The NBA Trade Deadline is fast approaching and teams are jockeying to position themselves as title contenders. There’s one thing every team needs this time of year, the same thing every team always needs: shooters.
There’s no skill more important in today’s game than the ability to space the floor and pop a shot from the perimeter. The old adage is that defense wins championships, but shooting is a required skill too.
The deadline isn’t here yet and many teams are still deciding whether they will be buyers or sellers, an equation complicated by the permanent installation of the play-in tournament. Still, choices must be made.
With the NBA trade deadline on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to rank the top shooters available on the market.
It’s not too early to fully evaluate what the trade market is going to look like in just a couple of weeks. There’s already a sense of who some of the shooters will be available to the highest bidders.
The trade deadline is on Feb. 9 at 3:00 PM ET. Some of the expected sellers ahead of the deadline include the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and Houston Rockets, with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic potentially in a similar position. If the Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, or Chicago Bulls jump into the seller fray, we could be in for one of the nuttiest trade periods in some time.
Let’s rank the best shooters expected to be available in a trade this winter.
(All stats updated through Jan. 27)
18. F Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns
Jae Crowder has always had the ability to catch and shoot. What else can the veteran wing provide? It’s unclear, considering he hasn’t played a single game for the Phoenix Suns this season.
Crowder has been a somewhat infamous holdout for the Suns throughout the season. He wants a trade. Phoenix seems to want to trade him. But they aren’t getting rid of Crowder unless they get the right return, it seems.
When he’s on the court, Crowder profiles as a traditional three-and-D type. He’s a 34.6 percent career shooter from three and was in line with that last year, which is serviceable. The wing has never hit 40 percent of his threes in a season, though.
Crowder was once known for his defense, particularly his ability to steal the ball. While some of his skills are fading with age, he did finish with a top ten defensive rating in the league last season. Can he come in from the cold and play that level of defense again?
Any team that trades for Crowder would need assurances that he would actually suit up for them, otherwise there’s no point. He’s on an expiring contract is certainly going to try and snag another good contract in the offseason.
Despite his controversial holdout, there could be any number of teams interested in Crowder. The Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat immediately come to mind as possible fits.
17. G Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks
True to his name, Immanuel Quickley is a lightning fast player and electrifying every time he steps on the court. New York Knicks fans may not be ready to see the young gunner go. In terms of his shooting, that remains a work in progress.
IQ primarily comes off the bench, but is averaging 12.5 points and 3.1 assists per game. He’s a big fan of grabbing a rebound on the defensive end and sprinting to the other side of the court, either driving straight to the hoop or pulling up for a quick three-pointer.
Quickley hit 38.9 percent of his threes in his rookie season, but his shot has been trending downwards since. He’s a 33.8 percent three-point shooter this season, good for a mark of 35.8 percent for his career, held aloft by his lofty rookie mark.
But he has his health going from him, not one to usually miss a game (although some knee soreness has hampered him recently). He’s also young and had his fourth-year option for next season exercised in October.
It’s unclear if the Knicks plan on dealing Quickley at the deadline or not, as rumors have put the player on both sides of the trade block in recent weeks. If they do deal him, the Phoenix Suns are one rumored fit, while the Milwaukee Bucks also seem like a logical destination. A late first-round pick may be enough to get him.
16. G Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz
Jordan Clarkson is finally a starter again … just in time for the Utah Jazz to trade him at the deadline and watch him return to a role on the bench, in all likelihood.
When Utah shipped out much of its previous core during the offseason, Clarkson was tasked with taking on a bigger role. The former Sixth Man of the Year has proven ready for the task.
The 30-year-old Tampa native is averaging 21 points per game, easily the best mark of his career. He’s also dishing the most assists per game of his career (and turning the ball over at the highest rate of his career).
While Clarkson is distinguishing himself as an elite scorer, he’s not an elite shooter. In fact, he’s one of the league leaders in missed field goals for the year. Clarkson is hitting 35.1 percent of his threes, a tick above his 34 percent career mark.
Clarkson has a player option for next season, but the way he’s playing this year, an opt-out seems almost guaranteed as the guard grabs one could be the biggest payday of his career.
It would be a lot of fun to see Clarkson return to either of his two former stomping grounds, the Los Angeles Lakers or Cleveland Cavaliers. Clarkson also recently bought a home in San Antonio, although the Spurs don’t seem like a likely destination unless they’re trying to accumulate expiring contracts.
15. F Josh Richardson, San Antonio Spurs
Josh Richardson has served the role of scoring spark off the bench well for the San Antonio Spurs and is a solid shooter, albeit not the most elite one on the market. Considering the state of the Spurs, San Antonio will look to recoup whatever it can from Richardson.
Richardson came over to San Antonio in the trade that netted the Boston Celtics Derrick White. The Spurs are the 29-year-old’s fifth team and the one where he least fits into contention trajectory.
Richardson doesn’t provide much in the way of rebounding or passing, but he is a good scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game off the bench. While he hasn’t matched the supernova 44.4 percent he hit from three in brief action last year, his 36.2 percent shooting is good enough. He’s a 36.5 percent three-point shooter for his career and has never shot below 33 percent for a season.
The 3-and-D wing is on an expiring contract, so whatever team acquires him would be getting a rental. The Spurs reportedly want a first-round pick, which is lofty, but feasible for a contender looking to fill out their roster. If the Spurs get that, it would likely be slotted towards the back end of the round.
The Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks both seem to be good fits for Richardson’s talent. A reunion with the Dallas Mavericks – who Richardson played for a couple of years ago, including a disappointing postseason run – may also be in order.
14. F Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards
Kyle Kuzma is one of the better players available on the trade market this winter. But despite his willingness to launch it from deep, one would be hard-pressed to consider him one of the best shooters.
For those who haven’t been paying attention, Kuzma has emerged as a real player in the NBA. This season, he’s one of Washington’s best, averaging 22.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Kuzma is an okay shooter, but not one who should be taking as many attempts as he does. He’s shooting 34 percent from beyond the arc this season; he’s a 33.9 percent lifetime shooter from three. Yet he’s jacking up a career-high 7.7 threes per game this season, trying to carry the Washington Wizards on his back.
Kuzma is shooting a ton in general, not just from three. He’s also turning the ball over frequently. But on the plus side, he’s still a good defender and crashes the defensive boards well for a player at his position.
The wing could be looking for a big payday, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season. He may end up being a rental, and a rather expensive one at that, bound to cost at least a first-round draft pick.
A reunion with the Lakers would’ve been fun, but Washington and Los Angeles don’t seem likely to make two trades in such rapid succession. In fact, that trade may have upped the price for Kuzma, who the Wizards could consider extending without Rui Hachimura around.
13. G Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets
Yes, Eric Gordon is somehow still in the league. It may have been easy to forget that as he has been mired in obscurity thanks to the endless Houston Rockets rebuild. But he may pop up for a contender in a major way after the deadline.
The 34-year-old Gordon has been with the Rockets since 2016. His long tenure with the team – his third in the league – includes a Sixth Man of the Year award and a Three-Point Contest trophy.
This season has not been Gordon’s finest from behind the line. He’s hitting only 34.4 percent of his threes, below his career standard of 36.9 percent. But that could be an aberration, considering he hit 41.2 percent of his threes a year ago.
He hasn’t helped his trade stock much recently, though. He’s failed to hit more than two three-pointers in each of his last seven games. He needs to turn that around so teams start throwing picks and players at the Rockets.
Gordon is one of the major trade chips who is not on an expiring contract. But his contract only vests under certain circumstances, such as an All-Star appearance (not happening) or a championship (not happening in Houston, anyways). He’d then be owned nearly $21 million next year.
One team that seems like a good fit, in need of some shooting and someone to push Grayson Allen, is the Milwaukee Bucks. That front office seems to be in agreement, as the team reportedly offered four second-round picks for Gordon. No dice, as he remains on the Rockets.
Other teams who could be intriguing fits include the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Philadelphia 76ers, where Gordon can reunite with James Harden.
12. F P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets
P.J. Washington has had some efficiency issues as of late, but he’s a fine shooter from three-point range overall. He could be a good fit as a lower-tier starter or upper-tier bench asset as the Charlotte Hornets look poised to move forward.
After playing out of position as a center last year, Washington moved back to his more appropriate power forward position this season, his fourth in the NBA. He’s averaging a career-high 14.9 points per game, though his shooting efficiency has suffered as the amount of shots he attempts has surged.
Washington is hitting 35.4 percent of his threes this season, which is the worst accuracy of his career. He’s doing so on 5.6 attempts per game, a full shot above his previous most. He’s a 37 percent three-point shooter for his career.
Best suited as a role player on a contending team, Washington is a strong shot blocker and has not missed significant time this season with an injury. He’s set to become a restricted-free agent following the campaign.
If the Hornets decide to trade Washington – no guarantee, according to various rumors flying around – look for the Milwaukee Bucks or Golden State Warriors to get involved.
11. F Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings
This is not to say the Sacramento Kings will move Harrison Barnes. The team is angling toward ending a long postseason drought and Barnes could be a major factor in doing so. But Mike Brown’s team needs to keep one eye on the future, always.
Barnes is a seasoned veteran and a member of the league for a decade. He was an All-Rookie First Team performer in 2013 and a champion with the Golden State Warriors in 2015, but never reached the peak expected of the No. 7 overall pick in the draft.
The wing is not an elite three-point shooter, but he’s perfectly consistent from beyond the arc. He’s hitting 38.7 percent of his threes this season, which would actually be his lowest mark in three seasons. He’s a 38 percent three-point shooter for his career.
What’s good about Barnes is that he has the length and athleticism to contribute in ways beyond shooting. He’s not particularly turnover prone and he’s typically efficient from other parts of the field and the free-throw line, too.
Shortly after being traded to Sacramento from Dallas, Barnes signed a four-year, $85 million extension with the Kings. That extension expires at the end of this season, so he’s merely a rental.
While Barnes is important to the Kings, Keegan Murray is waiting in the wings. That makes him expendable for the continued retooling toward legitimate contention in Sacramento.
Some fun potential destinations bandied about in trade rumors include the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
10. C Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls
While he doesn’t fit the profile of a traditional shooter, Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic is good for a three-pointer or two each night. His ability to space the floor makes him a potentially dangerous weapon for a contending team.
The two-time All-Star is one of several significant trade chips the Bulls have. If the franchise decides to blow it all up and rebuild, Vucevic is one of the first who will be out the door, especially with unrestricted free agency on the horizon.
The 32-year-old is starting to see a small downturn in his counting stats, which is saying something about how good he’s been. He’s averaging 17.3 points and 11 rebounds per game, ranking toward the top of the league in total defensive rebounds.
Vucevic has improved from last year’s shooting struggles, hitting 36.5 percent of his threes this season. Considering he had no three-point shot to speak of at the beginning of his career, his 35 percent career percentage is rather impressive.
The eyeball test doesn’t do Vucevic many favors on the defensive end, but he’s serviceable enough on that end that it shouldn’t deter any suitors from pursuing the big man’s services.
A reunion with the Orlando Magic feels like a dream, but the trade deadline doesn’t seem like the time for it. The Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns appear to be more logical destinations for the center.
9. F Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to be buyers, not sellers. But Caris LeVert has become an expendable piece for a franchise that may be a big move away from an NBA Finals run, putting him squarely on the block.
It seemed like LeVert was going to play a big role for the Cavs this season, a veteran presence on a team full of young, talented players coming into their prime. Then Cleveland swung a trade for Donovan Mitchell.
Confined to a lesser role, LeVert is still playing as well as he can, all things considered. He has started roughly half his games this season, averaging 12.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
LeVert has never been an elite shooter, but he’s seen an uptick this season. He’s hitting 36.7 percent of his three-pointers, three percentage points above his career average.
While he’s not elite in any aspect, LeVert is a microwave scorer who can serve as a jack-of-all-trades off the bench for most contenders. He can also serve as an expiring contract, paid $18.8 million this year before hitting unrestricted free agency.
One interesting fit for LeVert would be the Dallas Mavericks; if LeVert is traded, it would be the third straight year that’s happened to him at the deadline.
8. G Mike Conley, Utah Jazz
The fact that Mike Conley is still playing at a high level at 35 years old is impressive in itself. The fact that he hasn’t lost his shooting touch a bit, meanwhile, should make him heavily desired on the market.
Conley is one of the most grizzled veterans in the NBA, playing in two of the league’s most underrated local markets in Utah and Memphis. It took him way too long to make an All-Star Game and every night, it feels like he’s making up for lost time.
Conley is knocking down 37.4 percent of his threes this season, slightly below his previous low with the Jazz, 37.5 percent. Still, that’s hovering around his career average of 38.1 percent.
Beyond his shooting, Conley still plays hard-nosed defense and remains exquisite in the pick and roll, seemingly aging like a fine wine every time that play comes down.
The veteran guard has another year remaining on his contract, but would be owed $14.3 million if he gets waived before then. If not, Conley’s contract would pay him $24.4 million next season.
Both of the teams based in Los Angeles appear to be interested in Conley, as do the Minnesota Timberwolves, who may have better odds to acquire the guard than either of the squads out in La La Land.
7. C Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers
Myles Turner does not profile as a traditional shooter, but the big man has the ability to pop one from deep and should be one of the best players available in a trade this month.
The center has been a member of the Indiana Pacers for a long time, but his unhappiness in Indiana has always become more clear over the years. Earlier this season, he went as far as arguing on behalf of a trade to the Lakers, a tantalizing possibility considering Anthony Davis’ injury woes.
Considering his unhappiness in Indiana, it seems likely the Pacers will try to move him before they lose him for nothing in the offseason. Turner’s skills critically include the ability to hit a three.
The big man is hitting 39.1 percent of his threes this season, easily the best mark of his career. Lest one thinks he’s only taking the occasional shot from deep, Turner is lining up nearly four three-pointers every night.
He’s a 35.4 percent three-point shooter for his career, but he also has abilities that go beyond shooting, including being a dynamite rim protector. He’s often one of the league’s leaders in blocks.
Turner is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and may be able to nab a lucrative deal leaving Indiana for the first time. A team that trades for him should prepare for the real possibility of losing him after the season.
The aforementioned Lakers remain a logical destination, as do the New York Knicks in light of Mitchell Robinson’s injury.
6. F Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz
Kelly Olynyk is a big man who can space the floor. The Utah Jazz already have one of those in Lauri Markkanen, making Olynyk expendable, even if the franchise wants to try and sneak into this year’s playoffs.
Olynyk has never been a particularly heralded player in the league and that remains true this season, arguably his best in the league. Considering he’s already 31 years old, however, he simply doesn’t have a future in Salt Lake City.
The big man, who is currently sidelined by an ankle injury, is averaging 12.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He hasn’t come off the bench a single time this season, which would be a first for his career if he keeps it up.
Olynyk has always been a good floor spacer, hitting 36.8 percent of his threes over the course of his career. Twice, he’s even shot over 40 percent. He’s on a different level this year, though, knocking them down at a 41.3 percent rate, the best of his career. Olynyk also ranks highly this season in true shooting percentage.
The veteran big man is on a manageable contract. He’s owed $12.8 million this year and $12.1 million next year, the latter non-guaranteed.
There’s been some noise about Olynyk returning to the Miami Heat, who he played for as recently as two years ago. Other suitors for his services may include the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.
5. G Malik Beasley, Utah Jazz
Yes, the Utah Jazz have approximately 46 players they can move at the deadline. If the team wants to lean into a rebuild hard, they should try to move every one of them, beginning with Malik Beasley.
The 26-year-old was one of the assets that came over from Minnesota in the Rudy Gobert trade. Last year, Beasley set two three-point records with the Timberwolves. On March 5, he set the team’s single-season record for threes, and on March 9 he set the franchise record with 11 three-point makes in a single game.
His shooting hasn’t been as strong this season, but he’s still pushing for a spot in the Three-Point Contest during the All-Star Weekend festivities. Beasley is hitting 35.9 percent of his threes, below his 38.1 percent career average.
Beasley’s defense has been disappointing, but he’s very good at taking care of the ball, boasting one of the best turnover percentages in the league for two years running.
Beasley could be under team control beyond this season, as he has a $16.5 million team option for next season. If he shoots well and plays defense, that option is likely to be picked up if someone picks him up from the trade block.
The New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers both seem like potential destinations for Beasley if he gets traded. One under-the-radar team to be on the lookout for the Atlanta Hawks.
4. G Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
For a minute, the Indiana Pacers caught the NBA off guard. But reality has started catching up to the franchise and they’re ready to assume their expected role as a seller at the deadline, beginning with Buddy Hield.
Hield may be one of the best sharpshooters in the entire league. That was evident when he memorably hit a three-pointer only three seconds into a game earlier this season.
https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1608619612777713667
This season, Hield is draining 42.7 percent of his three-point attempts, the first time he’s been above 40 percent in several years. He’s attempting nine three-pointers per game and averaging 17.7 points per contest. He’s finished top 10 in three-point percentage twice in his career for a season and ranks 11th this year.
The combination of proficiency and attempts has made the 30-year-old the NBA’s leader in three-point makes for the season. Remarkably, he is 31st all-time in the metric.
Hield came to Indiana last year in the deal that also brought budding superstar Tyrese Haliburton to town. Hield is on a four-year, $86 million contract, which is not due to expire until the end of next season.
Again, some of the teams looking for shooters include the Mavs and the Knicks. Another intriguing landing spot for Hield sends him back to the state of California and to the Pacific Division, but as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
3. F Alec Burks, Detroit Pistons
Three-point shooting is an underrated aspect of Alec Burks’ game. As the Detroit Pistons eye a fire sale, that could land Burks with a contender.
Burks missed the start of the season, but he’s been a highly efficient player since then. In fact, he’s never posted a better effective field goal percentage in his entire career than what he’s putting up right now.
Despite coming off the bench almost exclusively, Burks is averaging 13.5 points per game, his best scoring average in years. He’s scoring in bunches in large part due to his ability to drain threes consistently.
Burks is knocking down an insane 44.4 percent of his three-pointers this season. That’s not on a tiny amount of attempts, either, as he’s chucking up 4.3 per game. For his career, Burks is a 38.5 percent three-point shooter.
The 31-year-old is on a team-friendly contract. He has a $10.5 million team option for next season. If things work out, he doesn’t cost much – if not, decline the option.
Burks is worth a mid-level prospect and a second-round pick, maybe even a first-round pick for a desperate team. The Los Angeles Lakers seem like an obvious fit, but a sneaky team to keep an eye on is the Brooklyn Nets.
2. G Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors
Gary Trent Jr. is an underrated, well-rounded player with a shooting touch and the ability to play the passing lanes. Even better for a team interested in improving at the deadline? Trent is only 24 years old.
Now it’s not entirely clear what the Toronto Raptors are going to do at the deadline. The team is under-performing, but they still seemed to be stacked with plenty of young to young-ish talent, including Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby (who would rank high on this list if he was more definitively on the block.) They may not be ready to throw in the towel with their current core.
Masai Ujiri could command a lot in a trade of Trent, though. The young guard is among the league’s best in a number of categories, including steals, steal percentage, and turnover percentage, the latter of which he’s on pace to lead the league in for the second time.
Importantly, Trent can also shoot. Last season, finished 17th in three-point makes (though he also finished 20th in three-point attempts). In 2019-20, his 41.8 percent three-point shooting ranked ninth in the league.
This season hasn’t been Trent’s best from beyond the arc. He’s hitting 36.8 percent of his threes, below his career average of 38.5 percent. Still, in fewer starts and playing time than a year ago, Trent is averaging a career-high 18.6 points per game.
Trent does have a player option for next season, which could see his salary rise from $17.5 million to $18.8 million. He can probably get more on the open market, though, so he may prove to be a rental unless he really likes where he plays the latter part of the season.
The Milwaukee Bucks should be all-in on Trent. A couple of more sneaky destinations include the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers.
1. F Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons
Bojan Bogdanovic is probably the best pure shooter on the market. Anybody wanting the Detroit Pistons sharpshooter is likely to need to pay a hefty price.
The wing was acquired prior to this season from the Utah Jazz with the primary intent of being leveraged as a trade chip down the line unless the Pistons made a big leap forward this season. That hasn’t happened, so trade partners are jockeying for positions.
Bogdanovic has always been an elite shooter, but he’s taking it to another level at 33 years old. He’s making 41.7 percent of his threes, his best accuracy in three years and well above his career average of 39.4 percent.
The wing is particularly dangerous from the corner. Less than 30 percent of his attempts come from there, but he’s knocking them down at a 43.8 percent rate.
His contract is relatively team-friendly after agreeing to an extension shortly after the trade. Bogdanovic is due to make $20 million next year and only has a partial guarantee for the following season.
There will be no shortage of suitors interested in the Bosnian. The Lakers may still want another upgrade at wing following the acquisition of Rui Hachimura. The Cavs could use more wing shooting if the Pistons are willing to stay in the division. The Bucks have also been rumored to be interested.