Every NBA Team's Top 3 Trade Targets
Shopping lists are a necessity at this time of year.
And that's true regardless if you're snatching up holiday gifts or identifying players who could perk up an NBA roster.
With the unofficial start of trade season fast approaching—most players who signed this offseason will become trade-eligible on Dec. 15—we've gone to the liberty of building wish lists for all 30 franchises, from contenders looking for that proverbial missing piece to the cellar-dwellers aiming for a better tomorrow.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
1. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
2. Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
3. Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
The Hawks have been linked to Siakam for a while now, and they made a serious push to add him this offseason. Ultimately, though, their "package centered around De'Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and draft compensation" wasn't enough to entice the Raptors, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Atlanta shouldn't give up hope just yet. As good as Jalen Johnson has been, he can't fill the third-star void next to Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Siakam, a two-time All-NBA selection, could. And Toronto might be more willing to engage in trade talks closer to the deadline if it's obvious this roster isn't making any real noise in the East.
If the Hawks can't snag a star, they should look for a fix to their perennial defensive problems. Atlanta, which sits just 24th in defensive efficiency, has a pressing need for an all-purpose stopper. Grant isn't quite that, but he is a versatile defender who could also handle third-scorer duties. Caruso, an All-Defensive first-teamer, is about as stingy as they come, though his offense is several tiers behind those of the other two targets.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
1. Delon Wright, Washington Wizards
2. Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors
3. Reggie Bullock Jr., Houston Rockets
The Celtics might have the league's best six-man rotation, but things get a little dicey beyond that group. Sam Hauser is helpful to have as a shooting specialist, but that's about the extent of his contributions. There are question marks around any other reserve on the roster.
Boston, then, might consider utilizing a real trade asset to beef up its bench. Wright could be a phenomenal find—assuming his knee trouble doesn't linger—as a point-of-attack defender who can initiate offense and make plays in the open court. Achiuwa is a frontcourt energizer who could add some needed insurance behind the oft-injured Kristaps Porziņģis and the 37-year-old Al Horford.
If the Celtics don't want to part with legitimate trade chips to fill what would likely be a niche role, then a clearance-priced flier on Bullock might be a viable alternative. He's hardly hit the hardwood in Houston, but he's still a willing defender who owns a career 38.3 percent perimeter splash rate.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
1. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
2. Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards
3. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
The Nets are in a strange spot. While most teams would plunge into a rebuild after trading away perennial stars like James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn—which owes its upcoming first to Houston—didn't really have that option. Plus, if the Nets see Mikal Bridges as a legitimate star, then they need to capitalize on the 27-year-old swingman's prime.
That's why Brooklyn came up in the Damian Lillard discussions. It's also why an aggressive attempt to pry Young out of Atlanta could be worth pursuing. A net-shredding point guard could take this offense next-level, and the Hawks don't seem to consider the two-time All-Star totally off-limits.
If Young is too ambitious of an aim, then Brooklyn could be drawn to Jones as an offensive organizer. DeRozan is another option to strengthen this attack. At 34, he might be a touch too old for a team that isn't in contention, but the Nets could use his scoring punch, especially in clutch situations, where they own just a minus-1.7 net rating.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Josh Green, Dallas Mavericks
3. Doug McDermott, San Antonio Spurs
It might be getting late early in Buzz City, as the Hornets have dropped 10 of their first 15 games and own the league's fourth-worst net rating (minus-7.9). If they had hopes of competing this season, those might already be in doubt. As if things weren't bad enough, they're now looking at an "extended" absence for star guard LaMelo Ball due to an ankle injury.
Big-picture, though, the struggles are fine. Their most important players are the 22-year-old Ball and 21-year-old rookie swingman Brandon Miller. Outside of any internal desires to be more competitive, they have no reason to rush. Therefore, their top incentive for trade season should be flipping plug-and-play veterans like Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier for long-term assets.
If Charlotte adds players, it should aim for young players who have a chance to grow with this core. Green, whose numbers are down this season, might have an easier time developing in Charlotte than contributing under win-right-now conditions in Dallas.
If the Hornets decide they haven't given up on this season, then targeting a modestly price role player might work. McDermott, a career 41.2 percent three-point shooter, would immediately upgrade this club's spacing and give Ball and Miller more room to attack.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
3. Nikola Jović, Miami Heat
The Bulls haven't kicked off the league's next big blow-up yet, but it feels close enough that they may have already applied for a demolition permit. Back in October, Nikola Vučević conceded this was "probably our last shot to make something happen," and all that's happened since is a stockpiling of losses, many of the blowout variety.
It's beyond time for Chicago to start over. Converting veterans into draft picks should be an obvious focus. If the Bulls simply left this deadline with draft assets and salary-fillers, they'd finally have a successful trade season.
If they want to pursue players, they can, but they'd have to be supplemental pieces to a pick-heavy return package. Ideally, they'd be discounted, too. They should have more than enough patience to give young players like Kuminga and Jović the developmental minutes they've so far been denied.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
1. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets
2. Alec Burks, Detroit Pistons
3. Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
The Cavaliers can't correct their biggest issues on the trade market. If players like Evan Mobley and Darius Garland can't live up to—let alone exceed—expectations, then Cleveland is almost certainly looking at another early playoff exit.
If Cleveland's up-and-comers can turn things around, though, then the Cavs should get back to strengthening this roster around them. If the Cavs are less than convinced they can get enough defense out of Max Strus to make him the ideal fit with Garland and Donovan Mitchell, then adding a three-and-D ace like Finney-Smith would make a lot of sense.
Otherwise, Cleveland could look to upgrade its backcourt backups. Burks can line up anywhere along the perimeter and adds value at both ends. Brogdon might be a pinch too pricey for a reserve role, but the Cavs might sense a big enough need there to justify the cost with Ricky Rubio focusing on his mental health and Ty Jerome unable to shake an ankle injury.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
1. Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Brooklyn Nets
3. Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks
The Mavs signaled their win-now intentions with last season's deadline acquisition of Kyrie Irving, and they still have enough assets to make at least one more notable upgrade. If they do, they'll almost certainly look to strengthen their 25th-ranked defense.
A defense-first player like Caruso could be a massive get. He is relentless on the ball and disruptive away from it. His strength, athleticism and effort also give him more versatility than his 6'5", 186-pound frame would lead you to believe.
Reuniting with Finney-Smith is another option, as the starting 3 spot—currently filled by journeyman Derrick Jones Jr.—is the weakest in the first five. And while the Mavs should be thrilled with what they've gotten out of rookie center Dereck Lively II, their interior rotation would be worlds better if he filled a backup spot behind Capela, a longtime target of this team.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
1. Jae'Sean Tate, Houston Rockets
2. Delon Wright, Washington Wizards
3. Cedi Osman, San Antonio Spurs
The defending champs have largely looked great when healthy, but even before their battles with the injury bug began, there were reasons to question their depth. And while they've shown they can field a good defense, greatness on that end still eludes them.
While Houston has no obvious incentive to shop Tate now, maybe that changes if the Rockets slow down between now and the deadline. It's at least worth a phone call for the Nuggets, who might view the do-it-all 6'4", 230-pounder as their best bet to fill the Bruce Brown-sized hole in this rotation.
If a Tate trade can't happen, then Wright and Osman loom as interesting alternatives. Wright would immediately improve Denver's defense and could thrive in this offense as both a playmaker and a play-finisher. Osman's game leans more to the offensive end, but that might be fine for a Nuggets team that's just 26th in bench scoring.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls
3. Ziaire Williams, Memphis Grizzlies
Whatever hope (if any) the Pistons accumulated during their 2-1 start has long been eroded by their 14-game losing streak. This franchise looks a long way away from doing anything of note, and they should act accordingly during swap season.
They still don't have nearly enough young talent. If anything, they might need a blue-chipper now more than ever given Cade Cunningham's inability to elevate. While it's too early to say the 2021 No. 1 pick can't be a centerpiece talent, it's not too early for Detroit to wonder whether he will be that caliber of player.
So, until this nucleus starts flashing anything suggesting sustainable success is on the horizon, the Pistons should be on the lookout for picks. They should be able to find some, too, with plug-and-play options like Bojan Bogdanović and Alec Burks to entice win-now shoppers. Beyond that, a low-cost flier on a stagnating prospect like either of the Williamses wouldn't be the worst idea.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
1. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
2. Caleb Martin, Miami Heat
3. Bojan Bogdanović, Detroit Pistons
The Warriors don't have a ton of trade chips to throw around, which could be a major issue if they are as in need of a significant upgrade as they've seemed so far. They've yet to find a second option to pair with Stephen Curry, and if they don't envision that problem going away, they might have to cobble together their best assets and hope that's enough to add Siakam.
He isn't a perfect fit, as he can't answer their perimeter questions or do a lot to alleviate any concerns about their lack of size as a 6'8", 230-pounder. Still, he might be the most talented player they can afford—his expiring contract should keep his trade cost relatively reasonable—and they might have to take talent wherever they can find it.
If that type of transaction is too dramatic (or too costly), they could try adding a three-and-D option like Martin. The Heat would have to be willing to let him go, obviously, but maybe the emergence of Haywood Highsmith and instant impact of rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. would loosen their grip on Martin.
Otherwise, the Warriors could sense their need for support scoring is great enough to make a run at Bogdanović. They'd be even older and slower with him onboard, but he's a good enough shooter, passer and processor to thrive in this offensive system.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
1. Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
2. Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah Jazz
3. Daniel Gafford, Washington Wizards
The Rockets have already seen a strong return on their substantial summer spending. The additions of Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green and coach Ime Udoka have given structure and defense to a franchise that had struggled to manufacture either one during its post-James Harden relaunch.
If the Rockets can keep riding this wave, which has so far yielded the league's sixth-best net rating, then they may not be done making aggressive additions. Their defense is elite, but their offense could use a lift (21st in efficiency), and Brogdon could provide that boost with shot-making and distributing.
If they want to go a little younger, Horton-Tucker could be a fun find. Consistency isn't a strength, but he can make things happen as a scorer, table-setter and versatile stopper when he has it rolling. Houston could also seek out more athleticism at center and find it in Gafford, a career 70.5 percent finisher and supplier of 2.7 blocks per 36 minutes.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
1. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
2. Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
3. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
The Pacers are the proud owner and operator of the most efficient offense in NBA history. They're also the architects of the league's second-most generous defense. That makes their games can't-miss League Pass programming, but it also casts serious doubt on their ability to carry their regular-season success over to the playoffs.
They need a lockdown defender as much as anyone, which might motivate them to cast the winning bid for Anunoby or Caruso. Anunoby is the top target, since his superior size (6'7", 232 lbs) grants him more versatility, but this might be more a 1A-1B situation than a case of one being clearly ahead of the other.
It's also possible they could revisit their offseason interest in Siakam, since their play at power forward—while improved—is still a bit lacking. Slot Siakam in as the starting 4 and second option on offense, and suddenly Indiana's range of possible outcomes for this season would grow a lot more intriguing.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
1. Torrey Craig, Chicago Bulls
2. Otto Porter Jr., Toronto Raptors
3. Jalen McDaniels, Toronto Raptors
The Clippers are pot-committed to their core, and maybe that's a good thing. They haven't exactly appeared as heavyweight contenders just yet, but they've played better than their 7-9 record shows. Their expected record is a far more interesting 10-6, and their plus-2.8 net rating (11th overall) lends credence to the notion they may be closer to contending than it seems.
They better be, though, because their trade budget won't allow for any more impact additions. So, if you're underwhelmed by the list of possibilities here, then be prepared for an underwhelming trade season.
As for the specific targets, all three could address the frontcourt depth deficiencies created by the James Harden deal. Craig is a full-throttle hustler, Porter adds an outside shooting touch (when healthy—a qualifier seemingly attached to any kind of Clippers analysis) and McDaniels could fit the three-and-D mold if he could ever fully harness his outside shot.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
1. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
2. Buddy Hield, Indiana Pacers
3. Bojan Bogdanović, Detroit Pistons
While the Lakers had hoped internal improvement might cure all of their ills, they may have problems that can't be solved in-house. They've gone just 5-8 against .500-or-better opponents and just suffered the most lopsided loss of LeBron James' career, a 44-point drubbing by the 76ers.
When pressed for what the team must change to avoid a similar fate, a dejected James said simply, "a lot."
More specifically, L.A.'s front office should be identifying ways to perk up its 25th-ranked offense. LaVine might have his flaws—and is arguably overpaid—but he could be the bucket-getter this attack desperately needs. This hasn't been his most productive season by any stretch, but put his numbers on the Purple and Gold, and he'd average their most three-pointers (2.5) and second-most points (22.1).
If the Lakers don't want to go quite that big, they should at least probe around for more perimeter help. No one averages fewer than their 9.8 triples, and only two teams have shot worse than their 33.8 three-point percentage. Hield and a healthy Bogdanović would both immediately—and immensely—improve this club's outside shooting and offensive spacing.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
1. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
2. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
3. Nikola Vučević, Chicago Bulls
The short-handed Grizzlies have been so anemic to start the season that it's possible this entire campaign gets away from them before Ja Morant's 25-game suspension is finished. Still, it's too soon to wonder whether they'll entertain any kind of selling.
If anything, this could make them more aggressive on the trade market, since they'll be racing to make up for (literal) lost time once Morant gets back. Perhaps that'll push them toward paying whatever premium is required to bring Anunoby south of the border. Three first-round picks weren't enough to get him at last season's deadline, though, so Memphis better be ready to spend large.
Or the Grizzlies could seek out players who cost more in salaries than they do in trades. Their 29th-ranked offense is a mess, but they could climb the ladder quickly with a walking bucket like LaVine alongside Morant and Desmond Bane. Memphis could also power-up its injury-riddled center spot with Vučević, who'd check boxes for support scoring, floor-spacing and a pinch of passing.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
1. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
2. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
3. Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
The Heat have, so far at least, "not been pursuing a trade" for Zach LaVine, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Their reasoning, per Jackson, includes "future flexibility, finances and duplication with Tyler Herro's skill set."
All of those are reasonable concerns, but it's fair to be skeptical over whether they're enough to actually keep Miami away. Finances and flexibility are long-term concerns; the Heat should very much be living in the present to see if they can squeeze out a championship run during the remainder of Jimmy Butler's prime. As for the duplication with Herro, it's impossible to say Miami couldn't use more offense when it ranks just 19th in efficiency on that end.
The Heat need more high-end talent, which is why they've seemingly been connected to every star to hit the trade market in recent seasons. While they were unable to seal any of those deals, the trade costs on LaVine and Siakam shouldn't be nearly as significant. If they're still too rich, though, Brogdon could be a suitable consolation prize.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
1. Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls
2. Gary Harris, Orlando Magic
3. Alec Burks, Detroit Pistons
When the Bucks swapped out Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard this offseason, they made the gamble that the offensive upgrade would be more than enough to offset any defensive decline. But the offense has fallen short of expectations (seventh in efficiency), while the defense has simply fallen apart (20th).
Milwaukee has a dire need for perimeter defense. The question is whether it has enough trade chips to get an elite stopper. Caruso would be an ideal addition, but unless there are huge MarJon Beauchamp fans in Chicago's front office, Milwaukee probably loses that bidding war.
So, Harris and Burks might be more sensible targets, even if their impact would be more muted. Still, both are pesky perimeter defenders with reliable outside shots, and each would have a chance to crack the Bucks' opening and closing lineups.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
1. Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards
2. Bones Hyland, Los Angeles Clippers
3. Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons
The time for the Timberwolves to go for it is now. A huge reason is the way they've exploded out of the gate. They have the best record in the West (second-best overall) and fourth-highest net rating in the league. But they also face a ticking clock with their future financial situation appearing completely untenable. So, going all-in today makes even more sense when they may not be able to afford tomorrow.
Their starting lineup is loaded, and their reserve frontcourt is rock-solid thanks to Naz Reid and Kyle Anderson. They need to squeeze more out of their second-unit guard group, though, which could stand to upgrade at point guard while generally supplying more scoring and shooting.
Jones, who started his career in the Gopher State, can get a bit over his skis as a starter, but he's been wildly effective in a reserve role. Hyland and Hayes would offer far less certainty, but they'd also come at a much cheaper price. Hyland was on Minnesota's radar last season and was drafted by Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly. Hayes' career might be running on fumes, but maybe a scenery change could get the No. 7 pick of the 2020 draft on track.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
1. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
3. Clint Capela, Atlanta Hawks
As per usual, the Pelicans have encountered enough turbulence on the injury front to deny the hoops world a clear look at this team's trajectory. Still, they've likely seen enough from the Zion Williamson-Brandon Ingram tandem to be intrigued by their possibilities, particularly with a better-fitting center.
They eyed Allen and Stewart this summer, and both still appear to be superior on-paper fits than Jonas Valančiūnas. Allen is a better athlete and far more impactful as a rim protector. Stewart also has more bounce, and he's a more natural shooter from range.
Capela could be another option, especially if Atlanta is ready to kick-start the Onyeka Okongwu era. Capela's offensive range doesn't reach beyond the restricted area, but his rim-running still feels preferable to Valančiūnas' more methodical style.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
1. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
3. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
Cavaliers fans—like Jazz fans before them—might be tired of hearing any Mitchell-to-NY talk, but exhaustion isn't a reason to ignore the buzz.
"Those are never going to go away," Josh Hart told Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "He's from New York. New York is never going to let that go away. So you'll never know what happens. ... But everyone knows that will be an underlying thing."
The Knicks have amassed an impressive collection of assets, and they're seemingly awaiting the right star to become available before cashing them in. Mitchell, who could reach free agency in 2025 by declining a player option, might be that player. Since the start of the 2020-21 season, he's averaged 26.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 three-pointers.
If Mitchell isn't available—Cleveland has been disappointing but not a disaster—then New York could instead shift its focus first to Anunoby, an ideal fit for the three-and-D archetype, and then to DeRozan, a multifaceted offensive weapon with a proven ability to perform in the clutch.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
1. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
2. Mikal Bridges, Brooklyn Nets
3. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
It's quite possible the ahead-of-schedule Thunder opt to simply snooze their way through trade season. General manager Sam Presti has practiced patience at every stage of Oklahoma City's rebuild, and he hardly sounded eager to change course during his preseason press conference.
"I'm not trying to dismiss everyone's excitement, but we're not a .500 team," Presti told reporters. "We have to finish our breakfast before we start acting like we're on the cusp of something."
Does an 11-5 start to the season mean breakfast is complete? What about the fact the Thunder have posted a best-in-the-West plus-8.3 net rating? Based on the way Presti has handled this roster so far, probably not. Still, it's fun to dream, which is exactly what Oklahoma City should be doing during this trade season.
The Thunder have all the makings of a top-shelf contender, so if they do anything to this roster, they should aim for impact players who can immediately increase their championship chances. It's possible Markkanen and Bridges simply aren't available, but OKC has enough draft assets to at least make Utah and Brooklyn consider such substantial subtractions. Anunoby may not be enough of a difference-maker for the Thunder to change their approach, but no one can deny the fact he'd enhance this team's play on both ends.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
1. Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers
2. Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors
3. Jaden Hardy, Dallas Mavericks
The Magic have staked their breakout on the strength of their third-ranked defense. If they want to go from being surprisingly competitive to legitimately contending, though, they need to buffer up their 15th-ranked offense.
However, they also have to keep the age of their core in mind. If they make a splash, it should be for someone who has a chance to stick around for a while. Simons, a native of suburban Orlando, fits on all fronts. The 24-year-old pairs dunk-contest hops with a fiery three-ball that has found its mark on 38.7 percent of his career three-point attempts. He also might be expendable should Portland be less than sold on his fit with Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Moving down the list, Trent is a quick-strike scorer with an uncertain future because of his expiring contract. Hardy, a sophomore guard and fringe rotation player in Dallas, is the least proven of the three, but he's a natural scorer with a sky-high ceiling.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
1. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
2. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
3. Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets
The Sixers collected enough assets in the James Harden deal to go star-searching if they want. Adding anyone on a non-expiring deal would cut into the $50 million-plus they'll have in cap space next offseason, but they could make that concession for the right player. One would think Mitchell, whom Philadelphia is said to be monitoring, qualifies.
A Mitchell-Tyrese Maxey backcourt wouldn't be the most intimidating tandem on the defensive end, but on offense, they just might be the proverbial unstoppable force. Team those two with reigning MVP Joel Embiid, and Philly would have a Big Three that could rival anyone's.
If the Sixers want to maintain their cap space—or if Mitchell is unavailable—they might get good mileage out of Anunoby or Hayward as partial-season rentals. Anunoby is the better defender, and Hayward has a deeper offensive bag. The Sixers need more help on defense, so Anunoby should be the preference, even if Hayward would almost assuredly cost a lot less.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
1. T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers
2. Delon Wright, Washington Wizards
3. Dennis Smith Jr., Brooklyn Nets
A month-plus into the season, the Suns are still awaiting the debut of their Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal trio. That's made it tough to make any big-picture assessments about this team, starting with whether this group actually needs a pass-first point guard to bring it together.
Phoenix seems to think it might, though, as it previously had eyes on McConnell. There are limitations to his game—he's not a three-point threat and can't count size (6'1", 190 lbs) or athleticism as strengths—but he knows how to run an offense. For his career, he has averaged more than three times as many assists (5.0) as turnovers (1.6).
Wright hasn't flashed quite as much passing ability, but he's still a reliable decision-maker and more versatile on defense with better physical tools. Smith is another tenacious defender, but he's struggled to be an effective scorer from any level.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Cam Whitmore, Houston Rockets
3. Aleksej Pokuševski, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Damian Lillard-less Blazers don't have a ton of win-now talent to sell, but they should aggressively shop what it has on hand. Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon look particularly out of place in Portland as win-now veterans on this hopefully-win-later rebuilder. Any option to turn them into draft picks is worth exploring.
Beyond picks, the Blazers should be on the hunt for undervalued youth. Do the Rockets already think they're too competitive to expose themselves to Whitmore's growing pains? If Houston has any interest in one of Portland's veterans, the Blazers should try to get Whitmore in that deal.
Pokuševski has fallen out of Oklahoma City's rotation, and the Thunder have enough prospects to bypass the long-shot possibility the 7-footer ever figures things out. The Blazers have plenty of developmental minutes available, though, so he might be worth a (super) cheap flier to see if his size-skill combo can amount to anything.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
1. OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors
2. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
3. Bojan Bogdanović, Detroit Pistons
The Kings were the feel-great story of last season, snapping out of a 16-year playoff drought in fashion as a 48-win No. 3 seed. They have no interest in stopping there, as they shouldn't. They seem to have something special in the De'Aaron Fox-Domantas Sabonis duo, and with both players firmly in their primes, this is the time for Sacramento to strike.
"They are going to be involved in every star player," Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium said. "Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, maybe Zach LaVine. ... They've done a good job at keeping their assets. They have tradeable contracts. So they're gonna be a player for stars coming up, for sure. I think eventually, they could add a third piece."
While the Kings could use a third scorer, they have bigger needs on the defensive end. That's why Anunoby and Siakam make the cut, but LaVine doesn't. They have enough offense as it is—this will become more clear once their shooters start making more shots—but their defense, while improved, isn't as sharp as it must be for them to approach the league's elites.
If Sacramento's shooters keep falling short of expectations, though, then the Kings could target Bogdanović. He wouldn't deplete the asset collection, and he could help widen the attack lanes for Fox and give Sabonis more room to operate in the post.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Killian Hayes, Detroit Pistons
3. James Wiseman, Detroit Pistons
If the Spurs were remotely interested in fielding a competitive club this season, their shopping list would look a lot different. The fact that they keep trotting out Jeremy Sochan as their starting point guard shows they have both eyes affixed on the future. They've been 7.3 points worse per 100 possessions with their jumbo playmaker on the floor and fared 18.1 points better per 100 possessions when his backup, Tre Jones, is in the game.
So, yes, the rebuilding project is very much still on in the Alamo City. As such, the Spurs should be searching for draft picks wherever they can find them. Flipping Doug McDermott and Cedi Osman, who are both playing on expiring deals, for draft considerations feels like a no-brainer.
Beyond that, San Antonio could kick the tires on fading prospects like Hayes and Wiseman. They'd have to be priced like dented cans at the grocery store, but at a deep bargain, they'd be mildly appealing to a team on the slow-and-steady rebuilding path.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
3. Malcolm Brogdon, Portland Trail Blazers
Teams like Toronto up the difficulty of an exercise like this, since it's still uncertain which direction it will pursue between now and the deadline. The Raptors seem like they should be a seller, but it felt that way in February, too, and they still added Jakob Poeltl.
Put us behind the wheel, and we'd be fielding all offers for Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., all of whom could hit free agency after this season. Honestly, we'd take phone calls for anyone not named Scottie Barnes. The Raptors don't have nearly enough young talent for a team that feels in obvious need of a reset.
Then again, we aren't calling the shots, so Toronto could take a dramatically different route. The Raptors, for instance, have been linked to the LaVine sweepstakes. Brogdon feels like a fit, too, assuming Toronto aims for maximum competitiveness. That path feels tenuous for a team that is nowhere near the championship race, but if the Raptors aren't shopping their impending free agents, then they should be upgrading the roster around them, since staying in the middle accomplishes absolutely nothing.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
3. Jaden Hardy, Dallas Mavericks
While the Jazz assembled an absurd number of draft picks in last year's Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert deals, rebuilding teams can never have too much help on that front. Plus, while they've seen players like Keyonte George and Walker Kessler pop, it's not like they're swimming in a sea of blue-chip prospects.
They don't necessarily need to tear things down, as last season's 37-win effort showed they can be competitive. They should, however, be open to at least some selective selling, as they clearly aren't making noise in the West.
Shopping 30-somethings Jordan Clarkson and Kelly Olynyk makes sense. If they don't envision a long-term future with Collin Sexton, they could dangle him, too. If they could keep this quiet, they should probably even keep their ears open to pitches on Lauri Markkanen, just in case anyone wants to overload them with draft picks again.
Beyond that, Utah could poke around for young players whose trade prices don't align with their potential. Buying low on Kuminga or Hardy could look brilliant down the line.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
1. Draft picks
2. James Wiseman, Detroit Pistons
3. Jaden Springer, Philadelphia 76ers
Back in July, shortly after Washington had traded away both Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porziņģis, The Athletic's Josh Robbins reported the franchise "may be as many as two seasons away from going into 'full-rebuild' mode, if it gets there at all."
What was supposed to be the hold-up? The Wizards had seemingly (and finally) tired of their annual chase of mediocrity and appeared to pivot toward wholesale changes. They never intentionally bottomed out, though, re-signing Kyle Kuzma and acquiring both Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole.
Luckily, Washington has less win-now talent than it thought, so the Wizards appear bound for the bottom of the standings, which is where they should be at this stage of their youth movement. But they still need to prioritize and expand their youth collection; they need to get this "full rebuild" going.
They should spend the next few months, then, scouring for picks wherever they can find them. Kuzma and Jones have a chance to bring back a first-round pick (and more in Kuzma's case), at least. Beyond that, getting Wiseman or Springer for next-to-nothing makes sense for a club that doesn't have nearly enough up-and-comers for how low it sits in the standings.
Stats up to date entering Tuesday's games.
