The NBA trade deadline is February 9, with many teams looking to be buyers, whether they’re contenders preparing for a long playoff run or in the middle, needing another piece. But only about four and a half teams are pushing for the best lottery odds, making the seller pool a little smaller than in past seasons.
That can make this one of the more exciting trade deadlines as most teams want to improve, leading to them outbidding each other, while the possible sellers will have to decide where the team will go next. This could cause drastic changes in playoff odds, as some teams we may not expect could become sellers or buyers.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report, and NBA lines. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Buyers
-
Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving was moved to the Dallas Mavericks just days after the Brooklyn Nets received a trade demand from the All-Star. That one deal may have changed a lot heading into the trade deadline. It immediately turned the Nets into a buyer who could be aggressive with the new assets they received.
The important thing for the Nets is to keep Kevin Durant happy, who already asked for a trade in the offseason. Their playoff hopes are tied to him, and it is crucial to ensure Durant has what he needs to succeed.
The Nets will be aggressive with their first-round picks to “get more help” around Kevin Durant before the trade deadline per @wojespn.
“For Brooklyn, they want to get back to work.”
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 6, 2023
On top of that, many of the Nets’ future picks are tied up in their recent James Harden trades, so they need to find a way to win now. Already having Durant, the Nets are set with a top player capable of bringing them deep in the playoffs. The rest of the roster needs to be figured out, or Durant will be asking out of Brooklyn next.
-
Los Angeles Lakers
To no one’s surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers are buyers at the trade deadline. You can count on the Lakers’ name being mentioned whenever a decent player is involved in a trade rumor. They have already made one move for Rui Hachimura.
However, the team is set to move on from Russell Westbrook and could use their first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 to acquire players that better fit the team. Each draft pick is valuable because, by that time, LeBron James and Anthony Davis could no longer be in LA.
In the wake of the Kyrie Irving trade, the two teams that have repeatedly popped up as Plan B options for the Lakers are the Jazz and Raptors, sources tell @jovanbuha.
The Hornets, Spurs and Bulls are three other teams to watch, per those sources.https://t.co/34fbRldmkL
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 6, 2023
For that same reason, the Lakers’ front office has been hesitant to trade those picks without a needle-mover player in return. They missed out on Irving, but the team seems to have a plan B and will now look heavily into that.
-
Memphis Grizzlies
Despite the Memphis Grizzlies having two All-Stars in Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. and sitting in second place in the Western Conference, they are a team that should be buyers. They have only won one game over the last nine after winning 11 straight. Opponents are starting to figure them out and it won’t get easier in the playoffs.
On top of that, this is a team with NBA Finals aspirations. They are young, and after winning 56 games last season feel like they are next in line to rule the West. But falling to the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the playoffs and this losing streak are putting things into perspective.
Chris Haynes: “Memphis doesn’t want New Orleans to get O.G and New Orleans doesn’t want Memphis to get O.G”
Bidding war 👀
(Via This League Uncut) pic.twitter.com/kUiG46O65p
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) February 2, 2023
Adding another player, preferably a floor spacer, would be perfect for the Grizzlies. If they want to enter that next tier of NBA teams, they will need another player to help them get there. Other teams, like the New Orleans Pelicans, think the same way, possibly leading to a bidding war.
At the moment, the Grizzlies have good chemistry, and they may not make a move because of that and hope this playoff run goes in their favor. However, if they truly want to run the West, the Grizzlies need at least one more crucial piece.
Sellers
-
Toronto Raptors
It feels like there is way too much news around the Toronto Raptors trading away players for it not to be true. They are in 11th place in the East and tied for a play-in spot. On the other hand, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. have one more year left on their contract, which is a player option, and could opt out, looking for a bigger payday in free agency. There are also rumors of players dissatisfied with the coaching staff.
OG Anunoby has been the most prominent name rumored in deals, given his shooting and defensive abilities. Many teams have shown interest in him, but the Raptors seem to be waiting to see how they fare in the standings come February 9th.
“OG Anunoby is a player around the league there is great interest in… I think there’s a belief that Toronto could get as many as 3 first round picks in a deal for OG Anunoby if they decided to move him.”@wojespn on the Raptors and OG Anunoby 👀pic.twitter.com/PjljdzuzZi
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 27, 2023
Furthermore, the asking price for some of the key players for the Raptors could make the trades difficult. The asking price for Anunoby is said to be at around three first-round picks, which might make negotiating a deal difficult.
While the Raptors are likely sellers with the best talent to offer, they may be content keeping the roster the same if their demands are not met.
-
Utah Jazz
Since the Utah Jazz‘s original fire sale in the offseason, it has been speculated they could have another one before the deadline. However, a surprisingly quick start, now sitting in a play-in spot, changed things. Still, the likelihood of the Jazz offloading their veterans is high.
The guard trio of Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, and Malik Beasley have been the names that come up the most. Conley is a proven leader, and while his stats are not the same as they once were, he is still a solid floor general and defender. Clarkson and Beasley are reliable scoring threats, players that a title contender would love to bring off the bench.
Utah Jazz forward Jarred Vanderbilt is drawing wide trade interest.
One league source tells me “Almost every team in the NBA has called” the #Jazz on him. pic.twitter.com/xeTgHUxQul
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) February 4, 2023
Jarred Vanderbilt has been a new name showing up recently. His offensive impact is not nearly as significant as the guards, but he would be an immediate impact defender for a contending team.
The Jazz seem to be very patient, waiting for the best offer. But with 13 teams in the West playing for 10 playoff or play-in spots, the Jazz will likely start to make deals.
-
Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are not good, with the fourth-worst winning percentage in the NBA. Despite that, they have some veteran talent that could be made available. The most common names the team is shopping are Mason Plumlee and Gordon Hayward, who may not move the needle but could be solid role players in a long playoff run.
The Hornets are discussing Mason Plumlee and Kelly Oubre Jr. in trade conversations, sources tell @ShamsCharania.
More NBA trade deadline intel: https://t.co/1TlbsNMyPf pic.twitter.com/JmFwHDTBoF
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) January 30, 2023
However, the big names on the roster that would likely demand a solid trade package to move are Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. Rozier is averaging 21.8 points per game and has experience being a sparkplug player off the bench. Oubre is still recovering from hand surgery in early January, with a timetable of 4-6 weeks to return. That could lower his value, but he is a player contending teams have an eye on.
