Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/talking-zone-defense-nba-big-men?r=nuq3a&utm_medium=ios

Domantas Sabonis & Anthony Davis

“Generally speaking, though, Sabonis and Davis figure to be mentioned in tandem a fair bit between now and the deadline if both end up truly being made available by their respective teams.”

“We’ve already been writing about frontcourt players who could well become available before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Prime among them, of course, are Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.”

Nikola Vučević

“Chicago’s Nikola Vučević continues to be an offensive force at age 35…”

He’s making better than 40% of his 3-pointers for the second consecutive campaign and is seemingly certain to generate external interest on an expiring contract worth a comparatively modest $21.4 million.”

“I’ve heard from more than a few rival executives who have noted Vučević’s trade-friendly contract…”

Jusuf Nurkić

“Jusuf Nurkić, meanwhile, has performed well enough in Utah that he’s also expected to generate some interest from rival teams as he plays out his own $19.3 million expiring deal.”

Nick Richards

“Phoenix has made Nick Richards available for trade since this past summer, league sources say.”

Robert Williams III

“I’ve also been told that Portland is forecasted to be more willing to move Robert Williams III this season compared to last season, when the Trail Blazers maintained a high asking price for the oft-injured big man.”

Nic Claxton

As with Vučević, Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton is expected to generate incoming calls to the rebuilding Nets about Claxton’s availability.

Jonathan Isaac

“One final name to consider from the Big Man Market: Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac.”

“Rival cap strategists are thus increasingly pinpointing Isaac as a potential salary casualty in the Magic Kingdom…”

28 comments

  1. Who do you guys think could really use Anthony Davis, and could get him, for a win-now proposition? 

  2. >“Jusuf Nurkić, meanwhile, has performed well enough in Utah that he’s also expected to generate some interest from rival teams as he plays out his own $19.3 million expiring deal

    What the hell are they talking about? He’s washed as fuck

  4. Half of these players wont get moved. Just because they are available, does not automatically mean a trade.

  7. If the warriors don’t get in on this and continue to play Draymond at center despite them being in the play ins for 3 seasons now I’m going to be pissed

  8. hot take but I don’t think mavs should trade AD just yet. You’re not going to get anything of value for him now, why not let him play his way into shape and show he’s still decent? You can probably get a better deal in the offseason.

    Plus i’d rather the new gm be the one to actually make the deal than whoever the hell is running the mavs right now

  9. Some of these guys might just move for each other for a change in scenery to jump start something with no risk.

    You know the old saying, “One man’s trash, is also another man’s trash too.”

  11. I am not expecting Timelord to get moved. Im not saying he WONT get moved, but I am not expecting it.

    Him and Thybulle both are valuable on the court (when they are available) and valued locker room guys as well. They fit the identity of the team, and they both are expiring, which is important for the future books of the team.

    I even would not be surprised (though not expecting either) to see one or both be re-signed at a lower number (due to both of their injury issues), cuz as I said, they fit the identity of the team and are valued locker room guys. They are trying to build a deep team, and having some guys that have to play low minutes but are exceptional when they are out there fits that.

  14. if any team gets to put Nico in the FO of the Nuggets, they can get Jokic. “Fat, unathletic, too old”.

  16. Who the hell do the Suns have behind Williams if they trade Richards? Oso can’t hack it at center, he’s legit been one of the worst players in the league this year. Maluach is struggling in the g-league.

    Center-for-center trade including Richards?

  17. Trading for nurkic in big 2025 is crazy

    At least wait til he not eating up 18 mil (unless that’s the reason for trading for him, then sure)

  18. I guess if they decide to totally tear it down it would make sense. Because a Kyrie/AG duo isn’t leading to a competitor.

  19. Timelord has been awesome. The big question is obviously how long can he sustain a healthy run of games?

    I get us trading him due to injury risk and trying to recoup some assets, but he has also been so awesome lately that I hope we wouldn’t accept chump change for him.

  24. December 15th is going to be a fireworks show i guarentee deals are already locked in but just waiting for players to be available

  25. an isaac trade makes a lot of sense tbh

    it’ll be the end of an era but I really thing Penda can be much better

  26. An AD/Sabonis swap could be interesting. Dallas gets a playmaker and the kings get a defensive boost and some more offense. I’d be interested in seeing if they could work something out with the magic too if they can get suggs in the deal. He’d be an upgrade over their PG options as things currently stand

  27. Vučević is one of those players whose stats seem good but whenever you watch him play he never plays good lol

  28. I doubt Vucevic gets traded because the Bulls always seem to value him higher than the rest of the league, but he could be a good get for a team depending on their needs. I haven’t been a huge fan of his during his time with the Bulls, but he has actually been pretty good last season and this season so far.

    He would be more of a guy to target if you need a big that can space the floor (hes around 40% on 4-5 attempts per game), set solid screens, do a little playmaking, and is a strong rebounder. If needed, a team could run a bench unit through him. He is not a good defender, but he is at least big, strong, and decently mobile. If you count defensive rebounding as defense, he is great at that.

    I’m not saying his trade value should be high (maybe a couple of 2nds?), but if a team can make the finances work (he is an expiring) he could improve a playoff team.

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