The NBA offseason has become the most popular time of the year on the league’s calendar. Fans of all teams across the league love to read and hear about player movement and rumors swirling about potential trades. We saw multiple blockbuster deals right before training camp, with the Portland Trail Blazers sending Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team deal that included the Phoenix Suns.
Portland then flipped Jrue Holiday, acquired in that deal, to the Boston Celtics for more assets. Who could be on the move next? Sam Quinn of CBS Sports put together a list of the 10 likeliest players who will be on the move this season. Coming in at No. 10 was DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls are overdue for a rebuild, especially with Lonzo Ball sidelined still by his knee injury. Willing remaining in the middle is organizational malpractice, and something will have to give in Chicago sooner or later. Moving DeRozan, who is eligible for an extension, is a good start.
Next on the list is Tyus Jones. The Washington Wizards point guard was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal with the Celtics in which Kristaps Porzingis went to Beantown. On an expiring contract, expect the retooling Wizards to look to extract some value for him as they already traded their two best assets, Porzingis and Bradley Beal.
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At No. 8 came P.J. Tucker of the Philadelphia 76ers. If Daryl Morey wants to have as much cap space as possible in 2024, Tucker will be on the move. Getting back a player on an expiring deal will help clear their books to retool the roster around, hopefully, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
One of the bigger names on the list comes in next: Pascal Siakam. The Toronto Raptors have misjudged the value of players on their roster in recent seasons and cannot do so again with Siakam. With no extension talks being had, he is a prime blockbuster trade candidate most teams around the league should have some interest in.
Indiana Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield is the next name mentioned, and a trade involving him seems inevitable. Since he was dealt to Indiana along with Tyrese Haliburton in the Domantas Sabonis deal he has been mentioned in trade rumors. You can never have enough 3-point shooting, and on an expiring deal, his value should be high.
Another team in a tough spot tax-wise is the Atlanta Hawks. That is partly why Clint Capela found himself on Quinn’s list. With Onyeka Okongwu and Saddiq Bey eligible for extensions and likely pushing for starter-level money, moving Capela is a necessity for the cap-conscious Hawks.
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Alec Burks is a no-brainer for the list. A productive veteran on a team looking to establish their young talent makes him an ideal trade target. A deal may not materialize immediately, but if he continues his hot 3-point shooting of recent years, the Pistons will get some real value for him.
James Harden will eventually be revealed on the list, and he comes in at No. 3. The divorce between him and the 76ers seems inevitable. The asking price is high, just as it was for Ben Simmons, so expect this to drag out. With no long-term future in the City of Brotherly Love, Morey will take what he can get but will drive a hard bargain.
Part of the package that went to Portland in exchange for Holiday was Malcolm Brogdon. In a full-on youth movement, the Trail Blazers will trade him as soon as they can. His value is high for contending teams, and a deal should be made sooner than later as Anfernee Simons, Scoot Henderson, and Shaedon Sharpe will handle as many minutes as they can in the backcourt.
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Last but not least, the No. 1 likeliest player to be traded in Quinn’s opinion is Kira Lewis Jr. The New Orleans Pelicans are not going to stay over the tax line and Lewis is the logical candidate to be on the move. Buried on the depth chart, New Orleans will do whatever it takes to flip him to avoid the tax.
