By Zach Harper | The Athletic, 2025-12-15 10:00:07
交易季来临！
12月15日是NBA赛程中的一个重要节点，大多数在休赛期签下的合同从这一天起便有资格被纳入交易。现在，球队阵容可以真正开始调整，我们也开始看到各支球队在2月5日交易截止日前究竟想变得多有侵略性。虽然并非每支球队都会在截止日前有所动作，但我们将会听到海量的流言蜚语——甚至有些与扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 无关。
综上所述，现在正是将交易季中的球队分级讨论的绝佳时机，不同梯队的球队完成（或不完成）任何交易的动机可能截然不同。每个梯队中的球队排序由笔者本人依据其看点从高到低排列。
致聚合类媒体/内容搬运者： 除非我特别提及某支球队及其意向，并明确指出信息来源于“联盟消息人士”或“据我与联盟内部人士交流”，否则本文内容 并非 新闻报道。这仅代表我个人对当前联盟格局的看法，以及对事态可能如何发展的一些有根据的猜测，或是我认为应该发生的事情。感谢各位的理解与尊重！
第一梯队：志在争冠的买家
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底特律活塞
或许活塞队并不一定非要在截止日表现得那么激进，但他们目前处在一个绝佳的位置，可以在现有基础上更进一步，从而在东部联盟中脱颖而出。他们赛季初的赛程确实存在一些“障眼法”的成分，击败的也大多是弱旅。但底特律依然非常出色，并且有能力在与其他强队的对抗中证明自己。他们只是需要一些得分火力支援，以减轻凯德·坎宁安 (Cade Cunningham) 的一些消耗。或许活塞会变得更具侵略性，将像劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen) 这样的球员与杰伦·杜伦 (Jalen Duren) 搭配。如果他们愿意，他们可以拿出选秀权和像杰登·艾维 (Jaden Ivey) 这样的球员作为筹码。底特律应该积极进取，真正向东部王座发起冲击。
纽约尼克斯
这主要围绕着一个设想：如果扬尼斯·阿德托昆博最终进入交易市场，尼克斯就应该全力追逐。你可以审视这支尼克斯队以及交易得到扬尼斯的复杂性，然后认为他们并不需要他。或许他们确实不需要。然而，莱昂·罗斯 (Leon Rose) 和他的团队打造这支球队的初衷，就是为了在像扬尼斯这样的超级巨星出现时能够将其收入囊中。如果尼克斯不这么做，他们的建队计划在某种程度上就算失败了，尽管当你意识到这支球队已经足够优秀到可以直接赢得东部冠军时，这种说法听起来有些荒谬。扬尼斯和杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 的组合也并非完美无瑕。但与此同时，如果尼克斯想要觊觎拉里·奥布莱恩杯，他们确实需要一些额外的火力。又或者，他们只是需要为替补席再添一名球员？
密尔沃基雄鹿
这一队的情况很简单。除非扬尼斯决定他想离开，否则雄鹿参与交易的目的就是为了提升阵容。一旦扬尼斯想走，一切都将改变。问题在于，雄鹿直到2030年的选秀权都不在自己手中，而且阵容中其他球员的交易吸引力也不足以打动别人。莱恩·罗林斯 (Ryan Rollins) 或许能为你换来点什么，但球队可能想留住他。也许他们对迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner) 有些“买家懊悔”，可以把他交易给某支球队换取一些阵容深度和帮助？但那样一来，他们的中锋位置又会出现空缺。
亚特兰大老鹰
在没有特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 的情况下，老鹰本赛季表现得更好。在他缺阵期间，杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson) 已然成为球队的最佳球员，他充满活力的打法让你不禁好奇他的上限究竟有多高。特雷·杨和球队尚未达成续约（他将在夏天成为自由球员），而且听起来他们也不会续约。此外，他们还手握全NBA最具交易价值的资产——来自新奥尔良的2026年无保护首轮选秀权。如果特雷·杨被交易，那也不会令人震惊。上赛季在福克斯那笔交易达成前，曾有流言称有人试图将他运作到圣安东尼奥，与维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 联手。或许他目前的表现还不足以在交易市场上引发更多关于特雷·杨的讨论，但如果他就是那个被交易的大牌球星呢？这可能意味着亚特兰大通过送走他们的当家球星，来“买入”竞争力。
圣安东尼奥马刺
如果马刺决定积极追逐扬尼斯，这大概就是他们的位置。他们有太多可以交易的年轻天赋，而且这些天赋足以立刻帮助一支球队。他们还有一个明尼苏达的2030年选秀权可以作为筹码。马刺很少进行会打乱节奏的赛季中期交易，但上赛季达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 的交易改变了这一点。这支球队的成长已经超出了预期，他们有能力给西部其他顶级强队施加压力。
多伦多猛龙
去年夏天围绕这支猛龙队阵容薪资高昂的批评声，似乎随着他们稳健的开局而平息了。球员们磨合得很好，达科·拉贾科维奇 (Darko Rajaković) 的执教也非常出色。但与此同时，猛龙必须认识到这套阵容存在一个非常现实的天花板。在如此羸弱和开放的东部，这个天花板会是分区决赛吗？而东部的这种“弱势”又能持续多久？或许猛龙会将此视为一个机会，采取非常激进的策略，在斯科蒂·巴恩斯 (Scottie Barnes) 和布兰登·英格拉姆 (Brandon Ingram) 身边再增加一名重量级球员。试探一下市场行情是值得的，以确保人们不会在几个月内又回到当初那种批评论调。
迈阿密热火
和尼克斯很像，热火的动向很大程度上也与他们追逐扬尼斯的可能性有关。在2020年扬尼斯签下超级顶薪续约之前，就有很多关于热火会积极尝试得到他的传闻。显然，这从未发生。但热火向来是“大鱼追逐者”，只是近年来屡屡失手。他们也从未真正全力以赴地去追求像凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)、达米安·利拉德 (Damian Lillard) 甚至布拉德利·比尔 (Bradley Beal) 这样的球员。部分原因可能在于他们寄希望于像扬尼斯这样的巨星能够进入市场。如果需要，他们可以拿出克尔·威尔 (Kel’el Ware) 或巴姆·阿德巴约 (Bam Adebayo) 作为筹码来尝试达成交易。但归根结底，为这支快节奏的进攻球队在侧翼增加一些投射火力，提升出手次数，也未尝不是一件好事。
新奥尔良鹈鹕
掌舵的是乔·杜马斯 (Joe Dumars) 和特洛伊·韦弗 (Troy Weaver)，所以任何事情都有可能发生。他们曾放弃了更好的交易报价，只为了在选秀中向上交易得到德里克·奎恩 (Derik Queen)，并将自己的无保护选秀权送到了亚特兰大。自从……嗯……乔·杜马斯在底特律执政末期以来，我们还从未见过一支烂队在交易市场上如此活跃。而且他们也不想这么烂。记住，他们本赛季开始时是打算赢球的。
波特兰开拓者
也许开拓者不会在交易市场上有大动作，但即使在拥挤的西部，他们也有能力进入附加赛。他们需要引进一些外线投射能力。这是联盟中三分球最差的球队之一，命中率（33.4%）排名倒数第二。随着阵容保持持续健康，这种情况可能会有所改善。
芝加哥公牛
或许这只是我的一厢情愿。我希望公牛能选择一个明确的方向：要么全力争胜，要么彻底摆烂，通过乐透签得到未来的明星。然而，他们却坚持不上不下，最终在附加赛中输给热火。从目前看来，公牛不打算走向摆烂的道路，这意味着他们需要积极地尝试提升阵容。他们需要一个真正的得分手或一个顶级的防守者，或者最好两者兼备。他们应该成为买家，以确保自己至少能进入附加赛。
第二梯队：着眼乐透夜的卖家
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达拉斯独行侠
德雷克·莱夫利二世 (Dereck Lively II) 已经赛季报销，但我认为这不会阻止他们兜售像丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford) 甚至安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 这样的球员。他们可以公开宣称是为了赢球，但这其实是一支需要围绕库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 进行重建的烂队。他们还拥有自己的首轮签，直到2027年这个签才可能归夏洛特黄蜂所有。预计独行侠会寻求提升他们的乐透签概率，同时获得更多资产和灵活性。
犹他爵士
爵士队的竞争力比他们应有的水平要强一些。目前来看这还不错，但最终这可能会在乐透抽签夜成为一个问题。爵士去年试图摆烂，但并未成功获得前三顺位的选秀权。但这并不意味着他们不应该再试一次。如果他们真的想在提升乐透签概率的同时获得更多资产，爵士可以交易马尔卡宁。记住，爵士的选秀权是前八顺位保护的，否则将归属雷霆。因为，理所当然地，会是雷霆。
萨克拉门托国王
本赛季对于他们在阵容上的投资来说简直是一场灾难。多曼塔斯·萨博尼斯 (Domantas Sabonis) 受伤了，而且在他有限的出场时间里，国王队的表现也并不出色。德玛尔·德罗赞 (DeMar DeRozan) 能为他们换来不错的回报，而丹尼斯·施罗德 (Dennis Schröder) 被摆上货架感觉就像是交易截止日的保留节目。自夏天以来，联盟中就一直有球队对马利克·蒙克 (Malik Monk) 感兴趣，我想国王队也不会介意摆脱扎克·拉文 (Zach LaVine) 剩余的合同。国王队正在进行清仓大甩卖，但我们不知道是否有人真的感兴趣。他们急需在选秀夜得到一位年轻球星来点燃球迷的激情。
布鲁克林篮网
如果我们再次看到尼克·克拉克斯顿 (Nic Claxton) 出现在交易流言中，我不会感到惊讶。篮网不必过分担心乐透签的概率问题，在联盟垫底球队的竞争中，情况自然会自行修正。但新奥尔良和印第安纳的表现比人们预想的要差。这肯定会让布鲁克林有些紧张。特伦斯·曼 (Terance Mann) 也是一位可能引起一些兴趣的资深侧翼球员。
第三梯队：削减薪资，摆脱奢侈税束缚
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波士顿凯尔特人
凯尔特人势头正盛，但我认为他们并不会死守这套阵容。他们在一个过渡年里对球队进行了大刀阔斧的改革，以摆脱第二档奢侈税线及其带来的限制。现在，他们仍然超出第一档奢侈税线约400万美元，用像安芬尼·西蒙斯 (Anfernee Simons) 这样的球员换来一两个薪水低得多的角色球员，可以帮助他们在财务上变得更加负责。然后他们可以评估杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 的跟腱伤势恢复情况，在夏天不受任何阵容限制，并规划如何重新建队。
克利夫兰骑士
也许骑士队会相信他们现有的阵容，并在截止日按兵不动，但这支曾取得64胜的球队，因为第二档奢侈税线的限制，不得不做出艰难的决定，放走了泰·杰罗姆 (Ty Jerome) 和艾萨克·奥科罗 (Isaac Okoro)，同时引进了朗佐·鲍尔 (Lonzo Ball)。现在，他们本赛季开局仅为15胜12负，并且已经超出了第二档奢侈税线2200万美元。这2200万美元让他们付出了超过1亿美元的奢侈税。也许他们可以送走某位球员来减轻这份账单。
金州勇士
勇士队很可能会维持现状。他们现在正精打细算，因为他们距离第二档奢侈税线非常近。他们离那个让他们触发硬工资帽的门槛只有26.4万美元。勇士队还面临另一个问题，那就是他们在休赛期续约的乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga) 的出场时间。如果他们愿意，库明加在交易市场是有行情的。萨克拉门托和菲尼克斯在夏天就对他感兴趣。他们能否在引进新援的同时，还能削减一点薪资开销呢？
洛杉矶快船
通常情况下，我会认为快船会不惜重金来解决问题以求变得更好，因为史蒂夫·鲍尔默 (Steve Ballmer) 希望他们保持侵略性。但让保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 步行去费城，显示了他们在奢侈税时代下的财政责任感。快船队受第一档奢侈税线硬工资帽限制，目前仅有120万美元的空间，所以他们能做的不多。无论如何，克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 都会离开。但快船可能会审视本赛季的糟糕表现，并尝试用一些球员换取更便宜的选择，只是为了获得更好的灵活性。他们不会做得太过火，因为雷霆控制着他们明年夏天的首轮选秀权。
第四梯队：积累资产
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菲尼克斯太阳
我不认为太阳会成为买家，对球队进行重大改变以使其比现在更具竞争力。而且他们的表现已经远超任何人的预期。然而，他们有一些角色球员可以交易，同时还能保持场上的实力。像罗伊斯·奥尼尔 (Royce O’Neale) 甚至格雷森·阿伦 (Grayson Allen) 这样的球员，可以为他们换来一些灵活性或资产。也许太阳会按兵不动，到夏天再重新评估。
印第安纳步行者
我预计步行者会探索得到一名能在下赛季帮助他们的大个子球员。我们知道泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 可能要到那时才能复出，而这支球队本赛季大部分时间可能都不会有太强的竞争力。但这并不意味着步行者不会提前规划，并试图寻找一个全职的迈尔斯·特纳替代者。他们有一定的阵容灵活性来进行交易，而且这个管理层在过去几年里的大部分操作都相当成功。
费城76人
76人是最难捉摸的球队。达里尔·莫雷 (Daryl Morey) 通常在大多数截止日都非常积极，无论是为现有阵容补强，还是悄悄地增加资产（就像他上赛季得到昆廷·格莱姆斯 (Quentin Grimes) 那样）。考虑到乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 和保罗·乔治的健康状况如此不可靠，我预计他们不会有大动作。但我预计莫雷会寻找另一位高价值的角色球员，或者悄悄地获得一个选秀权。这是他的风格。
孟菲斯灰熊
这可能是一支更倾向于按兵不动的球队。我不认为任何关于贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant) 的闹剧会真的导致他们交易这位前全明星控球后卫。那些风波似乎已经平息，或者从一开始就被夸大了。但灰熊队似乎非常专注于为现在和未来进行建设。我能预见他们会试图在已经囤积的球员和选秀权基础上，获取更多的资产。
华盛顿奇才
在过去一年左右的时间里，奇才队出色地完成了向重建球队的转型。他们不仅在选秀中屡有斩获，还开始优先考虑薪资空间的灵活性和选秀资产的积累。从今年夏天开始，他们将在阵容和薪资空间上拥有极大的可塑性，但如果看到他们在截止日作为第三方或第四方参与交易，我也不会感到惊讶。作为回报，他们会接手一份需要被清理的合同，并附带某个选秀权。
夏洛特黄蜂
这支球队的建设方向看起来并不一定能导向未来的成功。黄蜂队仍然困在他们几年来所处的同样位置。我们看到他们在上个截止日参与了一些交易，以帮助获得角色球员和选秀权，我预计我们会继续看到这种情况。他们最终必须摆脱目前的阵容迭代，而拥有选秀权和资产来实现这一点至关重要。黄蜂队需要一次大规模的彻底改革，但也许通过获取资产进行修补是迈向这一目标的第一步。
第五梯队：按兵不动
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明尼苏达森林狼
明尼苏达很想再增加一个能发起进攻的武器，但森林狼距离第二档奢侈税线只有大约350万美元。进行交易并不容易，他们可能会在今年夏天进行任何阵容的调整或修补。他们迟早要对鲁迪·戈贝尔 (Rudy Gobert) 做出决定（他在2027-28赛季拥有一个3800万美元的球员选项），但这不太可能在交易截止日发生。
洛杉矶湖人
自从交易得到卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić) 以来，湖人队的一切都是为了优先保证他们在2026年夏天的灵活性。勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 拥有不可交易条款，所以他可能哪儿也不会去。
奥兰多魔术
他们放弃了选秀资产来得到德斯蒙德·贝恩 (Desmond Bane)，现在他们必须等待弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 恢复健康。也许他们可以交易一个角色球员来尝试升级一些进攻火力，但这支球队感觉已经锁定阵容了。
休斯顿火箭
由于弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 受伤，以及阿隆·霍勒迪 (Aaron Holiday) 和里德·谢泼德 (Reed Sheppard) 在他缺阵期间的出色表现，休斯顿并不真的需要做任何交易。此外，火箭队受第一档奢侈税线硬工资帽限制，距离该线仅有120万美元。就让凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 和这支进攻效率顶级的球队去发挥，看看他们在季后赛会是什么样子吧。
丹佛掘金
掘金队在今年夏天已经完成了他们的大动作，他们更可能只是希望这支球队能在季后赛前保持健康。他们已经拥有一个冠军阵容，一个实力稍弱的版本在五月份也将雷霆逼入了七场大战。
俄克拉荷马城雷霆
他们还能改进什么呢？他们是如此优秀，以至于一些人认为他们参与潜在的扬尼斯交易谈判都没有意义。而且，他们拥有最多的资产和球员可以用来交易，而不会损害他们目前的阵容构成。
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：NBA trade deadline tiers 1.0: Which teams should buy, sell or stand pat?
NBA trade deadline tiers 1.0: Which teams should buy, sell or stand pat?
It’s trade season!
Dec. 15 marks the point in the NBA calendar at which most contracts signed in the offseason become eligible to be included in trades. Now, rosters can really be altered, and we start seeing just how aggressive teams want to be leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. It’s unlikely every team makes a move before the deadline, but we’re going to hear a ton of rumors — even some unrelated to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
All that said, it’s a perfect time to break up trade season into tiers of teams that will likely have different motivations for completing (or not completing) any deals. Teams in each tier are ordered from most to least interesting, according to yours truly.
Message to aggregators: This is not reporting unless I specifically mention it for teams and their interests. I’ll say something along the lines of “according to league sources” or “according to people I’ve talked to around the league.” This is how I am viewing the landscape and using semi-educated guesses for how things may play out. Or what I think should happen. Thank you for your consideration!
Tier 1: Buyers to compete
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Detroit Pistons
Maybe the Pistons don’t have to be aggressive at the deadline, but they are in a great position to build on what they’ve done and separate themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference. Some smoke-and-mirrors is going on with their early schedule. They did mostly beat up on weak competition. But Detroit is still really good and in a position to prove it against the other teams. It just needs some scoring help to take some of the wear-and-tear off Cade Cunningham. Maybe the Pistons get aggressive and pair someone like Lauri Markkanen with Jalen Duren. They can dangle picks and someone like Jaden Ivey if they want to. Detroit should be aggressive and really go for the East.
New York Knicks
This mostly centers around the idea of going after Giannis Antetokounmpo if he ends up being on the market. You can look at this Knicks team and the complexities of trading for Giannis and think that they don’t need him. And they might not. However, the point of what Leon Rose and company built was to get a superstar like Giannis, should he become available. If the Knicks don’t do that, there is an element of failure to their campaign, which sounds ridiculous when you acknowledge this team is good enough to win the East outright. The pairing of Giannis and Jalen Brunson wouldn’t be perfect, either. At the same time, the Knicks could use some punch if they want to think about the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Or maybe they just need one more player on their bench?
Milwaukee Bucks
This one is pretty simple. The Bucks are in the game to improve the roster unless Giannis decides he wants out. Then it changes everything. The problem is the Bucks don’t have control of their draft picks through 2030, and the rest of the roster isn’t that good to entice people with trades. Ryan Rollins might get you something, but they likely want to keep him. Maybe there is buyer’s remorse on Myles Turner and they could flip him to someone for some depth and help? But then they’d have a hole at center.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have been better this season without Trae Young. Jalen Johnson has emerged as their best player in his absence, and his dynamic play makes you wonder just how high he can ascend. Young and the team have not come to an extension yet (he’ll be a free agent in the summer), and it sounds like they won’t. They also have the best trade asset in the NBA with New Orleans’ 2026 unprotected first-round pick. It wouldn’t be shocking if Young was on the move. There were rumors about trying to get him to San Antonio to join Victor Wembanyama before the Fox deal last season. Maybe his play isn’t good enough to galvanize more Young discussions on the trade market, but what if he’s the big name that gets dealt? It could be Atlanta buying to compete by removing their franchise player.
San Antonio Spurs
This is probably just their slot if they decide to get aggressive in going after Giannis. They have so much young talent to move, and that talent is good enough to help a team right away. They also have a Minnesota 2030 pick to dangle out there. The Spurs rarely make in-season trades to disrupt things, but that changed with De’Aaron Fox last season. The team is ahead of schedule and could put pressure on the rest of the West’s elite.
Toronto Raptors
The criticism surrounding the expensive nature of this Raptors roster this past summer seems to be quieting down with their solid start. The pieces are working, and Darko Rajaković is coaching them really well. At the same time, the Raptors have to see a very real ceiling with this roster. Is that ceiling the conference finals in an East this weak and open? And how long does that conference weakness last? Maybe the Raptors look at this opportunity to be very aggressive and add another big player alongside Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. It’s worth kicking the tires to make sure people can’t revert to that earlier criticism within a few months.
Miami Heat
Much like the Knicks, a lot of this has to do with the possibility of Miami going after Giannis. Before he signed the supermax extension in 2020, there was a lot of chatter about the Heat being aggressive in trying to acquire him. Obviously, that never happened. But the Heat are big whale hunters by trade, and they have been striking out. They also haven’t truly gone full pursuit to get guys such as Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard or even Bradley Beal. Some of that might have been hoping for someone like Giannis to become available. They can dangle either Kel’el Ware or Bam Adebayo out there to try to get it done if need be. But ultimately, it wouldn’t hurt to get a little bit more shooting on the perimeter to boost the number of attempts for this fast-paced offense.
New Orleans Pelicans
It’s Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver running things. Anything is possible. They passed on better trade offers to move up to grab Derik Queen in the draft just so they could send their unprotected pick to Atlanta. We haven’t felt this alive with a bad team making moves since … well … Joe Dumars was near the end of his run in Detroit. And they don’t want to be this bad. Remember, they were trying to win going into this season.
Portland Trail Blazers
Maybe the Blazers don’t make a huge swing in the trade market, but they are in a position to make the Play-In, even in the jam-packed West. They need to acquire some outside shooting. This is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league, second to last in percentage (33.4). Some of that could improve with a consistently healthy roster.
Chicago Bulls
Maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part. I’d love the Bulls to pick a direction: Either go all-in with being good or all-in with playing the lottery to get a future star. Instead, they insist on being stuck in the middle and losing to the Heat in the Play-In Tournament. From what it looks like, the Bulls are not going to go the tanking direction, so that means they’ll need to be aggressive in trying to improve the roster. They need a real scorer or a really good defender. Or both, preferably. They should be buying to make sure they even make the Play-In.
Tier 2: Sellers for lottery night
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Dallas Mavericks
Dereck Lively II is out for the season, but I don’t think that will stop them from shopping guys such as Daniel Gafford or even Anthony Davis. Publicly, they can claim to be about winning, but this is a bad team that needs to build around Cooper Flagg. They also have their first-round pick before it likely goes to Charlotte in 2027. Expect the Mavs to look to improve those lottery odds while also getting more assets and flexibility.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz are a little more competitive than they probably should be. That’s fine for now, but eventually this could become a problem on lottery night. The Jazz tried to tank last year, and it did not work out for them in getting a top-three pick. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try again. If they really want to acquire more assets in addition to improving their lottery odds, the Jazz could move Markkanen. Remember, the Jazz’s pick is top-eight protected, or it goes to OKC. Because of course it does.
Sacramento Kings
This season has been a disaster for their investment in the roster. Domantas Sabonis is hurt, and the Kings weren’t all that good in the limited time he did play. DeMar DeRozan could get them a decent return, and Dennis Schröder being on the move feels like a deadline staple. There’s been interest in Malik Monk around the league since the summer, and I’d imagine the Kings wouldn’t mind getting away from the rest of Zach LaVine’s money. It’s a fire sale for the Kings, but we don’t know if anybody is truly interested. They really need a young star on draft night to get fans excited.
Brooklyn Nets
It wouldn’t shock me if we see Nic Claxton back in trade rumors. The Nets don’t necessarily have to worry too much about lottery odds. Things should correct themselves naturally with battles for the bottom of the cellar. But New Orleans and Indiana are worse than people thought they’d be. That has to have Brooklyn sweat it out a little. Terance Mann is also a veteran wing who could draw some interest.
Tier 3: Cutting apron strings
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Boston Celtics
The Celtics are on a roll, but I don’t think they’re married to this roster makeup. They gutted the team in a gap year to get out of the second-apron payroll threshold and the restrictions that come with it. Now they’re still about $4 million into the first apron, and moving someone like Anfernee Simons for a role player or two at a much cheaper cost could help them get more financially responsible. Then they can assess where Jayson Tatum is in his Achilles injury recovery, not have any roster restrictions this summer and figure out how to build back up.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Maybe the Cavs will believe in what they have and stand pat at the deadline, but this was a 64-win team that had to make a tough decision to let Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro go while bringing in Lonzo Ball because of the second-apron restrictions. Now they’re just 15-12 to start this season and $22 million into the second apron. That $22 million is costing them over $100 million in luxury tax. Maybe they can get rid of someone to ease that bill.
Golden State Warriors
Most likely, the Warriors stand where they are. They are counting pennies at this point because they’re so close to the second apron. They’re within $264,000 of that threshold, where they are hard-capped. The Warriors also have another issue with the playing time of Jonathan Kuminga, whom they re-signed in the offseason. They’ll have a trade market for him if they want to. Sacramento and Phoenix were interested in the summer. Can they bring in someone while also cutting a little money off the top?
LA Clippers
Normally, I would think the Clippers are going to throw money at the problem to try to get better because Steve Ballmer wants them to be aggressive. But letting Paul George walk to Philly showed their fiscal responsibility in the apron era. The Clippers are hard-capped at the first apron and just $1.2 million currently under it, so there isn’t much they can do. One way or another, Chris Paul will be gone. But the Clippers might see how bad this season is and try to swap out some players for cheaper options, just to have better flexibility. They won’t be too severe with it because the Thunder control their first-round pick next summer.
Tier 4: Gaining assets
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Phoenix Suns
I don’t think the Suns will be buyers to really change their team into being more competitive than it is now. And they are far better than anybody thought they’d be. However, they have some role players they can move while still maintaining their quality on the court. And those guys, like Royce O’Neale or even Grayson Allen, could net them some flexibility or assets. Maybe the Suns stand pat and re-evaluate in the summer.
Indiana Pacers
I would expect the Pacers to explore getting a big man who can help them out next season. We know Tyrese Haliburton likely isn’t coming back until then, and this team probably won’t be competitive most of this season. That doesn’t mean the Pacers won’t plan ahead and try to find a full-time Myles Turner replacement. They have some roster flexibility to make a deal, and this organization has nailed most of its moves over the last few years.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are the most difficult team to get a handle on. Daryl Morey is typically very aggressive at most deadlines, whether that’s adding to the current roster or sneakily adding assets (as he did with Quentin Grimes last season). With the health of Joel Embiid and Paul George so unreliable, I wouldn’t expect them to make a big swing. But I’d expect Morey to look for another high-value role player or sneak into acquiring a draft pick. It’s what he does.
Memphis Grizzlies
Maybe this is a team that is more likely to stand pat. I don’t think any of the Ja Morant drama is actually going to lead to them moving the former All-Star point guard. That seems to have subsided, or maybe it was overblown from the start. But the Grizzlies do seem pretty intent on building for the present and the future. I could see them trying to acquire more assets to what they’ve stockpiled with players and picks.
Washington Wizards
Over the last year or so, the Wizards have done a brilliant job of properly becoming a rebuilding team. They’re not just nailing the draft pick selections; they started prioritizing cap flexibility and draft-asset acquisitions. Now they’re going to have a lot of roster and cap malleability starting this summer, but it wouldn’t shock me to see them get involved with trades at the deadline as a third or fourth team. In return, they take on a contract that needs jettisoning, and it comes with some kind of pick.
Charlotte Hornets
This team is not building something that definitely looks like a future success. The Hornets are still stuck in the same position they’ve been in for a couple of years. We saw them get involved in moves last deadline to help gain role players and picks, and I expect we keep seeing that. They have to eventually move on from this iteration, and having the picks and assets to do that is paramount. The Hornets need a massive overhaul, but maybe tinkering by acquiring assets is the first step toward doing that.
Tier 5: Standing pat
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Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota would love to add another offensive weapon who can initiate, but the Wolves are only about $3.5 million away from the second apron. Making a move is not easy, and they’ll likely do any revamping or tinkering this summer. They have a Rudy Gobert decision to make at some point (he has a $38 million player option in 2027-28), but that is unlikely to happen at the deadline.
Los Angeles Lakers
Everything about the Lakers since trading for Luka Dončić has been about prioritizing their flexibility in the summer of 2026. LeBron James has a no-trade clause, so he’s probably not going anywhere.
Orlando Magic
They gave up their draft assets to acquire Desmond Bane, and now they have to wait for Franz Wagner to get healthy. Maybe they could move a role player to try to upgrade some offense, but this team feels locked in.
Houston Rockets
Because of the Fred VanVleet injury and good play from Aaron Holiday and Reed Sheppard in his stead, Houston doesn’t really need to make any moves. Plus, the Rockets are hard-capped at the first apron, which is $1.2 million away. Just let Kevin Durant and this top-ranked offense go to work and see how it looks in the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets made their big moves this summer, and they’re more likely to just hope this team is healthy by the postseason. They already have a championship roster, and a worse version pushed OKC to seven games in May.
Oklahoma City Thunder
What could they possibly improve? They’re so good that some people believe it wouldn’t make sense to get involved in potential Giannis trade talks. And they have the most assets and players to trade without hurting their current makeup.
By Zach Harper, via The Athletic