The NBA landscape is ever-changing, and this season has given us no shortage of storylines. Between rising contenders and early injury struggles, the NBA standings haven’t turned out how we expected, but there’s still so much of the season to go.
Even so, teams are not blind to the increasingly precarious situations facing some of the game’s most decorated players. Specifically, there are three names at the top of every team’s watch list right now: Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, and Devin Booker. While each player faces a unique situation, rival executives are already picturing a world where one or even all three become available either before February’s deadline or in the next offseason.
“Nikola Jokic sounds a little testy. Bam Adebayo sounds a little aggravated,” wrote The Ringer’s Howard Beck. “And Devin Booker? He just seems like a guy whose talent is being wasted. Is it comically premature to speculate about their…Every rival team executive is monitoring the Denver Nuggets’ struggles … and the Miami Heat’s struggles … and the Phoenix Suns’ struggles … and whatever the hell is happening in New Orleans and Sacramento.”
In a league with unprecedented parity and new rules surrounding lottery odds, teams have every incentive to compete. That’s why, when an A-list player like Nikola Jokic becomes available, GMs are inclined to listen. At 31, Jokic may not be classified as young in NBA years, but his value remains ridiculously high as a three-time MVP, eight-time All-NBA player, and eight-time All-Star.
This season, as Jokic himself has gotten off to a sluggish start (averages of 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 9.0 assists per game on 47.2% shooting from the field), the Nuggets have struggled to maintain their usual standards, splitting their first six games to land 10th in the West. If there ever was a time when Jokic’s loyalty was being tested, it’s now, and how he responds could have major implications in the West.
The Miami Heat stand to gain the most from a Jokic trade, as they could solve their roster crisis. A more realistic target might be someone like Karl-Anthony Towns, who has already been linked to Miami as a potential target. Either way, they would have to give up Bam Adebayo, but he’s a player who is also being heavily monitored. As the Heat continue to seek answers for their 2-5 start, his future has become increasingly uncertain, making him a prime trade candidate ahead of February’s deadline.
None of that’s to mention the silence in Phoenix, where the Suns face the prospect of mediocrity despite an encouraging offseason. At 1-4, the situation is starting to look untenable, and Booker may find himself on the way out, whether he wants it or not. While his contract is expensive, his game is elite, with averages of 23.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 48.8% shooting from the field.
In the end, wherever these guys end up, the NBA trade market is going to be a bloodbath. As teams take advantage of a wide-open title window, they will be ready to strike when the next big-name talent becomes available. Where that leaves Jokic, Adebayo, and Booker is unclear, but practically anything goes when it comes to what’s next in their NBA journey.