As the NBA reaches the halfway point of the season, it’s a good time for teams to reevaluate. And with the NBA trade deadline slowly approaching, here are some players that could see a change of scenery within the next few days.
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1. P.J. Washington, Charlotte Hornets – 10.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.0 apg
Charlotte ranks 16th in rebound per game this season, however they lack a big man that can get you 10+ rebounds on any given night. Washington has received less minutes as of lately as he continues to fall out of James Borrego’s rotation. And with Charlotte looking to extend Miles Bridges this offseason, Washington’s future with the team seems uncertain. With a solid offensive game and the potential on the defensive end, the former lottery pick is a solid acquisition for any team.
2. Alec Burks, New York Knicks – 11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
Burks is having a solid second season for the Knicks, essentially serving the team like a swiss army knife, handling many different situations offensively and defensively. But with the Knicks acquiring Cam Reddish in January and encouraging play from rookie Quentin Grimes, the Knicks have a logjam at the guard position. This means a deal for Burks could be likely as the deadline approaches. With Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier also on the trade block, New York could make a sneaky deadline deal.
3. Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets – 14.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg
Despite being on a struggling Houston Rockets team, Gordon has proved that he can still contribute as a reliable scorer on offense and a reliable defender in a set defense. And with many teams looking to make a title push, Gordon could be the final piece of the puzzle. At 33, he is a good veteran to have in the locker room. Expect to see many teams reach out to Houston about Gordon.
4. Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons – 19.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.6 apg
Since joining the Pistons, Grant has broken out as the number one option for this Detroit squad. With the Pistons looking to continue their rebuild, Grant doesn’t exactly fit what the Pistons are trying to do right now. According to Brian Windhorst, Grant offered a list of preferred destinations that he would like to be traded to if they go in that direction. Several teams have reached out to the Pistons as he seems to be one of the most coveted players at this year’s deadline.
5. Thaddeus Young, San Antonio Spurs – 6.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg
Although the stats may look poor, Thaddeus Young is a quality player playing for a team that doesn’t need his services. Young at age 33 is averaging a career low 14.2 minutes per game for a Spurs team that is leaning on their youth. Just last season he was averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds per game for an upcoming Chicago Bulls team. Young is another quality veteran that could make a difference for a title contender when the playoffs come around. Look out for Young to be bought out if a deal is not made by Thursday.
Honorable Mentions
Spencer Dinwiddie, Washington Wizards
After signing with the Wizards this offseason, the experiment of Dinwiddie and Beal didn’t go as well as the organization hoped. Dinwiddie hasn’t lived up to his contract yet, not excelling in isolation like he did in Brooklyn. Should Washington botch the Dinwiddie experiment?
Goran Dragic, Toronto Raptors
Since being traded to Toronto in the Kyle Lowry to Miami deal, Dragic has never really had a role for the Raptors. The Raptors main focus continues to be their young talent. However with a trade, Dragic can provide a solid backup point guard for a playoff contender.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are running out of options this season. Having made 2 blockbuster deals over the past two seasons for Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have minimal assets to give up outside of Horton-Tucker. Considering how old this Lakers squad is, it would be smart to flip Horton-Tucker for some sort of draft compensation.
Terrance Ross, Orlando Magic
Averaging 11.3 points for his career, Terrance Ross is a microwave type of player that can light up the box score at any given moment with his scoring abilities. He has continued his prowess throughout the course of the season. Going into the playoffs, many teams could use his services by igniting their bench units.
Josh Richardson, Boston Celtics
A familiar trade piece over the years, Richardson makes it onto the list as he fits a lot of teams needs. He has proven his impact on the defensive end of the ball, but can he provide consistent offense remains to be the question. If the Celtics don’t end up dealing Richardson, be sure to look out for Dennis Schroeder on the trade block as well.
