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) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 28: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts with Josh Richardson #0 and Al Horford #42 in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 28: Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts with Josh Richardson #0 and Al Horford #42 in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on October 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

TIER: Anyone want a bloated contract?

Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets

Al Horford, Philadelphia 76ers

Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers

Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors

John Wall, Washington Wizards

Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons

Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers

These players all have one thing in common, too: They’re on some of the worst contracts in the NBA.

That isn’t necessarily to say these guys aren’t useful. In the right settings, many of them can make meaningful contributions. They’re all just overpaid relative to their expected production moving forward, which will likely make it difficult to trade them for anything of significant value.

Russell Westbrook is the best example of such a player. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists for the Houston Rockets this past season while shooting a career-high 47.2 percent from the field. However, he’s owed $132.6 million over the next three seasons, which will make it exceedingly difficult for the Rockets — or any interested trade suitors — to build a championship-caliber roster around him.

The Philadelphia 76ers handed a combined $289 million to Al Horford and Tobias Harris last offseason, only to have immediate buyer’s remorse. New team president Daryl Morey has never seen a contract he can’t trade — see: Chris Paul last year — but getting off either Horford or Harris would likely require sweeteners such as Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Josh Richardson and/or draft compensation.

Among all players in this tier, Andrew Wiggins may be the most likely to find a new home this offseason. If the Golden State Warriors dangle the No. 2 overall pick for win-now help, they can use the three years and $94.7 million remaining on Wiggins’ contract for salary-matching purposes in a trade.

The Washington Wizards would presumably love to dump the three years and $132.9 million left on John Wall‘s contract if they could, but there likely won’t be much of a market for an overpaid 30-year-old fresh off an Achilles tear. The same goes for Blake Griffin, who played only 18 games last season and is owed $36.6 million next year along with a $39.0 million player option in 2021-22.

The Cleveland Cavaliers might be able to find a taker for Kevin Love, but their asking price — a “combination of picks and players, perhaps both,” Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com — has been unrealistically high to date. With three years and $91.5 million remaining on his contract, the Cavs may have to settle for flipping him for another bloated contract with some light additional compensation attached.

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