Miami Heat
Targets: D.J. Augustin (Rockets), Jeremy Lamb (Pacers), Kenrich Williams (Thunder)
The Heat have 7 different undrafted players on their roster this season and all of them have made an impact at some point. Miami’s developmental staff and scouts are some of the best in the business and with a “Big 3” of Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, the Heat have a real chance to get back to the NBA Finals this season.
They will most likely not look to shake things up roster-wise too much, but D.J. Augustin and Jeremy Lamb are two players who would fit in quite well with the Heat.
Outside of Lowry, the Heat do not really have another secondary, reliable ball-handler like Augustin would be and Lamb has shown some flashes of his scoring potential since returning from his knee injury.
However, both player’s contracts are rather large and it is more likely that Miami would pursue one or both of them should they get bought out of their contracts.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Landing Spot For Top Names In NBA Trade Rumors
A more affordable option for Miami would be to pursue Kenrich Williams, who shot upwards of 44% from three-point range last season. Oklahoma City should be more than willing to move Williams this season, especially for a future second-round pick and/or a young talent like KZ Okpala.
Miami has found ways to win this season without their “Big 3” being on the floor together, so do not anticipate this team making too many moves. They do not have much cap space and it seems like they will wait to see which players get bought out of contracts this season before making any roster changes.
Milwaukee Bucks
Targets: Christian Wood (Rockets), Kelly Olynyk (Pistons), Thaddeus Young (Spurs)
The defending NBA champs have played well when fully-healthy, but they have not been healthy all season long. Brook Lopez got hurt in the Bucks’ first game of the season and underwent back surgery on December 2.
The veteran center is now going to be out indefinitely and while Bobby Portis and Giannis Antetokounmpo have held things down in the frontcourt, moving Brook Lopez for someone who can contribute right now would be highly beneficial.
Christian Wood has one of the best-value contracts in the league and would be a deadly offensive weapon for Milwaukee to add. Who they would give up that would be of value to the Rockets is unknown, but trying to stop a frontcourt of Giannis, Portis and Wood would be almost impossible.
Kelly Olynyk and Thaddeus Young are two other frontcourt pieces that the Bucks could look to replace Brook Lopez with. Olynyk is currently out with a knee injury and will not return until closer to the trade deadline, but he has always been a really solid “3-and-D” forward that thrives in pick-and-roll situations, which the Bucks run almost every single play.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Landing Spot For Top Names In NBA Trade Rumors
Thaddeus Young is very available in San Antonio right now and being in the final year of his contract, the Bucks would not be tied down to the veteran long-term. Maybe Milwaukee will keep the roster they have and wait for Lopez to return, but moving him now for another frontcourt player makes the most sense.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Targets: Ben Simmons (76ers), Myles Turner (Pacers), Chris Boucher (Raptors)
The Timberwolves made headlines before the season began by firing President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas, but interim Head of Operations Sachin Gupta has not been afraid to get his organization involved in trade talks.
Minnesota has been linked to Ben Simmons for quite some time now and while the 76ers have been unwilling to hop on a trade package that involves D’Angelo Russell, the Timberwolves still have their sights set on the 3x All-Star.
If they are unable to land Simmons, it should not be surprising to see this organization look to add one or two more frontcourt talents next to Karl-Anthony Towns. Both Myles Turner and Chris Boucher are two names that have been mentioned in trade rumors recently pertaining to the Timberwolves and both big men can stretch the floor like Towns.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Landing Spot For Top Names In NBA Trade Rumors
Pairing KAT with Turner would definitely be questionable since Towns would likely have to move to the power-forward position, something he has not done since being at Kentucky, but at the same time, Myles Turner is the best shot-blocker in the league and could bring a ton of value to Minnesota.
New Orleans Pelicans
Targets: Marvin Bagley III (Kings), Buddy Hield (Kings), Collin Sexton (Cavaliers)
The only thing Pelicans’ fans (and probably their players too) are looking forward to this season is Mardi Gras. New Orleans is not going to make the playoffs this season, even if Zion Wiliamson returns at some point and the downward spiral continues for this franchise.
Nothing good has happened to the Pelicans since they drafted Zion first overall in 2019 and while they could target guys like Bagley and Hield to help them piece together some more wins this season, they are much better tanking for the No. 1 overall pick.
If the Pelicans do look to make a trade that involves them adding talent instead of “selling” it, then Collin Sexton could make the most sense for them. This team needs a reliable backcourt piece and while Devonte’ Graham has played well this season, he is nothing more than a secondary scorer.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Landing Spot For Top Names In NBA Trade Rumors
Collin Sexton is a primary scorer that along with Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, could form a really solid young “Big 3” when healthy. While he is in the final year of his rookie contract and out for the season, Sexton is exactly the kind of talent that the Pelicans should want to invest in long-term.
New York Knicks
Targets: Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Jerami Grant (Pistons), Myles Turner (Pacers)
The Knicks’ struggles this season are directly contributed to the fact that they still do not have a solidified star on their roster. Julius Randle has been shaky this season and their two signings of Fournier and Walker have not worked out the way they have intended, which is why it is now or never for the Knicks to trade for Damian Lillard.
Regardless of what Portland and Lillard are saying about him not going anywhere, New York needs to package Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, and whoever else it takes to land the 6x All-Star point guard because he is the only guy who can take this franchise to new heights.
Jerami Grant and Myles Turner definitely help fix the Knicks’ underachieving defense this season and they would also aid offensively as well, but again, this team would still be left with a handful of secondary talents.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Best Landing Spot For Top Names In NBA Trade Rumors
Julius Randle was an All-Star last season and had a great season, but this is starting to look like a “one-hit wonder”. He can absolutely still be a high-level talent and be an All-Star type talent again, but Randle is not a No. 1 guy and leader that can take the Knicks deep into the playoffs.
Damian Lillard is the only guy that can do this for the New York Knicks.
