It’s NBA trade season, as the league calendar turns to Dec. 15. This date marks the eligibility for many players who agreed to free-agent deals over the summer to be moved, opening up numerous possibilities for trades. In the NBA, contracts are traded, not players, and the Dec. 15 date creates more contractual flexibility.
Dec. 15 is also a critical date leading into the G League Showcase, scheduled for Dec. 19-22. This will be the first in-season event with a significant number of league power brokers all in the same place, giving them the opportunity to sit down and chat about their rosters after nearly two months of the in-season sample.
With that in mind, the launch of the NBA Trade Deadline Big Board is underway, featuring potential trade targets across the league ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.
Listing players with attributes such as their names being raised in trade conversations, playing for teams outside the playoff picture, expiring contracts, or not currently in their team’s playing rotation, this initial version of the trade board is somewhat conservative. It does not feature many All-Star level players, outside of a few exceptions.
For example, Lauri Markkanen is not on the board despite the Utah Jazz’s poor record as there is no evidence (yet) that they will look to move him. However, the Jazz have several options at their disposal, from moving veterans under contract like John Collins and Collin Sexton to just moving expiring deals.
On the flip side, the Toronto Raptors have Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, both of whom are free agents at the end of the year, headlining the initial board. The Raptors have to consider their options moving forward with these key players.
The trade board will be fluid over the next two months, with the potential for names to change based on further reporting or extensions being signed that take the player off the trade market. But for now, this is where this season’s trade season begins.