Six Trade Candidates To Watch After December 15

As we’ve noted frequently on Hoops Rumors over the last several weeks, December 15 is a key date to watch on the NBA calendar, since it’s the day that most of the summer’s offseason signees become eligible to be traded. There are some players who won’t be trade-eligible until January 15 or other player-specific dates, but December 15 is the big one.

Of course, for many players signed during the offseason, that December 15 date will come and go without any fanfare. For instance, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are among the 85 players who become eligible to be dealt as of this Saturday, but it’s not as if we’ll have to start keeping an eye out for James- and Durant-related trade rumors this weekend.

There are a number of other players around the league, however, who may have to pay closer attention to the rumor mill as of Saturday. While most trades are completed a little closer to the deadline, as opposed to right after December 15, talks could start to get more serious within the next few days, and it’s certainly possible that we’ll see a deal or two completed before the end of the calendar year.

Here are six players who figure to become trade candidates once they become eligible to be dealt on Saturday, and are worth monitoring going forward:

  1. Trevor Ariza, F (Suns): Ariza’s has the ability to immediately slot into a three-and-D role for virtually any contending team. He also has an expiring contract and is on the NBA’s worst team, making him a quintessential trade candidate. The Lakers have been the team linked to Ariza most often within the last week or so, but they won’t be his only suitor. At least eight teams have already reportedly expressed some interest.
  2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G (Lakers): Caldwell-Pope’s name surfaced in the Ariza rumors, which makes sense, since his $12MM expiring contract represents an ideal salary-matching piece. He has the ability to block any trade involving him though, so he likely wouldn’t sign off on heading to a team like the Suns. The Rockets, who have also been linked to Caldwell-Pope, are a more plausible landing spot, though there are a few other teams who could use KCP on the wing.
  3. Carmelo Anthony, F (Rockets): It has been nearly a month since the Rockets announced they were parting ways with Anthony, but he remains on the team’s roster. As I noted at the time, trading Carmelo would be more favorable than waiving him for Houston, so the club may be waiting until December 15 to see if a deal can be made. If no viable trade options surface, Anthony figures to be waived sooner or later.
  4. Michael Carter-Williams, G (Rockets): While Anthony has taken much of the criticism in Houston, the offseason signing of Carter-Williams hasn’t worked out any better. The former Rookie of the Year has played almost exclusively garbage-time minutes since the start of November and doesn’t appear to be on the verge of reclaiming a regular role. If Houston wants to use his roster spot on a player who could contribute more, MCW should be expendable.
  5. Anthony Tolliver, F (Timberwolves): Tolliver was expected to be a key reserve for the Timberwolves this season, but has played just nine total minutes since the Jimmy Butler trade. Tolliver expressed some concern about his role after his first DNP-CD, and while he hasn’t said much since then, it seems safe to assume he wouldn’t mind being sent to a team that would use him a little more. He could emerge as a trade candidate prior to the February 7 deadline.
  6. Michael Beasley, F (Lakers): If the Lakers intend to hang onto their young prospects, as is expected, then it’ll be their veterans on expiring contracts who are used as chips in any trades for short-term help. Beasley, who is on a one-year, $3.5MM deal, has only played 7.1 minutes per game in 10 contests this season, and is a good bet to be included in offers for players who would see more regular minutes for the Lakers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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