NBA Season Preview: Picks and projections

4 of 9

Oct 18, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) talk during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

Who is the biggest name moved at the trade deadline?

Buhler: Paul Millsap. Only top-20 player to be moved. Atlanta tried to trade him this summer.

Williams: At the deadline? I’ll go Greg Monroe. But I think Ricky Rubio goes well before then.

Yeung: Brandon Knight, since I think the Phoenix Suns have a few too many assets around to not end up reshuffling them in some shape or form. (Superstar trade? I’d be down.) Eric Bledsoe would be a sexier guy to trade for, but even with the injuries, I imagine the Suns would prefer to keep him in most potential deals. I also have some doubts that Knight takes to the sixth man role smoothly, especially for a team that won 23 games last season.

Masterson: Danilo Gallinari, only because, to echo others, I think Rubio goes before the deadline. Galo’s on an expiring contract, and Denver’s frontcourt is a tightly-wound can of sardines waiting to explode.

Rossman-Reich: Ricky Rubio. The writing seems on the wall that the Timberwolves are moving on from Rubio and going with their younger core. Tom Thibodeau will surely love Rubio’s defensive ability, but his future is not in Minnesota anymore. Not with Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine pushing for minutes at the guard spot. Minnesota makes their move in February.

Barnewall: Nikola Vucevic. The Magic have a log jam upfront, and if Vucevic can’t get his defense to at least okay then Orlando may decide to try and clear up space for Ibaka and Biyombo.

Rowell: Blake Griffin. I’m doubling down on this Clippers ain’t good so blow it up take. The L.A. Clippers are that perfect mix of talent and locker room drama that will load up a lot of trade machines this season. I think if the Clippers aren’t at their best by the deadline Griffin will be on his way out of LA.

Israeli: The hot name going into the season is LaMarcus Aldridge, which seems totally dependent on how he and Kawhi Leonard play together in the post-Duncan era. Teams like Boston and Phoenix have the assets (players and picks) to make a Godfather offer to the Spurs. If the Aldridge rumors are just hot air, a name that makes a lot of sense is Serge Ibaka. While he is being pegged as the centerpiece of the Magic roster, he is also an unrestricted free agent in 2017 on a team loaded in the frontcourt.