B/R Staff: Top Landing Spots for NBA Trade Deadline Targets
It's trade deadline week in the NBA, and that means you're about to be hit with waves of reports, rumors and subtle misdirection on plenty of players.
Sorting through all of it can be tough, but Bleacher Report's NBA writers have you covered with each player's ideal landing spot.
Based on recent reporting, what makes the most sense for the teams and players involved and, in some cases, what might just be the most fun, here's our take on some of the biggest names supposedly on the trade block.
Dejounte Murray: Los Angeles Lakers
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This one shouldn't be a surprise, as the Lakers have been pursuing Dejounte Murray for several months.
That the Atlanta Hawks have recently surged may give the team pause on dealing the veteran guard, but the big-picture payroll issue persists: They must rebalance their roster under the new rules of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.
The Lakers, who are believed to be willing to give up D'Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino and a first-round pick (with Russell to the Brooklyn Nets and Spencer Dinwiddie's expiring contract to the Hawks), may need to give more to get Atlanta to move now as opposed to waiting until the offseason.
The Hawks probably expect second-year guard Max Christie, additional second-round compensation and a future first-round pick swap, but that may be too rich for L.A.
It's unclear if all sides (including the Nets) will reach a compromise by the deadline. Atlanta may choose to keep Murray instead and get out of other players like De'Andre Hunter, Clint Capela and/or Bogdan Bogdanović.
But do they have a market for those players now or this summer? If not, the Hawks may not have the budget to retain pending restricted free agent Saddiq Bey or add anything significant in free agency to improve.
For the Lakers, the goal is to become a better defensive team for the playoffs without giving up a lot offensively (though Russell may be the better true shooter than Murray).
Kyle Kuzma: Dallas Mavericks
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According to multiple sources, the Dallas Mavericks are hoping to add a significant piece to their core before the deadline.
The main goal is ensuring All-Star Luka Dončić is happy in Dallas, and that's believed to be tied to winning. Some names linked to the Mavericks include Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Washington and Jerami Grant, but Kyle Kuzma of the Washington Wizards may be the most attainable.
The rebuilding Wizards paid Kuzma this summer with an eye on flipping him (per sources) at the deadline. Or, if offers aren't good enough, Washington would be patient enough to wait until the summer.
Kuzma's contract is more expensive than Washington's but friendlier than Wiggins' and Grant's as it descends each season through 2026-27 (to $19.4 million). That number could climb with Kuzma's 15 percent trade kicker (around $11 million or $2.75 million per season left on his deal).
Dallas, presumably, would need to send its 2027 first-round pick (protections TBD), which would be a high-reward proposition for Washington if Dončić decides to leave the Mavericks before the 2026-27 season.
Depending on timing, a combination of Josh Green, Richaun Holmes and Seth Curry could be enough to make salaries match (with Washington opening a roster spot via other moves or by sending Anthony Gill to Dallas).
—Pincus
Bruce Brown: New York Knicks
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As soon as veteran combo guard-forward, rim runner-Rennaissance man Bruce Brown wound up on the Toronto Raptors, it felt like it would be little more than a way station.
The Raptors are at the outset of a rebuild, while Brown is a 27-year-old whose versatility just proved crucial for the Denver Nuggets' 2023 title run.
And though some of his advanced numbers suggest he's taken a step back this season, you don't have to think too hard to remember his unique combination of ball-handling, perimeter defense and timely shooting coming in handy against other contenders.
One contender (or fringe contender), apparently, remembers. Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer wrote: "The [New York] Knicks appear more interested in Toronto guard Bruce Brown Jr., for whom the Raptors are seeking some return in the range of a first-round pick."
If that's all it takes, and assuming New York doesn't decide to expend more elsewhere, this almost feels like a no-brainer.
The Knicks already have plenty of backcourt versatility from Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. Adding the 6'4" Brown to the mix might make the team dangerously small, but he and the aforementioned current Knicks all play bigger than they are.
And Brown could restore some of the playmaking lost when Immanuel Quickley was traded to the Toronto Raptors.
Quentin Grimes: Atlanta Hawks
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If the Knicks decide to go after more of a high-volume scorer like Dejounte Murray (as opposed to Brown), Quentin Grimes to Atlanta would make plenty in the return.
New York has several picks to send the Hawks' way, and they're reportedly "intrigued" by Grimes too. It's not hard to see why.
His numbers have dropped off a bit from where they were last season, but Grimes is a lower-usage wing with similar size to Murray and a 37.9 career three-point percentage.
The blueprint for wings and guards around Trae Young may be guys who are willing to take on lesser offensive roles while digging in defensively, and Grimes has shown he can check those boxes. It doesn't hurt that he's four years younger than Murray too.
—Bailey
Andrew Wiggins: Dallas Mavericks
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It's been an ugly season for Andrew Wiggins in Golden State, although this could be the perfect opportunity for the Mavericks to swoop in and steal the former All-Star and champion while his stock is low.
Dallas will forever need big wings who can shoot and defend to place around Luka Dončić, with Wiggins checking all of these boxes as a 6'7" small forward who's made 38.0 percent of his threes the past four years.
While his outside shot has slumped to just 31.1 percent this season, playing alongside Dončić and Kyrie Irving should create more open looks for the 28-year-old. When given six feet of space or more to shoot this season, he is knocking down a far more respectable 35.0 percent of his looks.
Dallas has players to send back who should appeal to the Warriors as well, a list that could include Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber and/or Seth Curry for a family reunion.
DeMar DeRozan: Philadelphia 76ers
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No, DeMar DeRozan isn't going to immediately bulk up and play center for Philly in Joel Embiid's absence, but the veteran wing is versatile enough to cover for a lot of the Sixers' weaknesses while they await the return of their MVP center.
The 34-year-old could be used in a number of ways in Philly.
Putting the ball in his hands at times and using Tyrese Maxey as a spot-up shooter is instant offense. Maxey is connecting on 47.6 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes this season compared to just 32.1 percent of his pull-ups. No player passed more to Maxey than Embiid this season as well.
DeRozan would help shoulder the scoring load as well with Embiid out and add another veteran with playoff experience to the locker room. He'd also serve as a recruiting tool to help land Kyle Lowry should his former Toronto Raptors teammate and best friend get a buyout from the Charlotte Hornets at some point.
—Swartz
Jerami Grant: Golden State Warriors
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Remember last season when Andrew Wiggins was shooting nearly 40 percent from three, playing strong defense and helping the Warriors win a playoff series? That could be Jerami Grant now.
With Wiggins struggling, Golden State needs another forward who can defend multiple positions, shoot the lights out from three and be a reliable second or third scoring option every night.
Grant is averaging 21.3 points and shooting 40.3 percent from deep for Portland this season. He can play either forward position depending on if the Warriors want to play big or small and brings 35 games of playoff experience from his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets. While the 29-year-old isn't a strong rebounder, Golden State ranks third in glass cleaning, helping to cover for this weakness.
The Warriors could see if Portland would be interested in a Grant-for-Wiggins swap with some draft picks thrown in as incentive, or they could use Chris Paul's expiring contract to help facilitate a deal.
—Swartz
Daniel Gafford: Oklahoma City Thunder
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If we're being honest, the Wizards should probably hang on to Daniel Gafford.
Just 25, on a reasonable contract (less than $28 million over the next two years) and only getting better, he still fits into a rebuild in Washington. The Wizards are 6.3 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor as well.
Still, if a pick-heavy team like the Thunder came calling…
Gafford would give OKC another big man to call on should they run into players like Nikola Jokić, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Domantas Sabonis or others in the playoffs. Chet Holmgren is going to need breaks from these assignments, and the Thunder don't possess a lot of quality bigs.
Gafford gives them some additional size and defense in the frontcourt, someone who the Thunder can surround with shooters and let him roll hard to the rim. Holmgren is a good enough shooter that OKC could play both at the same time for spurts as well.
—Swartz
Alex Caruso: Sacramento Kings
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It's not hard to find a landing spot for Alex Caruso. Need someone who can defend at a high level, shoot 40 percent from three, is a talented passer and has championship experience? So does every other team.
While the Milwaukee Bucks are probably the contender that needs the 29-year-old the most, the Kings actually have the assets to go get him. Sacramento simply hasn't developed Davion Mitchell into a reliable backup point guard and has been forced to use Malik Monk, a natural shooting guard, in this role.
Caruso would be the perfect backup to De'Aaron Fox, someone who could join the star guard on the court for stretches while taking on the toughest defensive assignment. Both Fox and Domantas Sabonis could find him for open shots as well.
A leaky defense ultimately doomed the Kings' magical season in 2022-23. While it's been better this year, Caruso could truly make it playoff-worthy while bringing some juice to the offensive end as well.
—Swartz
Malcolm Brogdon: Orlando Magic
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While bigger markets like the New York Knicks or Los Angeles Lakers may pursue Malcolm Brogdon, his best fit is actually with the Orlando Magic.
Orlando's goal should be a top-6 seed in the East and a guaranteed playoff spot, especially if the Philadelphia 76ers continue to tumble down the standings without Joel Embiid.
The Magic have struggled mightily with their outside shooting, though, and a backcourt full of young guards has been turnover-prone.
Brogdon helps solve both these issues while giving the locker room a leader with 43 games of playoff experience with the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
The 31-year-old is making 42.6 percent of his threes as a starter this season (Orlando is shooting 34.5 percent as a team, 28th overall) and he is turning the ball over just 1.8 times a start against 6.8 assists. The Magic rank 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.70).
With a contract that runs through next season, Brogdon is the perfect current piece to get Orlando to the playoffs before handing the keys to Anthony Black, Jalen Suggs and others.
—Swartz
Bojan Bogdanović: New York Knicks
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While Bojan Bogdanović looked like a solid fit with the Knicks all season, the temporary loss of Julius Randle with a separated shoulder makes this an even better landing spot for the veteran forward.
The 34-year-old would be a terrific starting power forward with Randle out and could play the 3 and 4 off the bench when he returns. The Knicks rank just 15th in three-point accuracy (36.9 percent) and 14th in made threes per game (13.1), areas Bogdanović would help push them up the board in.
Equally dangerous off the pull-up (46.6 percent) or the catch (40.0 percent), the Croatian gives Jalen Brunson a kick out option who can spread the floor next to Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson if he returns this season.
There's an easy deal to make here as well, as the Knicks can use Evan Fournier's $18.8 million salary and attach some sweeteners (Quentin Grimes, Detroit's protected 2024 first-round pick, for example) to make this worthwhile for both sides.
Bogdanović also fits the Tom Thibodeau mode of smart, hard-nosed players who give good effort at all times. His addition with the Knicks would make them a serious threat to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals or beyond.
—Swartz
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