NBA Trade Rumors: 21 trade candidates and predicting possible landing spots.
The 2021 NBA Trade Deadline is less than two weeks away, though there’s a good chance that we could see some player movement starting this week. Due to new health and safety protocols, it would be smart for teams to start making moves ahead of the deadline in order to integrate acquired players sooner rather than later.
Even more so for teams that are looking to acquire players to help them in their stretch run, it would be smart for trades to start taking place now. With that said, we’ve seen a vast number of players in the rumor mill. While it would be impossible to track each name that has come across the newswire linked to a possible trade, there is a strong group of headlining players that we can associate with the upcoming trade deadline.
Whether they get moved or not is an entirely different story. Two weeks out, we take a look at 21 NBA trade candidates and predict possible landing spots ahead of this month’s trade deadline.
NBA trade candidate: J.J. Redick, New Orleans Pelicans
Trade confidence meter: 8/10
J.J. Redick almost seems like a certainty that he’ll be moved leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline and there will likely be several possible landing spots that make sense. Though, as thin as of depth chart as the Brooklyn Nets have, it makes too much sense for him not to land there.
Of course, the Nets would need some help considering they don’t have much ammunition to send out in a potential trade and would likely need the presence of a third team to make it work. Redick may not be playing at a high level right now and his recent injury could throw a wrench in this all, but he could play a valuable role to any contending team.
Redick is a veteran that knows what it takes to win at the highest levels of basketball. He may not have “championship experience” but he’s been a winner at almost every level of basketball that he’s played in. He’d give the Nets’ bench and depth a huge boost.
Ideal destination: Brooklyn Nets
NBA trade candidate: Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans
Trade confidence meter: 6/10
If you had asked me whether I believe Lonzo Ball will be traded at the deadline two weeks ago, I would’ve thought it was a sure thing. Though, now I’m not so sure. He’s been playing a bit better as of late and, quite frankly, I’m not sure there’s that big of a market for Lonzo at the moment.
Or at least not at the price that the New Orleans Pelicans are looking for. Lonzo has been a good player through the first few years of his career but hasn’t lived up to the high expectations that he entered the league with. He could very well benefit from a fresh start, especially if the Pelicans aren’t willing to commit to him.
The New York Knicks make a ton of sense considering this team is on the come-up and that their core lines up with Ball’s age and where he is at this point in his career.
Ideal destination: New York Knicks
NBA trade candidate: Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons
Trade confidence meter: 1/10
I’ll give the Boston Celtics this, he’d be a great addition to the team and is exactly what they need. Though, I still don’t believe that the Detroit Pistons are going to trade him. Unless the Celtics are offering something significant, which likely means Jaylen Brown, there’s no way I make this deal.
Grant is having a breakout season and who knows what his ceiling will be in a year or two. Grant is just 27 years old and is still evolving as a player. He may never be the No. 1 go-to star that leads the team to a championship, but he could be a really good No. 2 or 3.
The Pistons may eventually decide to move Grant but there’s no way they should punt on him this early into his free-agent contract.
Ideal destination: Boston Celtics
NBA trade candidate: Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade confidence meter: 8/10
Andre Drummond is a numbers machine but doesn’t hold much overall value in today’s NBA. It’ll be interesting to see what type of contract he signs during the offseason as the league continues to move further and further away from the traditional big. If he doesn’t get traded, he’ll likely be bought out.
With as much interest as there could be, I’d bet on him being traded. And one team that makes a ton of sense is the Los Angeles Lakers. Their experiment with Marc Gasol hasn’t exactly worked out all too well and Drummond would be a nice piece to place next to Anthony Davis in the frontcourt.
He’d play a limited role with the team and would help LA’s rebounding and rim protection. This is a rental-type and stopgap move for the Lakers, should they be able to land the big man.
Ideal destination: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA trade candidate: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic
Trade confidence meter: 6/10
Aaron Gordon is a name that almost always arises in the rumor mill every season. Though, this might be the year that the Orlando Magic actually elect to move him. The Magic are wandering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and likely will not be a playoff team this season.
It’s probably in the best interest of the Magic to pivot away from this core and try to re-shuffle around some of their younger pieces.
If the Orlando Magic do elect to move Aaron Gordon, I firmly believe that the best landing spot for him is with the Golden State Warriors. They play exciting style basketball if that would fit right into Gordon’s strengths.
Ideal destination: Golden State Warriors
NBA trade candidate: Victor Oladipo, Houston Rockets
Trade confidence meter: 7/10
With the likelihood that Victor Oladipo will decide to leave the Houston Rockets in free agency during the offseason, I don’t know how the Rockets can decide not to trade him at the trade deadline.
It’ll be interesting to see what their asking price is for Oladipo at the deadline and how it evolves as it grows closer and closer. The Rockets can’t be too picky when it comes to their asking price as there is a chance that they lose him for nothing during the summer.
Considering he was one of the big pieces of the James Harden deal, the Rockets can’t afford to lose him for nothing this summer.
Two teams that have been linked to Victor Oladipo this season are the Miami Heat and New York Knicks.
Ideal destination: Miami Heat
NBA trade candidate: P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets
Trade confidence meter: 9/10
PJ Tucker is already away from the Houston Rockets and will continue to do so until they find a landing spot for him ahead of the trade deadline. It actually wouldn’t be surprising to see him be attached in some way or form to a potential Oladipo trade, whether that’s via a three-team deal or packaged with him.
Tucker may not be a player that you lean on and might not even be a starter anymore in today’s game but he’s still a valuable rotation player that could help turn the tide on any contender or any team looking to make a real push for the playoffs during the second half of the season.
The Milwaukee Bucks make a ton of sense for Tucker and would give the team another versatile defender that they can throw out there in the postseason.
Ideal destination: Milwaukee Bucks
NBA trade candidate: Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Trade confidence meter: 3/10
Much like Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic is another player that has continually found his name in the rumor mill over the last couple of seasons. The Magic are going nowhere fast in the Eastern Conference and this could be a pivotal moment for the franchise.
This core has reached its peak and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team try to sell at the trade deadline. Vucevic is the team’s best player and is arguably having the best season of his career thus far.
The market for him would be vast and there’s a good chance that Orlando would be able to get some decent-to-good assets in exchange for their big man. It’s a big decision, but it may be time for a hard reset.
Ideal destination: Boston Celtics
NBA trade candidate: LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs
Trade confidence meter:10/10
LaMarcus Aldridge remains away from the San Antonio Spurs until they could find the right deal for him and a landing spot for the big man ahead of the trade deadline. It’ll be interesting to see what the Spurs are asking for in exchange for an expiring Alldredge.
Though, you have to believe that the asking price won’t be major which could make for an interesting market over the next week and a half. Aldridge may not be a scorer that can be leaned on at this point in his career and is likely better suited as a team’s third or fourth option, but there’s no question he can still help a contender.
One interesting landing spot is the Charlotte Hornets. They’re a young team looking to make a push for the playoffs and a veteran such as LaMarcus Aldridge would help bring some much-needed experience to the roster.
Ideal destination: Charlotte Hornets
NBA trade candidate: Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls
Trade confidence meter: 3/10
Lauri Markkanen is a name to keep an eye on as he has found himself in the rumor mill. There’s no guarantee that the Chicago Bulls will want to invest in him in the long-term and with an extension needed this offseason, a trade isn’t entirely off the table.
What could change Chicago’s stance on Markkanen is his recent hot streak. Since returning from injury, he’s been on a tear. On the season, Markkanen is averaging 19 points and six rebounds on 44 percent shooting from 3-point range.
The Chicago Bulls would have to be blown away from an offer but I’m not so sure that it’s a forgone conclusion that he’s going to be on this roster after the trade deadline.
Ideal destination: Portland Trail Blazers
NBA trade candidate: Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls
Trade confidence meter: 5/10
Thaddeus Young is another Chicago Bull that could see himself on another team after the NBA trade deadline. He has one more year remaining on his contract after this season but is a player that playoff contenders could be targeting as their make their way into the second half of the season.
Any team looking out there for a power forward or help along their frontcourt should look no further than Young. Or, at the very least, ask if he’s available. Young could be the answer for several teams, too.
He likely wouldn’t cost much on the open market and would essentially be a rental for the next year and a half. Young may not be in the prime of his career anymore but is still a valuable asset for any team looking to add depth to their roster. Young is averaging 12 points and six rebounds per game on the season.
Ideal destination: Phoenix Suns
NBA trade candidate: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
Trade confidence meter: 0/10
Bradley Beal is a player that needs to be on this list considering how much he’s been talked about in regards to a potential trade over the past few months. Still, I don’t think there’s any way that Bea is going to find himself on another team after the trade deadline.
Even less so considering how the Washington Wizards have played over the last few weeks – they have fought their way back into the playoff picture and are only two games out of the eighth seed in the East.
The Wizards would have to be absolutely blown away by an offer in order to even entertain the thought of trading Beal. Plus, Beal has made it quite clear that he wants to be in the nation’s capital for the foreseeable future.
Ideal destination: It doesn’t matter
NBA trade candidate: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade confidence meter: 4/10
It seems to be a yearly tradition to see Kevin Love in the mix or at least in the rumor mill at the NBA Trade Deadline. Whether the Cleveland Cavaliers have ever intended to trade him remains to be seen, but there’s at least a chance that they could move him at this year‘s deadline.
The Cavs are building towards something good, but they’re still a year or two away from being a true playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. The door for a contender to swoop in to snag him remains true.
Love is still highly productive even though he may not be in the prime of his career anymore. He’s a good rebounder and a good enough defender where he could play an active role on any team looking to add to their depth ahead of the trade deadline.
Ideal destination: Utah Jazz
NBA trade candidate: JaVale McGee, Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade confidence meter: 7/10
JaVale McGee is the other Cleveland Cavaliers big that is almost a certainty to be traded at the deadline. He may not be a sexy name or a big producer on the stats sheet but he’s a player that any team could slide in at the center position, whether that’s for spot starts or off the bench.
He’s an active big with great length and athleticism that could play a role for a team that has a need in the frontcourt. He may not be a starter at this point in his career but could add depth to a playoff roster.
McGee is almost guaranteed to be moved at the trade deadline and if he doesn’t get traded, he could be bought out to join a contender during the push for the playoffs.
Ideal destination: Toronto Raptors
NBA trade candidate: Larry Nance Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade confidence meter: 5/10
Larry Nance Jr. is another Cavalier that could find himself on the move. He’s a little more of what you want to see in the modern big. He has a good enough offensive game that will keep defenses honest and is one of the most athletic bigs in the league.
He doesn’t get much credit for it but he is a rim-running, defensive-minded player that has the ability to hit the occasional jump shot (he’s shooting 38 percent from 3 on the season). He’s young and could help any team looking to make the push for the playoffs.
After acquiring Jarrett Allen, it wouldn’t be surprising for Cleveland to try to sell some of their bigs ahead of the trade deadline.
Ideal destination: Phoenix Suns
NBA trade candidate: DeMar DeRozan, San Antonio Spurs
Trade confidence meter: 3/10
Even though the San Antonio Spurs have been one of the biggest surprises in the Western Conference the season, as a sit in the top 8 at the moment, there’s still a chance that the Spurs decide to hit the reset button at the deadline.
With the expectation that the team is going to move LaMarcus Aldridge, don’t put it past them to also poke around and gauge the interest around the league on DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan is a free agent after the season and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to be back in San Antonio. If the Spurs know deep down inside that they’re not going to re-sign the All-Star caliber guard, you can make a case that they should probably move him at the deadline.
Especially if they want to lose him for nothing during the offseason.
Ideal destination: Denver Nuggets
NBA trade candidate: Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks
Trade confidence meter: 3/10
Kristaps Porzingis has somewhat surprisingly found his name in the rumor mill over the last few weeks. The combination between him and Luka Doncic simply hasn’t worked in Dallas and the Mavs are reportedly gauging the interest around the league on their All-Star caliber power forward.
Mavs would probably have to be blown away from an offer and I’m not sure they’re just trying to get rid of Kristaps just for the sake of making a trade. That said, it appears that Porzingis is very much available if there’s any team that is willing to pay the price to acquire the All-Star talent.
I’m still not sold on the fact that he’ll be traded. I’d honestly be extremely surprised if he was moved.
Ideal destination: Portland Trail Blazers
NBA trade candidate: Al Horford, Oklahoma City Thunder
Trade confidence meter: 3/10
Al Horford has somewhat become an afterthought this season after he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the last offseason. Though, if there’s any team that is looking for a starting-caliber center they should look no further than Horford.
Horford may not have worked in Philadelphia playing next to Joel Embiid, but he is still a good player and a quality starter. If you could look past his contract, there’s a chance that Horford could play a viable role for a playoff team or a championship contender this season.
That said, I’m not sure there are many teams that are able to afford Horford’s contract and are willing to match the asking price that OKC general manager Sam Presti probably has in mind.
Ideal destination: Charlotte Hornets
NBA trade candidate: Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings
Trade confidence meter: 4/10
Marvin Bagley III is a player that the Sacramento Kings could elect to move at the trade deadline. Assuming that they don’t want to invest deeply in him long-term and if there’s a team out there that is, a deal could be made.
Of course, any team that acquires Bagley would need to be willing to invest in him long-term. And not just financially. Any team that gets him will have to develop his potential and skillset in a way that Sacramento simply hasn’t been able to do through the first few years of his career.
Bagley is still a talented player even though he hasn’t lived up to his high draft ranking. He’s a good project for any team looking for talent.
Ideal destination: Chicago Bulls
NBA trade candidate: Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings
Trade confidence meter: 6/10
Harrison Barnes has been linked to the Boston Celtics over the last few weeks, on numerous occasions. And he’d make a ton of sense for the team. He would help answer a lot of questions for Boston and would be an ideal trade candidate if he’s not too costly.
Barnes is not a true No. 1 or No. 2 but could be an extremely valuable No. 3 or No. 4 option on any team. Just ask the Golden State Warriors how effective he could be in that role. Even at this point in his career, Barnes is athletic, can hit an open jumper, and find his own basket when necessary.
He makes so much sense for the Celtics that I have doubts it will actually come to fruition. Add in that Danny Ainge is involved and I’m leaning towards a deal not happening.
Ideal destination: Boston Celtics
NBA trade candidate: Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors
Trade confidence meter: 4/10
For a while last week, it seemed as it was a foregone conclusion that Kyle Lowry was going to be traded. Now, after more reporting has come through, I’m not so sure he will be moved by the deadline.
That said, it does make a lot of sense for the Toronto Raptors to move on from the franchise legend. Lowry is in the final year of his contract and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to re-sign with the team during the offseason.
At this stage of his career, it would be in the best interest of him to try and pursue another championship with another team. The Raptors may have a bright future but this is not a team that is a year or two from being back in the NBA Finals.
Ideal destination: Philadelphia 76ers