Breaking Down Each 2016-17 NBA Team's Early-Season Trade Bait
Even though the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are the prohibitive favorites to again advance out of their respective conferences in 2016-17, everyone technically has a chance. Even the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers get to begin the year tied atop the standings.
But not every team is equal. Some quickly emerge as buyers, looking to strengthen their rosters for a run at an impressive seed and the ensuing postseason run. Others don't take long to assert themselves as sellers, offering established players for youthful contributors and future draft picks.
A few aren't quite sure of their direction yet.
Either way, they have certain pieces they're most likely to dangle as trade bait during the season's opening salvo. And to be clear, we're only talking about the very beginning of the campaign, when players who were acquired in free agency or re-signed still can't be moved—a restriction that lifts Dec. 15.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Team Status: Buyers/sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Kent Bazemore, Matt Costello, Malcolm Delaney, Dwight Howard, Kris Humphries, Jarrett Jack
Primary Trade Asset: Veteran wings
The Atlanta Hawks don't have an established direction after an offseason of changes led to Dwight Howard replacing Al Horford, while Dennis Schroder stepped into a starting role once Jeff Teague was traded to the Indiana Pacers.
This team could be one of the better squads in the Eastern Conference, but that's far from a guarantee.
Early in the season, it's likely to stand pat rather than making any moves that force it in one direction over the other. But trading either of its veteran wings is the most likely option, if only because it would open up more minutes for the younger players and make it clear how much potential the Hawks have on their hands.
Thabo Sefolosha and Kyle Korver have both retained plenty of value into their 30s as defensive and offensive specialists, respectively. Throw in the fact that both are operating on expiring contracts, and either should bring a decent return, whether Atlanta is looking for draft picks, young players or useful veterans at other positions.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Al Horford, Tyler Zeller
Primary Trade Asset: A Brooklyn Nets draft pick
After landing Al Horford and retaining nearly every one of their key players, the Boston Celtics are ready to climb the Eastern Conference ladder. But they're not yet on the same level as the presumptive favorites in that half of the NBA, which means they must keep acquiring more talent.
Fortunately, Boston has a few assets that it can afford to part with in any attempt to land a superstar. Thanks to the ill-advised decision-making of Brooklyn's previous brain trust, the Celtics can swap first-round picks with the Nets during the 2017 NBA draft. Given the expected futility of their Atlantic Division adversaries, that selection could come right at the top.
Boston wouldn't trade any of the credits owed by the Brooklyn Nets for just anyone, but they could be used to tease out the first marquee player to hit the blocks. And if that's not enough, the C's have access to Brooklyn's 2018 first-rounder, which will be conveyed in unprotected fashion.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Beau Beech, Anthony Bennett, Trevor Booker, Randy Foye, Jordan Hamilton, Joe Harris, Jeremy Lin, Egidijus Mockevicius, Luis Scola, Greivis Vasquez
Primary Trade Asset: Brook Lopez
The Brooklyn Nets have to keep plugging along with their slow rebuild, except they don't have many ways to gain talent.
The roster isn't filled with players capable of taking quantum leaps and morphing into superstars. Their free-agency appeal is limited, which is why the most notable offseason deals you see above belong to Jeremy Lin and Luis Scola. The Nets don't even have strong draft picks, since the previous administration traded them all to the Boston Celtics until roughly 2067.
All that's left is Brook Lopez.
The Nets could continue to roster the high-scoring center, hoping he doesn't decline too dramatically by the time the lengthy rebuild draws to a conclusion. Or, they could shop him around and see if they can pick up any assets for his present services.
Charlotte Hornets
4 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Nicolas Batum, Treveon Graham, Roy Hibbert, Brian Roberts, Ramon Sessions, Mike Tobey, Marvin Williams, Christian Wood
Primary Trade Asset: Jeremy Lamb
The Charlotte Hornets should be strong enough to look into buying at the start of 2016-17.
They were, after all, the No. 9 team in Basketball-Reference.com's simple rating system for 2015-16, which looks solely at strength of schedule and margin of victory. Now, they're bringing back all key pieces except Jeremy Lin, banking on some internal improvement and adding Michael Kidd-Gilchrist into the fold for a full year (hopefully).
But if the Hornets do want to improve further, they don't have many great options.
The easiest player to float would be Jeremy Lamb, who has still failed to live up to a once-promising profile that made him the 2012 NBA draft's No. 12 pick. On a Hornets roster that features Nicolas Batum, Marco Belinelli and Kidd-Gilchrist's prominent wing roles, Lamb should be expendable.
Charlotte would just have to hope some other squad would think it could succeed where the Oklahoma City Thunder and Hornets have both already failed.
Chicago Bulls
5 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Isaiah Canaan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade
Primary Trade Asset: Frontcourt veterans
The Chicago Bulls frontcourt is loaded with talent, even after losing Joakim Noah to the New York Knicks and Pau Gasol to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency. Robin Lopez, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic all figure to play big parts, and it wouldn't be surprising to witness further development from Cristiano Felicio or that Doug McDermott is better at the 4 than the 3.
Meanwhile, Jerian Grant and Spencer Dinwiddie are the only point-guard backups to Rajon Rondo, and neither has proved he can take the helm of a competitive team. Denzel Valentine is the only shooting guard other than Jimmy Butler on the roster, and he's a rookie. The small forward reserves—Tony Snell, McDermott and Paul Zipser—are similarly unconvincing.
If the Bulls want to up the level of talent on this roster, they'll have to deal a member of their frontcourt conglomerate. Mirotic is an option if his defense doesn't improve right away, and Lopez could be floated around—though the big man's on-court value seems to surpass his appeal in the trade market.
As such, Gibson is the most likely bait. His defensive excellence would certainly be appealing, and Chicago could rather easily replace his minutes with its other youthful talents.
Cleveland Cavaliers
6 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Chris Andersen, LeBron James, Richard Jefferson, James Jones
Primary Trade Asset: Draft picks
The Cleveland Cavaliers probably don't need to get better. They enter the season as the clear-cut favorites in the Eastern Conference and should be able to earn the No. 1 seed even while resting some of their key players down the stretch.
But if they want to improve, they'll have to turn to their draft picks. No member of their roster is both appealing to other teams and expendable to the Cavaliers, unless Jordan McRae thrives during early-season garbage time.
Even then, meaningful trades will be difficult. Cleveland already owes its 2018 first-rounder to the Portland Trail Blazers, and that means it can't offer another opening-round selection until the 2020 draft. If any team will go to war all season with the same troops, this would be the one.
Dallas Mavericks
7 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Quincy Acy, Harrison Barnes, Nicolas Brussino, Kyle Collinsworth, Seth Curry, Dorian Finney-Smith, Jonathan Gibson, Keith Hornsby, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Powell, Jameel Warney, Deron Williams
Primary Trade Asset: First-round draft picks
Dirk Nowitzki needs more help if he's going to survive the Western Conference gauntlet, but the Dallas Mavericks' roster construction makes it almost impossible to engage in serious trade discussions until after newly signed free agents can be traded on Dec. 15.
Early in the season, only seven of Dallas' players are eligible for deals:
- Wesley Matthews, who continues to play a vital part in the Mavericks' two-way efforts.
- Andrew Bogut, who was just acquired via trade from the Golden State Warriors and is the lone established center on the roster.
- Devin Harris and J.J. Barea, who are the only veteran backups to the oft-injured Deron Williams.
- Justin Anderson and A.J. Hammons, who have enough untapped potential to possibly serve as building blocks for the post-Nowitzki rebuild.
- Salah Mejri, who won't tempt many teams.
It shouldn't be difficult to see why this franchise must turn to draft picks if it wants to make a significant move. Fortunately, it has a full stock unless another organization, for some strange reason, is only interested in 2018 second-rounders.
Denver Nuggets
8 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Darrell Arthur, Mike Miller
Primary Trade Asset: Almost everything
Just take a gander at the preseason depth chart for the Denver Nuggets, per Rotoworld:
| Emmanuel Mudiay | Gary Harris | Danilo Gallinari | Kenneth Faried | Nikola Jokic |
| Jameer Nelson | Jamal Murray | Will Barton | Darrell Arthur | Jusuf Nurkic |
| Malik Beasley | Wilson Chandler | |||
| Juan Hernangomez | ||||
| JaKarr Sampson | ||||
| Axel Toupane |
The Nuggets still have to be looking at consolidation. They have so much talent at every position that they can afford to spare some—even talent with plenty of unrealized potential—in the pursuit of a superstar who can help expedite this rebuild.
Only Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokic should be untouchable.
If other teams are interested in Danilo Gallinari, the Nuggets shouldn't hang up. If they want Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, Jamal Murray, Jusuf Nurkic or any other growing prospect, Denver should listen carefully and attempt to improve the current roster. It has as much flexibility as anyone, and it can't be afraid to make controversial decisions that would help it move forward.
Detroit Pistons
9 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Andre Drummond, Jon Leuer, Boban Marjanovic, Ray McCallum, Ish Smith
Primary Trade Asset: Wings
The Detroit Pistons have already found the centerpiece of head coach Stan Van Gundy's four-out, one-in schemes—Andre Drummond, who can dominate on the glass, finish garbage plays after grabbing offensive boards and draw a defense closer to him through his sheer size and physicality. If he can develop a convincing post-up game, he could become the sport's most successful big.
But the search for the shooters surrounding him is an ongoing process, and the Pistons can't yet count on any of the presumptive starters.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has plenty of promise, but he shot just 30.9 percent from beyond the arc during his third professional season. Marcus Morris is misplaced as a full-time small forward, and he still doesn't shoot much better than an average marksman. Tobias Harris thrived after the Pistons acquired him midway through 2015-16, but he's been inconsistent throughout his career, and his three-point percentage in particular has fluctuated wildly.
If the Pistons want to acquire an established sniper who can help boost them closer to the top of the Eastern Conference, they could easily float any of the aforementioned wings. None are older than 27, and all should have appeal to plenty of other squads.
Golden State Warriors
10 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Ian Clark, Kevin Durant, James Michael McAdoo, Zaza Pachulia, Anderson Varejao, David West
Primary Trade Asset: Draft picks
In the strange event that the Dubs desire an early-season move after entering the year as presumptive title favorites, only eight Golden State Warriors would be eligible for trades until the players listed above can be dealt.
Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are untouchable and vital to the squad that just won a record-setting 73 games and then added more talent in the offseason by luring Kevin Durant and a number of notable veterans.
That leaves Kevon Looney, Patrick McCaw and Damian Jones, all of whom were high-upside selections in the last two drafts, acquired in the hopes they'd become productive rotation members on rookie-scale contracts and make retaining established core pieces an easier financial proposition. It's unlikely any of them are moved, either.
Golden State still owes its first-round pick in 2017 to the Utah Jazz, and it likely won't have a second-round pick during any of the next three offseasons. If it really wants to make a trade (again, this is highly unlikely until we get far closer to the deadline), it'll have to offer up a 2019 first-rounder.
Houston Rockets
11 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, James Harden, Nene, Chinanu Onuaku, Pablo Prigioni
Primary Trade Asset: Promising forwards
The Houston Rockets' offseason made it abundantly clear this team is trying to win now. It's done worrying about the potential of its backups and instead acquired limited veterans who can help fill areas of weakness—Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Nene.
If the Rockets want to double down early in the campaign, they have a number of forwards who could become tantalizing pieces if/when they're placed on the trade block.
Montrezl Harrell is now blocked by Anderson, and Donatas Motiejunas could join him in that group if he signs a late-offseason contract with his old team. Sam Dekker and K.J. McDaniels both qualify for the same category, except they're each impeded by Trevor Ariza and the inevitable Gordon-James Harden small-ball lineups. Either would be tempting to a team in need of upside at small forward.
Houston presumably doesn't want to just give up any of those youthful up-and-comers, but it could palate the loss. That's the benefit of acquiring all the veterans who are primed to play big minutes in the quest for more playoff success.
Indiana Pacers
12 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Aaron Brooks, Al Jefferson
Primary Trade Asset: Monta Ellis
Can Monta Ellis and Jeff Teague work together?
It's tough to see that pair resulting in much success for the Indiana Pacers, and they could cut bait with one member of the starting backcourt if 2016-17 gets off to a rough start. Should that nightmare become a reality, it's far easier to float Ellis than the point guard they just acquired from the Atlanta Hawks.
Ellis may have become a defensive asset in 2015-16, but that was partially due to George Hill's presence. Teague isn't a defender of the same caliber, and he won't be able to take on the tougher assignments, allowing Ellis to dart around and wreak havoc away from the primary action.
Plus, the new starting point guard is a more ball-dominant player than Hill ever was, and he thrives when running the show as a pick-and-roll handler. That just takes the rock away from Ellis more often, which further depresses his offensive value.
It's far more likely that Indiana remains stubborn and tries to make this duo work all season, but Ellis is also the logical candidate to serve as a primary trade asset during the early goings.
Los Angeles Clippers
13 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Alan Anderson, Jamal Crawford, Raymond Felton, Wesley Johnson, Luc Mbah a Moute, Austin Rivers, Marreese Speights
Primary Trade Asset: None
Who exactly are the Los Angeles Clippers going to trade?
Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and J.J. Redick should be untouchable, and opposing teams won't have any interest in Brandon Bass or Paul Pierce. Brice Johnson is the only other player on the roster eligible to be traded before mid-December, and LAC shouldn't move the rookie power forward so soon after using a first-round pick to acquire him.
That leaves draft picks, except Doc Rivers has made...interesting(?) moves like sending away a first-round selection for a half-season rental of Jeff Green.
The Clippers can't trade a second-rounder until 2019 or a first-rounder until 2021, and that knocks out almost every possibility.
Los Angeles Lakers
14 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Tarik Black, Jordan Clarkson, Luol Deng, Marcelo Huertas, Yi Jianlian, Timofey Mozgov
Primary Trade Asset: Lou Williams
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the few teams who should emerge as immediate sellers, since they're still in the talent-acquisition phase of a rebuild. During the first year of the post-Kobe Bryant era, they must keep moving veterans for young talents and continue to elevate the organizational ceiling.
However, there's just one problem.
L.A. doesn't exactly boast many marquee veterans who would interest the league's buyers. At best, it'll be left making minor moves—such as trading Lou Williams for a second-round pick—to a contender who needs a specific type of piece off the bench.
Patience is key in Tinseltown.
Memphis Grizzlies
15 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Mike Conley, Troy Daniels, James Ennis, Chandler Parsons, Wayne Selden Jr., D.J. Stephens, Troy Williams
Primary Trade Asset: Zach Randolph
The Memphis Grizzlies can keep trying to rely on their two bigs, but both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are moving well past their athletic primes. It could be time to move on, and the easiest way to do that is by accepting the NBA's modern small-ball style, trading Randolph and letting Chandler Parsons spend plenty of time at the 4.
This wouldn't be an easy trade to make. Randolph is quite popular in Memphis, and the return for the 35-year-old's services wouldn't be anything special, thereby making the move even tougher for the fanbase to swallow.
But JaMychal Green is waiting in the wings. Deyonta Davis and Jarell Martin are both capable of handling minutes and quickly growing into their future-turned-present rotation roles. The roster is conducive to small-ball lineups that would help space the floor around Gasol.
Pulling the trigger wouldn't be easy, but this is the most logical move.
Miami Heat
16 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Wayne Ellington, Udonis Haslem, Stefan Jankovic, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Rodney McGruder, Willie Reed, Beno Udrih, Dion Waiters, Okaro White, Hassan Whiteside, Derrick Williams
Primary Trade Asset: None
Only seven players on this roster can be traded before mid-December, and it's highly unlikely the Miami Heat could come to terms while only dangling one of them.
Chris Bosh's health concerns still leave him in limbo. Goran Dragic, Josh McRoberts, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson are too important to the team. Briante Weber and Luke Babbitt wouldn't bring any sort of return. And that's it.
If Miami is convinced it needs to make an early-season move—and, despite the plethora of recognizable names on the roster, it might need to in order to become a playoff lock in the Eastern Conference—it'll have to dip into its limited arsenal of draft picks. And unless another organization wants to take a flier on a 2023 first-rounder, it doesn't have anything to offer.
Miami may as well be locked into its current roster until Christmas is right around the corner.
Milwaukee Bucks
17 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Matthew Dellavedova, Miles Plumlee, Mirza Teletovic, Jason Terry
Primary Trade Asset: Greg Monroe
"Greg Monroe and Rudy Gay, league sources say, continue to be two of the NBA's most prominent proven vets known to be available via trade," ESPN's Marc Stein reported in July. And he'd continue with the following: "In the wake of Milwaukee's re-signing of Miles Plumlee, league sources say that Bucks center Greg Monroe remains available via trade."
Plumlee is still on the roster. So too is Monroe, despite his offseason-long availability.
The Milwaukee Bucks did come close to dealing the latter, though, as Zach Lowe mentioned at 54:25 into this edition of The Lowe Post (h/t Hoops Rumors): "I think [the Bucks] got closer [to trading Monroe] than maybe has been reported with New Orleans during either the draft or free agency."
This effort to trade Monroe won't stop once games begin. Productive as he can be, he's not a stylistic fit for a young Milwaukee team whose success is predicated upon athleticism, transition excellence and defensive upside.
Minnesota Timberwolves
18 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Cole Aldrich, Jordan Hill, Brandon Rush
Primary Trade Asset: Bigs who aren't Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns. Kevin Garnett (if he chooses not to retire). Adreian Payne. Gorgui Dieng. Nemanja Bjelica. Cole Aldrich. Nikola Pekovic. Jordan Hill.
The Minnesota Timberwolves frontcourt has grown too crowded, and the front office must consolidate talent for either an established starting power forward or help at another position. Even if Garnett decides to hang up the sneakers, Pekovic never gets healthy and Payne fails to develop, that's still five other players competing for minutes at two positions.
Dieng, despite the excitement that should exist about his growing performance on both ends, is the best option to float around the trade block. His name may not yet resonate with casual fans, but it's no secret he's morphing into a strong defender who can contribute in various ways on offense.
Minnesota may not want to give him up, but packaging him and another player with potential (or a draft pick) could be its ticket to acquiring the next Timberwolves star.
New Orleans Pelicans
19 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Tim Frazier, Langston Galloway, Alonzo Gee, Solomon Hill, Terrence Jones, E'Twaun Moore
Primary Trade Asset: Tyreke Evans
Buddy Hield is in town, and the New Orleans Pelicans will end up using plenty of sets that see multiple shooting guards at the same time. With Solomon Hill and E'Twaun Moore serving as two of their biggest free-agency acquisitions, they have no other choice.
That plan won't work if Tyreke Evans is still lining up on the wings. NOLA needs more spacing around Anthony Davis, and Evans isn't a strong-enough perimeter marksman to continuously occupy a wing slot that impedes the growth and developing chemistry of new additions.
Make him available and add depth elsewhere, even if that's deferred in the form of a solid draft pick.
Plus, this is a contract year for Evans. The Pelicans should shop him around as a one-year rental (with the possibility of an extension) rather than risk letting him walk for nothing next summer.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Ron Baker, Brandon Jennings, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Courtney Lee, Maurice Ndour, Joakim Noah, Marshall Plumlee, Chasson Randle, Lance Thomas, J.P. Tokoto, Sasha Vujacic
Primary Trade Asset: Kyle O'Quinn
As Bleacher Report's Dan Favale wrote while calling Kyle O'Quinn the New York Knicks' most underrated player, this big man deserves more minutes:
"Why did the Knicks sign Kyle O'Quinn to a four-year, $16 million contract and then proceed to play him less than the Magic did in each of the previous two seasons? That's apparently a question without an answer.
“I have no idea,’’ O’Quinn said on the subject, per the New York Post's Marc Berman. “If I knew, I wouldn’t have did it.’’
Sources told Berman "defensive lapses" were the cause of O'Quinn's inconsistent role, which is funny. His rim-protection numbers were right in line with Kristaps Porzingis', and New York's defensive rating improved with O'Quinn on the floor.
Conditioning wasn't—or at least shouldn't have been—the issue, either. O'Quinn has trimmed down this summer, per Berman, but the Knicks finished in the bottom seven of pace.
"
O'Quinn remains a per-minute stud who can contribute in virtually every facet of the game, but he's competing for playing time with Porzingis, Joakim Noah, Maurice Ndour, Guillermo Hernangomez and Marshall Plumlee. New York doesn't play him enough to miss him, but another organization might love to have him.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Ronnie Price, Russell Westbrook
Primary Trade Asset: Frontcourt depth
The Oklahoma City Thunder can't possibly play all their big men.
Steven Adams started to break out during the playoffs, thriving as a seldom-used offensive contributor who could dominate on defense. Enes Kanter is a rebounding machine who can score around the hoop in myriad methods. Mitch McGary, Domantas Sabonis and Dakari Johnson are brimming with potential.
And because that's not enough, OKC just traded for Joffrey Lauvergne and is keeping Nick Collison on the roster.
Someone has to be the odd man out, and—with the exception of Collison, who's a long-tenured member of this organization—everyone is too talented to just be cut without any sort of compensation.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Team Status: Sellers(?)
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: D.J. Augustin, Bismack Biyombo, Evan Fournier, Jeff Green
Primary Trade Asset: Frontcourt pieces
Are we 100 percent sure the Orlando Magic will be sellers?
It seems like they should be, given the predominance of youth on this roster. Even in the Eastern Conference, there's no way they can compete for a top-tier playoff berth, and just making it to the postseason will be challenging enough.
But this is the Magic we're talking about, and their recent roster changes have given no indication they're working toward anything but a moving target. Acquiring Serge Ibaka, Jeff Green, Stephen Zimmerman and Bismack Biyombo without losing Aaron Gordon or Nikola Vucevic is indicative of a front office that doesn't have a definitive plan.
Now, there's a logjam in the frontcourt, and, much like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Magic has to parlay some of those bigger pieces into smaller ones. Expect Vucevic to be floated first, since he's brushing up against his ceiling but should draw plenty of interest from teams looking for an offensive boost at the 5.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson, Shawn Long, Brandon Paul, Sergio Rodriguez
Primary Trade Asset: Jahlil Okafor
"I feel 100 percent and ready to get started. My summer has been great," Joel Embiid told reporters in late August, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Marc Narducci. "We have been working on a lot this summer, and I got a chance to play a little bit against the guys, and it has been going great."
It was tough enough to play Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor together in 2015-16; the team's net rating was minus-19.5 with both bigs on the floor, as opposed to minus-15.6 with Okafor on and Noel off or minus-7.4 in the reverse situation, per NBA Wowy. Now, the Philadelphia 76ers are inserting another 5 (Embiid) into the mix, along with Dario Saric and Ben Simmons.
It may be tough to give up on Okafor this quickly, but he's just not a good fit in head coach Brett Brown's up-tempo system. His defense is atrocious, and his ball-stopping habits don't work in conjunction with everything else this team wants to do.
Philadelphia may well try to make it work with so many up-and-coming frontcourt players. But it shouldn't, and Okafor is the easy choice to shop around.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Leandro Barbosa, Jared Dudley
Primary Trade Asset: Backcourt depth
The Phoenix Suns have boasted plenty of backcourt talent before—think about their three-headed point guard monster while rostering Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic a couple years ago. And they're again overflowing with usable depth at the two guard positions, to the point that failing to make a trade might hamper development.
Bledsoe is still there, and he's rather easily the best player on the team. Though he's been plagued by injuries the past few seasons, he's developed into a dynamic dual threat on offense whose athleticism allows him to make a substantial defensive impact.
But even Bledsoe is now expandable, because Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis are both capable of running the show as a point guard. Devin Booker is the franchise's rising star at shooting guard after lighting up scoreboards during the second half of his rookie season. And that's saying nothing of Leandro Barbosa and Archie Goodwin, both of whom will have to play.
The Suns can't complain about their wealth of talent. However, any desires to determine just how talented the young players are will be deferred if everyone has to split minutes.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Allen Crabbe, Festus Ezeli, Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard, Evan Turner
Primary Trade Asset: Draft picks
Unless the Portland Trail Blazers are willing to shop Ed Davis or one of their recent draft-day acquisitions, or unless they can find a taker for Noah Vonleh, they'll have to look at draft picks in order to make a trade.
There are too many untouchable players on this roster, given the presences of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, as well as the five players who can't be moved until mid-December. Fortunately for Rip City, this won't be a problem.
Few teams have stocked their first-round draft coffers more carefully in recent seasons.
Portland owes exactly zero opening-round picks to other teams. And while it could be giving up or swapping its second-round selection during each of the next four drafts, it has an incoming 2018 first-rounder from the Cleveland Cavaliers that's only protected for the top 10 choices. That's likely to be conveyed, which makes it far easier for the Blazers to spend a pick of their own on a midseason acquisition.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Team Status: Sellers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Arron Afflalo, Matt Barnes, Lamar Patterson, Garrett Temple, Anthony Tolliver
Primary Trade Asset: DeMarcus Cousins
Here we go again. First, let's turn to CBSSports.com's Zach Harper:
"In the process, there is a cloud of drama and the seemingly inevitability hanging over the franchise's head. Many people around the NBA expect [DeMarcus] Cousins to leave Sacramento when he becomes a free agent in 2018.
"They're fooling themselves if they think he's sticking around," said one league executive. "The good news for them is his value will always be high. There isn't a point of no return in which you're not getting high value for him. Teams will bid against each other in the trade market. Maybe [Cousins] doesn't go for the biggest money in free agency but you'd love to have that card to play."
"
That potential departure makes it easier for the Sacramento Kings to justify trading DeMarcus Cousins well before he hits free agency, but it's worth noting nothing yet is coming to fruition, according to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler.
But what if the start is brutally bad? With six of the Kings' first eight games coming away from Sacramento and the two home matchups against the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves, that's a distinct possibility.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Ryan Arcidiacono, Dewayne Dedmon, Bryn Forbes, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, David Lee
Primary Trade Asset: Young, unproven talent
The San Antonio Spurs don't usually make notable midseason trades, since they prefer homegrown players and guys who have learned their complicated system. Here are the last five midseason deals completed by the league's model organization that involved them receiving more than just a draft pick:
- Feb. 20, 2014: Traded Nando de Colo to the Toronto Raptors for Austin Daye.
- March 15, 2012: Traded T.J. Ford, Richard Jefferson and a 2012 first-round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors for Stephen Jackson.
- Feb. 20, 2008: Traded Brent Barry, Francisco Elson and a 2009 first-round draft pick to the Seattle SuperSonics for Kurt Thomas.
- Feb. 13, 2007: Traded Eric Williams, cash and a 2009 second-round draft pick to the Charlotte Bobcats for Melvin Ely.
- Feb. 24, 2005: Traded Malik Rose, a 2005 first-round draft pick and a 2006 first-round draft pick to the New York Knicks for Jamison Brewer and Nazr Mohammed.
But all this happened during the Tim Duncan era, and we're now venturing into uncharted territory. If the Spurs are going to engage in an unconventional deal during the opening salvo of the 2016-17 campaign, it'll only be because they float a young player such as Jonathon Simmons or Livio Jean-Charles and hope someone bites.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: DeMar DeRozan, Yanick Moreira, Jared Sullinger
Primary Trade Asset: Terrence Ross
"I have just been focusing on getting better in every way I can," Terrence Ross told Basketball Insiders' Oliver Maroney this offseason. "I've been putting a lot of focus on getting stronger too; that's the main goal for me this offseason. I want to make sure I can be more physical when my team needs me to be."
If the Toronto Raptors get off to a slow start and need to acquire more veteran talent, it could be Ross who's offered up, allowing another organization to reap the benefits of his hard work.
The 2012 NBA draft's No. 8 pick is more expendable than ever after yet another season of inconsistent play and the emergence of Norman Powell, who may already be the superior contributor. According to NBA Wowy, the Raptors' net rating was 0.3 points per 100 possessions better when Powell shared the court with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan than when Ross did.
With DeRozan re-signed, Powell gaining a year of experience, DeMarre Carroll healthy and Bruno Caboclo zero years away from being two years away, the Raptors can afford to trade one of their promising wings. Ross is the best choice.
Utah Jazz
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Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Joe Johnson
Primary Trade Asset: Alec Burks
Count the Utah Jazz as another team that has done such a tremendous job acquiring one specific type of talent that it's now a bit overcrowded. This time, we're talking about the backcourt.
Remember when Utah had problems finding even a single point guard? Not anymore, since they now roster George Hill, Dante Exum, Shelvin Mack and Raul Neto. As if that's not enough, Rodney Hood is a breakout candidate on the wings, and he's joined by both Alec Burks and free-agency addition Joe Johnson.
There simply aren't enough minutes to go around, and the Jazz have to figure out which player makes the most sense to part with, based on current ability and appeal in the trade market. Fortunately, the answer isn't difficult.
Burks' contributions are less important now that Johnson is in town to replace all of them, but the 25-year-old still has enough untapped potential that he could be viewed as a potential centerpiece by less-fortunate organizations.
Washington Wizards
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Team Status: Buyers
Players Who Can't Be Traded Early: Bradley Beal, Ian Mahinmi, Andrew Nicholson, Daniel Ochefu, Jason Smith, Marcus Thornton
Primary Trade Asset: Draft picks
The Washington Wizards find themselves in an interesting pickle.
They absolutely should be buyers during the opening portion of 2016-17; it's only if they get off to an exceedingly slow start that the mentality should change. It's time to make the proverbial leap in the nation's capital, as they can't be content with another lottery finish.
But what do they have to buy with?
This team isn't talented enough to part with up-and-comers such as Kelly Oubre Jr. and Otto Porter, but it doesn't have much else to offer. Drew Gooden isn't going to win anyone over, and the established players are too important to the present cause.
That leaves us turning to draft picks, and Washington only has three outgoing picks in the foreseeable future—nothing more valuable than second-rounders in 2019, 2020 and 2021. If the Wizards get desperate, they shouldn't hesitate to offer up a package built around their first-rounder in what's expected to be a strong 2017 draft.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com or NBA Math.
