Today is December 15, which means that – by our count – 106 NBA players who signed as free agents this offseason have officially become eligible to be traded.
That list, which can be found right here, features a number of players who absolutely aren’t going anywhere this season, including Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, and Suns guard Chris Paul, among others.
However, it also features several players whose names have already popped up in trade rumors in the months since they were signed, such as Celtics guard Dennis Schröder, Rockets center Daniel Theis, Spurs sharpshooter Bryn Forbes, and Knicks guard Kemba Walker.
Nineteen of the players on the list can’t be traded without their consent, since they have the ability to veto trades this season. Multiple players from the Nets, Nuggets, Pistons, Heat, Bucks, and Suns fall into that group.
Finally, it’s worth noting that there are still many recently-signed players around the NBA who remain ineligible to be dealt. Some will become trade-eligible on January 15, while others have specific dates to watch.
Of course, while December 15 is considered the unofficial start of the NBA’s trade season, we shouldn’t expect a flurry of deals in the coming days. Typically, teams wait until closer to the trade deadline (February 10) to make their moves.
To illustrate this point, let’s take a look back at the last five seasons in which a huge swath of players became trade-eligible on December 15 (we’re throwing out the 2020/21 campaign, since the delayed start to the condensed season meant that the usual Dec. 15 deadline didn’t actually arrive until February).
From the 2015/16 season through the 2019/20 campaign, a total of just three trades were completed between December 15 and the end of the calendar year on December 31. One of those three deals – the Jordan Clarkson trade between the Cavaliers and Jazz on Dec. 23, 2019 – didn’t involve any players whose trade restrictions had recently lifted.
The only two instances in recent years in which teams moved relatively quickly after December 15 to deal newly trade-eligible players occurred in 2015, when the Pelicans sent Ish Smith to the Sixers on Dec. 24, and in 2018, when the Suns sent Trevor Ariza to the Wizards on Dec. 17.
The original three-team version of that Ariza deal memorably fell apart due to a mixup over whether Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks was included, which perhaps served as a cautionary tale for front offices, encouraging them not to rush into anything right after Dec. 15.
The league’s recent trade history doesn’t mean we won’t see any trades this month, but if we get more than one or two, it would be an exception to the rule. We should expect more activity in January and February, even as talks start to heat up in December.
What do you would think about this trade proposal: Is it a fair trade, who says yes and who says no?
3 team trade :
NYK: Kemba Walker (Clippers), Taj Gibson (Clippers), Evan Fournier (Pacers), Mitchell Robinson (Pacers), Kevin Knox (Pacers), 2022 Hornets First Round Draft Pick (Pacers)
Pacers: Myles Turner(Knicks), Kelan
Martin (Knicks), TJ Warren (Clippers), Jeremy Lamb (Clippers), Brad Wannamaker (Knicks)
Clippers: Eric Bledsoe (Knicks), Luke Kennard (Pacers), Keon Johnson (Pacers), Justice Winslow (Pacers), 2 First Round Draft picks (Pacers)
That’s just too many moving pieces, simplify it!
Do you even know if the money works. NBA teams can’t just make trades without the financial side fitting for every team.
Must be a Knicks fan since the pacers get short end of this DA proposal.
Way too many players involved. 14 player trade??? This isn’t 2K. All teams say no.l because that is too much roster turnover midseason.
Side note:, do clippers have 1st round picks to trade? I thought they gave up the farm for PG13. Clippers give up way too much for TJ Warren. One first round pick should be more than enough for an injured rental. Trade makes no sense for the pacers if they are going full rebuild, there isn’t a long term piece in the bunch.
3 team deals aren’t super common with that many moving pieces. Those are like whole team trades. Usually it’s centered around 1 player and the other moving parts are due to salary and finding a home for a player. Just my 2 cents.
Okay well this isn’t about whether it would work or not, it’s about whether it’s fair.
I think the Pacers do this cause of all the first-rounders, but only if they’re committed to going full-on rebuild. The Clippers wouldn’t trade any first-rounders, but maybe a couple seconds and I still think the Pacers would do that. It’s plausible to see the Knicks doing this, but I don’t think they give up a 1st either. Overall I do think this would have to be simplified though, and I don’t think the Clippers really need Warren because when Leonard comes back he’ll have nowhere to go. Plus the Pacers would have to cut a bunch of players to make this happen.
Theis will probably be a trade chip for Houston. His game has not fit the Rockets game plan since their winning ways began.
DS back to the Lakers? Lol
If the Sixers punt in deals with Indy, Portland, Sac, etc… and they do a deal with SAS for parts vs a star, I think you could do a:
Simmons, Thybulle, Milton, Joe to SAS
Murray, Keldon, Forbes, McBuckets to PHL
Money wise it works and it helps the Sixers tax line. SAS gets two All NBA Defense caliber players. Both under team control for years. They get a backup PG and an upside guy in Joe. I think the Sixers probably need to add some 2nd round picks to this. SAS is high on Keldon but if they want Simmons Murray isn’t enough of a headliner. And the Sixers don’t need or want White or Thad so to make the money work that’s the trade unless you did a 3 team.
I think Philly says no, 100%.
Yeah way too many players and Thybulle is extremely valuable to Sixers. Simmons for Murray and Thaddeus Young works money wise, and Young’s contract is expiring which is a bonus. Maybe throw in a first rounder going to Sixers. That’s about as complex as NBA trades ever get.
Thad is no value to the Sixers, which I stated. Hes a buyout candidate at this point too, why trade for him?
It’s a 4 for 4 1-team deal not that complicated. Sixers have to accommodate roster spots for players coming in. Thybulle is in the 3rd year of his rookie deal and he hasn’t developed a 3pt shot yet. His defense is premium, which is coveted around the league, but the Sixers need shooters to make this roster work. And I would sell high on Thybulles value, but he only makes like 2.8M so hes gotta be in a deal with someone else. Forbes, McDermott, and Keldon are all good-great 3pt shooters.
Sixers would still have Daniel Green (not danny, hes not our friend) as a 3 & D wing backup.
It may not be the best names they get, but it improves their offense around Embiid the most without getting a Star player. 3 of the 4 are also under contract for multiple years which is good, you dont want rentals and their contracts are tradeable if needed.
I think maybe the sixers do this if you add a first-round pick but the Spurs are so bad they wouldn’t want to do that. Maybe you add a 2024 first-rounder…but the spurs are a rebuilding team, I don’t think they do this without a star to pair him with…and plus, Simmons would HATE this. Stuck on a rebuilding team…this doesn’t really make sense. Also like the other guy said Thybulle is too valuable