The February 6th trade deadline is fast approaching, and the NBA rumor mill is in overdrive. Amid the chaos of title contenders looking to improve their teams, some trade scenarios have captivated fans and analysts alike, but not all of them are grounded in reality. While they make for great discussion, certain deals face too many obstacles.
We’ve taken a closer look at six of the most unlikely trades that have been tossed around in recent days. From Zach LaVine joining former NBA champs to Jimmy Butler heading to Milwaukee, these hypothetical moves are fun to imagine but highly improbable for a variety of reasons. Let’s break down each one.
Jimmy Butler To The Milwaukee Bucks
Proposed Trade Details
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Jimmy Butler
Miami Heat Receive: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., 2031 First-Round Pick (MIL), 2031 Second-Round Pick (MIL)
Jimmy Butler joining the Milwaukee Bucks would be a dream pairing for fans of elite two-way basketball, but the likelihood of this trade happening is slim to none. Butler has been suspended indefinitely by the Miami Heat and even if the franchise is open to trading their star, it won’t mean accepting a deal centered around Khris Middleton. As far as the Heat are concerned, they can keep suspending Butler and keeping his salary throughout the rest of the season if there isn’t an offer they like.
Butler is averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists this season but his apparent lack of professionalism has been evident. Would the Bucks want to go all-in for a player who might clash with Giannis Antetokounmpo? Meanwhile, the Bucks might not even be in the race if Butler is still fully focused on going to the Phoenix Suns more than any other team.
Even if Butler becomes interested in playing in Milwaukee, players like Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr, and Middleton might need to be included to match salaries, leaving Milwaukee with a top-heavy roster that could struggle against deeper teams like the Celtics, Thunder, or Nuggets.
From Miami’s perspective, trading Butler just for the sake of it doesn’t make sense. While the Heat have struggled this season with the drama surrounding them, they remain competitive in the Eastern Conference and are unlikely to trade their franchise player unless they receive an appropriate haul in return.
De’Aaron Fox To The Houston Rockets
Proposed Trade Details
Houston Rockets Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Keon Ellis
Sacramento Kings Receive: Reed Sheppard, Dillon Brooks, Cam Whitmore, 2025 First-Round Pick (OKC/PHX), 2027 First-Round Pick (PHX), 2028 First-Round Pick (HOU), 2029 First-Round Pick (DAL/PHX)
De’Aaron Fox is a bonafide star for the Sacramento Kings, posting 25.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. His speed, playmaking, and ability to close out games make him one of the league’s most exciting point guards. However, the idea of Fox joining the Houston Rockets before the February 6th trade deadline is highly improbable, given the Kings’ improved play since the firing of head coach Mike Brown and the hiring of Doug Christie.
The Rockets are undoubtedly an enticing trade partner, boasting a treasure trove of young talent and draft capital. However, Houston has shown faith in their current core of Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun. Trading for Fox would likely require sacrificing one of them or multiple first-round picks if the point guard is to leave this season, and that will be a no-go for the Rockets.
From Sacramento’s perspective, there is still a high possibility that Fox will leave the Kings because the point guard will likely not sign an extension with the franchise and a downturn of play would lead to some changes. However, before the trade deadline, a deal for Fox likely won’t happen because the Kings are only 3.0 games behind a top-six seed.
Zach LaVine To The Denver Nuggets
Proposed Trade Details
Denver Nuggets Receive: Zach LaVine, Julian Phillips, 2028 First-Round Pick (CHI)
Chicago Bulls Receive: Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji
The idea of Zach LaVine joining the Denver Nuggets would shake up the Western Conference a little bit, but it’s unlikely to happen for several reasons including fit and style of play. LaVine is averaging 24.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season while shooting an impressive 51.2% from the field and 44.4% from deep.
On paper, he would provide Denver with an elite scoring threat alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, but the Nuggets are already a top-three offense in the league, scoring 120.6 points per game. Adding LaVine would be overkill offensively while likely dismantling their depth and defensive identity.
The financial logistics of acquiring LaVine are another major roadblock. His $43.0 million salary this season and $46.0 million next season would require Denver to part with Michael Porter Jr. to make the numbers work. Such a trade would leave the Nuggets thin defensively, where they already rank 24th in defensive rating. Losing Porter Jr. for simply another scorer doesn’t align with Denver’s needs right now.
Additionally, the Chicago Bulls may not be eager to trade LaVine without receiving a substantial haul in return. With LaVine under contract through 2025-26, the Bulls can afford to wait for a better offer rather than settling for a package that compromises Denver’s depth but doesn’t bring enough young talent or picks to Chicago.
Nikola Vucevic To The Golden State Warriors
Proposed Trade Details
Golden State Warriors Receive: Nikola Vucevic
Chicago Bulls Receive: Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, Moses Moody, 2026 Second-Round Pick (ATL), 2028 Second-Round Pick (ATL)
Nikola Vucevic joining the Golden State Warriors seems like an intriguing way to bolster their frontcourt, but it’s a move that’s unlikely to materialize. Vucevic, who is averaging 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists this season, would provide Golden State with much-needed size as they lack size outside of Kevon Looney. However, his $20 million salary this season and $21.5 million next season pose a challenge for the Warriors, who might not want to pay this much for a 34-year-old.
Golden State would have to part with key contributors like Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, and Moses Moody to match salaries, and such a move would severely disrupt their rotation. Trading him for Vucevic, who struggles defensively, could create more problems than it solves.
Most importantly, the Warriors seemingly do not want to meet the asking price for Vucevic. The Bulls want a first-round pick but the Warriors only want to offer second-round picks, meaning this deal will likely die. While Vucevic’s skill set is valuable, Golden State would likely prioritize a more athletic or defensively versatile big man if they were to make a trade involving a first-round pick.
Herb Jones To The Dallas Mavericks
Potential Trade Details
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Herbert Jones
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Maxi Kleber, Jaden Hardy, 2031 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2025 Second-Round Pick (DAL)
Herb Jones has established himself as one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders over the past two seasons, averaging 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 steals this season. His ability to guard multiple positions and make hustle plays would undoubtedly elevate the Dallas Mavericks’ defense, which ranks 11th in the league. However, the idea of Jones leaving the Pelicans for Dallas before the trade deadline is highly improbable even if the Mavericks are pushing for the trade to get done.
The Mavericks, while desperate for defensive upgrades, lack the assets to pry Jones away from New Orleans. Their trade capital is limited, and they would likely need to include future first-round picks or promising young players like Josh Green or Jaden Hardy to even get the Pelicans to listen. Given Jones’ affordable contract (earning $13.0 million this season) and his age (26), the Pelicans have little motivation to part ways with him unless they’re blown away by an offer.
For the Pelicans, Jones represents the kind of player who the franchise can build around as they look to move on from Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. His defensive prowess allows the team to mask deficiencies elsewhere, and his improving three-point shot (career 36.6%) has made him an increasingly valuable two-way player.
Moving Jones would be a step backward for New Orleans, especially as they aim to rebuild and the Pelicans would rather focus their efforts on moving Williamson and Ingram instead of their young assets with potential.
Lonzo Ball To The Los Angeles Lakers
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Lonzo Ball
Chicago Bulls Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
The notion of Lonzo Ball returning to the Los Angeles Lakers might warm the hearts of nostalgic fans, but it’s an idea rooted more in sentimentality than practicality. Ball, who has not played since 2022 due to knee injuries, likely won’t be returning to the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in the 2017 Draft.
While his court vision would theoretically complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis, his availability remains a significant concern. Even if Ball were healthy, the Lakers’ current cap situation makes a trade highly unlikely and they could be better off waiting until Ball becomes a free agent after this season.
Ball is owed $21.4 million this season, and the Lakers would need to send out contracts like Rui Hachimura to match salaries and convince the Bulls to accept the offer. That isn’t ideal for the Lakers, and a package including Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent probably won’t be enough for the Bulls to accept either.
The Chicago Bulls also have little incentive to trade Ball for a sub-optimal package at this point, even if his value isn’t too high due to his injury history. The Lakers, meanwhile, would likely prioritize more reliable options to bolster their roster rather than gambling on a player (by including Rui Hachimura) who hasn’t seen the court in over two years.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
