NBA trade rumors have officially started to pick up. The season is almost a quarter through, and we are rapidly approaching the key December 15th date. This is when the majority of NBA players can be traded. With a juicy draft lying ahead, with the ultimate prize being Cooper Flagg, tons of teams will be looking to offload talented players and start their wishful tanking. The NBA trade deadline ends on February 6th. Let’s look at three of the most impactful players who may be on the NBA trade block ahead of this season’s deadline.
The 3 Most Impactful Players On The NBA Trade Block
Contending Teams Could Be in on a Jimmy Butler Trade
NBA trade rumors have whispered that the Miami Heat could consider trading star forward Jimmy Butler. This is due to uncertainty about his long-term future with the team. Butler doesn’t plan to pick up his player option with the Heat next season, which means the team could lose him to free agency this summer.
Butler has been linked to teams like the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. The Golden State Warriors reportedly explored a potential trade for Butler over the summer as well. Any of these contending teams would greatly improve with Butler on their roster.
Pelicans Have Multiple Players on the NBA Trade Block
The New Orleans Pelicans have been a huge disappointment this season. Injuries have put them near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and at the center of multiple NBA trade rumors. Their star forward, Brandon Ingram, was potentially on the move before the season started. Now it looks like the team could want to pivot from attempting to contend for a playoff position to contend for a chance at Cooper Flagg.
Ingram is having a solid season in New Orleans, tons of teams could benefit from getting him on their roster. He is averaging 23.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists so far. Above all, though he has been healthy, usually one of his biggest weaknesses, a healthy Ingram could push multiple contending teams over the edge, but with him being eligible for a big extension soon, it could be a bigger investment than some teams are willing to take.
Kyle Kuzma Trade Possibilities
The Washington Wizards look to have started their tanking already. They didn’t win a single game in the month of November, and it is likely that their trend of losing will continue for the rest of the season. Having a player like Kyle Kuzma on the roster could make their tanking job harder.
Kuzma is a player who contributes on both ends of the floor and is drawing league-wide attention as a trade candidate. At 29 and in his prime, Kuzma’s skillset and declining salary make him a perfect trade candidate for multiple contending teams.
The Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings have shown interest in Kuzma in recent seasons. Other teams that could be monitoring him include the Bucks, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, and Cavaliers. Kuzma would likely be able to fit wherever he ends up. One thing is for sure however, he shouldn’t end the season on the Wizards.
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