NBA Trade Deadline: 5 in-demand players likely to stay with their current team

The 2020 trade deadline is just over a week away, and teams around the league are already beginning to make significant moves. Over the past ten days, Jeff Teague has swapped the Minnesota Timberwolves for the Atlanta Hawks, while Willie Cauley-Stein joined the contending Dallas Mavericks after spending just half a season with the struggling Golden State Warriors.

There are still plenty of teams around the league with ranging fortunes looking to buy or sell ahead of the deadline – and NBA fans can expect more moves in the week ahead. However, not every player that has been the subject of rumors will be traded, and here we will take a look at the five big names that are likely to stay with their current team past the 2020 trade deadline.

#5 Chris Paul - Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul has had a huge impact for the Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul has been linked with an exit from the Oklahoma City Thunder ever since he was traded to the team as part of the deal that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston last summer. While Paul is still among the best point guards in the NBA, the Thunder are undergoing a potentially lengthy rebuild, and the Miami Heat have been frequently mentioned as a destination for the veteran point guard.

However, a deal is complicated by the fact that Paul is owed more than $85 million over the next two seasons, and he will also turn 35 in May. This makes a move difficult, and with the Thunder seemingly increasingly happy with his impact both on the court and in the locker room - it appears that the veteran will at least finish this season as a member of the Thunder.

#4 Andre Drummond - Detroit Pistons

The Pistons have made the 26-year-old available for trade

Andre Drummond is the biggest name available on the trade market after the Detroit Pistons started shopping him to rival teams earlier this month. The 26-year-old has been among Detroit’s best performers this season, averaging 17.3 points and 15.6 rebounds, however, the Pistons are set to once again miss out on the postseason, and it appears that the front office has finally opted for a much-needed reboot.

While Drummond would undoubtedly improve a contending team such as the Boston Celtics, the center is set to hit free agency this summer – and teams will be hesitant to give up assets for a player that could leave for nothing in six months. With the Pistons also demanding at least a first-round pick in a potential deal – it appears that teams will wait until the summer before making a move for the 2-time All-Star.

#3 Steven Adams - Oklahoma City Thunder

Steven Adams could still play a key role in the Thunder's ongoing rebuild

Following the surprise departures of Paul George and Russell Westbrook last summer, Steven Adams’ future with the Thunder was called into question. Excluding Chris Paul, Adams is OKC’s highest earner, and with several teams looking to sign a quality center – Adams has been linked with a trade to the likes of the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics.

However, at 26, Adams is still young enough to play a prominent role in OKC’s ongoing rebuild efforts, and trading the popular Kiwi wouldn’t be received well by a Thunder fan base that has watched Durant, Westbrook, and George leave over the past four seasons.

#2 Kevin Love - Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Love is believed to prefer to be traded from the Cavs

Over the past 18 months, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been adamant that Kevin Love remains part of their long-term plans and wouldn’t be traded. However, after posting a 19-63 record during the 2018-19 season, the Cavs have once again disappointed, winning just 13 games so far this season. Love has also looked visibly frustrated with his younger teammates, and recent reports have suggested that the veteran prefers to be moved ahead of the trade deadline.

However, while the Cavs are now believed to be open to trading the former All-Star, rival executives have insisted that Love isn’t viewed as a valuable commodity around the league. Further complicating a potential trade is the fact that Love is owed $90 million over the next three seasons - and it is difficult to envision a trade materializing ahead of the deadline.

#1 D’Angelo Russell - Golden State Warriors

D'Angelo Russell has been excellent for the Warriors

At 23, D'Angelo Russell is on course to develop into a perennial All-Star, and the point guard is generating plenty of interest ahead of the deadline. The Minnesota Timberwolves are among teams eager to build around Russell, however, despite their woeful season, the Golden State Warriors have shown no signs that they are considering offloading the former Laker star.

The Warriors want to see how Russell operates alongside the injured Steph Curry before making a final decision on his future - leaving any possibility of a trade over the next week unlikely. Golden State's stance likely won't be enough to stop the Timberwolves and other teams making offers - although the Warriors are under no pressure to sell - and any deal will have to wait until the summer.