The NBA trade deadline — the final change for teams to make in-season roster changes — is on Feb. 5 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
Ashley La
Despite the chatter that usually comes with the deadline, only one major trade has happened thus far. The Atlanta Hawks — who made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 led by their star guard — opted for a dramatic reset, dealing Trae Young to the Washington Wizards.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings, among others, have made minor roster tweaks, but some of the NBA’s biggest stars remain surrounded by uncertainty as the clock continues to tick.
As the deadline draws near, let’s predict the fate of some of the hottest commodities on the trade market.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The two-time MVP’s potential departure from Milwaukee is the primary reason why teams have been hesitant on the trade market so far. He is a franchise-altering player who automatically makes his team a contender for the NBA Championship.
But the Bucks have only made it past the first round of the playoffs once since their championship win in 2021. To make matters worse, the Bucks are 12th in an injury-ravaged Eastern Conference.
Antetokounmpo’s supporting cast — led by Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma — are 3-14 in games when he doesn’t play. Also, locker room tensions seem to be at an all-time high — Antetokounmpo is making comments about teammates’ “selfish” play and booing back at disgruntled Bucks fans.
There’s no better time for both Giannis and Milwaukee to push the reset button, and no front office wants to give up their valuable trade assets before taking a shot at dealing for The Greek Freak.
Recent reports from Shams Charania indicate that Antetokounmpo is “ready for a new home” and that Milwaukee’s front office is starting to listen to offers, but I’d pump the brakes on the mock trades for now.
Antetokounmpo is treating a calf strain — a recurring injury for him — with no known timetable for a return. Despite his on-court excellence, teams could be hesitant to trade for a 31-year-old with recurring calf issues, especially when it’s a player like Giannis who relies on his explosiveness.
Waiting until the summer would give the Bucks and any potential Giannis suitors more flexibility for a trade. A drastic in-season trade for any contender — like his alleged preferred destination, the New York Knicks — could throw off a team’s rhythm.
The Bucks don’t mind holding Giannis on their bench as they fight for the least favorable draft pick between themselves and the New Orleans Pelicans, who are second to last in the Western Conference. The worse the teams perform, the higher the guarantee of a quality draft pick that could supplement a rebuild that comes from a Giannis trade — especially with this year’s loaded draft.
Prediction: Giannis is traded this offseason.
Ja Morant
Once a beloved All-NBA-level player, Morant’s near $40 million a year contract no longer matches his availability and on-court performance.
The Memphis Grizzlies — like the Hawks with Young — cannot move in a new direction until they move off of Morant. Likewise, it’s improbable that Morant will rejuvenate his career until he gets a change of scenery.
Unfortunately for Memphis, Morant is out for at least three weeks with an injury and has no way to increase his rock-bottom trade value before the deadline. Also, potential buyers may view Memphis’ asking price of a first-rounder and young talent to be too steep.
There is a Morant trade somewhere down the road, but it’s next to impossible for one to happen at this trade deadline.
Prediction: Morant returns at some point, plays better and is finally traded in the offseason.
Michael Porter Jr.
You may think it’s too close to the deadline for any big names to get dealt, but let me propose the most likely candidate.
MPJ, formerly third fiddle to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray on the Denver Nuggets, is having an All-Star-level season on the team where it matters the least: The Brooklyn Nets.
Any title contender or middle-of-the-pack team could benefit from Porter Jr.’s 25.6 points per game, and he is only under contract until the end of next season.
A former champion with serious scoring prowess who is balling out on a lottery team is the perfect type of player to be moved to a title contender at the deadline.
Prediction: Porter Jr. is traded to the Golden State Warriors in Golden State’s attempt to save face.
As with most roster reconstruction efforts, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has made it increasingly difficult for trades to happen like they used to. Either way, players will be moved at the trade deadline and we will be able to enjoy some faces in new places.
Honorable Mention Predictions:
The Timberwolves acquire a reliable point guard.
The Sacramento Kings’ core of Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan is broken up.
The Detroit Pistons, despite a lot of chatter, stand pat and do not make a win-now move.