The 2020 NBA trade deadline is later this week: Thursday, February 6 at 3:00 PM EST. In this blog post, I wanted to quickly go through each team in the Western Conference and the need they have to make a trade before the deadline. I will address each team in order of where they are in the standings at this moment. On Wednesday, I will address the Eastern Conference.
#1. Los Angeles Lakers (37-11): As the top team in the Western Conference, the Lakers shouldn't feel much of a need to make a trade. The only reason why they might consider a move is if they feel they don't have enough depth, relying too much on LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
If the Lakers were to make a move, it would likely involve third year forward Kyle Kuzma, who is averaging 13.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He becomes a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021 and has a contract that wouldn't cost a team too much, paying him $1.9M this year and $3.6M next year. His qualifying offer in the summer of 2021 is $5.3M.
Kuzma is a talented player that doesn't cost much. A lot of teams might be interested in getting him and the Lakers could get some attractive pieces back for him. I don't know if I see the Lakers moving Kuzma, but if there's any move they make, I would expect Kuzma to be involved. We'll see what happens.
#2. Los Angeles Clippers (35-15): While I could see the Lakers possibly making a move, I don't see the Clippers making one. They have their core in Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell playing well and a solid supporting cast around them. Anything is possible at the trade deadline, but the Clippers are a team I expect to stand pat.
#3. Denver Nuggets (34-16): The Nuggets have a few guys on expiring contracts in Paul Millsap, Juan Hernangomez, Torrey Craig, Mason Plumlee, and Malik Beasley. I don't see Millsap being moved because he is making $30M this year and is a big part of what the Nuggets do. The other guys though could be moved in order to add a piece that they feel better helps them contend.
Do I see the Nuggets making a move? It's possible, but I don't expect anything major to happen. They'll more or less stay the same, but they could make an upgrade if the right opportunity presents itself.
#4. Utah Jazz (32-17): The Jazz already made a move earlier this year by trading Dante Exum to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Clarkson. A move that appears to be working out well for them as Clarkson is averaging 14.9 points per game in a Jazz uniform. It's possible the Jazz make a minor move like trade a role player on an expiring contract (e.g. Emmanuel Mudiay), but I doubt it.
#5. Houston Rockets (32-18): There have been rumors of the Rockets moving Clint Capela, so that's something to definitely keep an eye on. They do have some minor players on expiring contracts in injured guard Gerald Green, Thabo Sefolosha, and Tyson Chandler, but those guys don't have much value. Either the Capela rumors have legs and they move him or they don't make a move. That's how I hedge things at the moment.
#6. Dallas Mavericks (31-19): The Mavericks have a few minor players on expiring contracts like J.J. Barea and Courtney Lee, but given how well they've been playing, I see the Mavericks staying put at the trade deadline. They also made a small move earlier as well in acquiring Willie Cauley-Stein from the Warriors, so there's good odds they feel they've already made their move. Similar to the Jazz.
#7. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-20): The Thunder are playing pretty well at the moment while also having a few guys on expiring contracts, most notably Danilo Gallinari (19.2 points per game). I don't see them moving Gallinari considering how well he's playing and Chris Paul, who everyone thought would be traded, seems to be enjoying life in OKC. I wouldn't be shocked if the Thunder made a move, but I think odds are good they stay as is.
#8. Memphis Grizzlies (25-25): The Grizzlies have several guys on expiring contracts in Solomon Hill, Jae Crowder, Josh Jackson, Dillon Brooks, and most notably Andre Iguodala, who Ja Morant and others on the team are quite frustrated with. If the Grizzlies are to move anyone, it should be Iguodala, who otherwise will sit out the rest of the season. I expect the Grizzlies to find a home for him and possibly one or two others as well.
#9. Portland Trail Blazers (23-27): The Trail Blazers have a few guys on expiring contracts, making a trade certainly possible. Hassan Whiteside is on an expiring contract and playing quite well, so it's possible they see him as a trade chip that they could get a lot back for. At the same time, if they want to make the playoffs and make a push, they probably should hang on to him.
The other guys on expiring contracts are Carmelo Anthony, Skal Labissiere, Caleb Swanigan, and Wenyen Gabriel. Anthony isn't going anywhere and has his contract guaranteed for the rest of the year. So that leaves the other three guys. It's possible one of them gets moved, but there isn't much back the Trail Blazers could get. That said, they could move them to get some draft picks back or something. The Trail Blazers are sort of a coin flip for me. We'll just have to see.
#10. San Antonio Spurs (22-27): The Spurs have a few guys on expiring contracts in Jakob Pöltl, Marco Belinelli, Bryn Forbes, Drew Eubanks, and Quinndary Weatherspoon. Making a move quite possible. The one with the most value is Forbes, who is averaging 10.9 points per game. If the Spurs feel they can get some decent assets back for him, maybe they move him. The same goes for others as well. The Spurs I see as another coin flip. I could see it going either way for them.
#11. Phoenix Suns (20-30): The Suns have a few guys on expiring contracts in Tyler Johnson, Dario Saric, Aron Baynes, Jevon Carter, Jared Harper, and Tariq Owens. Given that, a trade is quite possible. They've been rumored to be interested in Pistons guard Luke Kennard, so that's certainly one direction they could go. Otherwise, I could see them doing something minor like unload a few expiring contracts to clear cap space and/or gather draft picks.
#12. New Orleans Pelicans (20-31): There's some speculation that the Pelicans may move Jrue Holiday, so that is certainly something to look for. Also, they have a few guys on expiring contracts in Derrick Favors, E'Twaun Moore, and Brandon Ingram, so a trade is certainly possible with any of those guys. If the Pelicans can get a lot back for Holiday, good odds they make a move. At the same time, he's playing really well (19.7 points & 6.3 assists), so they may also want to keep him for the purposes of giving them a foundation to build around Zion Williamson. If Holiday was on an expiring contract, I would say he gets traded for sure, but since he's not, I think there's decent odds the Pelicans keep him. It'll be interesting to see what they do.
#13. Sacramento Kings (19-31): The most notable trade asset the Kings have is Bogdan Bogdanovic (14.6 points per game), who yup, you guessed it, is on an expiring contract. If the Kings can get some assets back for him, I bet they'll move him. Otherwise, I see them staying the same at the deadline.
#14. Minnesota Timberwolves (15-34): The Timberwolves need a lot of help and quite honestly need to hit the reset button. They've been rumored to be interested in Warriors point guard D'Angelo Russell, who many feel would be moved at the deadline to start the season. If the Timberwolves could land him, maybe that will give them the jolt of life that they need. I feel odds are good the Timberwolves make a move, but I'm not sure they'll be able to get Russell. It'll come down to what the Warriors want to do with him and what other offers they can field. Also, how much the Timberwolves are willing to give up.
#15. Golden State Warriors (12-39): I already touched on the Warriors above, but what they do with D'Angelo Russell is the big thing to look for. He's never been viewed as a long-term option for them and much more of an asset that they can use as a trade chip. If they can get a good offer from the Timberwolves or some other team, I say he's gone. However, what remains to be seen is how much other teams are willing to give up to get him.
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