The 2023 NBA season is well underway, and the league has changed thanks to constant movements by players across teams and conferences.
We are living in a time where players simply can’t stay put as they look for greener pastures, while general managers and executives are also unafraid to make blockbuster deals at any given moment. For those fans that love to see exciting trades and free agency signings every year, the NBA is delivering just that at the moment.
Looking ahead to the rest of this season and even going forward, it is anticipated that there will be more player movement with regard to top players in the NBA and valuable role players. More specifically, most of these movements may happen during the offseason. Due to franchise directions or simply the need for a new challenge, there are some players right now that are destined for new teams. With their talent and skill set, they can be important pieces for winning. Here are the top 20 players most likely to switch teams this season or next offseason via free agency or trade.
Myles Turner – Free Agency
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Myles Turner is a 2-time blocks champion in the NBA and will probably find a new home next year. The Indiana Pacers focused their future on Tyrese Haliburton absorbing most of the attention, and it doesn’t make sense to keep Turner when he isn’t wanted by the franchise as a starter or bench player. In fact, they should cash in on him while his value is high because he is only 26 years old despite playing 8 seasons in the league.
Turner is averaging 16.7 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 2.2 BPG while shooting 39.8% from three. Turner will never be a marksman, but he is a capable knockdown shooter when he’s open and has improved his stroke over the past few years. Teams needing size and floor-spacing for bigs should go for Turner because he’s a modern big man, and the Pacers will probably trade him for picks as a result.
Kyle Lowry – Trade
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Former NBA champion Kyle Lowry was shopped a little bit after he failed to make an impact last year with the Miami Heat, although it would be hard to find a team willing to pay quite a bit of money for a 36-year-old point guard past his prime. Rather, it seems Lowry will go to the team that will take him because the Miami Heat are in charge. The Heat are having a difficult season, and they want to make a move for another All-Star player.
Lowry is having a better year by averaging 13.4 PPG and 5.7 APG this season, respectable numbers for an aging point guard. But Lowry does seem to be in his final months with the Heat, and he belongs more on a team where there isn’t as much pressure on him. The Heat are not impressed with Lowry so far, and that means the point guard could be traded before the trade deadline.
Russel Westbrook – Free Agency
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Nobody knows what will happen to the Los Angeles Lakers at any given moment. They could pull off shocking wins at one point and then go on losing streaks in an embarrassing fashion. Russell Westbrook is a free agent soon, meaning there could be massive roster changes coming in the offseason. Everything the Lakers do should be to win with LeBron James because he is slowly getting older and does not have it in him to carry a team to the Finals single-handedly anymore.
Despite being the favorite for the 6th Man of the Year award, Russ might not want to return back to the Purple and Gold. The former MVP has been involved in trade rumors since arriving in Los Angeles and has suffered through criticism and vitriol from the Lakers fanbase and media. It seems the Lakers do not want to package two first-round picks with Russ to pry Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from the Pacers, so he will likely walk to get the biggest contract offer available in free agency.
D’Angelo Russell – Trade
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D’Angelo Russell was supposed to be one of the key players leading the charge for the Minnesota Timberwolves alongside his friend Karl-Anthony Towns. Remember, Russell was an All-Star with the Brooklyn Nets at 22 years old, but since touching down in Minnesota, that progression has stopped completely. Now at age 26, Russell has seemingly fallen out of his prime, as silly as that might sound.
While he might be good enough to keep Minnesota out of the lottery and into the playoffs as a starting point guard, he has not been too impressive. The Timberwolves should move on from Russell and should do it now because they need to focus their efforts on maximizing the play of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and Rudy Gobert. With the hopes of finding another star player, Russell could be finally released before the trade deadline.
Draymond Green – Free Agency
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Draymond Green is past his best because he simply does not score the ball well enough to be a threat on the offensive side of the floor. Still an elite defender, Draymond is a player who helps teams win games. But he might not be the answer for the Golden State Warriors, especially after he almost knocked the soul out of Jordan Poole in practice before the season. The talented forward still defends all positions, rebounds, and has championship experience.
The Warriors might want to keep Green on the team next season but only by offering a very team-friendly deal instead of paying him like a top-5 player on the team. Green might ponder a return to the Warriors, but there have been rumors that the player could be in the running for a big deal from the Detroit Pistons. With his last chance to make big money, Green could opt for the team that offers him the most money in free agency.
Terry Rozier – Trade
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Terry Rozier is a likable guard in Charlotte because plays hard, defends, and scores consistently. The guard is posting 20.1 PPG and 5.3 APG this season on 31.4% shooting from the three-point line. A capable two-way guard, Rozier always competes on every possession and certainly wants to win, even if his team is playing atrocious basketball right now. The Hornets sit at 10-29 in the East, a putrid record.
Clearly, the Hornets should be all-in with LaMelo Ball and could sacrifice other players to clear cap space as they look for another star to join the talented point guard. The Hornets might want to bring Miles Bridges back if his name is cleared, so making space coil see Rozier out the door before the trade deadline. At age 28, the guard still has a lot left to offer, and teams will want his services.
OG Anunoby – Trade
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A current Toronto Raptors player, OG Anunoby has the potential to be a very impactful two-way player, and he is having a very good year so far. Anunoby is averaging 18.5 PPG and 5.9 RPG for the Raptors and is shooting 46.6% from the field, 34.8% from three, and 83.8% from the free-throw line. It will be hard to find many better players that can defend with length and athleticism while scoring the ball at an above-average level.
OG Anunoby is only 25 years old, so he has time to continue to develop his game. The Raptors might want to re-focus their efforts solely on developing Scottie Barnes and could be looking to take another gamble on a superstar player. Anunoby will bring in a nice return, including players and picks, so he could be traded this season before the trade deadline.
Kyle Kuzma – Trade
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Kyle Kuzma has developed into a very nice player since his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. The guard is averaging 21.3 PPG on 46.0% shooting from the field while also shooting 33.6% from the three-point line. Kuzma was not the third option that LeBron and Anthony Davis needed in his last season with the Lakers, although it did not affect their quest for the NBA championship in 2020.
The Lakers still won the NBA title despite Kuzma’s lack of growth as a player, clearly showing how great the duo of James and Davis was. But now, a few years older at 27, Kuzma has the experience to be a solid power forward who can space the floor and use athleticism to his advantage. Kuzma is one of the hottest trade targets right now, and he could actually end up in Phoenix this year.
John Collins – Trade
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John Collins is a perfect modern stretch four because he can make outside shots and has the athleticism to be an impact player on offense. This season, Collins is posting 13.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 1.3 BPG on 50.2% from the field and 81.2% from the free-throw line. His shooting could be better, clearly, but he did shoot over 36% from deep last year and has time to hit that mark again.
Collins can roll to the rim, rebound, and score, meaning he would be a perfect fit alongside another big man who can actually score inside. Possibly, because the Atlanta Hawks want to do anything to compete and will undergo a one-year transition if it means clearing cap space. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are both untouchable, but that does not mean the starting power forward is as well. There will be teams out for Collins’ signature, including the Indiana Pacers, who have been looking to trade Myles Turner for a few seasons now.
Tobias Harris – Trade
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Tobias Harris must be immune to trade rumors because he has been involved in them for years now. It is obvious that the forward is not worth maximum money, even if he is an above-average talent when it comes to the offensive side of the floor. Harris’ salary has constrained the Philadelphia 76ers quite a bit, and no team has been willing to take him on. Standing 6’8” and weighing 226 lbs, Harris is a prototypical power forward in the modern NBA.
The 76ers are in a very critical situation because if they at least do not make the Eastern Conference Finals, James Harden could be out the door. That also means the 76ers have to keep Joel Embiid happy, and guys like Harris could be out the door. The player might be traded before the trade deadline in foreshadowing or move on from him in the 2024 preseason, whatever Daryl Morey finds best.
Nikola Vucevic – Trade
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It is amazing how Nikola Vucevic was the driving force for the Orlando Magic, who has been a consistent playoff team in the East over the last few years. Since trading him, the Magic has slumped to a lottery team, although it has worked to the team’s benefit by bringing in Paolo Banchero. Regardless, Vucevic is averaging 16.8 PPG and 10.5 RPG and is shooting a solid 36.8 from three.
Due to his versatile scoring skill, teams will be interested in the center. The center is a double-double machine, and he can be a factor for any team needing size and rebounding in the paint. The Chicago Bulls are not a good team, as they stand 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 17-21 record. The first player to be moved might be Vucevic, and first-round picks are what is needed for the Bulls at this moment in time.
Deandre Ayton – Trade
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Deandre Ayton’s time in Phoenix could be up soon because it seems there is always something coming up that proves the big man is fed up with the Suns. The center is a talented scorer inside the post and can rebound at a high level, but he has not particularly taken a step up in his play since making the NBA Finals in 2021. For a player at the age of 24, his growth has not been as expected.
Ayton has yet to make an All-Star appearance, and his progress has seemingly stagnated as he is posting 17.4 PPG and 9.7 RPG on 60.4% shooting from the field. These are solid numbers from the third option on a championship team, but Ayton could be better off elsewhere to take his game to another level. If the center continues to have issues with the franchise, the Suns might move on from him sooner rather than later.
Pascal Siakam – Trade
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Pascal Siakam is among the most valuable players in the trade market because he is only 28 years old with a ton of experience in the playoffs already. He can score inside, shoot the ball, and play solid defense in the post. Siakam was an All-Star in 2020 and has a lot left in the tank as a two-way star.
This season, Siakam is averaging a career-high in scoring (25.9 PPG) and assists (6.6 APG) while playing over 37 MPG. The Cameroonian is a very talented two-way forward, and considering how the Raptors prefer Scottie Barnes over anyone else, he could be traded to cash in on first-round picks and possibly other assets.
Zach LaVine – Trade
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Athletic guard Zach LaVine has come into his own over the last few seasons. He’s averaging his lowest scoring average since 2018, as 22.4 PPG is not quite on par with how good the shooting guard is. LaVine has made 2 All-Star Teams already, and he is at risk of not making another one this season. LaVine is slowly showing signs of becoming frustrated in Chicago, especially because the team is not playing well at all right now.
Teams like the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, or Dallas Mavericks could strike a blockbuster deal for LaVine. If any of those teams part ways with players and picks, they might have a shot at bringing in the All-Star. Chicago might have lost the plot, and the Bulls would be smart to move on from Vucevic, LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan to rebuild.
Karl-Anthony Towns – Trade
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Karl-Anthony Towns is flying under the radar more than ever this season, mainly because the Timberwolves have not particularly impressed in the Western Conference, and the big man has only played in 21 games. Towns has put up solid numbers when he was healthy, with 20.8 PPG and 8.2 RPG.
Many teams could use the double-double ability of one of the best young players in the NBA, but it does not mean the Timberwolves want to trade their franchise star. Rather, Towns will possibly request a trade to leave the Timberwolves. Losing consistently takes a toll on a player with incredible ability, and Towns could be sick of remaining in the same position as he is 27 years old at the moment.
DeMar DeRozan – Trade
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Continuing on with the Chicago Bulls possibly breaking up their core and tanking for good, DeMar DeRozan could be moved as he is the team’s best player and most valuable asset. DeMar is posting 26.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.9 APG on 50.5% from the field and 88.8% from the free-throw line.
DeRozan is still one of the best isolation players in the world, and given the chance, he can be a second or third option for a very good team. Many teams need consistent scoring from the perimeter, such as the Raptors, Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers. Considering the Bulls could go all-in rebuild mode, DeRozan is likely playing his last months with the team, and it might be a shame he couldn’t do more than a first-round exit.
Bradley Beal – Trade
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Bradley Beal has developed into an elite offensive player. His elite scoring ability and improved athleticism had placed Beal on the radar for many top NBA teams, and a player like the Wizards star can transform a team’s offense singlehandedly. Even with a ton of roster changes that have seen Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma come on board over the past few seasons, Washington will not be a contender and never will.
Beal is 29 years old and in his prime, so it does not make sense why a special offensive talent should waste his years on a team that is nothing but a first-round exit at best. The shooting guard seems to be content being the primary scoring option and making maximum money, but soon, winning will be his priority as he approaches the end of his career over the next few years. If Beal requests a trade, finally, the Wizards will comply and cash in on one of the best scorers in the NBA.
Kyrie Irving – Free Agency
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There is no doubt that Kyrie Irving is one of the greatest offensive point guards of his era and has consistently been one of the most unstoppable players in the league since his rookie season. We have probably never seen a player with better handles than Irving because the current Brooklyn Nets star has the ability to create any shot he wants at any time. This season, Kyrie is posting 26.2 PPG and 4.6 APG on 49.5% FG, 36.6% 3-PT FG, and 91.1% FT.
If the Brooklyn Nets do not win it all this year and do not even make the Eastern Conference Finals, Irving could disregard a contract extension with the Nets and seek greener pastures. The greenest pasture could be in Los Angeles because a formation of a dominant trio alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis would put the entire league on notice. It is very likely Kyrie will leave the Nets in free agency and signs a big-money deal with the Lakers to reunite with his big brother, LeBron James.
James Harden – Free Agency
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Renowned analyst and inside Adrian Wojnarowski broke a massive news bomb on Christmas Day when he mentioned how James Harden could be looking to move on from the Philadelphia 76ers and go back to the Houston Rockets. Now, nothing is confirmed, but Harden did say how he wants to return to Houston and uphold his promises. For whatever reason, Houston has a hold on the 3-time scoring champion.
Harden clearly has family ties to Houston, and the community responded to him in an incredible way when the shooting guard developed into a superstar for the Rockets. If the 76ers do not win the title this year, which is likely, The Beard could be on his way out the door one final time to spend the rest of his career with the Houston Rockets.
LeBron James – Trade
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LeBron James will be looking to move on once he breaks Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. The King will wait and see if Rob Pelinka and the Lakers make moves to improve the roster appropriately, and if it does not happen, he might request a trade and leave once and for all. Why should LeBron James waste the final years of his career dwelling at the bottom of the Western Conference?
Anytime a player of The King’s stature requests a trade, the Lakers will have to oblige and look to rebuild by cashing in on the all-time great forward. With James gone, the Lakers will continue down the line to move Anthony Davis and whatever talent they can let go for draft picks. But there are reports that The King could request a trade soon, which means a top-5 player of all time could be on the move as soon as this season.
Source: fadeawayworld
