Surprise Landing Spots for Rumored NBA Trade Deadline Targets

We've heard plenty of rumors by now about NBA stars ending up in specific destinations.

There's been talk of Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine to the Los Angeles Lakers. Malcolm Brogdon or Bruce Brown to the New York Knicks. Kyle Kuzma to the Dallas Mavericks or Sacramento Kings.

While some of these may come true, more often than not we're actually surprised when trades go down. Take Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks instead of the Miami Heat or Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of New York, for instance.

The following destinations may not be the first places you'd expect these seven players to end up before the trade deadline, although they all make a lot of sense.

Bruce Brown: Houston Rockets

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TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Bruce Brown #11 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 22, 2024 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images)

Every contender could use Brown to plug into their rotation, as the veteran guard remains on the trade block even after moving from the Indiana Pacers to the Toronto Raptors.

The Rockets need Brown, however, especially since recent poor play has them outside of the West play-in picture.

This is one of the youngest teams in the NBA, and it could use a multi-positional defender with playoff experience. Brown would rejoin former Denver Nuggets teammate Jeff Green in a rotation that is talented enough to become a force in the West with more reps.

The Rockets can cobble enough salary together between Victor Oladipo ($9.5 million) and Jock Landale ($8.0 million) to get close to Brown's number ($22.0 million) and have plenty of young talent and draft picks to sweeten a deal for the Raptors.

The Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are "frequently mentioned" as suitors for Brown, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, but the Rockets make a lot of sense as well.

Bojan Bogdanović: Sacramento Kings

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DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 9: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Detroit Pistons and Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings before the game on January 9, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

While the Sacramento Kings were previously linked to Pascal Siakam and could serve as a landing spot for Kyle Kuzma, Jerami Grant, Zach LaVine or Miles Bridges, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee, Bogdanović would be an intriguing target as well.

Averaging 19.5 points on 41.1 percent shooting from three, Bogdanović would be an upgrade over Harrison Barnes in the starting lineup in a three-point-heavy offense. While Sacramento attempts the third-most threes per game (40.5), it ranks just 12th overall in efficiency (37.1 percent).

It's easy to envision Bogdanović spacing the floor for De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, both of whom are excellent passers and would find the veteran forward for plenty of open looks.

Detroit should have interest in young guards like Kevin Huerter and Davion Mitchell and the Kings have future first-round picks to offer as well.

Losing out on Siakam isn't all bad for Sacramento, who would greatly benefit from adding a sniper like Bogdanović out on the wing instead.

Zach LaVine: Brooklyn Nets

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 03: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Mikal Bridges #1 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second half of the NBA In-Season Tournament at the United Center on November 03, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The primary knocks on Zach LaVine include his hefty remaining contract and lack of defense, areas that should be of less concern to the Brooklyn Nets than most franchises.

The Nets already possess some elite defenders to place around LaVine in Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith, and Brooklyn has only one player (Ben Simmons) set to earn over $23.6 million next season. If the Bulls are willing to take Simmons back in the deal (he'll be on an expiring $40.3 million salary in 2024-25), the Nets wouldn't have to send out any members of their current healthy rotation and could simply attach some draft picks to Simmons instead.

While Brooklyn has slumped to 17-25 on the season, there's no incentive to be bad given its 2024 first-round pick is owed to the Houston Rockets.

A starting five of Spencer Dinwiddie, LaVine, Bridges, Cam Johnson and Claxton with Cam Thomas, Finney-Smith, Royce O'Neale, Lonnie Walker IV and others could get back into the playoff picture and potentially play spoiler in the first round.

Brooklyn should see if the salary relief from swapping contracts with Simmons plus a first-round pick or two is enough for Chicago to part with LaVine.

Macolm Brogdon: Orlando Magic

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PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 27: Malcolm Brogdon #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on October 27, 2023 at the Portland Trail Blazers practice facility in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic have tumbled down the standings over the past month-plus, going 7-14 overall since Dec. 15.

If they want to climb back into a top-six seed, a trade will be required.

Bringing in a veteran point guard like Malcolm Brogdon would make a huge impact on this roster overall. Orlando ranks just 27th in offense over this stretch (110.3 rating) with an assist ratio that also falls near the bottom of the league (28th overall, 17.3 percent).

The Magic have also been one of the worst three-point shooting teams all season, currently in a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies for dead last (34.2 percent) overall.

While Anthony Black may be the future of the position, Brogdon becomes the adult in the room that can get the ship back on course. The 31-year-old is averaging 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists and shooting 44.4 percent from three in his 19 starts with the Portland Trail Blazers and should be thrilled to get back on a team with playoff aspirations.

Kyle Kuzma: Golden State Warriors

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - DECEMBER 22: Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 22, 2023 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Few teams should be as motivated to swing a big trade at the deadline as the Golden State Warriors, a team currently two games away from even making the West play-in tournament.

The addition of Kyle Kuzma would help jump-start what's become a lethargic offense, giving the Warriors a secondary scoring option behind Stephen Curry.

The 28-year-old can line up at either forward position, either playing the 4 in small-ball lineups with Draymond Green at center or sliding up to the 3 if the Warriors play a more traditional big. Kuzma has become a better and more willing passer now seven years into his career and should fit into Steve Kerr's ball-movement-heavy offense.

These two front offices already orchestrated the Chris Paul-Jordan Poole swap, and could use Paul's expiring contract (by finding a third team) as a way to bring Kuzma in now. Washington should have strong interest in players like Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis as well.

Adding Kuzma to a core of Curry, Klay Thompson, Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kevon Looney and others would help push the Warriors back into the playoffs and keep the dynasty alive.

Nikola Vučević: Oklahoma City Thunder

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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 25: Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) in action during a NBA game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls on October 25, 2023 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Oklahoma City Thunder don't have a lot of weaknesses and shouldn't be looking to go all-in at the trade deadline for a superstar. Adding one more starting-caliber big to the rotation who can clean the glass should be at the top of their list, however.

If the Chicago Bulls decide to reshuffle their deck and trade Vučević, the veteran center would be a strong fit in OKC.

The Thunder rank just 29th overall in total rebound percentage this season (47.4 percent), besting only the Washington Wizards. Asking Chet Holmgren to defend Nikola Jokić, Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Karl-Anthony Towns and other premier big men in the West is a lot, especially in what will be his first playoff experience.

Vučević continues to be one of the best rebounders in the NBA (10.7 boards per game, seventh overall) as well as a talented passer and scorer from all three levels. Placing him next to a top-tier rim protector like Holmgren helps cover up Vučević's defensive deficiencies as well.

The Thunder should try to flip Dāvis Bertāns' contract with some draft picks to bring Vučević on board.

Dejounte Murray: Utah Jazz

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT - FEBRUARY 3: Dejounte Murray #5 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on February 3, 2023 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

While the Utah Jazz have a number of talented combo guards on their roster, adding an All-Star-caliber floor general to the mix would help push them toward a top-six seed in the West.

The last time Murray was a starting point guard he averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the San Antonio Spurs in 2021-22, resulting in an All-Star selection. Putting the 27-year-old back into this role in Utah next to Lauri Markkanen would help bring out the best in Murray once again.

These two front offices are already familiar with each other, having previously worked out a John Collins trade this past summer. With the Hawks now fading at 18-25 overall, they could choose between getting young talent or draft picks back from Utah, a franchise that owns eight extra first-round picks from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers over the next six years.

Even though the Lakers and Hawks have had "pretty extensive conversations" about a trade for Murray, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Jazz could easily outbid Los Angeles for Murray, and they should.