With the March 25 trade deadline fast approaching, Hoops Rumors is taking a closer look at players around the NBA who are candidates to be moved this month, breaking them down into several categories based on their age, contracts, on-court value, and other categories. Today, we’ll zero in on young players on buyers who could be moved as their teams explore upgrades.
Playoff contenders and championship hopefuls who are in the market for roster upgrades often rely on first- and second-round draft picks to acts as sweeteners in their trade offers. But for clubs that have already traded away many of their future picks or simply prefer not to sacrifice draft capital, using promising young talent to build a package may be a more viable option.
In today’s installment of our Trade Candidate series, we’re focusing on young players who could (or should) be available if certain teams seeking roster upgrades make deals this month.
We’ve already looked at several restricted free-agents-to-be who may be trade candidates — we won’t repeat them here, which is why young players like John Collins, Kendrick Nunn, and Talen Horton-Tucker don’t show up in the space below.
Additionally, since we’re focusing on teams expected to be buyers, we won’t be mentioning young players on presumed sellers who may benefit from a change of scenery (such as Marvin Bagley or Mohamed Bamba).
Let’s dive in…
Non-rotation players:
- Carsen Edwards, Aaron Nesmith, and Romeo Langford, Celtics
- R.J. Hampton, Zeke Nnaji, and Bol Bol, Nuggets
- Josh Green, Tyrell Terry, and Tyler Bey, Mavericks
- Kevin Knox, Knicks
- Jalen Smith, Suns
- Udoka Azubuike, Jazz
- CJ Elleby, Trail Blazers
- Daniel Oturu, Clippers
Some of the players in this group have been regulars for their respective teams at times this season, but none are currently playing 15-20 minutes per night.
Although we’re grouping all of these players together, that doesn’t mean their values are roughly identical. Players like Bol or Smith are developmental prospects who are still relatively raw and are viewed as having upside, whereas someone like Knox – who is in his third season but has still been unable to carve out a regular role – has seen his value dip since being drafted in the lottery.
Other players in this group, such as Elleby and Oturu, were second-round picks and were never considered premium prospects, but still could have some value to teams that view them as potential role players.
The players here could be used to sweeten a trade offer, but – with a few exceptions – likely wouldn’t be the centerpiece of any deal for a difference-maker.
Regular rotation players:
- Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish, Hawks
- Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little, Trail Blazers
- Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, and Furkan Korkmaz, Sixers
- Payton Pritchard, Celtics
- Donte DiVincenzo, Bucks
- Aaron Holiday, Pacers
- Precious Achiuwa, Heat
- Terance Mann, Clippers
- Nicolas Claxton, Nets
- Josh Okogie, Jarrett Culver, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Jaylen Nowell, Timberwolves
This is a more intriguing group than the first, even if there may not be any future All-Stars in the bunch.
Huerter and Reddish are part of the second tier of Hawks’ young players, behind presumed untouchables Trae Young and De’Andre Hunter. If Atlanta takes a big swing at the deadline, it’s a safe bet that at least one of Huerter and Reddish would be among the outgoing pieces.
Simons, Holiday, and Mann have received glowing reviews from their respective teams over the years, but have yet to break out and should be available in the right deals. Meanwhile, the Bucks have already shown that DiVincenzo is available in the right trade, having reportedly agreed to send him to Sacramento last fall in a sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic before that deal fell apart.
It would probably take a lot for the Sixers, Celtics, and Heat to part with promising rookies Maxey, Pritchard, and Achiuwa (Maxey’s inclusion in a James Harden offer was reportedly a point of contention), but they shouldn’t be off-limits, even if Philadelphia would probably rather move Thybulle and/or Korkmaz.
Including any Timberwolves players here may seem odd, since they have the NBA’s worst record. But even if they’re not traditional “buyers,” they’ve been linked to power forwards like John Collins and Aaron Gordon. They’d want to hang onto Anthony Edwards in any such deal, so any of their other young players would probably be available.
Would likely only be available for a star-caliber player:
- Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets
- James Wiseman, Warriors
- Tyler Herro, Heat
If Bradley Beal were available, these players are the kinds of prospects the Wizards would presumably be targeting. But since Beal, Zach LaVine, and most other All-Star caliber players aren’t expected to be in play at this year’s deadline, it’s unlikely we’ll see any of these youngsters on the move. The one exception could be Herro, if the Magic get serious about moving Nikola Vucevic.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Yes
Wiseman is available
And of course
Wolves top 3 protected pick (Warriors)
Other teams
Please put something valuable on the table
No one on the table right now is more valuable than A. Gordon or Oladipo.
Oladipo = 35th pick + salary release
Warriors would be stupid to trade that pick or Wiseman. They’re not winning a title this year without Klay. They should stop being delusional.
Gotta agree moving wiseman makes no sense when they are battling for an 8 seed and gettin blown out once a week
More like battling for a play-in spot as the #9 or #10 seed.
Wiseman is not available. Where do you get this idea? They are also not trading the wolves pick. Myers has said this many times.
Myers saying something means nothing. GSW led the league in smokescreens before the last draft.
There are players I would trade Wiseman for but not Olidipo or AGordon. (Maybe roboHoustonhomer has a limited definition of “on the table”.)
I guess you are new to this. Unless you have the No.1 pick, and not always then, teams always spread misinformation about who they are going to draft. It happens in every sport since they started holding drafts. Trading Wiseman just creates a hole. It will create even more problems when Klay comes back.
Hardly new to this and apparently better informed. Fool me once,…etc. What Myers did NBA 2020 was more than anyone has gamed the system since the Cuban/Jordan fiasco, and that was just the one thing. Maybe the NFL/AFL and NBA/ABA wars was the height of deceiving.
Thing is the NBA draft last year was unprecedented in the length of the buidup, stretching maybe 6 months, bc of the covid shutdown. But Myers was tireless in denying Wiseman interest, and in leaking other scenarios to confuse. Fans & posters tried to help the task (@Gary come back all is forgiven). Myers’ actions were noted by Hollinger of the Athletic a couple times, and others including on HR where I don’t think you were.
And now you quote him for strategy.
If you trade Wiseman for a center, no hole, indeed possibly someone good for more minutes. Statistically, GSW already has a hole there. GSW’s window is short, no time for raising teens. Wiseman is years from being Curry. Would I trade him for Beal?— hmm. Fox and Holmes?— in Sacto there is talk of not retaining Holmes, but not bc of performance.
Embiid & Towns have disappointed some; Vucevic, Bam keep rising.
Pretty sure the MIN pick is available too and might be better for the future.
But Luke just listed Wiseman for GSW.
Depends on who you get your information from. Most sport writers around the team said they were picking Wiseman. Ball was the back up pick if Wiseman was gone. Ball was never told by GSW they were picking him. They said they liked him was all that was said. They are getting killed by bigger stronger teams so they need Wiseman in the future. He is 19 and will add on weight to make him tougher inside.
Im with x%, GSW is a well run team and every well run team is working the media as a diversion or holding them off the true scent in some regards – I trust nothing GSW says
There isnt a star big enough for Wiseman today, or in 9 days so he develops ROS in GSW……. Now draft night next year, stay tuned, Wiggy/Wise/Wolves Pick probably beats any other offer avail if somebody arises
Why would the Warriors be so adamant about not trading Wiseman? They are in win now mode, so what’s the point of keeping someone who might be a great player 4-5 years from now? The only reason would be is if they are planning on rebuilding around Wiseman if/when they’re forced to blow up the team in 2022.
Wiseman is a good player NOW. If he played a full yr he’d probably be ROY. GS is not going to move him. Are you geniuses watching GS. Why must Warriors be making some big deal. They have one of best 2way players coming back next yr. Obrue on expiring deal makes sense to move him. Other than that seems the draft is when they could do something major. It won’t be with Wiseman. Wiseman will be best Center in NBA one day. Right now he is a solid Center. Wiseman will retire a Warrior. 12 pts, 6 reb, 1 blk in 20 mins a gms. Puts him in top 5 Centers now statistically. They don’t need to trade him. They need to build around him.
Top 5 statistically how? I see good shooting%s from the 2 and 3 but not the 1; 5.6 fouls per 36′; PER 14; on-off minus10.
They don’t need to build around him, they should go for titles or lose to a team in the moment.
Picking up a KATowns or some major presence will likely require more than a year’s adjustment to win a title with.
Wiseman can develop on an also-ran… I don’t get your urgency.
If GSW got an offer for Beal and Wagner, or Towns and Nowell, you say what, no bc the future?
I’m not sure where the goalposts are on this matter but extremes are risky. If I were a GM, and another GM said the future belongs to Wiseman, I would see what I could get with him.
Do you see anyone you would trade Wiseman for? You talk like, not, and comfy with losing if young enough, like teams are competing by age stats not points.
The equal value
Wiseman + Wolves = Tatum
No Tatum like player = no trade
Likely no trade
Celtics aren’t trading Tatum.
Well Tyrell Terry Tyler Bey, Look at you all listed with the promising, give grandma a hug.
Sixers cant move Thybulle AND Green and not get a wing defender back in the trade. They can afford to part with Korkmaz bc he plays no D. Thybulle is anemic offensively. Shake and Maxey are basically the same player. So you could part with 1 if you’re getting a non-rental. Otherwise I’m more inclined to give up picks bc you’ve already hit on Shake and Maxey.
One or more of the players listed here will hopefully be Rockets after they trade Tucker, and possibly Oladipo too, at some point next week. Make it a good one.