NBA: 5 Biggest X-Factors entering the 2018-19 season

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 23: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to being called for a foul against the Houston Rockets during the third quarter in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Rockets defeated the Timberwolves 119-100. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Same skills, new system

Another huge deciding factor on the outcome of the 2018-19 NBA season will be player movement. The biggest day for player movement will be the 2019 NBA Trade deadline, which falls on February 7.

It will be interesting to see which big name players gets moved, which players get bought-out of contracts, as well as which player gets signed that might be released in the next few days before the start of the NBA season.

Some big names to look at possibly being traded some time during the season will be:

1) Minnesota Timberwolves G/F Jimmy Butler

2) Charlotte Hornets G Kemba Walker

3) New York Knicks G Courtney Lee

4) Orlando Magic C Nikola Vucevic

5) Boston Celtics G Terry Rozier

6) Miami Heat C Hassan Whiteside

7) Atlanta Hawks C Dewayne Dedmon

Here’s a few notable names that could at some point this season be bought-out of their contracts and become free-agents:

1) Phoenix Suns C Tyson Chandler

2) New York Knicks C Joakim Noah

3) Denver Nuggets G Isiah Thomas

4) Los Angeles Clippers G Patrick Beverley

5) Brooklyn Nets F DeMarre Carroll

Every year a trade or waiver wire addition makes a major difference come playoff time. What impact player moves teams mid-season will also be a major factor in determining the outcome of the 2018-19 NBA season.