16 Players that will likely change teams by the NBA trade deadline

Nearly 50 games into the NBA season, fans and front offices should have a good idea of where their teams stand, especially with the trade deadline looming. The deadline presents teams with their last chance to significantly improve their team ahead of the stretch run.

However, with the standings tightly packed, teams that might otherwise be sellers at the deadline might decide to stand pat, while others will look to break away from the pack with a midseason trade. Meanwhile, the few teams that are already out of the playoff race may look to solidify their spot in the NBA draft lottery by moving some of their best players.

That could make for an interesting trade deadline where a few teams hold most of the desired players, possibly leading to multiple bidding wars and a record exchange of draft picks. Every trade deadline is unpredictable, and this year will be no different. That being said, there are more than a few players who seem likely to change teams. Here are the 13 players most likely to change teams at this year’s NBA trade deadline.

16. Serge Ibaka, Milwaukee Bucks

We already know that veteran center Serge Ibaka and his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, are working to find him a new team, taking some of the mystery out of whether he’ll be traded or not. Still, we don’t yet know who will trade for him, though the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets have both been mentioned as possible landing spots.

Whether he has enough left in the tank remains to be seen, considering that he’s 33 years old—or older, depending on who you believe. Still, there are quite a few playoff teams that could use backup center help, and it makes sense that the Clippers and Nets would be interested for that reason, as should the Miami Heat.

That being said, Ibaka has only appeared in 16 games this season, and teams may not be willing to give up much for him. In fact, he may even be included as salary filler in a Bucks deal with the Phoenix Suns for Jae Crowder. Considering that they already have a solid center rotation, Ibaka may find himself in a similar situation on a new team.

15. Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder has yet to play thus far this season as his team continues to work out a trade. Fortunately, for all involved, it seems that there is an end in sight. February 9th trade deadline aside, it appears that the Milwaukee Bucks have reemerged as a potential trade partner.

So much so that the Suns have granted the team permission to speak directly with Crowder. That’s something that teams don’t normally do unless a trade is close. Other teams have registered interest, including the Miami Heat. However, the Heat may instead pursue other trade options, leaving the Bucks as the most serious suitor for Crowder at the moment.

The Suns could always pursue a larger trade and try to use Crowder’s expiring contract to help make that happen (more on that later). If a larger trade does not materialize, a deal for Crowder could include a potential third team such as the Charlotte Hornets. Still, based on everything that’s come out thus far, Crowder appears likely to be a Buck once the trade deadline dust settles.

14. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors

I previously included OG Anunoby on a list of wildcard trade candidates, but it seems increasingly likely that he’ll be dealt. After all, the Raptors have seemingly made it clear that they would want at least three first-round picks, and several teams have that to offer.

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The Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Memphis Grizzlies are all flush with draft picks, and the Suns and Knicks have been directly linked to Toronto according to Shams Charania.

Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was recently seen meeting with Suns GM James Jones, but that could be for a separate deal involving the two teams.

Meanwhile, the Raptors have been aggressively pursuing a Spurs player, and the rebuilding Spurs could theoretically work Anunoby into a possible deal.

As of now, there doesn’t appear to be a frontrunner to land Anunoby, but if the Raptors are willing to provide teams with an asking price, that means that he is available. Additionally, several teams have compiled enough picks to make an all-in type of deal at the trade deadline, and Anunoby could be at the top of their list.

13. Mike Conley, Utah Jazz

With word that the Utah Jazz are open to trading most of their players ahead of the trade deadline, point guard Mike Conley’s chances of being moved appear to have dramatically increased. Conley has been a key part of the Jazz’s surprising play this season, but the team now finds itself in a tough spot.

As is, they probably won’t make the play-in tournament or the playoffs, and they are also out of top-five pick territory. That means no Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson for the Jazz. Still, they have several valuable veterans, Conley included and could continue to stockpile picks by dealing those players.

Teams such as the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers desperately need a point guard who can create, and each could take a look at Conley. He does have a big expiring contract, and if the Jazz are willing to take back contracts for beyond next season, they could find a team willing to give up a first-round pick to land Conley. There are ultimately bigger-name players on this list, but were he to be traded, Conley could make a fairly big impact on a playoff team.

12. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

This might be the year that Atlanta Hawks power forward John Collins is actually traded. He has frequently appeared in trade rumors for several years now, and there are still more than a few teams that are interested in landing him ahead of the deadline. So far, the Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks have been linked to him according to Bleacher Reports Eric Pincus.

Trading for Collins is a big risk since he is in the midst of a down season and still has four years and $76 million remaining on his contract. On the other hand, Collins has proven that he can be a 20-and-10 player, and a team could acquire him when his value is at its lowest point. The hope is that he’ll do much better in a new environment, and that very well could be the case.

Considering the Hawks are probably very motivated to get off Collins’ expensive contract, there is a very good chance that Collins will be wearing a different jersey going forward after the February 9th deadline.

11. Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers

Much like with Atlanta Hawks power forward John Collins, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has frequently been mentioned in trade rumors going back several years. This year feels different, however, even with Turner just recently signing a two-year contract extension worth $60 million.

That would prevent him from leaving this summer, and the Pacers were smart to use most of their leftover cap space to boost his salary for this season. Doing so means that they’ll only pay him around $20 million per season for the next two years.

Despite that, Turner is still eligible to be traded by February 9. While he could just as easily stay in Indiana, they just made their best asset even more desirable by ensuring that whatever team acquires him has him locked up under contract until the summer of 2025. There are several teams that are interested in him, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers and Pacers previously discussed a deal for Turner that included Buddy Hield for Russell Westbrook, but the Lakers declined to trade their two future first-round picks. The Pacers could always lower their trade demands for the Lakers in hopes of getting them back to the table, or perhaps the Lakers will decide the asking price is worth it now.

Turner should be worth at least one good first-round pick, or for a contender, two. That assumes that the Pacers are willing to take back bad or long-term contracts to help make it worth it. If they are, then Turner could still be traded before the deadline.

10. Cam Reddish, New York Knicks

Following the Washington Wizards’ trade of former top-10 pick Rui Hachimura to the Lakers, it seems as though fellow recent top-10 pick Cam Reddish could be next. Reddish has been on the trading block for most of the season, but the New York Knicks have yet to pull the trigger on a deal. They have no shortage of teams interested in Reddish, and their asking price seems to be two second-round picks, which seems fair.

Still, not every second-round pick is created equally. Receiving a second from a team that is currently good means that their picks could fall in the 45–60 range, where there is a significant talent dropoff. On the other hand, receiving a second from a team that is currently bad or middling means that their picks could fall in the 30–45 range where there are often still good players available.

The Knicks are probably taking that into account when fielding offers for Reddish, but the asking price is so low that one team is bound to meet or exceed their demands. Based on that, I think it’s only a matter of time before Reddish is moved, but it’s really anyone’s guess as to where, given the sheer number of teams that have been linked to him.

9. Josh Richardson, San Antonio Spurs

Although teammate Jakob Poeltl has drawn plenty of interest, the San Antonio Spurs also have another valuable asset in Josh Richardson. Richardson has drawn interest from a few teams, including the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, and could be valuable to a playoff team given his shooting and defense.

He is also on an affordable expiring contract, making it easier for contending teams to trade for him. In fact, he could be paired with Poeltl in potential deals, including one to the Lakers for Russell Westbrook.

Of the soon-to-be free agents on this list, he’s one that I could easily see staying put beyond the trade deadline. After all, he’s emerged as a leader of the young, rebuilding Spurs, and that does hold particular value, especially on a team that’s on pace to lose 60 games this season.

Still, if a team is offering a first-round pick for Richardson, who is unlikely to stay in San Antonio beyond this season, then the Spurs would almost have to take such a deal. It seems that there will be and have been comparable offers, but the Spurs are probably still weighing their options, waiting to ensure that they’ll get the best deal.

8. Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

This season, Kyle Lowry has significantly underperformed his almost $30 million contract. Worse yet, he is under contract for next season for a similar amount and will be 37 years old. As a result,  the Heat could look to offload his contract while improving their roster. After all, they always seem to have a knack for doing so.

While the Heat have been linked to several players, the most likely trade target appears to be D’Angelo Russell of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Russell doesn’t appear likely to re-sign with the Wolves, and they could look to trade him rather than risk losing him for nothing. Considering the Timberwolves would need a replacement point guard, Lowry could fit the bill.

While Lowry is overpaid, he can still be a key contributor to a team. However, the Heat need to upgrade their roster to keep pace in an absolutely stacked Eastern Conference, and moving on from Lowry gives them their best chance to do that. Thus, I expect Lowry to be traded by the deadline.

7. D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves

Both D’Angelo Russell and the Minnesota Timberwolves have begun to improve their seasons after a slow start. Nonetheless, with Russell’s impending free agency, the Timberwolves appear doubtful to re-sign him due to cost concerns. Part of that can be chalked up to the disastrous Rudy Gobert trade, where the team overpaid for the privilege of paying him nearly $40 million a year through 2026.

Add in all-star Karl-Anthony Towns’ being owed at least $30 million per season and Anthony Edwards’ upcoming contract extension, and Russell is the financial odd man out.

However, Minnesota can’t afford to let him leave in free agency for nothing, and it seems likely that they will move him to try and get something of value for Russell. The Wolves have struggled with shot creation this season, and with point guards such as Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, and even all-star Fred Van Vleet available, the Timberwolves will have options.

Even if Russell isn’t moved by the deadline, the Wolves could still theoretically trade him in the offseason in a sign-and-trade, but it could result in fewer assets. Ultimately, if he is traded, it will likely be before the deadline.

6. Fred Van Vleet, Toronto Raptors

All-Star guard Fred Van Vleet could soon have a new team, one way or another. With Van Vleet set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer, he is looking for a payday. In fact, Van Vleet is reportedly looking for a contract in the $130 million range.

The Raptors don’t appear willing to make such an offer to Van Vleet, so, as a result, they could look to trade him prior to the trade deadline for assets to avoid losing him for nothing.

There are several teams that could be interested in making a deal, including the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Miami Heat. The Heat and Timberwolves are in the market for an upgrade at point guard and could be especially motivated to make a deal.

Meanwhile, the Suns may be trying to secure Chris Paul’s eventual replacement before he retires and have several expiring contracts in Dario Saric, Jae Crowder, and Landry Shamet that could be used to match his $21.2 million salary in a trade, as well as all of their first-round picks. With several teams in pursuit of Van Vleet, the odds seem fairly high that he’ll get traded.

5. Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio Spurs

Soon to be unrestricted free agent Jakob Poeltl is one of the best centers available ahead of the trade deadline. That said, the San Antonio Spurs appear reluctant to move him unless they receive two lightly protected first-round picks.

That would normally seem like an outlandish asking price for a non-all-star center, but Poeltl seemingly has a lot of fans in opposing teams’ front offices, leading to a lot of interest. In fact, the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks have all been linked to Poeltl.

However, the Raptors and Celtics are the most serious suitors, and the Spurs could leverage their offers against each other to ensure they get their asking price in the deal. Or, another team, i.e., the Lakers, could potentially swoop in and acquire Poeltl as part of a larger deal.

No matter what, based on the number of teams looking to acquire Poeltl, it seems all but guaranteed that he’ll be on a new team after the trade deadline. The only question is which team will land Poeltl.

4. Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic is still available despite being on the trade block for three months. The Pistons are no doubt still fielding offers for the veteran sharpshooter, and quite a few teams have expressed interest in trading for him. The asking price appears to be at least a first-round selection.

Finding himself on the trading block must be ironic for Bogdanovic. After all, he was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Pistons in the aftermath of the Rudy Gobert deal. In acquiring Bogdanovic, the plan was for him to help a young team with a lot of talent make a playoff push. Of course, that did not happen, and the Pistons are now abysmal. In fact, they have the second-worst record in the NBA at the moment and are on pace to win just 20 games this season.

With Detroit in the mix to land the number one pick in the 2023 NBA draft, keeping a player that can help them win is obviously a bad thing. As a result, Bogdanovic is all but guaranteed to be traded, though to whom remains a mystery.

3. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid likely ranks as one of the better backup centers in the NBA. He proved as much earlier this season when he was tasked with replacing all-star Karl-Anthony Towns in the starting lineup. In seven starts, he averaged 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds on 59% true shooting, suggesting that he could be a productive starter elsewhere in the NBA. With the Timberwolves cash-strapped thanks to the Rudy Gobert and Karl Towns deals plus the upcoming Anthony Edwards extension, they aren’t expected to retain Reid in free agency.

That opens the door for another team to make an offer for him ahead of the trade deadline and have his Bird Rights, making it easier for an over-the-cap team to re-sign him. Several teams are desperate for a backup center, including the Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Clippers.

All three teams are currently over the salary cap and project to be so next season too. Considering Reid’s cheap $1.9 million contract, it makes trading for him much easier, assuming they have the assets. Then again, a rebuilding team in need of a young center upgrade could join the fray and look to acquire him. Whether it’s a contender or a rebuilding team, the Wolves should have plenty of teams interested in Reid and may ultimately move him.

2. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers

Despite Russell Westbrook embracing his role off the bench and playing well in that role, he could still be moved ahead of the deadline. At this point, a Westbrook trade is more about his $48 million expiring contract and how it can be potentially used to improve the Lakers’ roster as they make their postseason push. Of course, by moving Westbrook, it likely

means that they would be moving at least one of their future first-round picks, and it’s still unclear whether they will.

If they do, the most obvious trade appears to be a hypothetical deal with San Antonio in which they swap Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks for Jakob Poeltl, Doug McDermott, and Josh Richardson. That could boost their playoff chances, though it could hurt them in the long run.

Pretty much any Westbrook deal will likely come with that tradeoff, which makes his being traded appear to be a 50-50 proposition. Still, after trading for Hachimura, it seems that that was only the appetizer for a bigger Lakers move, and dealing Westbrook would certainly be a full-course move. However, it may not sit well with them in the long run.

1. Patrick Beverley

Unlike Russell Westbrook, the decision to trade Patrick Beverley appears to be more clear-cut. Beverley hasn’t lived up to expectations this season after he was acquired from the Utah Jazz last summer. With Beverley’s $13 million contract expiring, he is a prime trade candidate for the Lakers.

Swapping Beverley out for a good rotation player or even a starting-caliber player would be huge for the Lakers. After all, when fully healthy, they already have a decent rotation led by their two superstars. Thus, adding another player to the mix could be the tipping point that unlocks the Lakers’ potential. Much like with a potential Westbrook deal, they will have to weigh trading a future first-round pick against that.

Given their limit on the salary they can take back in a Beverley deal, they can get away with moving just one of their remaining picks. But would they get enough of an upgrade to justify trading a pick in the first place? Maybe. For example, a deal involving Beverley and their 2027 first for Bojan Bogdanovic could be a possibility.

By trading Beverley instead of Westbrook, the Lakers would be choosing a more minor deal over a bigger and more impactful one. Then again, to their credit, perhaps the Lakers don’t need a big trade.