 million and is on an expiring contract.
Given that Ellington was bought out last season, teams that covet him might just wait and see if that happens again. New York has little incentive to do that, though, given that he can help its young players by spacing the floor. The veteran is effectively on an $8 million expiring contract, as his 2020-21 salary is fully non-guaranteed.
Someone has to score in Golden State, and Burks has done that, averaging around 16 points with decent efficiency. He might be superfluous when the Warriors get healthy, though, and they only have his non-Bird rights this summer.
Bullock returned from injury on New Year's Day, and he gives the Knicks some much-needed shooting. In the big picture, though, he might be more valuable to them as a trade chip. They signed him with the room exception, and only $1 million of his $4.2 million 2020-21 salary is guaranteed.
San Antonio is shopping Belinelli, per CNBC's Jabari Young, and the 33-year-old is averaging just 15.3 minutes this season, his lowest mark since he was a rookie. Belinelli can still shoot, but he can't guard anybody.
The 28-year-old has had some huge scoring games for Washington, and he is shooting better than 40 percent from deep. Likely not a playoff team's first choice due to his defensive limitations, McRae might still be worth more elsewhere than he is on an expiring contract in D.C.
Thomas is starting for the Wizards, and his 3-point shooting has been encouraging. He is still not finishing like he did before his hip injury, however, and he's not a part of their future. On a minimum contract, he is only a small investment for a team that has confidence in its medical staff.
Not quite a vet, yet
He's on this list every year, a product of his declining contract and the Magic's crowded frontcourt. There is still plenty of upside in the 24-year-old forward, but his drop in efficiency this season cannot be good for his trade value. There are few players in the league I am more eager to see get a fresh start.
Payton's shooting percentages are awful, but he generally makes the Knicks look more competent on offense than their other point guard options. He is making $8 million this season and another $8 million next season if not waived by late June. Guards that don't space the floor are not exactly hot commodities, but his playmaking could be attractive to the right team.
Catch Portis on the right night and you might wonder why he only plays less than half the game and isn't thought of more highly. He is an extremely streaky offensive player, though, and his approach to defense is laissez-faire.
Memphis signed Anderson to a four-year deal in 2018 for the MLE, and his $9.1 million salary is tradeable, even with a 15 percent trade kicker. At 26, he isn't so old that he doesn't fit with the Grizzlies' young core, but he isn't exactly a part of the core, either. He is only averaging around 17 minutes this season.
Moving him would help the Raptors clear cap space for 2021, but if Powell has another season like this next year, maybe he will decline his $11.6 million player option in 2021-22 anyway. It's a bit complicated because his speed, shooting and ability to attack the rim remain useful in Toronto, and he is having a career year.
Schroder is averaging around 19 points as part of Oklahoma City's wacky guard rotation, and his playmaking would be a nice addition to several contenders. It will be tricky, though, for any of those contenders to take on his $15.5 million salary without doing something drastic.
A Nugget wing dealing with a demotion, Craig started 37 games last season and now sometimes gets DNP-CDs. He is a tough defender, but it's hard to maintain a 3-and-D reputation if you're shooting about 30 percent from deep for your career.
The 26-year-old Robinson is having a career year in every way, and, unlike last season in Detroit, his 39-percent mark from deep means he can actually be called a 3-and-D guy. The Warriors only have non-Bird rights on him in the summer, which might mean they're better off shopping him.
Dunn's career could go so many ways. He is an awesome defender, and he will have a long and productive career if he ever becomes a reliable spot-up shooter. As long as teams can ignore him off the ball, though, investing in him is risky. If Chicago does not want to have to make a difficult decision about an offer sheet in July, it could simply try to move him before then.
Forbes has started almost every game for the Spurs this season because of his shooting ability, but he is often overmatched defensively and he will be an unrestricted free agent in July. San Antonio has lots of decisions to make when it comes to its backcourt, so Forbes' future is uncertain.
Valentine's 3-point shooting and secondary playmaking off the bench has helped the Bulls without Otto Porter, but he has bounced in and out of the rotation and Porter isn't even back yet. That doesn't bode well for them bringing the 26-year-old back in restricted free agency. He could be a cheap target for a team in need of wing help.
'Sure, let's take a flier on him'
Smith turned 22 in November; it's too early to write him off. The Knicks, however, might be ready to move on from this experiment. An oblique injury sidelined him for a long stretch, but when healthy the flashes of potential have been few and far between.
Trier has been marginalized in his second season, so developing him does not seem to be New York's priority. He is a gifted scorer, but to have a role in this league he must round out his game, either with the Knicks or elsewhere.
The third-year guard is wildly inconsistent, and his 26.6-percent mark from deep this season is more than a little bit concerning. If you watch his best games, though, it is easy to convince yourself that all he needs is a fresh start.
Maybe the Raptors will be buyers instead of sellers. What could they get for Johnson and a future pick? What about Johnson, a pick and someone like Patrick McCaw? It feels damning that Johnson has been in the doghouse all season, but he's still 23 with good physical tools. Another front office could give him another shot in a no-risk scenario.
I am aware that it is weird to argue that teams should try to acquire a player who warmed the bench for last season's Knicks and this season's Bulls, but here we go: Kornet has shown an ability to space the floor and use his size around the rim, and those two attributes make him an intriguing buy-low target. (He has demonstrated his value lately, starting with both Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford injured.)
The Kings declined Giles' fourth-year option, and they barely used him until late December. It feels weird to call him a second-draft guy already, but he is a buy-low candidate if Sacramento is no longer committed to his development.
Leaf has not been the stretch 4 Indiana hoped he'd be, and now the front office is shopping him, per the Indianapolis Star's J. Michael Falgoust. Leaf has been strictly a garbage-time player since mid-November, and with Goga Bitadze in the fold, he appears to be expendable.
After a strong rookie season, Kurucs has been in and out of the rotation in Brooklyn and spent significant time in the G League. He has been getting minutes since December after David Nwaba's season-ending injury, but that doesn't necessarily mean he is a part of the Nets' long-term future.
Contracts worth mentioning
The guard was essentially banished from the Heat for most of the season, and the whole league knows they want to be rid of his contract, which has a year remaining at $12.7 million. If it were easy to trade him, they would have done it already, but perhaps he can be flipped as part of a larger deal or flipped for another undesirable contract.
Johnson has been back in Miami's rotation for a while now, so he's not in the same situation as Waiters. Like Waiters, though, he has another year on his contract, and his is a $16 million player option. That will be tough to move, but theoretically the Heat could package Johnson with a young player to acquire a high-salaried player.
With the Bismack Biyombo, Marvin Williams and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist contracts coming off the books, the Hornets don't need to be desperate to trade Batum, who will make $27.1 million next season. He is surely available, however.
As a starter for 17 games, Dieng averaged 13.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals in 25.6 minutes while taking 4.2 3s a game and making 40.8 percent of them. That was encouraging, but his minutes have dwindled again and he's still owed $17.3 million in 2020-21.
Another perpetual trade-block guy, Jackson is on an $18.1 million expiring contract. Injuries have ruined his tenure in Detroit, and he has only recently returned after missing about three months with a stress reaction in his lower back.
Rick Carlisle has a long history of playing point guards together, but Brunson's playmaking still feels a little superfluous for a team that employs Luka Doncic. Dallas has him under contract until 2022 and he's only making $1.4 million this season, so if the Mavs are looking at win-now moves, he is easy to include in a larger deal.
If the Blazers think they're getting Jusuf Nurkic back in the relatively near future, or if they decide to give up on the season, then Whiteside is unnecessary on this roster. His value will not be high, but his expiring $27 million deal could be used to facilitate a major move.
Cousins has no real value as he is rehabbing a torn ACL. If Los Angeles makes a move, though, it almost has to include his $3.5 million salary in order to bring back a meaningful player.
The guard has been on the fringes of the Lakers' guard rotation, so it's not much of a stretch to think they'd try to put his $3 million salary in a hypothetical Kuzma trade. He is owed $3 million next season, too.
Scott is struggling from deep, but even if he were hitting at his usual clip the Sixers would have to think about shopping him. They simply don't have many tradeable contracts, so his $4.8 million salary is one of the few that could theoretically help them land another playmaker.
Smith is 20 years old and has almost no NBA track record after a strange and scary rookie season. He was drafted for his upside, so it would normally seem pretty silly to move on from him so quickly, but it looks like he's a long way from contributing and the Sixers are trying to compete for a championship now. The problem is that his value isn't nearly what it was coming out of college, so Philadelphia could find itself in a tough spot, either giving up on him for a modest upgrade or making no upgrade at all.
His infamous summer-of-2016 contract is about to expire, and the $19.2 million man has been unable to hold down a steady spot in Phoenix's guard rotation. The Suns could move Johnson if they have designs on an expensive trade target.
Lee almost never sees the floor outside of blowouts, and his $12 million expiring salary could be packaged with another rotation player if the Mavs want to make a win-now play. I wouldn't be shocked if Lee wound up in Memphis again.
Kidd-Gilchrist's $13 million salary could get him moved twice, as explained by The Athletic's John Hollinger, who suggested the Lakers could put together a trade for him, then use his contract to pry Iguodala away from Memphis. The same logic would apply if, say, Philadelphia was interested in, say, Schroder.
Right before the Rockets traded Capela, they experimented with not playing a traditional center at all. The 37-year-old Chandler doesn't appear to be in their plans, and if they manage to put together another deal, his $2.6 million veteran minimum contract likely has to be a part of it.
If the Bucks are looking to beef up their rotation, Ilyasova is a natural candidate to go elsewhere, given his $7 million salary and his fully non-guaranteed 2020-21 season.