5 NBA teams that should be selling at the trade deadline

With the NBA’s Feb. 23 trade deadline rapidly approaching, each franchise’s front office must conduct an honest evaluation of their roster over the coming days.

For teams cruising toward a playoff spot, the question is whether they have enough firepower to contend with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. The Toronto Raptors, for instance, recognized they needed to fill the gaping hole they’ve had at power forward all year and thus traded Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick to the Orlando Magic for Serge Ibaka. Though the Boston Celtics or Washington Wizards may attempt to keep up with the Eastern Conference arms race, playoff-bound squads otherwise aren’t likely to shed many players to the highest bidder.

Teams hurdling toward the lottery, meanwhile, will have their phones ringing off the hook between now and Feb. 23. With no potential postseason run in sight, veterans who don’t fit into a franchise’s long-term future should be widely available, particularly those on expiring contracts. If a lottery-bound organization doesn’t plan on re-signing a particular pending free agent in July, there’s little reason to hang on to him past the trade deadline (see: Ibaka and Orlando).

The following five teams—all of whom are already out of the playoff race or likely will be soon—should embrace the reality of their respective situations and sell, sell, sell before it’s too late.

Next: 5. New York Knicks