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Dwight Howard, if traded, will be the biggest name to make a switchThe NBA mid-season trade deadline for the ongoing season is at 3 pm Eastern Time on the 18th February. Why is that important?Trade talks between NBA teams see a huge spike between the 15th of December and the trade deadline. Why is December 15th important?From this date on, the majority of NBA players can be traded, as per the NBA rule books. Bobby Marks, a former long term executive with the Brooklyn Nets, emphasizes the importance of the 15th of December. Starting tonight at midnight, 378 out of the 447 NBA players will be eligible to be traded.— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 14, 2015With the unofficial mid-season trade window of the NBA tipped off and only a few days old, just like last year, after studying the season and accessing various reports and rumors across the league, we bring you the top 5 NBA players who could, or in some cases should, be traded during this trade window:
#5 Dwight Howard
The situation in Houston surrounding Dwight Howard is slowly yet surely becoming a lot similar to what it was in Orlando during the 2011-12 season and with the Los Angeles Lakers in the following season.
The ordeal started on Tuesday when Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reported Howard being unhappy playing second fiddle to team’s alpha dog James Harden. Following the report, ESPN’s Rockets beat writer Calvin Watkins chipped in with some information of his own:
Replying to the report after a loss, Howard called it “lies and rumors”. However less than a day after his reply, Sam Amick of USA Today had this to say in his piece on Howard:
“A person with knowledge of the Rockets situation said they are expecting him to opt out and become a free agent”
Given Howard’s history of being indecisive while dealing with team managements (Orlando Magic and the Lakers), the Rockets’ General Manager would and should be looking for trade deals involving him in order to get something in return for his talents rather than see him walk free via free agency by opting out of the player option on his contract for next year.
#4 Ryan Anderson
Through the New Orleans Pelicans disastrous 7-18 start to the season, only one thing seems certain: Anthony Davis being their franchise cornerstone and primary building block. So despite Ryan Anderson being among the best three-point shooting big men in the league in terms of accuracy, he’s reportedly been put on the trading block by the team.
Now the initial reaction would be of surprise; mine was. Having said that, as the team looks forward to next year, trading Anderson now makes more sense than ever and here’s why:
First off, with Davis expanding his range further from the basket and working on his jump shot, having a stretch four alongside him makes no sense, basketball X’s and O’s wise. Add to that Anderson’s very affordable final year contract of 8 million dollars and the Pelicans have a piece ready to be shipped in return for valuable young rebuilding assets.
With the indications pointing at Anderson’s eventual departure as a free agent, it only makes sense for the Pelicans to get something in return rather than have him walk away for free. Anderson has been discussed as part of a trade with the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Markieff Morris but the talks have not reached any state of fruition.
#3 Brandon Jennings
With a max deal and the starting point guard spot, the Detroit Pistons have handed the reigns of the franchise to Reggie Jackson leaving a rehabbing Brandon Jennings to earn his spot on the rotation.
Mind you, the team is three players deep at the point guard spot without Jennings, yet, Head Coach Stan Van Gundy is happy to stick with the former Milwaukee Bucks player instead of being open to phone calls for trade deals involving him.
Sticking with Jennings is probably a move by Van Gundy to strengthen the team’s bench however with reliable veteran Steve Blake running the point with the second unit, it would be better to focus on acquiring more reliable productive front court players.
Right now the only consistent forward on the team is monster starting center Andre Drummond. The likes of Aron Baynes, Anthony Tolliver, Ersan Ilyasova and Marcus Morris have all been fits in the system but none have been reliable scorers.
With both guard spots doing okay for the team, Detroit would find itself to be the benficiary in deals that involves shipping away Jennings. The team could easily acquire another shooting big to add to the rotation along with maybe a draft pick.
#2 Caron Butler
This past off-season the Sacramento Kings quietly signed veteran Caron Butler to a 2-year $ 3 million deal. However, he has failed to see much time on the floor averaging 10 minutes of playing time across only eight games of the 25 the team has played so far.
Being very considerate to Butler’s situation, the Kings are apparently looking to move him to a team that can offer him more playing time. ESPN's Senior Writer Marc Stein reports on Twitter:
The Milwaukee Bucks for reasons more than one are a favorable landing spot for the 13-year forward. Bucks, a team that cleared veterans Zaza Pachulia and Jared Dudley to clear cap space for Greg Monroe, are a young team in dire need of veteran leadership which Butler can offer. Milwaukee is also Butler’s hometown and what makes matters more sweet is that absorbing Butler's contract will be no heavy load on the Bucks’ accounts books.
#1 Markieff Morris
After his twin brother Marcus Morris was traded to the Detroit Pistons over the summer, Markieff has been anything but co-operative with the Phoneix Suns, including being fined $10,000 by the league for demanding a trade. However, things settled down and Markief was back to his senses come training camp time.
Just when it looked like the player-management relationship was taking a turn for the better, Morris has been held out of the rotation for the last 5-6 games, receiving a DNP (Did not play) coach's decision. Mirza Teletovic and Jon Luer have been receiving more time on the court ahead of him which seems to have neither helped the team nor hurt their performance.
Holding him out on the bench has made the team's mindset even more clear that they want him gone. The Markieff drama in Phoenix has been so public and widespread in the league that he has been discussed in almost EVERY trade there is possible. Whether it’s with the Pelicans for Ryan Anderson or with the Rockets or with the Heat, you name it and Markieff’s name has been thrown into the conversation.
In his case, it’s not whether he would be traded, it's about when he will be traded and where.
