NBA Daily: Who Could Be on the Move at the Trade Deadline?

The February Trade Deadline is one of the most important dates of the NBA season. As team look to fortify their squads down the stretch, deals are made that can either make or break a playoff push, or set up a team for the future.

The trade market has been quiet so far this season — Kyle Korver to Utah, George Hill to Milwaukee and an almost-trade between the Grizzlies, Suns and Wizards have been the biggest headlines — but, with the deadline just under three weeks away, that cold streak is bound to end soon. Whether they are disgruntled, a bad fit or just no longer a fit with the direction of their respective franchise, there are plenty of players could be had for the right price.

So, who could be on the move come February 7?

Jabari Parker, Chicago Bulls

The Jabari Parker experiment hasn’t worked out exactly as the Chicago Bulls had hoped.

Parker had the perfect opportunity in front of him with Lauri MArkkanen expected to miss the start of the season, but he failed to grasp it. His numbers would fluctuate on a nightly basis, sometimes he looked like the former top pick but sometimes he looked unplayable. Now, with Markkanen back, Parker has been completely removed from the rotation by head coach Jim Boylen.

If there was a player that needed a fresh start, it would be Parker.

Chicago gave Parker a two-year, $40 million contract with a club option for next season; any team that adds him at the deadline could easily remove him from their future plans if things don’t work out. But the upside is there — Parker was a top pick for a reason — and, if a change of scenery or personnel does him some good, Parker could be a major asset down the stretch.

Robin Lopez, Chicago Bulls

Robin Lopez is another Bull in flux. Lopez hasn’t meshed exceedingly well in Chicago and doesn’t fit the team’s long term plans.

Lopez landed with the Bulls in 2016 when they were barely competitive enough to take the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team situation has only gotten worse since, and Chicago has languished at the bottom of the NBA barrel. Meanwhile, Lopez has taken a backseat to the younger players amidst the Bulls’ rebuild.

Lopez and his camp have discussed an exit strategy with the team but, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Bulls are determined to trade Lopez and acquire an asset rather than buyout his contract, and they should easily be able to find another team to accommodate. While he hasn’t posted great numbers this season — Lopez has averaged 5.9 points, and 2.6 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game — they can largely be attributed to the nature of his role on the team.

Lopez is still a competent center and could make an impact for a team, whether they be looking for someone to roam the paint or just a simple late-season energy boost.

Enes Kanter, New York Knicks

Enes Kanter could be on the move again.

As David Fizdale attempts to navigate the New York Knicks rebuild, Kanter has been a rotation casualty a la Lopez in Chicago. While he is still a solid offensive contributor — he has averaged 14.2 points and 11 rebounds over the last two seasons — Kanter is no longer a fit in New York with rookie Mitchell Robinson in the fold and the return of Kristaps Porzignis on the horizon.

Kanter, a free agent come season’s end, isn’t a long term commitment either, which could make him more attractive to a contender looking for a quality addition in a tight salary cap situation. Meanwhile, any asset the Knicks can take back to help further the rebuild is a welcome one.

Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic

Nikola Vucevic has been on a tear the last few seasons. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Vucevic has averaged 17.6 points, 10.2 rebounds 2.8 assists and a block per game. This season he has been even better; the center has averaged a career high in points (20.2), rebounds (11.9), assists (3.8), field goal percentage (52.5) and three-point percentage (38.3).

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic are, once again, in the bottom half of the standings.

Vucevic, in the last season of his deal, has a case for best expiring contract/player on the market. And, with Mohamed Bamba waiting in the wings, his future standing in Orlando isn’t very clear. If the Magic hope to one day return to relevancy, trading Vucevic may be the best course of action. Not only could he bring back a premium asset, but the extra playing time afforded to Bamba would be beneficial to his development.

The benefits for any acquiring team are obvious; Vucevic is a premium player and could prove a major difference maker come the postseason.

Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks

According to Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Dallas Mavericks were “escalating” efforts to trade guard Dennis Smith Jr. Just two days later, according to MacMahon, the Mavericks have changed course and hope to reconcile the current situation with Smith.

So which is it?

More often than not, if a team was willing to trade a player once, they’ll be willing to do so again. While Dallas made Smith a top-10 back in 2017, the franchise has since changed course; the arrival of Luka Doncic has spurred the Mavericks to success, but it has also changed Smith’s role, a change that has had a negative impact on his play. Smith has seen a significant drop in usage rate in his second season; that has coincided with a drop in his points, assists, rebounds and field goal attempts per game as well.

Smith needs the ball in his hands in order to make an impact on the court. However, with Doncic in the picture, that just isn’t going to happen in Dallas. Still, Smith is a talented guard and, just partly into his second season, there should be plenty of teams willing to take a chance on the 21-year-old, which means plenty of quality offers for the Mavericks on the open market.

At this point, a trade may be best for both parties.

As the February 7 Trade Deadline inches closer, the rumor mill is bound to start turning. With so many teams still in a competitive position at this point in the season, the 2019 deadline season could end up being one of the busier periods in recent memory. And, while these players may be some of the more likely to be moved, almost anyone and everyone could be had for the right price.