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The clock is ticking as we move closer to Friday’s 7am NBA trade deadline (all times AEDT) in teams’ final opportunity to adjust their rosters for this season.
Some of the big dominoes have already fallen in recent weeks, with OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Terry Rozier finding new homes.
The rumour mill will only continue heat up as we approach the deadline as teams weigh up which direction they take, while several more stars could be on the move.
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Below is a state of play on all the key NBA trade deadline storylines to follow in the coming days.
How does Embiid’s knee setback impact Philadelphia’s plans?
It has to, in some way.
The Sixers were already in one of the most unique positions of any team. They’re in genuine title contention, yet are currently slated to have over $50 million cap space this off-season after bringing back a host of expiring contracts in the James Harden trade.
It means if Philly stayed patient and went into the off-season as constructed, it could sign a max-level superstar free agent, while it also has a suite of draft picks at its disposal to use in trades.
At the same time, Nick Nurse’s side has sat in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference for the majority of this season amid a dominant campaign from Embiid, the clear MVP frontrunner prior to getting struck down with a knee injury that requires surgery in a cruel twist.
There’s uncertainty surrounding Embiid’s return and the extent of his MCL setback — an injury the superstar centre has a history with.
It’s a delicate balancing act for the organisation between ensuring this isn’t a wasted season (though it might inevitably be if Embiid is out long, long term), prioritising his health and holding onto or using their assets.
It comes with the backdrop of Tyrese Maxey due for a bumper pay raise this off-season, though the breakout guard could sign an extensive after the Sixers sign prospective free agents.
But when will Embiid return? And even if they make a move, would it be enough to contend with Boston and Milwaukee in the East? Plus, which players are out there that would make sense for the Sixers?
“I think they continue to stay the course. They have salary cap this summer,” former NBA player Austin Rivers told ESPN’s NBA Today.
“Even though they’ve had a great year, I think a lot of that is due to the brilliance of Joel. I don’t seriously see them beating Boston or Milwaukee, despite their troubles, even with Joel.
“I like Philly and I like their team, but they have the MVP, you don’t need to flip the page … they have assets they can move and salary (this off-season) — this is a team I think next year will be even more in contention.
“I don’t like putting a timeline on Joel’s return.”
LeBron stars as Lakers down Knicks | 01:18
Lakers’ juggling act
Like always, the Lakers are one of most the most fascinating teams to watch.
It’s been a rollercoaster season for LeBron James and company — they have a 27-25 record to sit just inside the play-in qualification.
The good has been great — they won the in-season tournament, have taken some huge scalps — including beating the likes of Boston, New York and Oklahoma City over the past month, plus have had James and Anthony Davis healthy for virtually the entire season.
But they’ve been marred by inconsistency and looked a level below the top sides in the West, hence calls they need to add another piece into their mix.
The Lakers currently have one tradeable first-rounder in 2029 or 2030, but if they wait until the off-season, they have more draft capital to play with and thus could target a bigger name.
Currently on their radar are Dejounte Murray and Bruce Brown, having been the most active team in talks with Atlanta for Murray with a package centred around D’Angelo Russell.
Russell is the Lakers’ main trade chip in terms of players who could be moved out, while they’ve so far rebuffed talks with rivals involving Austin Reaves.
Meanwhile James, who can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent, has appeared to be sending subliminal messages to the organisation asking for it to make a move in a bid for the team to make a serious playoff push.
It’s almost like James is keen to go in one direction, and the organisation is unsure what it wants to do to create a type of discord.
“There’s two negotiations going on for the Lakers right now,” ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst explained on NBA Today.
“There’s the negotiations they have with the teams they’re in talks with on trades and there’s the negotiations LeBron is sending with his passive aggressive stuff and bag of manoeuvres that are all very deniable. He’s a master at it, but he’s made it extremely clear he wants the Lakers to be aggressive.
“They have been willing to trade the 2029 first-round pick. But what they have not been willing to do is give everything they’ve got — (including) multiple pick swaps, Austin Reaves (or) looking to go and use second-round picks in another deal to get expiring money because teams talking to them about D’Angelo Russell aren’t crazy about his player option (for next season).
“I think they want to try and improve their roster, but they’ve also watched this team, to use LeBron’s words, be Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and win at the highest level in some of the hardest places … this isn’t necessarily a team if they add one little piece, it’s going to solve everything.
“They are going to try and improve and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did something, but I don’t think they have the interest in pouring everything out they’ve got onto the table to make a deal.”
Giddey explodes for season high in 2OT! | 01:09
Dejounte Murray sweepstakes
The Lakers aren’t the only team pursuing Murray, with a host of sides exploring a move for the Hawks guard.
Arguably the biggest name on the trade block, the likes of the Knicks, Spurs, Nets, Buck, Jazz and Pistons have also been linked to Murray.
But it’s not a sure thing the 22-28 Hawks trade him. In fact, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, Atlanta head coach Quin Snyder is pushing the organisation’s front office to keep Murray.
Murray’s play in recent times has probably increased his trade value too, or made it less likely he’s moved. The 27-year old, on a modest $17 million deal, recently went on the best scoring run of his career including hitting game winners against Orlando and Miami.
Even despite Atlanta’s patchy form overall, fans must be asking: ‘Why are we looking to trade this guy?’
There also hasn’t been recent updates of movement in talks with any teams, though the Lakers have been the one most firmly linked.
You also have to wonder if the Hawks themselves are weighing up whether they’ve put the right point guard on the market, with it possible they keep Murray and become open to Trae Young trades this off-season.
Or Atlanta could pull a different trade lever entirely in the coming days …
Warriors ‘in no man’s land’
Like the Lakers, Golden State is similarly at a crossroads, though their situation is more dire.
Despite having the biggest payroll in the NBA, Golden State has fallen away badly this season, sitting three games below .500 and outside the play-in.
It comes with Steph Curry still in his prime but the rest of the team’s ageing core has declined including Andrew Wiggins and Klay Thompson struggling to recapture their previous best heights, plus the seemingly never ending Draymond Green drama.
So should Golden State accept it’s the end of an era and continue to give extended opportunities to the likes of Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski and sell their veterans for long-term assets? Or could they try making another move to try and extend their golden run?
That’s exactly what they’d be pondering.
Golden State power past Grizzlies | 00:42
Wiggins, in the first year of a four-year, $109 million contract, is the one considered most likely to be in a new jersey by Friday’s deadline if indeed the Warriors opt to make a move.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania on FanDuel, the Mavericks and Pacers are two teams to watch as potential suitors for Wiggins.
ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst added on NBA Today: “They’ve had some discussions involving Andrew Wiggins. The issue is he’s underachieving right now and having his worst season since he came to Golden State … it’s not the best time to trade him.
“That said, there are some potential deals out there where they could get multiple players back, especially on the wings, that could potentially help them. I think they will examine that between now and (Friday).”
If not Wiggins, Chris Paul is another name that’s been floated in trade rumours, with the veteran guard’s non guaranteed $30 million contract for next season one that could be desirable around the league.
The Warriors last off-season acquired Paul in exchange for Jordan Poole in a move that off-loaded Poole’s mega $123 million contract
“I do think Chris Paul is an interesting figure. “More than anything, he’s a $30 million expiring contract,” Windhorst said.
“Especially if the Warriors do another deal with Wiggins where they offload future money, it could potentially make them more willing to trade Chris Paul in a deal where they take on future money, and again, potentially getting multiple players.
“They’re not touching their core — Draymond and Klay (won’t get traded).
“Part of the reason Chris Paul is there is because he’s money is coming off the books and they were clearing off the Jordan Poole money so they could afford to keep this team together.
“If they do a Chris Paul trade and take back more salary and they still have to potentially pay Klay Thompson (in an extension), I don’t know if it works. It’s a financial decision as much as it is anything else.”
Former NBA player Austin Rivers meanwhile called for the Warriors to get Curry help, but added they’re “in no man’s land.”
“In terms of the Warriors’ downfall, this started when they got rid of Jordan Poole … they got rid of their youngest asset. Now you’ve got Kuminga, who’s outplaying Wiggins and it’s not even close,” Rivers said.
“Wiggins isn’t playing to the level and they can’t trade him, Klay doesn’t have trade value, I don’t even know what Draymond’s trade value is. So they’re stuck in this middle land where they don’t know if they can rebuild, they’re also trying to hang onto this dynasty.
“(Warriors general manger Mike Dunleavy) is a first-year executive at that position and he doesn’t want to be the guy to trade away the Hall of Famers that have built this dynasty. Where does this team go? I don’t know.”
Will the Bulls be sellers?
It’s one of the big questions on everyone’s mind at the deadline amid another lacklustre season for Chicago, a season where Zach LaVine, who himself was considered one of the key candidates to get traded, won’t feature again due to ongoing injury issues.
It’s now highly unlikely LaVine is dealt, though some of his teammates yet could be.
They include DeMar DeRozan, who’s on an expiring deal and set to become a free agent this off-season, Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond.
It comes during a transitional period for Chicago, sitting just inside the play-in mix, where the likes of Coby White and Pat Williams have shown they’re ready to take on bigger roles and potentially make the organisation more open to being aggressive by the deadline.
But according to ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst, the Bulls are likely to stand still or move Drummond – not their bigger names.
“All indications point they’re holding firm — there are no indications of Caruso being available or that they’re going to do something with DeRozan,” Windhorst told NBA Today.
“I think they’re riding it out and they’re going to try and make the play-in. The one player I could see them moving would be Andre Drummond … there’s a bunch of teams interested. If Philly is looking for a stopgap for Embiid, he was there a couple of years ago.
“I think they’re in a rebuild and they don’t know they’re in a rebuild. I have to say, they’ve had horrible luck (with injuries) … the Bulls are an organisation that historically have been OK with being in the middle, making the playoffs and trying to put something together.”
Maxey leads 76ers with 51-point haul | 01:16
How about the Wizards?
Another team on tear it down watch is Washington.
After off-loading Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal least off-season, the 9-40 Wizards, who are very much embracing a rebuild and in tonk mode, could continue to unload their veteran players for long-term assets.
Kyle Kuzma would yield the biggest return, with Dallas and Sacramento reportedly eyeing a move for the gun forward.
Tyus Jones, who’s set to become a free agent this off-season, is widely sought after too. According to NBA Insider Michael Scotto, the Lakers, Sixers, Nets, Magic Timberwolves and Spurs all have interest in the guard.
Frankly, outside of Bilal Coulibaly, it wouldn’t be a shock if any Wizard was moved by Friday.
And the Pistons?
In what’s been a disaster season, the 6-43 Pistons could also look to tinker with their roster.
Outside of Cade Cunningham, who isn’t said to be available, Bojan Bogdanovic is the Piston with the most appeal around the league and would make sense for a ton of playoff teams.
As such, he could get Detroit a nice haul of picks/long-term assets.
The Pistons at last year’s deadline held firm and retained Bogdanovic despite plenty of interest around the league, but could the team’s struggles this season have shifted their position.
Other Pistons including Alec Burks, Killian Hayes and Monte Morris have also been linked to trade reports.
Potential buyers
Having already landed Anunoby, the Knicks are a team that are constantly being linked to the biggest names on the market including Dejounte Murray, DeMar DeRozan, Bruce Brown and Jordan Clarkson amid the team’s surge up the Eastern Conference standings.
With claim of its first-round picks plus extras from other teams, New York could instead wait it out though in hopes that a big-name superstar becomes available later in the year.
Similarly, the Thunder have an inordinate amount of draft picks to use on prospective targets, potentially another big, though the team has very much preached patience and playing the long-term game.
Even despite shooting up the standings this season, you sense OKC isn’t ready to make its big splash nor genuinely explore Josh Giddey trades despite some noise.
The Mavericks, KingsandPelicans are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race and have some appealing assets and roster flexibility in general to make moves, though they could also reassess their directions in the off-season.
In the East, Miami mightn’t be done yet too despite acquiring Terry Rozier, nor the Pacers after their blockbuster Siakam move.
There’s a bunch of teams looking for upgrades, just not that many big-name stars available.
What are the Jazz doing?
Maybe the team hardest to get a read on.
Utah is uniquely placed in that you could see it going in either direction in terms of buying or selling.
They have a host of veterans like Jordan Clarkson, Colin Sexton and Kelly Olynyk drawing interest from other teams and could net them a nice return.
But at the same time, the Jazz could bundle its assortment of picks acquired in the Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell trades to try and land a big fish like Dejounte Murray.
Watch this space.
Other things to watch …
After moving Rozier to Miami, the Hornets, under new management, appear committed to a proper rebuild and selling more of their parts for picks and other assets.
Both PJ Washington and Miles Bridges, who’s been heavily linked to the Suns, are seen as the other Hornets most likely to be on the move.
Portland is likewise dedicated to its new direction of youth movement, naturally making Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon trade targets for other teams.
It seems the Blazers are keen to hang onto Grant for now, but you could see them parting ways with Brogdon for the right price.
Then there’s the Bruce Brown situation, who was picked up by Toronto in the Siakam trade with the intention of being dealt again by the deadline to a playoff team.
The Knicks and Lakers are considered the main suitors for the 2023 championship-winning Nugget, but a range of teams are believed to be interested in Brown in one of the hottest names available.
Having parted ways with coach Adrian Griffin, it’s clear that the Bucks will be aggressive in doing whatever it takes in the pursuit of success.
Milwaukee is reportedly searching for defensive upgrades amid its struggles on that end of the court, and it wouldn’t be surprised if it tried something bold, with a move of some kind likely.
Brooklyn is another team to keep an eye on given its spread of assets in what’s been an indifferent season disrupted by injury.
Speaking of injury, it’s been a full-blown write off campaign for the Grizzlies after widespread setbacks to their key stars. So just like how it traded Steven Adams to Houston last week for a host of second-round picks, Memphis could look to trade other veterans for off-season assets with an eye towards 2024/25.
There’s a lot in play between now and Friday morning.
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