As with every NBA season, trades will be rumored and made. Trades can make or break a team’s season. Some trades are made to stockpile draft picks and prospects and some are made to add a player that could potentially help in a playoff run. With one of the first trades of the young NBA season being made on Monday, it’s only a sign of things to come. Here are 10 players that are sure to be on the trading block.
Jimmer Fredette – Point Guard, Sacramento Kings
Jimmer was selected with the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Jimmer had an extremely successful college career at BYU and was drafted with very high expectations. The guard possessed fantastic range and was a lights out scorer. Unfortunately, he has yet to have much success at all at the pro level. Entering his third year in the league, Jimmer has career lows in nearly every statistical category. He holds a career average of seven points and one assist per game. Throughout his time in Sacramento he has been on the bottom of a very full depth chart. Jimmer is currently wasting away on the bench and he could very easily find himself traded away. The new Kings ownership has made it very clear that they will be aggressive in trading, and they have shown no inclination in wanting to stick with Jimmer. Jimmer could easily find himself on another team by the trading deadline.
Omer Asik – Center, Houston Rockets
Last year Asik started all 82 games for the Rockets. He played exceptionally well that season, averaging 10 points and 11 rebounds. This year, minutes have been cut in half, and so has his production. When Dwight Howard signed with the Rockets this offseason, people were unsure how it would all play out. Well now it is quite clear, Asik wants to start. Asik has made it clear that he is unhappy being a backup and a center of his talent could fetch some good pieces in return. He isn’t doing the Rockets any good by sitting unhappily on their bench. Look for an Asik trade to be one of the first blockbuster trades of the season.
Marcus Thornton – Shooting Guard, Sacramento Kings
In reality, nearly ever Kings player could be on this list, but then this wouldn’t be a very fun article. Thornton has done very well in his time in Sacramento. He is simply a volume scorer, averaging 17 points in the last three seasons. This season his production has dropped even more, mainly because of the addition of rookie Ben McLemore. McLemore has been fairly inconsistent so far, but once he gets more acclimated to the NBA, his minutes could increase meaning Thornton’s would decrease. Thornton could provide a valuable scoring threat, as a starter or sixth man. The Kings are certainly not afraid to make some moves, especially if it would free up playing time for the younger players. Thornton could easily find himself on a contender’s roster.
Danny Granger – Small Forward, Indiana Pacers
Granger has played a total of five games over this season and all of last season. The Pacers are doing just fine without him and I’m sure they would like to get rid of his $14 million contract. When healthy, Granger can be a very good player, who can score, rebound, and defend. Granger is now 30 years old and is at the end of his prime. The Pacers certainly don’t need him and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him moved, much like the Grizzlies did last year with Rudy Gay.
Amar'e Stoudemire – Power Forward, New York Knicks
Since entering the league 11 years ago, Stoudemire has been one of the better power forwards in the NBA. However, in recent years his play has declined, and so have his minutes. When the Knicks traded for Andrea Bargnani, they made it clear the Stoudemire isn’t a focus of their team. Just recently, Stoudemire has expressed his frustration with his lack of minutes. To make matters worse the Knicks are struggling mightily, and in the luxury tax. Getting rid of Stoudemire’s $21 million contract and getting some more impactful players in return is certainly an attractive idea to the Knicks
Rajon Rondo – Point Guard, Boston Celtics
Rondo is the only remaining Celtic from the 2008 Championship team. Rondo is directly in the middle of a full rebuild in Boston. To make matters more complex, Rondo has yet to play a game this season due to injury. There is a very good chance Rondo will not want to be part of this roster overhaul, and the Celtics could certainly get some pieces of value for him. New head coach Brad Stevens has made it clear that they hope to keep Rondo around, but when they have successful traded away nearly every player of value, why not trade Rondo.
Kris Humphries – Power Forward, Boston Celtics
Humphries was sent to Boston in a trade that involved Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry. Humphries was merely just a salary dump. Humphries has yet to see any serious action, and the Celtics seem happy to keep it that way. The Celtics are focusing on developing players like Kelly Olynyk, Brandon Bass, and Jeff Green. With all these forwards getting minutes, there will be few left for Humphries. Humphries also has a pretty ridiculous salary of $12. I’m sure the Celtics would like to get rid of this salary and free up more minutes for their younger players. Humphries still has a lot left to offer a team, and he could be an appealing option to some teams.
Greg Monroe – Center, Detroit Pistons
When Andre Drummond proved that he could be a legitimate starting center in the NBA, the Pistons had one of the better front courts in the league. When they signed Josh Smith in free agency, this created quite a cluster. Smith is a natural power forward, and that is where he is most efficient. Monroe would normally be playing center, except Drummond has done a great job as their starting center. This set of issues has caused Josh Smith to play small forward, where he has struggled. Statistically speaking, this is one of the worst years of Smith’s career. Now you don’t pay someone $13 million to average 14 points, six rebounds, and 3 assists per game. This makes Monroe the most obvious player to be traded. It would be one thing if the Pistons were excelling with this line-up, but unfortunately they are playing quite poorly. Moving Monroe would allow Smith to play his natural position and gain the Pistons some valuable pieces.
Luol Deng – Small Forward, Chicago Bulls
Deng has been one of the more productive and underrated small forwards in the NBA. Deng is very versatile and does everything very well. However, the Bulls are in a bit of a pinch. With the injury to Derrick Rose, the Bulls need some scoring help badly. While Deng is a valuable player, he could fetch a nice bundle of players that would keep the Bulls in the hunt. Deng has a rather high salary and has been unable to work out an extension with the Bulls. It would be in the Bulls best interest if they could trade Deng and acquire some players in his place instead of just letting him walk away for nothing.
Kendrick Perkins – Center, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are looking as good as ever, and Perkins is looking as useless as ever. Perkins has never been much of a rebounding monster or a scoring threat. He has however, held down the middle for the Thunder for the past four years. Perkins use is just about up, as he is averaging is lowest minutes in the past eight years. The main reason for Perkins lack of use is the emergence of rookie Steven Adams. The 12th overall draft pick has been very impressive at times. If Adams can continue to prove that he is deserving of starters minutes, there should be no reason that he is not the starting center by the end of the season. The biggest challenge for the Thunder will be finding a suitor for the veteran Perkins.