With any NBA season, there’s only one guarantee: We’ll see massive trades that move stars from one franchise to another and instantly change the league’s landscape.
This season likely won’t see a deal as shocking as the move that sent Luka Dončić from the Mavericks to the Lakers at last year’s trade deadline because, well, we probably never will. Nevertheless, stars want out for a winning situation all the time in the NBA and their teams are incentivized to move them to clear salary from the books and gain some shiny draft picks in the process.
The NBA’s trade deadline on Feb. 5 is months away, but we continue to hear rumors of potential trade targets due to poor starts. Struggling teams are looking to move stars with large contracts and targeting the NBA draft to begin a rebuild around young pieces they may already have in place. One of those rumors hit Thursday, with a report from Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko that Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball wouldn’t mind being traded.
Next. NBA Teams One Move Away. NBA Teams Who Are Just One Move Away From Being a Finals Threat. dark
Ball quickly dispelled that rumor, but who knows how he feels behind closed doors, just like many stars across the league.
With the NBA’s trade season quickly approaching, let’s take a look at four star players who could be on the move and potential teams that might be interested, whether that’s making a win-now move or absorbing a large contract in exchange for assets:
It’s no secret, the Jazz don’t have playoff aspirations this year. Star forward Lauri Markkanen is, by far, Utah’s best asset on the trade market that could net them a massive haul comprised of intriguing young players, draft capital and expiring contracts.
The 28-year-old began a massive four-year, $195.8 million contract extension this season, which ties Markkanen to any acquiring team for three more seasons after this year as a potential building block for the future. That means any team would have to be comfortable paying his massive salary through the 2028-29 season, but he could be the final piece for a team looking to compete for a title as early as this season.
Through 14 games, he’s averaging a whopping 30.6 points per game while shooting 38.5% on three-pointers on 9.6 attempts per game.
Potential trade suitors: Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers
Debatably the most obvious team looking to trade veteran stars, the Mavs should go all in on the Cooper Flagg era after parting ways with former general manager Nico Harrison. Anthony Davis has two years left on his contract after this season, including a ginormous $62.8 million player option in 2027-28.
The Mavs should look to get as many draft assets and expiring contracts as possible for Davis, who has played just five games thus far in his 14th NBA season. A potential trade return for the star big man may not be flashy when you consider his contract, but Dallas’s main priority should be finding financial flexibility in future seasons to fully build around Flagg.
Potential trade suitors: Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
Ja Morant’s displeasure with the Grizzlies’ coaching staff has been clear to start the season. Memphis’s star guard received a one-game suspension for his public comments that challenged coach Tuomas Iisalo earlier this month.
He returned to action, but is currently nursing a right calf strain and will be re-evaluated at the start of December. The seemingly fractured relationship between player and organization could lead to a Morant trade as the Grizzlies are off to a dreadful start in a stacked Western Conference. Through 12 appearances, he’s averaging 17.9 points and 7.6 assists per game. Even if there may be some baggage and injury concerns, bringing in a star like Morant could entice some rival teams that hope to make a title push, while the Grizzlies could rebuild after they dealt Desmond Bane over the offseason.
Potential trade suitors: Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks
Another Western Conference basement dweller who could go all in on a rebuild, the Kings could deal their high-earning veterans to gain financial flexibility as they look ahead. Domantas Sabonis should return the most value on the trade market, although the major win would be clearing the $45-plus million salary from Sacramento’s books over the next two seasons.
A potential Sabonis trade may have gotten more tricky with the news of his partially torn left meniscus, which will cause him to miss three-to-four weeks. Nevertheless, the three-time All-Star and the NBA’s rebounding leader in the past three seasons should garner interest during trade season for a team looking to add a star.
Potential trade suitors: Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons
More NBA on Sports Illustrated
SIGN UP NOW. SI NBA Newsletter. Get SI’s FREE NBA Newsletter. dark
