Jan 2, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers power forward Thaddeus Young (21) takes a shot over Sacramento Kings power forward Jason Thompson (34) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Editor’s note: This is a guess post from Justin Becker of FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.com. You can follow him on twitter at @NBAFantasyInfo, and for more information on the NBA visit Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues – your online source for anything about fantasy basketball.
Up to now in the 2013-2014 NBA season, we’ve seen a bunch of significant trades happening. Nonetheless, there are still many discussions happening around the league and some moves that are expected to occur prior to the February trade deadline. Let’s analyze the top-5 players that will most likely be dealt on or before the February 20th deadline.
Omer Asik
The Houston Rockets are just waiting to find the right team and the right exchange to trade Omer Asik away. The 7-foot center out of Turkey is officially out of action due to a knee injury, but the entire league knows that his time in Houston is pretty much over. It will be a big surprise if he doesn’t get dealt by the trade deadline.
Jameer Nelson / Glen Davis
The Orlando Magic are involved in several trade discussions and rumors. The truth is that most of the requests the team is currently receiving are surrounding Arron Afflalo. Nonetheless, it’s clear that Orlando is much more interested in trading away Jameer Nelson, Glen Davis, or even both of them. We should expect the Magic to make a move by the trade deadline, but of course it’s still uncertain around which player a potential trade will involve.
Pau Gasol
It seems like it should be fairly easy for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade away their best active player — Pau Gasol. On the one hand, it’s easier said than done. Nonetheless, the Lakers know that it’s the best decision for the team moving forward. The Spaniard center is in the books for $19.2 million this season, and his contract is expiring this summer. The chances for the Lakers to retain him in their arsenal past this upcoming offseason are slim, if that. LA would rather choose to spend its money on younger, emerging stars, which could complement the aging Kobe Bryant and lead the team to the next era.
Andre Miller
The Denver Nuggets are actively trying to shop their veteran guard Andre Miller. There is a bunch of rumors around him and lots of teams are interested. Even though Miller is 37 years old, he is still a valuable piece for several teams around the league. He hasn’t played a single minute since December 30th, which is yet another sign that the Nuggets want him out. The New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves are just four out of the many teams who have shown interest in the veteran point guard. A trade that involves him is almost certain to occur on or before February 20th.
Thaddeus Young
The Philadelphia 76ers are undergoing a heavy rebuilding process. The team currently ranks third to last in the Eastern Conference and has almost no potential in making it to the playoffs. That’s exactly the reason Thaddeus Young wants out. The 25-year old versatile forward just recently requested a trade, and since then he has really uplifted his performance. The 76ers should act wisely and trade him away, since they will be able to receive big assets in exchange.