Roundball Roundtable: Trade deadline edition
With the Feb. 6 trade deadline a little more than a week away, theScore's NBA editors answer some of the biggest questions around the league.
Which contender needs to make a move?
Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets are within striking distance of the West's No. 2 seed after a slow start. Nikola Jokic is having another MVP-worthy campaign, Jamal Murray is looking more like his old self, and Russell Westbrook has been a nice complement to The Joker. Denver is scoring 125.3 points per 100 possessions and has an assist percentage of 68.8% when the aforementioned trio share the floor, per NBA.com. The team has been linked to Zach LaVine, but adding the high-scoring guard wouldn't solve its defensive issues. A 3-and-D wing or backup center should take precedence instead. The prospect of DeAndre Jordan playing 15-20 minutes in a meaningful playoff game is worrisome. - Chicco Nacion
Milwaukee Bucks: After crawling out from the East basement, the red-hot Bucks seem primed to finish with a top-four record thanks to the play of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is averaging a career-high 31.4 points, marking his third straight season of more than 30 a game. Damian Lillard looks more comfortable in his second season in Milwaukee, scoring 25.2 points a night while shooting 38.3% from deep. Outside of that key duo and starters Brook Lopez and Andre Jackson Jr., no other player on the roster should be considered untouchable. The Bucks reportedly have made Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, and Pat Connaughton available for trade, which could help them land a notable player. - Donald Higney
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder have been stockpiling draft picks for years, and eventually they'll have to use them. With 27 selections in the next five seasons - including five first-rounders at the 2025 draft - the Thunder won't have enough roster space to accommodate all their potential players. Championship windows never last as long as fans expect. So, when you have one of the league's three best players, you should have a certain level of urgency. With Chet Holmgren out of the lineup, Oklahoma has only three double-digit scorers and no elite self-creators apart from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Yes, last season's deadline acquisition of Gordon Hayward didn't work out, but that doesn't mean general manager Sam Presti should sit tight and do nothing when his team has one of the best defenses of the past 10 years. - Thomas Tittley
What's an unlikely trade we'd like to see?
Zion WIlliamson to Grizzlies: New Orleans keeps trying to make the Zion era work, but the connection just doesn't seem to be there. He cannot stay healthy and was recently suspended. The Pelicans are reportedly prioritizing trading Brandon Ingram, but it's enticing to picture a change of scenery for Zion. The Grizzlies are on the cusp of contention, and pairing the top two picks from the 2019 NBA Draft would push them over the edge. Zion would provide some elite paint presence, and his slashing ability is exactly what Memphis needs. The level of competitiveness could serve Zion well, and battling for a title might bring out the superstar abilities we have yet to see. Plus, a Ja Morant-Zion lob connection would be electric. - Joseph Luca Casciaro
Jimmy Butler to Rockets: Houston general manager Rafael Stone has already vocalized his intentions to develop internally as opposed to trading for a star this season. It's hard to blame him. The Rockets are playing with house money, and making a splash at the deadline probably won't raise their ceiling much higher. There is no need to rush the process with Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green locked in for at least another two seasons. But it'd be intriguing to see how Butler would fit with his hometown club. He'd give the Rockets a true go-to player in the clutch and be a fit with Ime Udoka's defensive culture. Joel Embiid has spoken positively about his brief experience with Butler, and the six-time All-Star could similarly serve as a mentor for Houston's young core. - Nacion
Cam Johnson to Thunder: What if the league's best team added another perimeter threat who could offer additional positional versatility? While the Thunder were burned by the Hayward trade last season, Johnson's excellent play for the lowly Brooklyn Nets would add a new dimension to Oklahoma City's offense. The 28-year-old is shooting 42% from deep on 3.2 attempts per game, which would significantly boost the Thunder's ranks in threes made per game (13.8) and shooting percentage from deep (35.8). OKC has an abundance of first-round picks, numerous prospects, and its choice of filler contracts to match Johnson's $22.5-million salary. - Higney
Who will be the biggest star moved at the deadline?
CJ McCollum: The NBA landscape changed with the adoption of the new salary cap and its second-apron rules. Teams have less flexibility to make blockbuster moves. So, as fun as it would be to see someone like Trae Young get traded unexpectedly, it's unlikely. McCollum is putting up the fifth-highest points per game of his career (22) and has shot nearly 40% from deep throughout his 12 seasons in the league. While his price point might seem high ($33.3 million), McCollum has only one year left on his contract, which also happens to be descending to $30.6 million next season. Teams such as the Orlando Magic or Oklahoma City Thunder could use a scoring boost off the bench as they approach the postseason. - Tittley
Zach LaVine: The Bulls have been mediocre for years, and with LaVine having the best shooting season of his career, it makes sense to get as much for him as possible. He holds a shooting split of 51.2/44.4/79.2, and at 29, he should draw tremendous interest. Many contending teams would benefit from another scoring threat like LaVine, who is putting up a team-high 24 points a night. He would slot in nicely on teams like the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, or Los Angeles Lakers as an elite second option behind stars Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, or Anthony Davis. - Casciaro
Brandon Ingram: The writing has been on the wall for Ingram since he and the Pelicans were unable to agree on an extension last summer. The former No. 2 overall pick is on an expiring deal and there's no reason to keep him beyond the trade deadline, especially with the playoffs already out of reach. Ingram was the centerpiece of the Anthony Davis blockbuster trade with the Lakers and developed into an All-Star during his first campaign in the Big Easy. His shot-creating skills and passing ability would be a helpful addition for any team looking to upgrade its half-court offense. - Nacion
Which team needs to be sellers at the deadline?
Chicago Bulls: A roster overhaul has been long overdue for the Bulls, but now they seem more likely to part ways with key pieces. LaVine will draw major interest thanks to his high-level shooting abilities, but center Nikola Vucevic could also garner suitors. The 34-year-old is averaging an efficient 20.1 points on 61.8% effective field-goal percentage, his best scoring season since joining the Bulls. Patrick Williams is another player who could improve in a new environment, as the franchise is reportedly open to trading the former fourth overall pick amid the underwhelming start to his career. Even Lonzo Ball, playing his first full campaign in 2.5 seasons, could improve a team's guard depth. - Higney
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers swung for the fences year after year, mortgaging their future for Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Paul George. It didn't work - George is in Philadelphia, Leonard can't stay healthy, and Harden is 35. The Clippers traded everything that wasn't nailed to the floor to try to win a title, and as a result, they don't own a draft selection until 2030. At 26-19, L.A. is sixth in the West and has been one of the better stories of the season, but it's time to attempt to recoup some of those lost picks. Norman Powell's $19-million deal is a bargain and should be at the top of most teams' deadline wish lists. Similarly, Amir Coffey and Ivica Zubac would be useful additions for a number of franchises. - Tittley
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors are not good. Sitting 26th in the NBA, it makes sense to prepare for the future. Toronto's front office should be doing whatever it can to ship out aging players such as Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and Chris Boucher. Olynyk and Brown might not generate much interest because of recent injuries, but there is no reason they should remain in Canada past the trade deadline. Boucher, on the other hand, is having his best season since 2020-21, averaging 10.7 points, which is 4.3 more than 2023-24. He is also shooting a career-best 36.6% from three. Many contenders will be looking for a spark plug like him off the bench. - Casciaro