Just as the first 30 or so games of the NBA season have snuck up on us, so do some of the critical dates on the league calendar. And none looms so large as the new trade deadline in the league, which will come before the All-Star game this time around, on Feb. 8. That’s a mere 50 days away.
Much can change between now and then, but as things are shaping up, here’s a look at who NBA execs feel will be buying, and who will be selling at the deadline.
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NBA TRADE DEADLINE BUYERS
Thunder
The Thunder have used the "still figuring it out" line consistently over the first two months of the season, and while they have been disappointing, they’re going to keep trying to figure it out. They’re only one game above .500 through 31 games, but the West has not been particularly strong, and there’s still time to make a run into the top four in the conference.
Around the league, executives believe the Thunder did not acquire star Paul George only to turn around and trade him. Thus, expect the Thunder to beat the bushes for another shooter who can help create space and, possibly, an additional defender. Depth is still a big issue, and that can be addressed.
Bucks
The Bucks will get Jabari Parker back in the coming weeks, which could be a huge addition for a team that could use his scoring punch off the bench. But the team — coach Jason Kidd especially — is feeling some pressure to show results and take advantage of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise to stardom.
There is a new arena opening downtown next season, and the Bucks want to open that building as contenders, not as yet another one-and-out playoff team. They could be willing to gamble if a big name comes available.
Nuggets
The Nuggets have been aggressive in trying to put together a roster that could get the team over the hump of West also-ran, and the loss of Paul Millsap to a wrist injury was a big blow. The expectation is that they’ll continue to be aggressive in the coming weeks. The Nuggets have slipped drastically on the defensive end since Millsap went down (allowing 49.1 points in the paint per game since his injury, third-worst in the league), so they’ll have to find a big man who can help protect the middle next to Nikola Jokic.
Cavs
NBA execs don’t think the Cavs will part with the pick they own from Brooklyn in the upcoming draft, but circumstances could change if Cleveland decides it needs to go all-in on this season in order to re-sign LeBron James this summer. But the Cavs will only make a move if it can legitimately give them a chance to get past the Warriors in June.
SN SOURCES: Cavs keeping Nets' pick as backup plan for "LeBron stuff"
Timberwolves
Coach Tom Thibodeau has taken a good deal of criticism for his overworking of the Wolves starters, but the problem, in part, has been that the bench has been terrible. The net rating of the Minnesota bench is minus-7.1, 27th in the league, thanks in large part to a terrible bench defense.
The Wolves are badly in need of a reliable 3-and-D player off the bench, and they could find a good market for them next month.
Trail Blazers
The Blazers have held around .500 this season, and in the West, that’s been good enough to stay comfortably in the playoff mix. But the roster is badly flawed, lacking at both forward spots, and even center Jusuf Nurkic has been a bit disappointing.
Portland has the parts to pursue a blockbuster if it wanted (C.J. McCollum would be the centerpiece), but a deal that would at least address the holes at small forward and/or power forward is badly needed.
NBA TRADE DEADLINE SELLERS
Kings
The Kings gave playoff competitiveness a chance for about three or four games, but are back where you’d expect to find them — hunting for a deal that could bolster their future. Guard George Hill has already been shopped and would be a good fit on a contender. Zach Randolph has also played well, even at age 36, and could be moved soon, too. And there’s always the hope that, somehow, Vince Carter gets shipped back to Toronto in time for the Raptors’ postseason run.
Suns
The Suns have had a hard time accepting a rebuild, even as one has been going on around them. But the trade of Eric Bledsoe signaled the hopelessness of this situation, and it would make sense for Phoenix to seek a taker for, at the very least, veteran big man Tyson Chandler.
Grizzlies
Even if the Grizzlies don’t go for the blockbuster involving center Marc Gasol — and they will pursue Gasol deals right through the February deadline — expect them to be busy as they continue to reconfigure the roster. They’ve gotten a big boost from the play of guard Tyreke Evans, who seems to have rediscovered his game in Memphis, and they have already received significant interest. He’d be an ideal bench scorer.
Mavericks
The Mavericks have been reluctant to do a teardown fire sale as long as Dirk Nowitzki is on the floor and producing. Dallas is not going anywhere, but there does not seem to be much stomach for dealing veterans like Wesley Matthews, Devin Harris and J.J. Barea as long as Nowitzki is active. That could change. Also on the block: Nerlens Noel, an impending free agent who has dropped out of the team’s rotation.
Clippers
At the rate they’ve been going, it could be tough for Doc Rivers to cobble together enough healthy pieces to make a trade in a month. There has been a swirl of speculation around DeAndre Jordan, and the Clippers would certainly be willing to part ways with him, if a good enough market can be established. So far, the names tossed in connection with Jordan have been underwhelming.
Even if no Jordan deal materializes, the Clips could try to find a new home for bench maven Lou Williams.
MORE: How would a trade for Jordan help the Bucks?
Magic
It was a nice start, but reality has clobbered the Magic of late with 17 losses in 20 games. They’re not expected to shop Aaron Gordon, even if it could mean getting rid of a bad contract like that of Bismack Biyombo, though that could change depending on the offer.
If they could find a taker for Evan Fournier, they’d move him (four years and $68 million makes that difficult), and it might be less difficult to move Nikola Vucevic with only one year remaining on his deal after this season. But all in all, if Gordon stays, there is not much on the roster that would bring a significant return.
Bulls
Seven straight wins and, just like that, the Bulls aren't so far removed from the playoff mix, and that's before Zach LaVine gets back from his rehab. Still, don’t expect the Bulls to deviate from their rebuilding, and if that means finding trades involving Robin Lopez — one of the better values on the trade market — or Nikola Mirotic, Chicago will dive on in.
Hawks
The Hawks figure to be a wildcard. They have some veterans who could obviously help other teams — guard Marco Belinelli and center Dewyane Dedmon — but we can’t be sure how committed the new front office is to even the young pieces they have in place. Don’t be surprised if the team puts out feelers on the value of point guard Dennis Schroder.
If the Hawks could dump the remaining $55 million (over three years) on Kent Bazemore’s contract, they’d have to be willing to listen, too.