Most Anticipated Trades Before NBA End Date

The transfer market in the world’s strongest league closes on February 9. Until then, teams have time to set their goals for the decisive phase of the regular season. And, accordingly, the fight for the playoffs or the high selection in the auditions. For some, this is an opportunity to realize the restructuring plan … one for Westbrook, for others – to establish themselves in the standings of title contenders. How did Toronto manage to do it, with Marc Gasol’s trade or Derrick White bolstering Boston on the way to the NBA Finals?

So, let’s talk about some of the most anticipated trades that could affect place distribution in the regular season and the playoffs in general.

John Collins

The Atlanta forward hasn’t wanted to play for the team for long, and rumors of the trade are taking Collins all over the place. And most importantly, the club itself is not interested in having a dissatisfied basketball player on its roster. Why is that? Why? He also has a long-term contract and takes a third of his shots because of the three-point line, which is highly valued in the modern league.

As for price, yes, the Hawks are paying him his second salary with the team – $23.5 million has been provided for this season. However, John shows his second performance in his career from the very end. The player only scored less points per game in his rookie season than ever. And he replaces good games with frankly disastrous ones, like 19 points in a game he recently won with Dallas but 7 points with Indiana five days ago.

And his 3-pointers are no longer accurate either – 23% this season, the worst among basketball players who have scored at least 100 “far” shots. Overall, for the first time in his career, Collins doesn’t even throw 50% of his tries off the field.

Should you hold onto a disgruntled player in the future? The striker’s contract runs until 2025 and there is a player option for the next player. Time plays in Atlanta. But Collins loses transfer value every time. Now, to balance the fees, Bush is expected to be traded to Toronto for the draft picks and additional basketball players, where both traders win. The Hawks will have players with similar functionality and performance but less money, and the Raptors will either get a player to be traded for a bargain in the summer, or Nick Nurse will include him in their plans and … Pascal Siakam to be tradeable.

Fred van Vliet

Let’s talk about Toronto. This year, the team is obviously struggling. With proficient owner Larry Tanenbaum, outstanding manager Masai Ujiri, Nick Nurse, one of the best coaches in the league, and two All-Star players van Vliet and Siakam, the club is 12th in the Eastern Conference. Yes, only one victory separates the Canadians from the play-in zone. So, do the fans expect this from their teams, which have all manager and command levels at a very high level?

“I try to think about the business component of my career and try not to rely on a contract I signed three or four years ago. I feel like I’m over that paycheck. Now it’s up to the club, Van Vliet told journalist Tim Bontom about the renewal of his contract with Toronto.

Fred has one player option he doesn’t use for next year. Toronto is also not content to fill the payroll with a contract that would strip them of their flexibility if they had to pay Scotty Barnes the top spot.

Yes, and the Los Angeles Clippers quarterback candidate. Why are they? John Wall doesn’t justify the hopes placed on him, and Reggie Jackson shows off one of his worst seasons, even permanently losing his place in the LAC starting at five.

Covington, draft picks and young players are well suited to van Vliet’s expiring contract. Who knows, who gets the chance to fight for the title, who knows, maybe Fred will want to use the player option for another season, Kawhi and Paul will just be happy about it.

James Wiseman

Golden State bosses are increasingly expressing their dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the 2020 runoff. Center plays just 13 minutes per game, can’t even score seven points, and his two 3-point attempts (one successful) look ridiculous for the game’s “warriors” concept.

A trade-off for Washington and Plumlee from Charlotte would have made sense given the runoff’s current $9.6 million salary and just over $12 million next year. And we know that the best candidates demand the highest salaries.

“Talented, hardworking, really trying,” says Joe Lacob, owner of the club.

And Golden State’s championship window is not endless. The leaders of the team are already over 30 years old. You really have to win here and now. And the trade of a talented basketball player can bring in a team of role players that can empower even champions.

Jay Crowder and Dario Saric

Phoenix must decide what to do with their forwards’ expiring contracts. Saric averages just over 14 minutes per season. Crowder is injured and will not help in the playoffs. If Sans gets there. After all, they are now only in the play-in zone and can even fly from there.

Who takes over the two contracts that expire? Or at least one – Crowder? Detroit will gladly give up Bogdanovich in exchange for reasonable compensation. San Antonio will trade Richardson or Pellet for the draft picks. And why not try the adventure with Michael Conley from Utah? Chris Paul, 37, can’t keep up with the pace of the NBA. Having a good backup is important to him.

The position of “Phoenix” has been shaken a lot this season. And the club is no longer seen as the best contender for the championship. This means that a process of change can begin in Arizona. And this playoff will be decisive for the team – whether it can exist in this form, whether it needs new basketball players.

Russell Westbrook

The Lakers have already done a pretty good job in the transfer market this winter – they traded Rui Hachimura from Washington. Will they eventually trade Westbrook? Now the quarterback has the highest price – an expired contract. So, a team looking to rebuild quickly and avoid heavy contracts can count on the Lakers’ help.

What about the Lakers themselves? They need players. Slightly better than G-league level. And they’re not against sending Russell out of Los Angeles, either. Preferably without including two of your own first-round picks in the trade – 2027 and 2029. So what can Rob Pelinka look forward to?

“I want to be honest,” says the LAL general manager. “We have LeBron James, one of the best basketball players on our team. He signed a long three-year contract with us. We will do our best to reach his goal.”

When you think of perestroika, Charlotte immediately comes to mind. In contrast, the Hornets consider Vembanyama. He won’t need an environment to take his shots. The ball is enough for him. It is also desirable to save Washington as much as possible. Now maybe they are fighting for defeat. If not Westbrook, who will be able to add a few disastrous endings to them and save games that seem to have already been won? Therefore, the Rozier, Plumly and Oubre pack, who have earned 12, 22 and 20 points respectively for the season, could well satisfy the Lakers – they’ll be able to play in the top five right away and deliver results.

Zach Lavigne paired from “Chicago” to “exit”? Why don’t you add Caruso to this and send it to Rob Pelinka? A 27- or 29-year draft pick for Russell, too. And start building a team around Kobe White? Vucevic also plans to become a free agent at the end of the season.

“We’re not going to be average,” said Bulls general manager Arturas Karnishovas.

Turner and Heald for a clean bill next season? Indiana can be tempting. They are fighting for the play-in zone, that is, to avoid conceding a goal in the first round of the play-offs, if they go there. The Pacers have young Haliburton and Mathurin (20 and 18 points in a season, respectively). Jalen Smith and Andrew Nembard show good statistics. It’s a young team that older Turner and Heald don’t seem very suitable for, but the Lakers’ 2027 draft pick is a good one.

This period is unlikely to be full of trade. But there are teams that need to move. Get down like Charlotte or switch things up while there’s time like Toronto or the Lakers. We can say with certainty that the night of February 10 will be full of high-profile events that will affect the distribution of power in the championship fight. And for Vembanyama.

Vyacheslav Shevchenko