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We are almost a month into the 2019-20 NBA season, and teams around the league have now had enough time to examine how they are currently placed. The likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics have excelled following busy off-seasons, while teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers have endured miserable starts to the season.
There has been little trade activity over the past few weeks, but teams will increasingly look to make moves in the coming weeks as they attempt to achieve their goals for the season. Several big names such as Jimmy Butler were traded during the 2018-19 season, and we could once again see some of the NBA's best talent switch teams.
Here, we take a look at the five blockbuster trades that could still happen ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
#5 Andre Iguodala to the Dallas Mavericks
In one of the most surprising moves of the off-season, the Golden State Warriors opted to send Andre Iguodala to the Memphis Grizzlies in order to free up cap space. Iguodala played a key role for the Warriors as they made five straight trips to the NBA Finals, and the three-time NBA Champion still holds plenty of value despite turning 35 earlier this year.
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the only teams in the league that can really make a deal that matches Iguodala's almost $17 million contract, and the two teams are reportedly engaged in trade talks. While Iguodala is not the biggest name on this list, his addition to a Dallas roster that can already call upon Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis would put the Mavs firmly in contention in the West.
#4 Clint Capela to the Boston Celtics
Despite losing Kyrie Irving and Al Horford last summer, the Boston Celtics have emerged as the NBA's surprise package by starting the campaign with a 9-1 record. The Celtics' current nine-game winning run has been fueled by the young duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, while Kemba Walker has already done enough to dismiss suggestions that Boston overpaid him.
That said, the Celtics still lack quality at the center position, and multiple reports have suggested that Danny Ainge could move for a new big man ahead of the trade deadline. Steven Adams looked to be the most likely candidate earlier, but the Kiwi has looked poor without Russell Westbrook. Instead, the Celtics are likely to follow up their summer interest in Clint Capela.
Capela was among the players initially made available by the Rockets during the off-season. And with so much cap space invested in Westbrook and James Harden, Capela is likely to be the man to make way.
The Celtics will be more than happy to take Capela off Houston's hands, and a deal shouldn't prove too difficult considering that both teams will be motivated to complete a trade.
#3 D'Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves
D'Angelo Russell was the Timberwolves' number one target during the off-season. Minnesota even believed they had got their man, before the point guard completed a surprise sign-and-trade to the Golden State Warriors.
But with the Warriors already out of the race to make the 2020 playoffs, it is believed that Russell is unlikely to finish the season with the franchise.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have defied expectations to begin the season with a 7-4 record, and Russell would create a youthful 'Big 3' alongside Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The Wolves could send Robert Covington and Gorgui Dieng alongside a future pick to the Warriors, and the addition of Russell would set Minnesota up for the next half-decade.
#2 Kevin Love to the Portland Trail Blazers
Kevin Love has started the season in excellent form following his injury-hit 2018-19 campaign. And despite recently voicing his commitment to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a trade remains possible ahead of the February deadline.
The former All-Star turned 31 in September, and his continued presence on a poor Cavs team that has started the season with a 4-7 record makes little sense.
The Trail Blazers are among the teams that have been linked with Love, and Portland's recent acquisition of Carmelo Anthony illustrated their desire to add more talent alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
The addition of a third star would transform last year's Western Conference Finalists into a real force. The Blazers could send Hassan Whiteside and a number of picks to Cleveland to complete a trade.
#1 Chris Paul to the Miami Heat
Fueled by the young core of Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Justise Winslow and Kendrick Nunn, the Miami Heat have made a much better start to the season than expected. Despite a difficult schedule, they have started with an impressive 8-3 record.
However, the roster still looks short on quality when compared to the best teams in the East such as the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers.
It is no secret that Pat Riley is actively searching for a second star to pair with Jimmy Butler, and Chris Paul remains the biggest name available to the Heat. Yes, CP3 is 34 and is also signed to one of the worst deals in the NBA, but the veteran is still one of the best guards in the league.
Moreover, the guard has performed well in Oklahoma City despite averaging a career-low in minutes.
With the Thunder believed to be keen to offload Paul, a deal shouldn't be too complicated, the Heat could send two young players alongside Goran Dragic's expiring deal.
