NBA Trade Deadline: The 5 players most likely to be dealt

Ryan Anderson

Unfortunately for the New Orleans Pelicans, Ryan Anderson is going to be a highly sought after commodity when free agency arrives this summer. In today’s NBA, stretch fours are pretty much a necessity for contending teams. You need to be able to space the floor to maximize offensive potential against elite defenses like those of the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, as lacking versatility can hold back any team now.

Having one of the best seasons of his career has only raised Anderson’s value further. With 17 points per game and 2.1 made threes at a 38.6 percent rate, he produces more from range than most power forwards in the NBA. Along with his 44.3 percent shooting from 3-10 feet and his excellent 47.7 percent mark from 16-24 feet, he’s an ideal catch-and-shoot threat for any frontcourt rotation in need of more floor spacing.

That’s why the Pelicans need to worry, as when he becomes a free agent at the end of this season, they’ll have a great deal of competition if they want to re-sign him. With the 10th highest payroll in the league for 2016-17, the Pelicans are already spending an estimated $64.9 million for next season.

Unless they somehow move a player like Omer Asik (who’s making at least $11 million over the next four season), they have a lot of money tied up in their frontcourt. Anthony Davis’ upcoming $21 million for 2016-17 doesn’t help either. So, due to the high contract Anderson will command, it seems likely that they’ll look to make a trade to avoid losing him for nothing.

As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported in January, this situation comes down to business. Thankfully for the Pelicans, there should be plenty of interest so they can at least get a return on Anderson before the deadline:

"For as much press as New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson gets about his future, the point that most miss in talking about trade rumors and his free agency is that – if all things were equal – the Pelicans would like to keep Anderson long-term. The problem is the ballooning salary cap is likely going to price him out of the Pelicans’ range for the role they want him to play. There are no shortage of potential suitors for Anderson, but just as the Pelicans have to weigh his future in their decision, so do the teams trying to pry Anderson out of New Orleans."

Keep a look out for Anderson. There are a number of teams who could make a notable offer to establish a relationship now and re-sign him long-term in the summer.

Next: The forward who needs a fresh start