Playing Trade or Keep with NBA's Most Tradable Players Ahead of 2020 Deadline
Trade deadline buzz is as active as ever with plenty of useful players on good contracts sure to draw significant interest from contending teams.
While it's tempting for lottery-bound franchises to sell off veterans in hopes of collecting a draft pick or young talent, this isn't always the best course of action. For some, keeping a vet on board for locker-room purposes or in hopes of further improving his trade value may be the best course of action.
Focusing on six of the most tradable players (those playing at a high level and making $15 million or less this year), which should be shipped off now and which should be taken off the market by their current teams?
Davis Bertans, PF, Washington Wizards
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Quickly becoming one of the best shooting big men in the NBA, Bertans may also be on the best contract at $7 million.
The Wizards have an offensive rating of 115.4 with him on the floor. Without him, their offensive rating drops to 105.9.
Even at 17-32, Washington hasn't technically been eliminated from the playoffs and is sitting just 4.5 games behind the Orlando Magic for eighth place. However, with Bertans set to enter unrestricted free agency, hanging onto him for a playoff push now may mean losing him altogether in the summer for nothing.
According to Bleacher Report's Michael Scotto, the Wizards are naturally putting a high price on any trade involving the 6'10" Latvian.
"Currently, Washington isn't trying to move Bertans, according to league sources, but is listening to calls from teams that are doing their due diligence and asking what his price tag would be as the trade deadline nears. Several executives around the league believe it would take at least a first-round pick for Washington to part with Bertans."
He'd be a perfect fit on the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz or Boston Celtics, teams that could use a floor-spacing big but can't send back any big salaries to match.
The Wizards also have to consider how much they'll have to pay Bertans this summer ($12 million annually? $15 million?) and the fact they can't offer him a starting job with 2019 lottery pick Rui Hachimura looking like the future at power forward.
If Washington can get a first-round pick or a young wing to help its rebuild (retool?), Bertans should be moved.
Trade or Keep: Trade before losing in free agency
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Sacramento Kings
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The Kings are one of the few Western Conference teams that should abandon their playoff hopes. At 19-31, they would have to jump five spots just to grab the eighth seed.
Sacramento's core remains impressive, but injuries to Marvin Bagley III and De'Aaron Fox have all but ruined what was supposed to be a long-awaited return to the postseason. All eyes should now be on the 2020-21 season.
Bjelica has been one of the few bright spots in Sacramento this season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 0.9 steals as the team's starting power forward. His 43.4 percent shooting from three is the seventh-best qualified mark in the NBA.
At 31, Bjelica doesn't fit this lottery-bound team now or in the future as Bagley looks to take over the reins. Harrison Barnes also has three years left on a four-year, $85 million contract, and he has spent the majority of his court time at power forward (54 percent).
Plenty of contenders should covet Bjelica and his outside shooting, especially since he's shown the ability to take the ball to the basket and is a gifted passer. He's owed $7.2 million next year on a non-guaranteed contract, which would give any team that acquires him more flexibility.
The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor noted that the Kings already offered Bjelica to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal for Kyle Kuzma, though the Lakers asked for Bogdan Bogdanovic instead. The Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers could all use his skill set, as well.
With little reason to keep Bjelica now or next season, the Kings should get any draft pick or young player they can land.
Trade or Keep: Trade and open up more minutes for Bagley
Alec Burks, SG, Golden State Warriors
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There's little reason for the Warriors to hang on to Burks past the deadline.
Golden State is an NBA-worst 12-39 and clearly has to punt on this season. Burks is playing well on a minimum salary (16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 37.5 3P%) and can line up at either wing position.
With seven draft picks owed to other teams over the next seven drafts, this is the perfect opportunity for the Warriors to stock up with a future first-rounder or multiple second-rounders, giving them more trade ammunition for next season when they regain a healthy, competitive squad.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reported that Golden State is "widely expected" to trade Burks and/or Glenn Robinson III this week, and ESPN's Zach Lowe noted that the Warriors "will almost certainly try to do with Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III what they did with [Willie] Cauley-Stein."
Golden State received a 2020 second-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Cauley-Stein after Dallas center Dwight Powell was lost for the season with an Achilles injury.
There's no shortage of teams that would have a need for Burks. The Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers all need wing help, and every team in the league could send salary (or a trade exception) back to match the $2.3 million he's owed this season.
While there's hope Stephen Curry can return in March, the Warriors are still going to miss the playoffs for the first time in eight years and should be focused on stockpiling as many future draft picks as they can.
Trade or Keep: Trade and restock future draft picks
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Jae Crowder, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
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The Grizzlies are one of the best stories of the 2019-20 NBA season, using a 19-9 record since Dec. 9 to jump up to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings. Making the playoffs would be a huge boost to the development of the young core, but is it worth sacrificing chances at future picks by keeping the veterans on board?
Crowder has brought veteran toughness to a youthful starting lineup, averaging 9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.4 minutes per game.
While he's slowly deteriorating as a shooter (50.7 true shooting percentage), Crowder should draw plenty of interest from teams around the league as a wing defender with playoff experience on a friendly $7.8 million salary.
ESPN's Zach Lowe noted that Memphis has "sought a first-round pick" for Crowder but that he "would bet heavy against them getting one."
With a first-rounder unlikely to find its way back and the Grizzlies in playoff position, could Memphis justify trading a veteran starter for a second-round pick? What message would that send to a team that's fought so hard to get this far ahead of its rebuild timeline?
The Grizzlies should get whatever they can for Andre Iguodala but keep Crowder on board for a playoff push while eyeing a new contract this summer.
Trade or Keep: Keep for a playoff run
Marcus Morris Sr., F, New York Knicks
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The Knicks have quietly been playing better basketball lately, going 4-4 over their past eight games with Morris serving as a leading scorer and locker-room voice.
While a 15-36 team keeping a 30-year-old on an expiring deal doesn't seem right on the surface, this doesn't appear to be a scenario featuring a disgruntled star looking to bolt in free agency. As Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News wrote:
"Morris has been both publicly and privately adamant about his desire to stay with the Knicks. It's a preference rooted in comfort and business. According to sources, the 30-year-old enjoys living within a short distance of family in Philadelphia and believes he'll secure a lucrative multi-year contract in the summer with the Knicks."
What the Knicks decide to do with Morris should ultimately depend on the offers they receive. If they truly believe they can re-sign him, that would give them an option to trade him at a future date on a longer contract that could net more assets.
The Los Angeles Clippers can offer their own first-round pick this season and should have interest in Morris, and the Miami Heat could offer a package based around Justise Winslow.
The Knicks should feel no pressure to trade Morris unless the offer is too good to turn down.
Trade or Keep: Keep unless a first-round pick comes back
Derrick Rose, PG, Detroit Pistons
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The Pistons' season is all but lost, and Rose is one of the few remaining attractions left on the team.
With Andre Drummond also on the trade block, it would make sense for Detroit to rip the Band-Aid off and recoup as much as it can for the two stars.
Rose would be the easiest to move given his $7.3 million salary this year and $7.7 million expiring contract in 2020-21. He's giving Detroit 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 0.8 steals per game, primarily as a sixth man, and he hasn't expressed any desire to be traded.
If Rose is happy playing on an 18-34 team, there's no reason to trade him now, especially if the offers aren't to the Pistons' liking. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Detroit is asking for a "lottery-level first-round pick."
If that kind of pick isn't on the table, the Pistons can always look to trade Rose during the summer or before next season's deadline.
Although he'll be 32 in October, this is the highest Rose's stock has been in quite some time. The Pistons can afford to be patient.
Trade or Keep: Trade only for a quality young player or a first-round pick
Unless otherwise noted, stats courtesy of NBA.com or Basketball Reference. Salary information via Spotrac.
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