NBA Trade Rumors Roundup January 14th: Celtics could be in the market, Lopez targets Warriors and more

We have now passed the halfway point of the 2018/19 NBA season, and teams are starting to get a good idea about where they currently stand. Up until this point, both Conferences have remained competitive, with eleven teams in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, whereas every team except the Phoenix Suns has a shot in the West.

The February trade deadline is also quickly approaching, as the NBA has made changes to the deadline so that it will now always occur 10 days before the All-Star game. This has been done so that players, who get traded, have time to settle into their new teams, and this year's trade window will close on February 7th.

So with the deadline just a month away, here are the biggest trade rumors you need to know for January 14th.

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#3 Boston Celtics could make a trade before the February trade deadline

Bradley Beal during the Toronto Raptors v Washington Wizards

The Boston Celtics entered the 2018/19 NBA season with lofty expectations. However, at the midway point of the season, the Celtics have an underwhelming 25-17 record.

The Celtics' record is currently only good enough for 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings, and the Celtics General manager and President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge, recently revealed his organization's plans heading into the February trade deadline:

It just depends. I like every guy on our team. I like our roster. There will be trade conversations, obviously. Every year it happens with every team. But we’ll only do something that makes sense.”

Ainge's comments hint that the Celtics will only make a deal that substantially boosts the team's postseason hopes, and Bradley Beal is among the All-Star caliber players that have recently been linked with a trade to Boston.

#2 Robin Lopez targets Warriors

Action from Chicago Bulls v Washington Wizards game

Chicago Bulls center, Robin Lopez continues to be linked with a move away from the team, and Yahoo Sports is reporting that Lopez has been looking to exit the team since last month:

Lopez’s representation has been in discussions with the Bulls’ front office about an exit strategy since late December.. The Bulls have been reluctant to part ways with the 30-year-old 7-footer, who happens to be the oldest player on their roster. They would rather part with Lopez via trade to get an asset

During an interview with Yahoo, Lopez also discussed his interest in joining the Golden State Warriors, saying, "I think it’s an appealing situation for just about anybody in the league. You go there, they share the ball, they play defense, they play the right way."

Lopez is currently in the final year of a four-year $54 million contract that he signed back in 2015. If the Warriors manage to pull off a trade for the experienced center, Lopez will provide backup for DeMarcus Cousins, who is set to return this week.

#1 Jabari Parker - Enes Kanter Trade

Action from Chicago Bulls v Atlanta Hawks game

The New York Knicks have recently reduced Enes Kanter's role with the team, as the Knicks have looked to prioritize giving their young players substantial playtime. Due to this, the New York Daily News is claiming that the Knicks are discussing a trade that could swap Jabari Parker for Kanter:

In trying to find a new home for Enes Kanter, among the scenarios recently discussed, though only in a preliminary stage, was the Knicks bringing back Chicago’s Jabari Parker, a source told the Daily News

Kanter, in this season, is averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game, while Parker only signed a huge $40 million deal in Chicago last summer. Despite this, Parker has featured in just two of the Bulls' last ten games, and, for the season, is averaging 14.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.