NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central Division

Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Central has been the most active division in terms of in-season trades so far in 2018/19, with the Cavaliers participating in two trades so far and the Bucks making one. There’s no indication those will be the last deals made by Central clubs this season, as there are still a number of players who could be on the move by February 7.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Central…

Jabari Parker, F
Chicago Bulls
$20MM cap hit; $20MM team option for 2019/20

It has been an eventful couple days for Parker, who was pulled from the rotation by the Bulls on Thursday and then became the subject of trade rumors on Friday.

A pair of reports on the Parker trade talks today both suggested that there’s considerable interest around the NBA in the former No. 2 overall pick, which is somewhat hard for me to believe. While there’s sure to be some interest in Parker, who remains a dynamic scorer, the Bulls and agent Mark Bartelstein may be motivated to exaggerate that interest a little. It’s just hard to imagine a bunch of teams driving up the bidding for a player who is on a $20MM contract, will likely be a free agent in a few months, and has admitted to not having much interest in playing defense.

A trade would be particularly challenging if the Bulls are unwilling to take on multiyear money that would cut into their projected 2019 cap room. For instance, if a team like the Trail Blazers pursued Parker, there would be virtually no way to make a deal work without including a player like Meyers Leonard or Maurice Harkless – who are earning more than $11MM apiece in 2019/20 – or someone with an even more expensive ’19/20 salary.

The Kings are one potentially intriguing fit, given their expiring contracts and their cap room — Zach Randolph‘s $11MM expiring deal would be enough to send out for Parker, who could subsequently fit into Sacramento’s cap space. However, the Kings, who have long been seeking their small forward of the future, would have to be confident Parker could play at the three instead of the four, since they already have a number of options up front.

Darren Collison, G
Indiana Pacers
$10MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

A report this week suggested that league executives believe the Pacers may consider trading one of their veteran point guards – Collison or Cory Joseph – in advance of the trade deadline. A move would make some sense, with Victor Oladipo and Tyreke Evans also sharing ball-handling duties for the Pacers, who in turn want to carve out regular minutes for rookie guard Aaron Holiday.

While Collison is Indiana’s starting point guard, Joseph is probably having the stronger season. Joseph’s shooting numbers are better, he’s a stronger defender, and the Pacers have been noticeably better when he’s on the court (+7.4 net rating) than when he’s not (+2.0 net rating). That could make Collison the more expendable of the two guards.

Of course, the Pacers project to be a top-five seed in the East, so they won’t trade a starter in a deal that doesn’t provide an immediate upgrade at another position. They may also want to do right by the veteran Collison by not sending him to an unfavorable situation like, say, Phoenix.

There are some trade scenarios that could be viable though, even if the Pacers limit their scope. The Sixers, Pelicans, Nuggets, Spurs, and Magic are among the many playoff contenders who could benefit from the presence of a veteran guard like Collison.

Rodney Hood, G
Cleveland Cavaliers
$3.47MM cap hit; UFA in 2019

The Cavaliers have already moved Kyle Korver and George Hill, and we profiled J.R. Smith in our last check-in on the Central’s trade candidates. There are still plenty of players who could be on the block in Cleveland, however, with a report this week indicating that Alec Burks and Hood are among them.

Although Hood has seen his stock dip a little over the last year and hasn’t developed into the kind of impact player that many observers expected him to, his .438 FG% is a career-best and he’s knocking down 37.5% of his three-point attempts. At just $3.47MM, he’d be an inexpensive target for a playoff team looking for a second-unit scorer, and he could likely be had for a reasonable return, given his looming unrestricted free agency.

There are just two potential roadblocks in the way of a Hood deal: He’s not trade-eligible until January 15 and he has the power to block a trade, since he’d lose his Bird rights if he’s moved. Still, if the Cavs signal that they don’t plan to re-sign him, losing those Bird rights wouldn’t hurt much, and he may welcome a change of scenery, given Cleveland’s place in the standings.

Previously:

• NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central (11/20)
• NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central (10/25)
• The rest of our NBA Trade Candidate series

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.