Western Conference Buyers and Sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertJanuary 29, 2024
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We’re about a week-and-a-half out from the NBA trade deadline on February 8. Unlike the past couple of seasons, NBA teams are in more defined tiers this year. However, those tiers are a little different from the traditional ones of title contender, playoff team and tanking team.

What the Play-In Tournament has done is create a handful of different races. There are a handful of teams in each conference that are still competing for the top seed. But from there, we have a couple of other races to watch. Teams compete for homecourt advantage, but are also competing to simply be in the top-six in their conference to snag one of the assured playoff spots.

From there, several teams are fighting for positioning, or even just spots, in the Play-In Tournament in each conference. And then, of course, you have teams that are prioritizing ping-pong balls, if we put it kindly.

That makes each team’s approach to the trade deadline endlessly more fascinating. Today, we’ll cover where each Western Conference team seems to stand as far as being a buyer or seller, or either or neither, at the deadline. We’ll also give some thoughts on where we think each team should be at.

(You can find the Eastern Conference teams here.)

Dallas Mavericks

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

Dallas has slipped over the past couple of weeks into Play-In Tournament range. But the Mavs aren’t packing it in. A top-six spot is still very in play. Expect Dallas to continue to look for upgrades.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

A team led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving shouldn’t be satisfied with just making the playoffs. The Mavs have the ability to go make a deal. If they can find another wing, or another playable big, Dallas should be on it.

Denver Nuggets

Approach at the deadline: Neither

Denver doesn’t really have the ability to do a lot. All of their tradable salary is attached to key rotation players. Maybe the Nuggets decide to move a couple of their kids, but that seems unlikely.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Neither

The Nuggets are fine. They have what they need. If a big shakes free on the buyout market, it could be worth looking in to. Beyond that, Denver should just defend their title with what they have.

Golden State Warriors

Approach at the deadline: Either

It feels weird to even suggest the Warriors could be sellers. Yet, here we are. Golden State is looking at a lot of options. None of the long-time core is going anywhere, but they’re open to a conversation on everyone else.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Warriors are three games behind the Lakers and Jazz for a spot in the Play-In Tournament. And they’d have to climb the Rockets to get there too. They shouldn’t trade Stephen Curry, Draymond Green or Klay Thompson, unless the former asks for one or they get blown away with an offer for the latter two. They should also hang onto Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. If a deal is there to rebalance the cap sheet or the rotation, Golden State should jump on it.

Houston Rockets

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Rockets are still looking to add to their roster. They have some draft capital that they can move, courtesy of the Brooklyn Nets. But Houston isn’t making short-term moves. They want players who can help now and moving forward.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Let’s call the Rockets long-term investors. They’re rumored to be interested in Robert Williams III of the Trail Blazers. That’s the kind of move that makes sense, because he won’t cost too much, and he can help next year and beyond. As long as they are careful, Houston is in great shape to keep moving this rebuild forward.

LA Clippers

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

This one is somewhere between buying and doing nothing. The Clippers already made their big trade when they got James Harden. Adding Daniel Theis after his buyout shored up the frontcourt. They’re look at moving P.J. Tucker, especially if they can add a true power forward, but LA may just sit this one out.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

If there is a deal to send Tucker somewhere and bring back a ready-to-play 4/5, the Clippers should do it. That’s really all this roster needs. They’ve got everything else.

Los Angeles Lakers

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Lakers are kind of in the same spot as last season, only not nearly as desperate. Last year, Los Angeles had to make a deal to save their season. This time around, the Lakers are looking for players who can aid in a playoff push, while also being long-term pieces.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

When you have LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing this well, you owe it to them and yourselves to make your roster better. But the Lakers have to be smart about how they do this. They aren’t close enough to a title to make an all-in move for just the rest of this season. If something comes along that can have an impact for a few seasons, Los Angeles should pursue it.

Memphis Grizzlies

Approach at the deadline: Neither

Memphis knows this is a lost season. They aren’t chasing any more upgrades. And the Grizzlies don’t like to trade players they’ve invested time in. It looks like a quiet deadline in Memphis.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

No, the Grizzlies shouldn’t be moving any of their big-name guys. Let them recover and get back at making a run next season. But Memphis has a logjam on the roster. It’s probably time to cut bait on a few of the guys they’ve drafted. If nothing else, the Grizzlies should clear a roster spot to sign G.G. Jackson to a long-term deal off his two-way contract.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Approach at the deadline: Neither

Minnesota doesn’t have a lot to trade. Their draft picks are tied up from the Rudy Gobert trade. The bigger salaries all belong to rotation players. And the team is looking like it will be wildly expensive next season, when extensions kick in for Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. That impacts taking on salary beyond this season.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

This might be Minnesota’s last window to add talent. And they are contenders to come out of the West. Adding a veteran guard that can keep things moving when Mike Conley is off the floor should be a priority. And it shouldn’t be cost prohibitive to get that done, either.

New Orleans Pelicans

Approach at the deadline: Neither

The Pelicans goal was to get out of the luxury tax before the deadline, and they did that by sending Kira Lewis Jr. out in the Pascal Siakam series of deals. Maybe New Orleans could look for a long-term answer at center, but it doesn’t seem likely they’ll find an upgrade on Jonas Valanciunas in-season.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Neither

The thing the Pels need most is health, and they can’t trade for that. If a smaller deal comes up to add some extra draft capital for Naji Marshall or Jose Alvarado, it’s worth pursuing. Beyond that, let’s see how a playoff run goes before deciding the fate of this roster over the summer.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Approach at the deadline: Neither

The Thunder aren’t out on making deals, but they don’t seem overly active either. This isn’t a “Dump your bad contracts here!” situation anymore. The Thunder are good, and they are deep. They don’t seem quite ready to make that big move quite yet, though.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

OKC could win the West. They’re that good. They could use another big. One that could play with and behind Chet Holmgren would be ideal. Windows feel like they’ll be open forever for young teams, but things happen to cause them to close quicker than you expect. When you are this close, and you have all the assets the Thunder do, why not go for it?

Phoenix Suns

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

Phoenix is still looking to add to their roster, but they are about out of tradable assets. Any player, aside from Nassir Little, that is on a non-minimum deal, is starting. The Suns are dangling Little and the handful of second-round picks they’ve acquired, but it’s unclear if that will get them anything.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

It’s worth trying to make another deal for Phoenix, because this team still has some holes, especially in the frontcourt. But the lack of assets is going to be a problem.

Portland Trail Blazers

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

The Blazers are listening on Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams III. They don’t seem inclined to move Jerami Grant at this point. Moving Brogdon would have the double benefit of adding back some draft capital and/or young players, and freeing up minutes in a crowded backcourt.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

Portland should move at least Brogdon at the deadline. He’s played well for them, but the team isn’t going anywhere, and they’ve got younger guards who need to play. If they can trade Williams for a decent return, that’s worth exploring too. He’s not a good fit with Deandre Ayton, and Ayton seems entrenched up front for now. If a team called with a huge offer for Anfernee Simons, that’s worth listening to too.

Sacramento Kings

Approach at the deadline: Buyers

The Kings know they are a good team, and they want to stay out of the Play-In Tournament. They’ve also got some tradable assets. But don’t expect Sacramento to get silly. The all-in move might not be there yet.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Buyers

Adding another wing, ideally one who can really defend, would be huge for Sacramento. Beyond that, the Kings can afford to be patient and look for bigger moves this summer.

San Antonio Spurs

Approach at the deadline: Sellers

This Spurs section used to be the easiest to write. They never did in-season trades. That’s changed over the last few seasons. San Antonio is open to moving several of their vets, including Doug McDermott, Cedi Osman and Devonte’ Graham.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Sellers

If the Spurs can add young talent or draft picks by trading any of the vets mentioned above, they should do it. Also, keep an eye on Keldon Johnson. He’s been in primarily a bench role this season, and some have suggested he’s available via trade too.

Utah Jazz

Approach at the deadline: Either

This one might actually go both ways for Utah. Danny Ainge has run deadlines in the past where he’s moved off some players, while bringing in others to strengthen the team. The Jazz are looking for upgrades, but are open to moving some veterans too.

Ideal approach at the deadline: Either

Expect Utah to be increasingly involved in trade talks over the next week or so. They could move Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Kelly Olynyk or Talen Horton-Tucker in deals. Those deals won’t be giveaways though. Look for the Jazz to try to upgrade in terms of players who could help push them forward. But if Ainge has deals that are more future focused, he won’t let the allure of Play-In Tournament move him off his long-term plan.

 


#nba #nba trade deadline #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
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