The 5 big fish in the trading market, LaVine 220 million no one wants, Siakam is very sought-after
5 Big Fish in the NBA Trading Market, Who Could Be The Next Anunoby?
The NBA's trade market is always full of surprises and suspense, and every trade can change the fate of a team. This season, the Raptors and Knicks made a blockbuster trade to send Anunoby to New York in exchange for Barrett and Noel. The trade was considered a win-win, with the Raptors bolstering their offensive firepower and the Knicks boosting their defense. Anunoby also played well with the Knicks, becoming one of the centerpieces of the team and helping the team reach the playoffs.
Anunoby's trade kicked off the first NBA trade this season, but he's not the only star who could be traded. There are still a lot of big fish in the league, all waiting for the right opportunity, and maybe they can become the next Anunoby, bringing new hope to themselves and the team. The following 5 stars are the big fish in the trading market, let's take a look at them.
Siakam: The Lone Ranger's Dream
Siakam is the star of the Raptors and an All-Star caliber small forward. He has excellent offensive and defensive ability, can shoot from the outside, and can also attack from the inside, making him an ideal forward in the small-ball era. He averaged 22 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists per game this season, and is the team's offensive core and defensive anchor.
However, the Raptors' record is not ideal, and the team has begun to rebuild, trading away Anunoby and possibly considering sending away Siakam in exchange for more young players and draft picks. Siakam is highly valued in the trade market, with many teams interested in him, with the Mavericks being the most likely buyer.
The Mavericks have one of the league's strongest offensive weapons, Doncic, a superstar who can score from any position and create opportunities for his teammates. However, the Mavericks lacked a second core that could partner with Doncic, and Porzingis was inconsistent and lacked defensive capabilities. Siakam is the kind of player the Mavericks need to support Doncic on the outside and take the pressure off Porzingis on the inside, while also improving the team's defense. If the Mavericks can trade Porzingis and some other chips for Siakam, then they have what it takes to challenge for a championship.
Murray: The Lakers' savior
Murray is an All-Star level point guard who showed his talent during his time with the Spurs, averaging an astonishing 21 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals per game, and is a top point guard on both offensive and defensive ends. He was traded to the Hawks last summer to form a two-point backcourt with Trae Young and improve the team's competitiveness. However, Murray's performance with the Hawks is not ideal, his statistics have dropped a lot, only 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists this season, and he does not cooperate well with Trae Young, and the team's record is also the bottom of the East.
The Eagles clearly need to make some changes, and Murray is one of their most valuable trade chips. Murray's contract is not high, only $120 million, and his strength should not be underestimated, he is just not compatible with Trae Young, and in a different environment, he may shine again. There are a lot of teams interested in Murray, and the most likely buyer is the Lakers.
The Lakers are the defending champions and have superstars like James and Davis, but they are weak in their backcourt and don't have a reliable point guard other than Schroder. Murray is the kind of player the Lakers need to be able to help James and Davis in the backcourt, and to take on the offensive load while they are resting, while also improving the team's defensive intensity. If the Lakers can trade Schroder and some other chips for Murray, then they have the confidence to defend their title.
Grant: Hope for the Trailblazers
Grant is a semi-All-Star caliber small forward, and he is the leader of the team with the Trail Blazers, averaging 22.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 42% from three-point range. He's a good striker who plays both offense and defense, has great shooting ability, can step up when it matters most, and is a reliable scorer. He signed a massive $160 million contract last summer as part of the Trail Blazers' plans for the future.
However, the Trail Blazers' record is not as good as it could be, and the team has begun a rebuilding path by trading away Lillard and possibly considering sending away Grant in exchange for more young players and draft picks. Grant is also worth a lot of money on the trade market, with many teams interested in him, with the most likely buyer being the Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers are a team with a lot of offensive prowess, with All-Stars like McCollum and Norkic, but they have poor defensive abilities and are among the worst in the league. Grant is the kind of player the Trail Blazers need, who can support McCollum and Norkic on the outside, and take the pressure off Norkic on the inside, while also improving the team's defense. If the Trail Blazers can trade Norkic and some other chips for Grant, then they have a chance of finishing in the top four in the West.
Turner: Trouble with the Pacers
Turner is a top-tier center with excellent rim protection and good shooting ability, and he is a good center in the small-ball era. He is averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game this season while shooting 53% from the field. He's one of the best blockers in the league and a defensive pillar for the Pacers.
However, the Pacers have not had a good record, and the team is already in trouble with no playoff hopes. The Pacers have two good centers, Turner and Sabonis, but they don't work well together, and the team has problems both offensively and defensively. The Pacers need to make some changes, and Turner is one of their most valuable trade chips. Turner's annual salary is not expensive, only $180 million, and he is also very strong, and many teams are interested in him, among which the most likely buyer is the Celtics.
The Celtics are a team with strong outside strength, with All-Stars like Tatum and Brown, but they are weak on the inside and don't have a reliable center. Turner is the kind of player the Celtics need to protect Tatum and Brown on the inside, as well as give them space on the outside, while also increasing the team's defensive intensity. If the Celtics can trade Smart and some other chips for Turner, then they have what it takes to challenge the East.
Laven: The Bull's Burden
LaVine is an All-Star caliber shooting guard who has amazing scoring prowess and good athleticism and is a difficult scorer to defend. He averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game this season, and has also made two All-Star stars. He is the offensive heart of the Bulls and the leader of the team.
However, the Bulls have not had a good record, and the team has begun a rebuilding path by trading away Markkanen and possibly considering sending LaVine away in exchange for more young players and draft picks. LaVine's value on the trade market is not high, his contract is as high as 5 years and $220 million, and his defensive ability is insufficient, and his playoff performance is also inconsistent, such a contract has the potential to become a poison contract, so no one in the league dares to bet, and LaVine is stuck in his hands.
A trade for LaVine is highly unlikely, unless a team is willing to take the risk, or the Bulls are willing to lower their asking price. LaVine's strength should not be underestimated, he is just not suitable for the Bulls, and in a different environment, he may have a better performance. There may be some teams, like the Cavaliers or the Magic, who will have some interest in him, but it is still unknown whether they will be able to give the right chips.
The Lakers lost badly to the Heat, and the 10th place in the West was in jeopardy
The Lakers lost at home, and the Heat played strongly
The NBA regular season continues with the Lakers hosting the Heat. These are two teams that have met in the finals, and both have good strength and popularity. However, there wasn't much suspense in the game, as the Lakers were at a disadvantage from the start, while the Heat played an efficient offense and tenacious defense to win the game 110-96 in the end.
The Heat's core players James and Wade both had excellent performances, James scored a game-high 32 points, along with eight rebounds and six assists, while Wade contributed 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The cooperation and breakthrough of the two made the Lakers' defense unstoppable. The rest of the Heat players also had good performances, with Bosh and Chalmers scoring 14 and 12 points respectively, while Haslem and Miller also scored 10 points each off the bench. The Heat shot 51.3 percent overall from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range.
The Lakers' performance was quite poor, with the exception of Kobe Bryant and Gasol, who had some bright spots, and the rest of the players did not play at a high level. Bryant had 28 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Gasol had 18 points, nine rebounds and three assists. However, their efforts did not change the decline of the Lakers, who shot just 38.9 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from three-point range. The Lakers' defense was also lax, allowing the Heat to score easily. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson also admitted after the game that their performance was poor and did not put any pressure on the Heat.
The Lakers are in trouble and the Western Conference is slipping down the standings
After this game, the Lakers' record became 17-18, and the winning percentage fell below 50% again, continuing to rank 10th in the West. This is the first time since 2005 that the Lakers have won less than 50% at the halfway point of the season. The Lakers' form has dropped significantly, a far cry from last season's championship-winning style. Lakers fans were also disappointed and angry at the team's performance, slamming the team's management and players on social media.
The Lakers are also in a precarious position, with only a win percentage advantage over the Warriors behind them (16-17). If the Warriors beat the Nuggets at home tomorrow, the Lakers will be overtaken and fall out of the top 10 in the West. This is a huge blow to the Lakers, and it also means that if they want to make the playoffs, they must give their best in the remaining games and cannot make any mistakes.
The Lakers' next game is on the road against the Trail Blazers, and it's a pivotal game that the Lakers will have to win to stabilize the situation and regain confidence. Otherwise, they risk sinking deeper into a quagmire from which they cannot extricate themselves. Lakers star Kobe Bryant also said that they can't go on like this, they need to find their rhythm and style, and show the strength and charm of the Lakers again.
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