Top Players Who Could Be Traded at the NBA Trade Deadline

With the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaching on February 6th, numerous teams need to decide quickly if they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Many teams could make a move to improve their stock heading into the playoffs.

Of course, the first team that everyone thinks of will be the Los Angeles Lakers. At this point in his career, he is still playing good basketball, but it is clear that LeBron James’ best years are behind him. With Anthony Davis continuing to excel, the Lakers are probably still in a position (or two) to make a move to improve the roster. I am not sure that Los Angeles has the firepower to pull off a trade for Zach LaVine, which was rumored earlier this season. Could they add a positional depth piece like Luke Kennard or Bruce Brown? Possibly.

The following article details who we could see on the move at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.

NBA Trade Deadline Could Ve Biggest in Recent Memory

Jimmy Butler NBA Trade Deadline Rumors

Another story to watch is the Jimmy Butler trade saga in Miami. On the outside, it seems inevitable that Butler has a new home on Feb. 7, but given Pat Riley’s track record of seeming like he is living in the 1980s, I am not so sure that he leaves at the NBA Trade Deadline.

Butler has expressed numerous times his desire to be on a new team. While whoever trades for Butler is obviously going to bring in a player who has growing baggage, it could pay off dividends when it comes to the playoffs. The Marquette alum is the definition of a playoff riser, as he has willed the Heat to the NBA Championship twice in the last six seasons.

If Butler were to be traded, teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies make sense as landing spots.

De’Aaron Fox NBA Trade Deadline Rumors

Given the disappointing season of the Sacramento Kings, De’Aaron Fox seems like a candidate who could be on the move in early February. If Fox were to get traded, I would imagine that the Kings would make whoever wants him overpay. While the aforementioned Lakers would be a great landing spot, I am again not sure if they have the compensation to make it work.

What could be an interesting spot for Fox to land though is San Antonio. The Spurs are a couple of seasons away from really competing, but trading for Fox will put another consistent scorer next to Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs would have Fox signed for one more season before needing to make a decision on a possible extension. With Wembanyama on his rookie contract and the Spurs currently sitting as the 12 seed, it really seems like a kick in the butt from another star can help propel them to the 7/8 seed. Keep your eye on the Houston Rockets as a possible De’Aaron Fox trade destination as well.

Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram NBA Trade Deadline Rumors

I am also wondering if the New Orleans Pelicans are in a spot where they can start unloading some franchise pieces in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Currently sitting as the 14-seed in the West, it seems unlikely that the Pelicans do enough throughout the rest of the season to sneak into the playoffs. Ingram is currently in the last year of his deal, so a half-year rental may be in the cards for a contender. One team to look at is the Denver Nuggets. Right now the Nuggets have no real desire to plan for their future, as Nikola Jokic is still one of, if not, the best players in the world. With Jamal Murray’s decline in play this season, slotting Ingram into the two would give the Nuggets a major scoring wing to partner with Michael Porter Jr., if he stays.

As for Zion Williamson, it might be a different story. Williamson is currently in the second year of a five-year, $115 million contract. I am guessing that a major contender will not want to take on that contract for the next three years, so a rebuilding team may be in the cards. One really fun team to see Williamson play on would be the Charlotte Hornets. Partnering Williamson with LaMelo Ball could be a force when both players are healthy. The Hornets would probably need to move Miles Bridges’ contract in order to get it done, but outside of Ball and Bridges, nobody on the team is making more than $14 million a season.

Cam Johnson NBA Trade Deadline Rumors

One last player who could make a difference on a new team is Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. Currently in the second year of a four-year, $94.5 million contract, Johnson is not overly expensive for a contender to take on. Two teams that I think the 43% three-point shooter would fit well with are the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors. Both teams are currently in the playoff picture and would love to add more three-point shooting.

With Tyrese Haliburton continuing to be one of the best true point guards in the NBA, opening up lanes for him to work inside to score or find shooters would be invaluable. The same can kind of be said for the Warriors too. Steph Curry is having a down year by Curry’s standards, but adding another sniper on the arc should help relieve some kind of pressure off of Curry’s back.

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