Even though there was a major buzz in the league this season regarding potential blockbuster trades, the trade deadline went pretty much quietly, and other than the Marc Gasol and the Kristaps Porzingis moves, there weren’t many surprises.
Still, there are several players that have been linked with a potential trade out of their respective teams, but the franchises still need a bit more time to put together a better offer in order to make the most of their assets.
So, even if a handful of these guys managed to stay put in their teams throughout this entire campaign, we’d still expect them to be moved in the offseason. Today, we’re going to let you know everything about it.
10. Hassan Whiteside
The Miami Heat were actively shopping Hasan Whiteside around the league for most of the season, but his contract, attitude problems, and proneness to get hurt made him a tough guy to move.
Even so, with Erik Spoelstra leaning towards Bam Adebayo as his big man for the future, we’d expect the Heat to try and move him as soon as they can, with the Washington Wizards as a possible destination.
9. Andrew Wiggins
The Minnesota Timberwolves warned Andrew Wiggins that time was running out for him and that he needed to step up and live up to the huge deal he signed with them or he’d be moved otherwise.
Needless to say, Wiggins has been a major disappointment so far for everybody, but there’s still a chance a desperate team could pursue him for his upside. If the Toronto Raptors strike on Kawhi Leonard, I’d keep an eye on them. Also, he might as well go full-circle and be traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
8. Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson hasn’t been what the Detroit Pistons expected when they gave him a shot, and he has failed to step up and improve and prove that he’s worthy of being a starting point guard in this league.
Even so, the point guard market is quite short right now and there are teams desperately craving a guy that could pull the strings of the offense, with the Orlando Magic and Phoenix Suns at the top of that list.
7. Aaron Gordon
While Aaron Gordon is not the superstar we all expected him to be, he’s still quite a solid defender and an explosive scorer that needs to be put in the right situation to thrive, and the Orlando Magic know it.
The Magic seem committed to Jonathan Isaac for the future so that means Gordon may be shipped. Also, he was allegedly being shopped prior to the trade deadline, with the Portland Trail Blazers high on him.
6. Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball was almost on his way out of the Los Angeles Lakers this season when the team was keen and determined to get Anthony Davis, with him and his father stating that he didn’t want to play for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Moreover, they said the Phoenix Suns were a perfect fit for him and that they were going to “speak it into existence”, so that move may still be in the table. The Suns really need a point guard and a tough defender, and Devin Booker needs a better team, so that’s a win-win scenario.
5. Kevin Love
Kevin Love signed a huge contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers right when LeBron James packed his bags and left, but we all expected them to try and trade their All-Star power forward at some point of the season.
While he wasn’t dealt this year due to injury concern, there’s just no way they keep him for the future unless they land Zion Williamson in the Draft and enter win-now mode. Otherwise, he could be sent back to Minnesota for Andrew Wiggins.
4. Mike Conley
The Memphis Grizzlies finally faced facts and dealt with reality by trading away Marc Gasol, but they couldn’t do the same with Mike Conley Jr and his huge contract. Still, he’s a lock to be dealt this offseason.
The Grizzlies and the Jazz discussed a Rubio-Conley swap but the point guard didn’t want to play in Utah and rathered be sent to the Eastern Conference. However, we expect Memphis to engage back in those talks in the summer.
3. Danilo Gallinari
Danilo Gallinari has had a great season and somehow has managed to stay healthy, so the Los Angeles Clippers need to sell high on him right now before he gets injured in no time like he always does.
Gallinari is a great scorer and his length make him a perfect fit at both forward spots, but with the Clippers trying to offer two max deals in the summer, they better move him to clear some cap space.
2. Jayson Tatum
According to reports, the New Orleans Pelicans are asking for all trade offers for Anthony Davis to be around Jayson Tatum, and even though Danny Ainge would be wise to keep him, his desire to have Davis may be enough for him to give up on Tatum.
Tatum is one of the most promising talents of his class and while he has kind of regressed – just like Boston – this season, the sky seems to be the limit for him. We’ll have to wait and see, but he’s already claimed that he wouldn’t mind playing at New Orleans.
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1. Anthony Davis
Obviously, there’s no way in hell Anthony Davis stays put at New Orleans beyond the summer. He has already been quite clear about his desire to leave and the team would be incredibly dumb not to trade him right away.
Davis is going to have plenty of suitors, with the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, and Clippers at the top of that list. Either way, he’s expected to join the Lakers in 2020 when he hits free agency regardless of where he plays next year.
