When I started compiling this list more than a week ago, Marcin Gortat was the guy on top of it — then his trade happened earlier than anyone expected. The Wizards want to make the playoffs this year, the Suns want to tank and so they had a common ground.
Now who is most likely to get moved this season? Here are the five guys I think are on top of the list (with some honorable mention names below).
Jameer Nelson, Orlando Magic: He doesn’t want to leave Orlando but knows he is being shopped around. The Magic are in full on rebuilding mode and want to give rookie Victor Oladipo time at the point, Nelson is 31 and only $2 million of his salary next year is guaranteed, so he’s basically an expiring contract. That all makes a trade very likely. I could see a contender looking for depth at the point bringing him in for the second half of the season — he’s still strong on the pick-and-roll, can knock down threes and could improve a lot of second units.
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Omer Asik, Houston Rockets: We all know the story here, Asik had a strong season last year as the starting center in Houston but the franchise (wisely) went after an elite talent and got Dwight Howard. Kevin McHale is trying to make this work, but it’s not close yet and may never really get there. Meanwhile, quality big men are in demand and other teams will come calling with pieces the Rockets need to contend. It will be tough to turn a good deal down.
Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers: He knows he’s being shopped around and basically expects to be moved. Philadelphia is all in on the rebuild and if they can get a decent package of picks and/or young players for Young Sam Hinkie will pull the trigger. He’s just 25, scored 14.1 points a game last season and he can defend at the three or four, I think a few teams could use a guy like that.
Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers: The emergence of Paul George makes this a possibility. Granger is out the first three weeks of the season with a calf strain but this is a team that went to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals without him, so integrating a scoring All-Star who wants his shots back in the rotation is a chemistry experiment. If it goes well the Pacers don’t make a move and they are much better bringing Granger or Lance Stephenson off the bench. If it goes poorly, Granger is a big expiring contract Indy can move for pieces that do fit.
Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets: We already have reports that the Nuggets are testing the trade waters, and that new coach Brian Shaw really likes the more polished offensive game of J.J. Hickson at the four spot. This is no lock, but with Faried up for an extension next summer (or restricted free agency in two years) the Nuggets may look to move him.
Just missing the cut… Zach Randolph (he’s 32 and can opt out at the end of this season, if the Grizzlies don’t think they can keep him or don’t want to pay him long term, they may move him at the deadline); Rajon Rondo (Boston is in rebuilding mode and Danny Ainge listened to Rondo offers when he had Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, so you know he’ll listen now); and Evan Turner (the Sixers shopped him last season and again this summer, at some point they may find a taker… or not).