While all eyes are on Giannis Antetokounmpo leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, there are a number of other players who could be on the move.
And one of them could reportedly be tied to a possible Antetokounmpo trade.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Monday that Draymond Green could be included in the return package to the Milwaukee Bucks should they trade their franchise cornerstone to the Golden State Warriors.
The question would then be what happens next since “there is little expectation” the Bucks would want to keep the Michigan State product. However, moving the four-time All-Star might be easier said than done considering Fischer reported Green’s trade value for the Bucks would be “murky.”
Considering he is 35 years old, has a $27 million player option for next season and brings a “strong personality” to the table, Green may not be widely appealing to teams across the league.
It would also be strange to see him outside of Golden State considering he has spent his entire career there since it selected him with a second-round pick in 2012. He has won four championships and a Defensive Player of the Year and is a defining figure in the franchise’s history.
But it is also fair to wonder how productive he would be no longer playing alongside Stephen Curry at this stage of his career.
Another Western Conference forward could also be on the move, as Fischer reported the Sacramento Kings are still exploring a potential Domantas Sabonis trade with the Toronto Raptors seen as a “viable suitor” given their need for frontcourt help with Jakob Poeltl sidelined by a back injury.
He is just one of a number of moves a Kings team that already traded Keon Ellis could make before Thursday.
According to Fischer, “they remain very open to fielding any trade interest in the trio that soaks up many of the shot opportunities: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and [Malik] Monk” so they can give some of their younger players more opportunities.
That makes sense considering Sacramento is 12-39 and in need of a massive rebuild, and anything it can get in return for those veterans could accelerate that process.
But Fischer pointed out “there appears to be little trade market for LaVine” given his $48.9 million player option for next season. He is also a high-usage player who could disrupt a contender’s offense even if he is a two-time All-Star who can shoot from the outside and attack the rim off the bounce.
At this point, though, the Kings aren’t going to contend with Sabonis, DeRozan and LaVine on their roster. Even moving one or two of them could help them turn the page and start looking ahead to the future, where draft picks and free agency decisions will need to be better if they are going to contend again in the West.
They still have a couple of days to evaluate their roster, but they figure to be a team to watch by Thursday’s deadline.