NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Intel on Biggest Basketball Stars
It’s not often that superstars get traded in the NBA, but it does happen more frequently than in other sports. And while nothing this season will top the Luka Doncic trade last year, there may be some big names being moved around in the near future. Here’s what we know about some of those superstars.
Trade rumors on NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, and more
Giannis Antetokounmpo
If he were to be moved, Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the biggest traded player not named Luka Doncic in a while. He recently met with the Milwaukee Bucks to discuss his future, and this comes after rumors swirled last season and last offseason.
Per Shams Charania, it all depends on what the Bucks do. They’re reeling right now, and Antetokounmpo is hurt. If they don’t turn things around, sources expect the two-time MVP to request a trade and be moved by the February 5 deadline. It’s currently unclear which teams might actually be able to take him on, but the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Oklahoma City Thunder come to mind.
Trae Young
Trae Young is often in trade rumors, but the Atlanta Hawks never seem to pull the trigger. Now, they’re a competitive team, but they’re doing this without Young, who has been hurt. Does that make them more likely to cut bait and save some money by moving on from the All-Star point guard?
According to Charania, “(The Hawks) believe his fit with a rising core in Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onyeka Okongwu will elevate the team.” That makes a trade not as likely, plus Young is viewed league-wide as a “distressed asset,” which only hurts his potential market. Additionally, with the team winning, trading arguably the best player wouldn’t be the smartest choice.
Anthony Davis
For the second straight year, Anthony Davis could be moved. The oft-injured big man was part of the Doncic trade, and with how badly things have gone for the Dallas Mavericks since then, he’s all but assured of being moved at some point.
Charania expects Davis to be a “critical target” of plenty of NBA teams, most notably the East-leading Detroit Pistons. The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are also in the mix, and he’s been linked to the Chicago Bulls. The Mavericks haven’t ruled out an extension, and they may explore trades for other players, but Davis would bring them the biggest haul by far.
Jonathan Kuminga
It is a miracle that Jonathan Kuminga hasn’t been traded yet. The Golden State Warriors didn’t like him last year, and he popped up in rumors. They didn’t like him much in the offseason, seemingly begrudgingly signing the restricted free agent to a two-year deal.
Now, Charania and others are reporting that the Warriors will take offers on the young forward. Golden State wants “upgrades” to their roster. Reportedly, there were talks between the Warriors and Phoenix Suns, but they didn’t amount to anything.
James Harden & Kawhi Leonard
The Los Angeles Clippers are bad, but it’s not exactly the fault of either James Harden or Kawhi Leonard. Still, this is a team seemingly headed nowhere with a ton of veterans and not a lot of assets, so trades make sense.
Charania reported, “Many in the league are waiting to see whether L.A. is open to shifting to the bigger picture. Stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are performing at a high level and are signed to tradeable contracts that would allow the Clippers to retool for the future.”
Sacramento Kings stars
According to the NBA insider, the Sacramento Kings are a team many other teams are keeping an eye on. They have several stars that could be on the move. “Teams are monitoring veterans Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, along with 25-year-old guard Keon Ellis,” Charania reported.
