Top NBA Trade Rumors: Key Players to Watch Before the Deadline

Don’t ignore your fire alarm, managers. It’s the final sprint to the NBA trade deadline, and there are players generating some serious smoke.

Sure, one or two names have really dominated trade gossip as of late because of their star power. (Ahem, Giannis.) But there are other stars with even more realistic paths to a move. One deal could change the complexion of your roster, so fantasy owners can’t sleep on any trade chatter right now.

Let’s run through some of the hot names on the NBA trade deadline rumor board and see what a move would do to your roster as the deadline closes in.

What Makes a Name “Hot” on the Rumor Board

Trade rumors get extra spicy ahead of the deadline for a very simple reason: Teams are desperate.

Whether it’s a contender looking for one player to complete their puzzle, a rebuilding squad searching for assets, or an unhappy player pushing for a change. (We have one of those at the bottom of the list.) Maybe a player’s contract is almost up, and a team doesn’t want to pay them more. Or, maybe, a team is in a much better (or much worse) situation than they were at the beginning of the season and suddenly need to change their roster around.

All of these scenarios can really make NBA trade deadline rumors percolate.

The Rumor Board’s Most Wanted Domantas Sabonis is a prime buy-low if Sacramento actually pulls the trigger.Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Domantas Sabonis is a prime buy-low if Sacramento actually pulls the trigger.Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

(Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images)

These are the players with the most serious buzz as deadline week begins.

Zach LaVine (Sacramento Kings)

Sac made the very bold decision to trade away De’Aaron Fox, take on LaVine’s bulky contract, and reunite him with DeMar DeRozan. Spoiler alert: The experiment hasn’t worked, and LaVine has said he wants out. The Kings are foundering and need to trade him for assets, and LaVine’s fantasy value would certainly improve if he went to a more competitive squad.

LaVine has been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers as the rumor board heats up.

RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)

The Canadian club is no stranger to rumor board tomfoolery. This time around, they need front-court help, and Barrett could be on the move. Barrett is a solid player when healthy, and the Raptors have reportedly tried to shop him as a package deal. He has missed some time due to injuries, however, so a move to a non-contending team could mean even less usage down the stretch.

Dorian Finney-Smith (Houston Rockets)

Finney-Smith is a talented forward, but recovery from ankle surgery has limited him to less than 20 games through the end of January. So why is he a hot name on the rumor board? Despite his inefficient shooting, Houston’s defense is better when he plays. He’s being mentioned in package deals to teams looking for a veteran wing, although it’s hard to gauge what his usage will be like after the trade deadline due to this season’s injuries.

Meanwhile …Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

It’s not hard to figure out Sabonis’s usage if the Kings trade him to a contending team. Sure, he had a long layoff due to a torn meniscus. Now, he’s back on the court and shooting over 60% from the field while returning to his clutch rebounding ways. We tapped him as a top buy-low fantasy target ahead of the deadline, and he is sure to get more usage on a contending team. Managers should buy or stash Sabonis now.

Dejounte Murray (New Orleans Pelicans)

The Pelicans need a big-time facelift, and Murray will return from an Achilles injury to a congested backcourt. (Now that is a great recipe for a trade rumor.) A trade could mean more usage once he’s healthy, which is good for both fantasy managers and for Murray, since it was reported this week that he’s open to a change of scene.

Speaking of Players Who Are Vocal About Wanting a New Locale … Jonathan Kuminga is all upside if he lands somewhere that actually plays him.David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Jonathan Kuminga is all upside if he lands somewhere that actually plays him.David Gonzales-Imagn Images

(David Gonzales-Imagn Images)Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors)

The reason is Bay Area is the warmest spot in the country right now could be because the Jonathan Kuminga trade speculation is generating so much heat. As Athlon discussed this week: Kuminga wants out, but Jimmy Butler’s season-ending injury (plus Kuminga’s own knee injury) complicates things. There’s no denying his talents could be better suited for another team, so he remains one of the hottest names on the rumor board.

Winners and Losers From These Rumors

This is kind of a no-brainer, but here’s the skinny. Winners on the NBA trade deadline rumor board gain a larger role and get more opportunities to produce. A change of scenery can also lead to better chemistry on a different team, which means more production and better fantasy value.

Of course, a hot player on the trade deadline board could also be moved to a team where they don’t fit in well and their production drops. Or maybe they go to a struggling team and end up losing touches. Them’s the breaks at trade time.

Dejounte Murray could see a real fantasy bump once health and situation line up.

How to Play the Rumor Board in Fantasy

The key to playing the NBA trade deadline rumor board is to be active, but methodical. Snag and stash potential risers now and take a look at what injured players should be benched. News moves fast at the deadline, but there’s no need to panic and sell off a fantasy producer who is a buy-low gem. In a week, staying up-to-date on all the breaking trade news will be worth it for your roster.

Conclusion

There are just a few days left before the NBA trade deadline, and a player tied to hot trade rumors could move and flip your fantasy roster. Keep your eyes on all the chatter and be ready to move fast. What looks like a silly NBA trade deadline rumor now could end up deciding your fantasy playoff fate, so don’t sleep on the piping hot trade talk.

Top NBA Trade Rumors: Key Players to Watch Before the Deadline

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