It’s only January, but a handful of NBA teams can already start looking forward to next year. Five teams have yet to eclipse 10 wins on the season, and are all but eliminated from playoff contention. We can expect those squads to be active on the trade market over the next month. Let’s take a look at all five bottom-dwellers, and identify the most likely player on each team to be traded before the February 6 deadline.
Washington Wizards (6-29) — Jonas Valančiūnas, C
Sporting the worst record in the league, the Wizards have already begun the process of rebuilding. They’ve played their veterans less and empowered the young core which includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George. 25-year-old guard Jordan Poole remains the go-to option offensively and has played well in Year 2 with Washington.
The obvious trade candidates here are guard Malcolm Brogdon, wing Kyle Kuzma, and center Jonas Valančiūnas. Brogdon would fit in well with most contenders, but his checkered injury history makes it tricky. Kuzma has the most diverse offensive skillset of the trio, though he’s been given free rein since joining the Wizards, and it’s unclear how he’d adapt to a smaller role. Valančiūnas is the pick here. He could start or be a bruising bucket-getter off the bench for a contending team.
New Orleans Pelicans (7-31) — CJ McCollum, G
The Pelicans finally got some good news with Zion Williamson returning to the floor this week. However, their season is untenable. New Orleans recently snapped a 2-26 skid that plummeted them to the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Teams will inquire about Williamson, but it doesn’t make much sense for the Pelicans to move their top asset just yet. Instead, we could see New Orleans’ next two-highest paid players — Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum — on the trade block. McCollum would be a better fit for most teams in the league as he’s a career 40-percent three-point shooter who has plenty of experience playing alongside offensive stars.
The Pelicans are also a top candidate to be included in a potential Bradley Beal trade as they are one of the few teams with movable contracts that could facilitate such a deal.
Toronto Raptors (8-29) — Bruce Brown, G/F
The Raptors have lost 14 of 15 and are on their way to another dreadful season. Most of the roster is compromised of young talent that Toronto would likely prefer to hold on to. Among potential veterans who could be on the move are bigs Kelly Olynyk and Chris Boucher.
Bruce Brown hasn’t played much this year (5 games), but he’s somebody that we’ve seen contribute to a title-winning squad. He hasn’t looked the same since leaving the Denver Nuggets, but he’s an energizer that plays well next to superstars. He could be a vital rotational piece for one of the contenders.
Charlotte Hornets (8-27) — Nick Richards, C
The Hornets are another team that is absolutely reeling. They had one win in their last 18 games before defeating the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. It’s not particularly surprising that they’ve struggled given the overall youth of the roster. With minimal chance of making a playoff push, they could afford to unload a couple of their tradeable assets.
Nick Richards’ name gets brought up a lot among teams that need depth in the frontcourt. With Mark Williams back on the floor, Richards has seen his role reduced. He’s a solid shot blocker who can average double-digit points and rebounds in 20-to-25 minutes. At just 27 years old, Richards also may have some untapped potential if he’s given a bigger role on a better team.
Utah Jazz (9-26) — Collin Sexton, G
The Jazz will certainly be active as we approach the trade deadline. They have multiple proven players that could aid playoff teams. Jordan Clarkson is a former Sixth Man of the Year who could provide scoring off the bench. Walker Kessler is one of the league’s top shot blockers and is still just 23 years old. He’ll likely come with a hefty price tag.
Collin Sexton has emerged as a steady contributor since joining the Jazz three years ago. He’s an efficient scorer who is shooting over 43-percent from beyond the arc this season. It would be surprising if he’s still a member of the Jazz by February.
