Fansided

NBA offseason trade targets divided by tiers

By Bryan Toporek

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 21: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers drives against Jrue Holiday #11 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on March 21, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

TIER: Hope you’re renting, not buying

Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers

Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder

Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings

Derrick Rose, Detroit Pistons

Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans

Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks

Josh Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers

These players all have one thing in common: They’re just as likely to begin the 2020-21 season on a new team as they are on their current team.

Rumors have been trickling out for the past few months about Victor Oladipo, who will become a free agent in 2021 if he doesn’t sign an extension before then. If the Indiana Pacers aren’t willing to bet on him returning to his All-Star form, and don’t want to risk losing him for nothing, they could make him one of the top trade chips on the market.

The Oklahoma City Thunder appear ready to rebuild, which means Chris Paul could be on his way out. The two years and $85.6 million remaining on his contract could complicate negotiations, but he proved this past season that he still has plenty of gas left in the tank.

Heading into the first year of his four-year, $94 million extension, Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield is no longer returning calls from head coach Luke Walton, per Jason Jones of The Athletic. If the Kings re-sign restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason, they might decide to move on from Hield and save themselves a locker room headache.

The New Orleans Pelicans shouldn’t be in a hurry to trade Jrue Holiday, who’s among the best two-way guards in the NBA. But with Holiday able to become a free agent in 2021 and not aligned age-wise with Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and the rest of New Orleans’ young core, the Pels could pivot further into their youth movement by flipping him.

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Eric Bledsoe is “expected to become a trade candidate,” according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, as the team attempts to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign a supermax extension this offseason. The 30-year-old is on a reasonable contract for three more seasons, but his yearly disappearing acts in the playoffs could drive down his trade value.

The Detroit Pistons are knee-deep in a rebuild, so Derrick Rose should be available to the highest bidder. The Philadelphia 76ers likely won’t pony up for Josh Richardson when he becomes a free agent in 2021 barring bigger roster moves, which could make him expendable, too.

None of these players are certain to move, but they’re among the most likely to find new homes ahead of the 2020-21 season.

Home/NBA