5 NBA players who won't finish this season on current team

Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets

There are reasons as to why this may not happen, but any time there is a coaching change and a young team with holdover stars, the latter often become expendable. It appears that Kenneth Faried and new coach Mike Malone are big fans of each other early on, but the Denver Nuggets could opt to go a different route.

Not yet 26, the power forward can rebound with the best of them, but has yet to consistently apply the energy defensively that he exudes offensively. With his new four-year, $50-million contract kicking in this season, he's also one of the highest-paid Nuggets, alongside Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. For a young team at least a year or two away from the playoffs, it's simple due diligence to at least consider shopping those contracts.

Kevin Martin, Minnesota Timberwolves

A fractured shooting wrist limited Kevin Martin to 39 games last season, but he showed he could still fill it up when he returned. The sharpshooter, who turns 33 in February, led the team in points per game and 3-point percentage. The Minnesota Timberwolves are focused on developing their blue-chip youth, and have more than enough veteran presence already in Kevin Garnett, Tayshaun Prince, and Andre Miller. Martin's movability is further assisted by the fact he has this season at $7 million left on his contract, with a player option for 2016-17.

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

All summer long, Jamal Crawford appeared to be the odd man out with the Los Angeles Clippers. The team added depth in the form of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, and Pablo Prigioni, prompting trade speculation after a not-so-cryptic tweet from the 15-year NBA veteran. In September, Clippers coach and GM Doc Rivers refuted that, however, saying he expects Crawford to finish this season in L.A.

Crawford, 35, had his minutes drop to a 13-year low last season, but he's still just two years removed from his second NBA Sixth Man of the Year award. With an expiring contract in hand, expect another team(s) to call the Clippers with inquiries.

Brandon Jennings, Detroit Pistons

Brandon Jennings is still recovering from a ruptured left Achilles and is not expected to be playing minutes for the Detroit Pistons until around the holidays. How those minutes will be integrated into the lineup is unclear, with Reggie Jackson now manning the point. Jennings was having a good year when he went down last season, and the hope for everyone involved is the injury won't cost him a step. This is also the final year of his contract, and with the Pistons in the mix for one of the East's lower-tier playoff spots, he could become a valuable trade chip for them.

Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns

Markieff Morris has seemingly pulled a 180-degree turn from his very public summertime demands that he be traded. And to be fair, if observers are to believe DeMarcus Cousins has really mended bridges with George Karl after the snakes in the grass thing, perhaps Morris should be taken at face value too.

The important aspect to remember about both situations, however, is it behooves all parties involved to keep public rancor to a minimum. In Morris' case especially, the fact there were two very public trade demands indicates a level of toxicity the Suns would probably be better off parting ways with. Of course, a team's leverage takes a blow when the player airs dirty laundry publicly, so keeping quiet and doing one's job to the best of their ability is usually the best way to have a request out of town granted.

There were reports earlier this month that the Pistons - where Morris' twin brother Marcus landed in July much to Markieff's chagrin - are "monitoring" his availability, and it makes total sense. The twins have only played apart once in their basketball careers dating back to childhood, and both have been taking shots at the Suns and their fans since Marcus was traded.

Could a deal be fashioned for a recovered Jennings, given Phoenix's history with multiple point guards? Anything is possible, although that particular deal wouldn't exactly be a coup for the Pistons. The Suns are likely banking that a Markieff Morris who keeps his mouth shut and produces on the floor will fetch a good return on the trade market.