25 players who may be traded this year

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-trade-rumors-here-are-25-players-who-could-be-on-the-move-at-the-deadline/




The NBA's Feb. 23 trade deadline isn't too far away, and the league is full of underachieving teams looking to make moves. This means that trade rumor season is upon us, and there's no shortage of speculation about what might happen. Here's a look at 25 players who could be moved in the next seven weeks:


Players possibly on the move





Paul Millsap

Atlanta Hawks PF

There's a good chance the three-time All-Star forward will be the biggest name to be traded. Rumors have heated up lately, and it's not the first time his future has been up in the air. While Millsap is saying that his heart is in Atlanta, the front office has to weigh the risk and reward of signing him to a maximum contract at the age of 32 next summer. For teams looking to challenge the Cavaliers in the East or the Warriors in the West, Millsap might be the difference between having a realistic shot and not.





Rudy Gay

Sacramento Kings SF

It's sort of hard to believe that Gay is still in the place he called "basketball hell." He signed his extension with Sacramento in November 2014 believing that Michael Malone would remain the coach, and Malone was fired less than a month later. Since then, the Kings have pretty much been a mess, while he hasn't publicly demanded a trade, he changed agents this season and the organization knows he's not re-signing in July. Sacramento could keep him with the hope that he'll help them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006, but it seems more likely that he'll go elsewhere. The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly been interested in him, and he'd give them another scoring option.





DeMarcus Cousins

Sacramento Kings PF

It's still unclear if the Kings will be ready to move their best player anytime soon, but the speculation won't stop. Trading him would set the franchise back in the short term, but if it's only a matter of time until he's gone, it might be best to end this era and start something new. If Sacramento could get one of the Brooklyn Nets picks owed to the Boston Celtics, for example, it could find its next franchise player in the draft.





Brandon Knight

Phoenix Suns PG

He's barely even playing now, and this is absolutely not what he envisioned when he re-signed with them in the summer of 2015. Teams like the Mavericks, Kings and Bulls could clearly use him, but will anybody be willing to pay up for the guy who lost his minutes not only to Devin Booker, but to Leandro Barbosa and Tyler Ulis?





Nerlens Noel

Philadelphia 76ers PF

He wanted Philadelphia to clear out its center logjam before the season started, had elective surgery on his right knee in October and is now coming off the bench, probably dreaming of a day where he's starting somewhere else. Rather than dealing with his restricted free agency, the Sixers should probably trade him if they get anything close to a reasonable offer. His defense, rebounding and ability to roll hard to the basket mean that he should have more value in the modern NBA than the next guy on this list.





Jahlil Okafor

Philadelphia 76ers C

For Philadelphia fans tired of his poor defense and rebounding, Okafor has become a whipping boy. This is sad to see, as he is a truly gifted offensive player. He doesn't fit at all with the Sixers' roster, though, and the flaws that were obvious in college have overshadowed his strengths in the NBA. He needs a fresh start and no one wants to see him try to play with Joel Embiid again, so a trade would be best for both sides.





Brook Lopez

Brooklyn Nets C

It's a miracle he's never been traded. Lopez is in his ninth season with the team that drafted him, and Kenny Atkinson is his ninth head coach. Regardless of whether the Nets have been based in East Rutherford, Newark or Brooklyn, his name has always popped up in trade rumors from time to time. Thanks to the 3-point shot he's added to his arsenal this season, Lopez has perhaps never been more productive. The rebuilding Nets, however, would be silly not to move him if presented with a package of draft picks and prospects that can help them down the line.





Nikola Vucevic

Orlando Magic C

Hmmm, another offense-first center with low-post skills. Vucevic has actually made strides as a defender this year, but Orlando created a Sixers-esque logjam when it signed Bismack Biyombo and traded for Serge Ibaka last summer. Vucevic is a fine player and perhaps the best reserve in the NBA right now, but he should be starting somewhere and the Magic do not appear to be committed to him.





Goran Dragic

Miami Heat PG

Since training camp, the point guard has been saying all the right things about sticking things out in Miami. As soon as the awful Chris Bosh news hit, though, it's been obvious that the Heat should at least think about moving their point guard and bottoming out. It's tricky to find a good trade partner for Miami here, but it doesn't make much sense for a 30-year-old player of his caliber to remain there.





Ricky Rubio

Minnesota Timberwolves PG

Rubio has had to deal with a diminished role in Tom Thibodeau's offense, and his replacement -- rookie Kris Dunn -- is already on the roster. It's no sure thing that Dunn will ever be as good as Rubio, but fans of the Spanish guard would probably prefer to see him in a more pick-and-roll-heavy system on a team that wants him around for the long haul.





Kyle Korver

Atlanta Hawks SG

It's a little weird to imagine Korver going elsewhere, as he's had his best years in Atlanta and Peak Performance Project (P3) -- the sports science lab and training center that essentially extended his prime -- will have a new location inside the Hawks' new training facility. He'll be 36 when he hits free agency in the summer, though, and the front office is reportedly listening to offers. Fringe contenders should be calling.





Taj Gibson

Chicago Bulls PF

He's having arguably the best season of his career, but even his biggest fans think Chicago should look at trading him before he hits free agency. Gibson reportedly almost went to Toronto in the summer, and he's heard his name thrown around so many times over the years that he has learned to tune it out or take it as a compliment. This is the Bulls' last chance to get something for him or risk him leaving for a better situation in a few months.





Rajon Rondo

Chicago Bulls PG

Who would have thought he'd be a poor fit next to Jimmy Butler and Dwayne Wade? Oh right, everybody. This has gone south sooner than expected, though, and now the question is whether or not there is a team out there willing to take a chance on him. Unable to mask his weaknesses the way he used to, Rondo needs to be surrounded by shooters and dominate the ball in order to be effective.





Lou Williams

Los Angeles Lakers SG

He might be on the way to his second Sixth Man of the Year award, but he might also play his way out of Los Angeles. If contending teams are willing to part with real assets, the Lakers might have to part with him, especially if the front office decides it would like a better chance of keeping its top-3 protected first-round pick.





Danilo Gallinari

Denver Nuggets SF

Denver is a wild card, and Gallinari is probably the best of the many players it could move. If you need a scorer who can stretch the floor and play 4, then he's your man ... as long as you're willing to re-sign him for big bucks in July.





Kenneth Faried

Denver Nuggets PF

It seems like he has been available ever since he starred at the FIBA World Cup and signed his million extension in 2014. Faried is a limited offensive player and a subpar team defender, but he can rebound like crazy and finish on the inside. Maybe he'd shine if he had a defined role on a winning team.





Jusuf Nurkic

Denver Nuggets C

Pairing him with Nikola Jokic did not work, and he's not happy about his reduced role. This is reminiscent of the Enes Kanter situation in Utah a couple of years ago -- sure, Nurkic is young and talented, but what's the point of keeping him around if he doesn't fit with their best player?





Andrew Bogut

Dallas Mavericks C

Dallas owner Mark Cuban said he won't think about tanking until late in the season, but this team is 11-24 right now and in desperate need of young talent. If a team in need of rim protection -- Blazers? Celtics? -- will give up a nice prospect or a pick, the Mavs have to listen. Bogut will be a free agent in the summer, anyway.





Deron Williams

Dallas Mavericks PG

Same deal as Bogut, except there aren't that many teams looking for a veteran point guard right now -- other than the defending-champion Cavaliers, of course.





Omri Casspi

Sacramento Kings SF

One of the few bright spots in Sacramento last year, he deserves a bigger, more consistent role than he's had this season. Casspi can help teams who need a 3 or a stretch 4, but he's lost in the shuffle with the Kings in a contract year.





Thabo Sefolosha

Atlanta Hawks SF

Unlike teammates Millsap and Korver, he's not a big name. If he goes to the right team, though, he could make an impact as a 3-and-D guy in the playoffs. Think Richard Jefferson with the Cavs, except younger.





P.J. Tucker

Phoenix Suns SF

Another veteran on an expiring contract. Phoenix is going nowhere, so it should try to get something back for Tucker if it can. The Knicks are reportedly interested.





Kosta Koufos

Sacramento Kings C

Sacramento has too many centers, and if Willie Cauley-Stein is a part of its future, then Koufos isn't. He's on a team-friendly contract until 2019, so he might be more attractive as a trade target than some of the other bigs on this list who are headed for free agency.





Omer Asik

New Orleans Pelicans C

He hasn't played a minute since before Christmas, and the Pelicans appear to have given up on the idea of pairing him with Anthony Davis. New Orleans might have to give up an asset in order to get rid of his contract.





Alexis Ajinca

New Orleans Pelicans C

Out of the rotation just like Asik, there doesn't appear to be any place for Ajinca on this team. It's hard to imagine he'll have many suitors now, but at least his contract isn't as onerous as Asik's.

Make that 24 left since Kover is already gone. Also you may want to take Cousins off the list. Saw a report that the Kings want to extend him. $200 Million contract.

Dboss

I was slightly surprised to see no Celtics players on the list.

In some cases, the contract status is given for some of the 25 players in the list, but not all. Just how many of the players in the list are on their final year of their current contract?

Also, by acquiring any of these players, how much will they actually contribute towards our contention? I don't believe Danny Ainge will trade away anything of importance for a marginal temporary improvement.

gyso

there are only two players on that list that I see as making sense for the Celtics ( depending on the price of course).

1. Cousins

2. Noel

I would add J. Butler to MY list also.

I fear that any of those three could cost more than their value to the Celtics however.

I am VERY reluctant to trade the rights to the Nets pick in this coming years draft. We have a chance to get a top three player in a draft that should have at least three elite talents in it.

so that seemingly would take Cousins and Butler off the table for a trade here.

though I would trade Bradley, Amir and the nets first pick in 2018 for Butler and Portis. I think The Bulls would hold out for next years nets pick.

I'd still do Cousins and McLemore for Amir and Bradley, but the Kings will never take that deal. Since I have serious doubts than Horford and Cousins can play together long term, I am conflicted anyway.

I would give Philly Rozier and either Young or Green along with a second round pick for renting (and controlling as a RFA Next season) Noel. I am not sure that will be enough.