With the 2021 NBA season in full swing, we’re starting to get a glimpse at which teams will be the ones competing for the title. And while many questions remain about how things will play out, things could easily change.
In regards to the trade market, at least three franchises have been described as “sleepers” to make a big splash: the Pelicans, Knicks, and Heat. With a single trade for James Harden, Bradley Beal, or another big-name player, any of those squads are capable of making a lot of noise.
“There could also be a few teams flying under the radar who can put themselves in a superstar sweepstakes,” O’Connor wrote. “This weekend, I asked 14 front office executives which teams come to mind as a sleeper for a blockbuster deal. Six of the executives responded with the Pelicans; three said the Heat; two said the Knicks; and the Mavericks, [Denver] Nuggets, and [San Antonio] Spurs each got one vote.”
Could Bradley Beal end up the next star traded, not James Harden?
New @ringer story breaking down the state of blockbuster trade possibilities, whether the Rockets can be good enough to keep Harden happy, and if Beal and the Wizards can save their season: https://t.co/IqIfS3KeHA
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) January 11, 2021
The Knickerbockers have been pretty surprising so far, being competitive in their early games and getting off to a hot start. With many of the trade value of their players rising, now might be the best time for them to make a move.
In New Orleans, the Pelicans haven’t had the start they’d hoped. 4-5 in the West, the Pels might eventually feel the pressure to change something if things keep progressing as they are.
Αnd, finally, Miami. Perhaps the most ambitious of these teams, it has already been reported that the Heat have their eyes set on James Harden or Bradley Beal, and it seems likely they’re going to make a run at one of them before too long.
No matter what happens in the days and weeks to come, it will be interesting to see how everything plays out in the end and which team is the first to make a major move.
