DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

Each Team's Most Likely Traded Player

We have entered the final stretch of days before the trade deadline. The rumors are starting to heat up, phone calls are being made, and negotiations are likely underway. Here are some predictions for the most likely traded player for each team.

ATLANTA HAWKS - JOHN COLLINS - With Atlanta fighting for a playoff spot, management is likely exploring their options for John Collins. He will likely not be open to taking a team-friendly deal in the summer, and they need to prepare themselves for that to happen. After signing Bogdan and Danilo, they have mostly abandoned their efforts to enter the free agency conversation for the upcoming off-season. They drafted another big in Onyeka Okongwu early in the draft and have one more year on Bruno Fernando's contract before he will enter restricted free agency. It's possible they hold off and keep him through the trade deadline and make a move in the summer, yet don't be surprised if he's involved in some sort of 'blockbuster' type trade. It's hard to rate his value, but I would think they would want a vet and a draft pick.

BOSTON CELTICS - TRISTAN THOMPSON - The writing is sort of on the wall. I've made mention in previous articles about how bullish I am on Robert Williams III. With adequate minutes, he's shown the ability to produce ridiculous stat lines - video game-esque. Thompson has shown that he's aged, yet he could be a solid addition for a team needing veteran presence in their lock room. Boston ranks toward the middle in rebounds and near the bottom in assists. Robert Williams' per-36 rebounding is excellent, so that problem would work itself out - Boston would likely be looking for a veteran passer. TJ McConnell would be a great trade for them as Indiana has sort of stalled out, and McConnell is a great passer and defender.

BROOKLYN NETS - DEANDRE JORDAN - If there is a trade to be made with the Nets, it'll include DeAndre Jordan. He has a moveable contract, and one of the few that qualify. Joe Harris is likely untouchable unless they're getting Beal, and Dinwiddie is out the year and can opt out of his contract in the summer. There's no savvy in this selection, it's just with the remainder of their contracts being cheap deals and every other player being a major core piece, he's sort of the odd man out. It doesn't help that Nicolas Claxton has been playing very well of late and centers like Aldridge and Drummond are likely to get bought out.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS - CODY ZELLER - Should the Hornet go all-in and try to drastically improve their team, it'll be at the center position. Zeller is on an expiring deal and they are honestly my most likely team to trade for Andre Drummond. He makes a lot of sense in a fast paced, shoot first team - and he'd be a rebound vacuum. They have some really solid prospects across the board that have yet to full meet their potential, and unless a team is offering the sun and moon, they don't seem to be inclined to move them at this point. The Hornets to me seem like a wild card, because they technically do have a lot of assets to offer a team for someone like Bradley Beal. Several prospects and draft picks for one player doesn't seem like a horrible idea for a team trying to smack the reset button.

CHICAGO BULLS - THADDEUS YOUNG - As of now, the Bulls are technically in the mix and would qualify for the play-in tournament if the playoffs started today. Over the next few days, they'll likely assess their team to see if this is the year they want to push in all of the chips. They have several guys that I could see being traded - Wendell Carter Jr, Tomas Satoransky, and for the right price, even Lauri Markkanen. Realistically, Thaddeus Young seems like the most logical candidate. He's locked in for another year, but he'll be 33 in the summer, and the Bulls need another guy. Whether that means via the draft or consolidating a couple guys to improve, they need one more player. Coby and Markkanen are both having improved years, but it has not translated to a significant improvement in wins, even with LaVine having an All-Star season. Young is likely to get traded to a team like the Lakers, Nuggets, or Jazz - all of which could benefit from a tweener big that can pass.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS - JAVALE MCGEE - I didn't say Drummond here, because I think Drummond is going to get bought out. Playoff teams either don't have the contracts to give up or the cap space to accept him. McGee on the other hand is an inexpensive, expiring contract, and he's still got some gas in the tank. He won't demand a significant price, but a couple of seconds or a future highly protected first is reasonable. He too could get bought out, as the Cavs are 14-24 and in a race to the bottom in the East.

DALLAS MAVERICKS - JAMES JOHNSON - The Mavericks acquired this contract knowing it will be easy to move if necessary. He's an excellent defender and a great locker room guy, but the Mavs need an upgrade. Despite being in the bottom third in just about every statistical category, they somehow are in a playoff seeding. The easiest category for them to improve in is scoring, and a guy like Redick or Snell would be a fantastic addition to this Mavs team. The Mavs are sort of one of those teams that can go in several different directions, so it'll be interesting to see how they navigate the trade deadline and buyout market. Ownership is patient, so they may let other make their moves before trying to get someone at a discount.

DENVER NUGGETS - PAUL MILLSAP - Millsap and JaMychal Green are basically statistically identical. They play a similar role and he's on an expiring contract. Denver ranks almost last in pace and they could be looking for a high energy player that can incorporate into the system. A long-term vet contract on a young team is likely to be the trade - someone like Aaron Gordon or Jake Layman would be a great fit.

DETROIT PISTONS - MASON PLUMLEE - This was always sort of a trivial add for a rebuilding team, yet it might pay off in the form of assets or draft capital. With them buying out Blake Griffin, they're making a commitment to their youth by giving more minutes to guys like Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey. Depending on the health of Killian Hayes over the next week, they might look to move Delon Wright, yet it's quite clear they are looking for young players or picks. Several contending teams will be in the mix.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS - ANDREW WIGGINS - If there is a trade to be had, it'll have to include Wiggins' contract. They have the potential Minnesota pick and Wiggins is only 26. For a bottom tier team that has had trouble signing free agents and has a player of an reasonable value, it could be a move that team makes. Realistically, I think the trade deadline will come and pass for Golden State with no moves had, yet stranger things have happened.

HOUSTON ROCKETS - VICTOR OLADIPO - After declining their extension offer, the writing is on the wall. Dipo is the easier contract to trade for a playoff team, yet any team interested in his services would want to make sure they have a shot to extend him in the offseason. Teams like the Mavs will likely sit back and wait, as they can just sign him in the summer, but some of the more aggressive teams might want to try to win now and hope that their culture will be enough to keep him in the long term. UPDATE: PJ Tucker was traded, which was also a known possibility. I thought it was more likely he'd get bought out, but Dipo could still move.

INDIANA PACERS - MYLES TURNER - Despite his incredible season on the defensive end, he is their most tradeable asset. The inevitability of Warren coming back would give Orlando the flexibility to play Sabonis as the center. They have several Lamb, McDermott, and both Holidays able to play the 3, and they have their own draft pick, which could be in the lottery. Should the Pacers see themselves as a contender, a trade for a guy like Kyle Lowry could be an option, as Brogdon can play both spots, sliding the 6-6 LeVert to the 3. They have a lot of options, so they'll be an interesting player to follow at the deadline.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - PATRICK BEVERLEY - As odd is it sounds, he makes the most sense to be included in a trade. His defense is known, but it's not enough to compensate for his other weaknesses. They need a legitimate big man, as they essentially opted to pay Marcus Morris over Montrezl Harrell. Ibaka could also be included in some sort of 2-for-1 trade, and they have prospects that aren't getting minutes that they can include on a team acquiring young players. The challenge for the Clippers is the hard cap, and things don't get easier for them next year. Beverley makes a substantial amount for his production, but they would have to get a big return if they are going to give up this level of grit.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - TALEN HORTON-TUCKER - Despite his incredible upside, someone is going to give him a stupid Tyler Johnson type offer sheet, and the Lakers are going to let him walk. Getting value for him now while they can is the best course of action. While Kuzma has filled in admirably, they need another guy. Their team hinges on the health of Davis and LeBron and at some point LeBron will need rest. Davis is out another two weeks, so they may add a big man that is not in the twilight of their career. They are poised to get a big on the buyout market, yet with several teams vying for the same players, they might want to take fate into their own hands.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - GORGUI DIENG - It's quite possible he ends up getting bought out and lands on a contender anyways, he's the most likely candidate to get traded. His contract looked terrible two years ago, but by today's standards, he's just a meh contract. His deal is expiring, so he could be a good player to land on either Dallas, Clippers, or Jazz. Obviously his opportunities open up quite a bit on the open market, yet I don't think either of these three mentioned teams would have a lot of trouble trading for a player likely on his way out of Memphis anyways.

MIAMI HEAT - ANDRE IGUODALA - I started this article before the Leonard/Ariza trade, but I don't want to cheat. Honestly, with the acquisition of Ariza, they have another player that overlaps with Iggy's skillset. Between Iggy, KZ, Ariza, and Harkless, it just seems a little crowded. Iggy and Olynyk could be combined with draft picks to get another key player as they are now in the 4-seed. Kyle Lowry's name has been tied to them, but so have a lot of other big names. This is a situation to keep an eye on for sure.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS - DJ WILSON - At this point, their options to make trades are very limited. Wilson is a young player with potential that has averaged less than 10 minutes per game over the last two seasons. He's only 25 and could be a solid contributor on a team like Oklahoma City, who has a solid veteran in George Hill that could help their second unit. Every season teams favored for the title start the arms race for assets, and if you're not actively getting better throughout the year, you'll get left behind. The Bucks made their big move in the summer to get Jrue Holiday, yet they still seem like they're trailing behind Philly and Brooklyn in the East. UPDATE - He was in fact traded as predicted. The probability that any addition moves are made is unlikely.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLES - RICKY RUBIO - This team is trying to lose, so at this point, they'll be looking to move their veteran guys for picks or young players. Rubio could be had with a couple of second rounders and Patrick Beverley... he could be had Tristan Thompson and some assets or picks... there are trades out there for him and he still has value on a team trying to win. Unless Minnesota decides to completely blow up the team, I don't anticipate any major trades coming from them.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS - JJ REDICK - Bigs and shooters are always very popular at the trade deadline. Whether he gets traded for picks or bought out, I don't see him being on the team after the trade deadline. They're only 3 games out of the play-in tournament, but with Zion and Ingram still developing together, it makes sense for them to remain patient and go all-in once they've gained some experience. They are 4-6 in their last 10, so they don't even have the momentum going into the deadline to justify making a playoff attempt. They're projected to draft 8th right now, so they have more incentive to tank than to win.

NEW YORK KNICKS - ELFRID PAYTON - After the acquisition of Derrick Rose, he seems like he'd be the most available for trade. They are currently in a battle for a playoff seed in the East, so a veteran big like JaVale McGee could be an option for them. Their team has a lot of cap space going into the summer, so the could elect to just see how far this team goes, fixing holes as they become obvious. What also might make Payton obsolete has been the rapid development of Immanuel Quickly. The Kentucky product might have been in the ROTY conversation had he started all year, averaging 17 PPG over his two starts.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER - AL HORFORD - In his 2 career starts, Moses Brown is averaging 16.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG. His 20-point, 16-rebound, 5-block explosion might have sealed the deal for the Thunder to shop Horford. His contract makes him tough to move, especially with his rapid decline over the last two years, but for a team desperate for a big man, he could serve as a last ditch effort. The Thunder don't really have a reason to buy him out at this point, so if he doesn't get traded at the deadline, he could be gone by the summer. Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if we've already seen Horford in a Thunder uniform his last time.

ORLANDO MAGIC - AARON GORDON - Not only is he the most team-friendly contract on this team, he's probably the best player that can contribute right away outside of Vucevic. Gordon has played out of position most of his career, but he would likely be the first piece to move for this team. Fournier is a possibility, yet with his contract expiring, I don't know if teams will see enough value to get him on a rental. Teams interested in Fournier, would likely be more interested in Oladipo, who has a similar contract.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - MIKE SCOTT - With him on an expiring deal and his shooting having regressed for them over last year, they might look to get an upgrade at that position. Already being an undersized player for his position, his value was his ability to stretch the floor, something he has not been doing with any sort of consistency. His contract value does not leave a lot of options available, yet he could be moved in combination with other players or picks to open up a spot for the buyout players. The 76ers are seated firmly in the 1-seed, yet with the inconsistent healthy of their star center, Embiid, and having just lost to Milwaukee in an crushing overtime loss, they might be exploring their options.

PHOENIX SUNS - DARIO SARIC - With the Suns in the 2-seed, it's possible they just try to see how far this team goes as-is. That being said, I don't really see a scenario where they move on from Paul, Ayton, or Bridges. Jalen Smith has been developing quite nicely, so it's unlikely he gets moved unless a major player is involved. Crowder is an option to get moved if they're trying to upgrade their line-up, but as mentioned, their team works well together, and this group went undefeated in the bubble last year and is 8-2 in the last 10 games. A player that could be targeted is John Collins, but I don't see them wanting to give up any combination of players to make the deal happen.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS - RODNEY HOOD - A typically solid wing player, he has not produced well this season. Between Melo having somewhat of a Renaissance, Trent Jr having a breakout season, the backcourt being untouchable, and Collins and Nurkic hurt, there are not too many avenues they could explore. I'm sure Jones could be had for the right price, but I am not sure anyone else on the team would demand equivalent value. There has been murmurs of Aldridge making a return to Portland, which would be somewhat poetic. Hood is probably their most tradeable asset, as they have better options at the wing.

SACRAMENTO KINGS - NEMANJA BJELICA - The stretch-4 can also pass and could probably had for a cheaper asking price than Thaddeus Young. There will be several interested parties, especially with them trying to find as many minutes as possible for their rookie Tyrese Haliburton, who was recently moved in the starting lineup while Marvin Bagley is out. Hassan Whiteside is another candidate to get either traded or bought out, as the Kings continue to slide out of the playoff conversation.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS - RUDY GAY - With the Spurs working out a buyout or trade involving LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay is probably the next player to get moved. He's a distressed asset at the end of an expiring deal, yet his veteran leadership could help out a contending team. His contract is manageable and he falls into that same level of trade value as Bjelica, Thad Young, and is a more affordable version of Aaron Gordon. Gay has two-way ability and could be a solid asset at the back of a rotation. The Spurs want to give their young players some playoff experience, yet the youth movement is happening and his spot has already been usurped by Keldon Johnson.

TORONTO RAPTORS - KYLE LOWRY - There are probably easier players to move - Baynes, Stanley Johnson, McCaw - but Lowry is the piece that makes the most sense for them to trade. He would immediately help a playoff team, and with OG's contract kicking in next year, them likely having to pay Norman Powell, and their desire to develop Malachi Flynn, they're pretty motivated to find him a new home. He makes a lot of sense for several contending team, yet with a lofty $30 million price tag, only few teams have the contracts to make it work.

UTAH JAZZ - DERRICK FAVORS - He has somewhat underperformed in his second stint with the Jazz. The team has gone to a shoot-friendly system, and that's not his game. He's got 2 years left on his contract, and with the team edging close to the hard cap, they might be looking to get a player with more flexibility that better fits their system. If Chicago falls out the playoffs, I could see them making a strong offer to them for Lauri Markkanen, but with Mitchell and Gobert's contract kicking in next year, they might look for a rental.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS - JEROME ROBINSON - They've made basically everyone on this team available sans Beal, but Robinson is a good young player that they could get a decent haul for. They have major needs at all levels, but I'm sure they will be looking to try to get a big of the future. With Westbrook on the team, their expectations were much higher, but they will probably wait until the summer before they are able to make major changes to this roster.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]