Western Conference Buyers and Sellers at 2022 NBA Trade Deadline

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertJanuary 20, 2022
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The NBA trade deadline is just three weeks away on February 10. Trade season has been slow to pick up since unofficially opening on December 15, when the majority of offseason signings became trade-eligible. Teams battled through COVID-related hardships, resulting in well over 100 callups on 10-day contracts around the league. The need to just put a roster on the floor put a temporary pause on trade talks.

Teams are now out of the woods with hardships and trade talks are happening across the league. Most around the NBA expect a fairly busy deadline, as there are no clear title favorites and the 2022 free agent class is seen as very weak. That generally gives teams motivation to make deadline deals.

At the trade deadline, teams sort into one of four categories: Buyers, Sellers, Either or Neither. Here’s where each Western Conference team stands three weeks from the deadline:

(Note: The Eastern Conference Buyers and Sellers can be found here)

 

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have been playing really well as of late. And they’re back to full health as well. Pinpointing needs is a bit difficult, because they do so much well. What the Mavs don’t do well, they hope will come with better health and players breaking out of slumps.

Expect Dallas to be buyers, but in a different sort of way. They could buy by selling some players who may not be with the team long-term. Jalen Brunson, who is due a big contract as an unrestricted free agent this summer, is the best trade asset the Mavs have. The challenge is his contract is too small to bring back much alone. But pair him with Dwight Powell or Tim Hardaway Jr. and you might be on to something. The Mavericks also have a $10.8 million trade exception to use if they can acquire a rotation player at the deadline.

 

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets might have already made their “big” move when they acquired Bryn Forbes. The next “acquisitions” for Denver will likely come when Jamal Murray, and possibly Michael Porter Jr., return from their injuries.

Nikola Jokic is turning in another MVP season and he’s kept Denver afloat despite a ton of injuries. Forbes will give the Nuggets some shooting, which they desperately need. Beyond that, the rotation seems pretty flush with talent when healthy. That will improve even more when Murray gets back and if Porter can join the fray.

 

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors don’t need a whole lot. They got Klay Thompson back and he looks pretty good already. Presumably James Wiseman will return at some point, but that’s been delayed a couple of different times now.

Looking at the roster, Golden State could use another big man. Maybe that’s Wiseman, but a veteran would be preferred. The Dubs don’t really have assets to offer in a deal though. They don’t seem likely to move Wiseman yet, and Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody aren’t going anywhere either. Maybe some frontcourt help comes via the buyout market, but it’s hard to find an easy cut for this team to make. What you see, is probably what you get.

 

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are firmly in the seller category. But what exactly is Houston selling? They’d love to move John Wall, but no one is taking on $91.6 million through next year. That’s one that will wait until the offseason. Or maybe Wall starts to rethink his stance on a buyout after the deadline, a la Blake Griffin last season.

Beyond Wall, D.J. Augustin is very available. As is Daniel Theis. There’s been buzz around Christian Wood, but Houston seems to want to keep him. The best value the Rockets may find will be in a trade for Eric Gordon. Gordon has shot the lights out this year, so getting a decent return no longer seems farfetched. There’s a good chance he’s elsewhere by the deadline and Houston will get another asset to continue their rebuild.

 

LA Clippers

The Clippers aren’t really buyers or sellers. Had Paul George stayed healthy, they probably would have been buyers. But now, everything seems pretty uncertain for LA. Kawhi Leonard might come back, but he might not. George’s and Leonard’s returns will likely be driven by the team’s postseason prospects.

The same holds true for the trade deadline. The Clips have a few players of interest to other teams, but the team isn’t rebuilding. If they can reset in a way that sets them up for a big 2022-23, then maybe LA makes a move. Most likely, they sit the deadline out and do some tinkering around their stars this summer.

 

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are lot like when you were a kid with the toy calendar at Christmas. You want all sorts of stuff, but you know you aren’t getting it unless Santa delivers a miracle. Los Angeles simply doesn’t have the assets to net anything of value in a trade. They’ve offered the Talen Horton-Tucker/Kendrick Nunn combo to everyone and no one is biting yet.

Also: forget a Russell Westbrook trade. We’ve seen him get moved three offseasons in a row, but his deal is too big to be a part of an in-season trade. If the Lakers become the latest team to move on from Westbrook, it will happen this summer.

 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are cautious buyers. Somehow, a lot of people still don’t know just how good Memphis is. That under-the-radar theme probably applies to the Griz at the deadline too.

Another shooter and one more big, ideally one with shooting range, are on the shopping list. Memphis isn’t going to give up a ton to add players though. The Grizzlies prize the depth they’ve built. If anything happens, keep an eye on expiring players Kyle Anderson, Jarrett Culver and Tyus Jones. A package of those players is a nice bit of salary-matching and could return a help player, both for now and the long-term.

 

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves are doing their best to buy. They’ve been in on Ben Simmons all season, but don’t have the assets to get Philadelphia to budge. Minnesota has been dangling Malik Beasley and Taurean Prince, either as a package or individually. That could return the Timberwolves a nice player, but only if they back off the Simmons dream first.

Given their depth, there isn’t a lot Minnesota needs. A forward with range would be good. A wing defender would help a lot. And a backup point guard to keep the offensive humming when D’Angelo Russell sits are all realistic holes the Wolves could fill in the right deal or deals.

 

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are soft sellers. They aren’t blowing this team up, but they’ve got some players that could net a nice return. Ideally, they’d get at least somewhat of a look at their main guys with Zion Williamson this season, but that seems less likely with each passing week.

Josh Hart could be on the move, as his contract was designed to be very tradable. Tomas Satoransky is the only pending free agent on the roster, and he’s very available. If New Orleans can get a player or two to help a Hail Mary Play-In push that can also be a part of the team long-term, they’ll make a move. Otherwise, they’ll sit it out the deadline and retool yet again this summer.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are buyers, but not for veteran help. It’s all about draft picks and young players for OKC. Pending how they use their remaining trade exceptions, the Thunder could be sitting on about $34 million in cap space. That will make Sam Presti every GM’s first call when they need a third team in to facilitate a deal.

Expect Oklahoma City to also be everyone’s favorite dumping ground if they need to avoid or lessen a tax bill. If Presti can pick up a young player that needs a change of scenery or some additional draft picks, he’ll gladly welcome all the salary dumps he can get. The Thunder are also $22.7 million below the salary floor. Expect lots of movement here over the next few weeks.

 

Phoenix Suns

The Suns will upgrade their rotation if the right deal comes along, but they feel no pressure to make a move. Phoenix is at least two-deep at every spot in their rotation. They have a good mix of vets, in-their-prime players and talented youngsters too.

Dario Saric is the player being offered up, since he’s out for the season and Phoenix would lose no production in a trade. If a wing defender or versatile forward becomes available, the Suns will likely get involved. That will protect them if Mikal Bridges or Jae Crowder have to miss any time. Beyond that, Phoenix will just keep cruising into the playoffs.

 

Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers and Sacramento Kings are the teams everyone has their eyes on in the Western Conference. Damian Lillard probably isn’t going anywhere until, and if, he asks for a trade. But everyone else seems to be fair game in trade talks in Portland. Well, minus Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little, who interim GM Joe Cronin won’t let get away.

The Trail Blazers are running up against getting caught in the “Bird Rights Trap” with Jusuf Nurkic and Robert Covington. Portland doesn’t have the cap space to replace either play if they leave town, and that could lean towards re-signing them to contracts that turn sour very quickly. One way to avoid that is to trade them before those decisions needs to be made.

Keep an eye on Norman Powell and Larry Nance Jr. too. They’re newer to Portland, but could really help fill holes on contenders, while delivering a nice return for the Trail Blazers.

Lastly, Portland will talk trades involving C.J. McCollum, but the size of his deal makes that more likely to happen this summer than at the deadline. However, after years of declining trades involving McCollum, the Blazers are finally inching in that direction.

 

Sacramento Kings

Much like their friends to the north, the Kings are open to moving just about anyone. They’ve denied they’re listening on or shopping De’Aaron Fox, but where there is that much smoke, there is usually fire. The denials haven’t come for anyone else but second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton either. That signals Sacramento is open for business.

For the umpteenth year, Harrison Barnes is a player that can help every contender because of his production and plug-and-play ability. Buddy Hield is a target for teams that need shooting. Marvin Bagley is someone rebuilding clubs like as a “second draft” guy. And lots of teams would love to pry Richaun Holmes away.

It’s likely the Kings will look very different in a few weeks. Maybe even as different as to have moved on from their franchise player as they kick off yet another rebuild.

 

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs did their first in-season deal where they traded a player away in years, when they sent Bryn Forbes to the Denver Nuggets. Don’t expect a whole lot more, as San Antonio has generally sat out the trade deadline as an organizational rule.

If the Spurs do another deal, it will likely involve sending Thaddeus Young to a contender. He’s not a part of the present nor future in San Antonio. Even a minor return would be good for the veteran forward. If Young isn’t traded, expect a buyout to come after the deadline passes.

 

Utah Jazz

The Jazz are buyers. After a few years of good regular seasons followed by earlier-than-hoped-for playoff exits, Utah wants to get a player or two to push them over the top. They’ve offered Joe Ingles and a down-the-line first-round pick to teams, but haven’t found a taker yet. Jordan Clarkson could be moved as well, but his struggles this season have left his market fairly dry.

Despite slipping some in the standings over recent weeks, no one expects the Jazz to even remotely entertain moving Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell. If that slide continues, or if Utah gets bounced early in the playoffs, expect that speculation to ramp up heading into the offseason.


#dallas mavericks #denver nuggets #golden state warriors #houston rockets #la clippers #los angeles lakers #memphis grizzlies #minnesota timberwolves #new orleans pelicans #oklahoma city thunder #phoenix suns #portland trail blazers #sacramento kings #san antonio spurs #utah jazz #nba #nba trade deadline
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