NBA

20 NBA Players Who Should Get Traded In 2015 But Won’t

Fresh Videos

By @IanClarkMcEwan

20 NBA Players Who Should Get Traded In 2015 But Won’t

Chris Paul Hornets
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes the biggest trades are the trades that never happen. Yet sometimes, for any number of reasons, trades that should happen do not. Here are 20 players who should be traded in 2015 but probably won't be.

20. Nikola Pekovic

Nikola Pekovic Runs Upcourt
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

20. Nikola Pekovic

Nikola Pekovic Runs Upcourt
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

With the T-Wolves in full rebuilding mode and the emergence of Gorgui Dieng, Pekovic is not needed at this time. However, because he is locked in long-term and Minnesota is not a free agent destination of any kind, the T-Wolves will either choose to keep Pekovic or demand a young player with years remaining on his contract, something they're unlikely to find.

19. Nene

Nene Jam
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

19. Nene

Nene Jam
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

At age 32, it's clear that Nene has lost a step. With his PER decline for the fourth straight year, it's unlikely the Wizards could do much better than to trade for another declining player, but their relative lack of depth behind John Wall and Bradley Beal means a deal could be wise. Washington may decide to retain him because his contract expires at the end of 2016.

18. Jordan Adams

Jordan Adams Drives
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

18. Jordan Adams

Jordan Adams Drives
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Grizzlies are one of the best teams in the NBA, but with Marc Gasol set to enter unrestricted free agency, that may not be the case for long. They would be wise to move all their chips to the center of the table this season, and Adams is a young player who could net a nice veteran for the stretch run. However, he is also young enough that even if Gasol leaves, he could be used to rebuilding in 2015 and beyond.

17. Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire Dunks
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

17. Amar'e Stoudemire

Amar'e Stoudemire Dunks
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Amar'e Stoudemire is responsible in large part for rejuvenating a pitiful Knicks franchise when he signed a $100 million contract in 2010, but injuries and age have robbed him of his ability to dominate. Still, he can perform at a high level for smaller stretches, and his contract expires after this season. Yet, the cap space from his expiring contract may be worth more to Phil Jackson than any assets Amar'e could bring back.

16. Carl Landry

Carl Landry Dunks
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

16. Carl Landry

Carl Landry Dunks
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Landry has been involved in deadline deals before, but the Kings have shown no interest in selling assets to this point. They've been in hot pursuit of Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams already this season, as well as firing former coach Michael Malone. They won't give up on this season just yet.

15. Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes Shoots
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

15. Harrison Barnes

Harrison Barnes Shoots
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

No stranger to trade rumors, Barnes is a young talent who plays the same position as Andre Iguodala. It may make sense to deal him for a player who fits better, but it is more likely the Warriors will not rock a boat that is sailing smoothly.

14. Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala Shoots
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

14. Andre Iguodala

Andre Iguodala Shoots
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Andre Iguodala is in a similar situation to his running mate Barnes. Asked to lead the second unit this season, Iggy has not produced nearly as much as in season's past. However, when your team has an 84 percent win percentage, it's hard to argue for what you're doing. Barring injury to other positions, expect him to stay put.

13. Joel Freeland

Joel Freeland Dunks
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

13. Joel Freeland

Joel Freeland Dunks
Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Playing about 13 minutes a night for a good Portland Trail Blazer team, Freeland is taking minutes from a younger, more talented and more productive player named Meyers Leonard. Paving a path for Leonard to play more would benefit Portland now and in the future, but this appears unlikely as Freeland is injured himself and provides insurance against another Robin Lopez injury. Chris Kaman and Leonard are not known for durability either.

12. Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert Looks Gloomy
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

12. Roy Hibbert

Roy Hibbert Looks Gloomy
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Following an abysmal end to his 2014 season, Hibbert has bounced back to produce per game averages on par with his career averages. However, at 28 years of age, Hibbert's production only figures to decline more permanently for the rest of his career. Moving him now would help the rebuilding Pacers shorten the timetable for contending again. Of course, it's unlikely that a team that prides itself a defense will trade its defensive anchor.

11. Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin Drives
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

11. Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin Drives
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

While Kevin Martin has been limited to nine games so far this season with injuries, he's a proven scorer who could help add punch to a contender's backcourt. However, he is under contract through the summer of 2016 for Minnesota, which may wait to deal him so that he can establish more value following his missed time.

10. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Looks On
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

10. Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett Looks On
Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

While Garnett is nowhere near the franchise player he was in his younger days, he is still an asset on the defensive end as well as in the locker room. However, it's unlikely that the Nets move him as they have shown a reluctance to make any trades in which they're not the party receiving the most talent as well as the most financial responsibility. Unless KG asks to be dealt, expect him to finish the year, and perhaps career in Brooklyn.

9. Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter Fade Away
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

9. Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter Fade Away
Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Only 22 years old, Kanter has improved moderately in his fourth season after regressing during his third. However, he has not played well with Derrick Favors when they've shared the court, and the Jazz have another young talented big in Rudy Gobert. Kanter could net the Jazz some nice assets in a deal, but because he will be a restricted free agent this summer, the Jazz may choose to retain him and match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere.

8. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez Runs Downcourt
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

8. Brook Lopez

Brook Lopez Runs Downcourt
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to the reasons why the Nets may refuse to deal Kevin Garnett, Brook Lopez is unlikely to be dealt from Brooklyn. It could make sense though, as the Nets appear stuck between being good enough to contend and bad enough to get a high draft pick. Dealing Lopez could help them fall to the bottom of the bottom-heavy Eastern Conference.

7. Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson Free Throws
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

7. Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson Free Throws
Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Anderson offers a unique blend of size and shooting as one of the game's preeminent stretch fours. However, the Pelicans have serious needs at the small forward position, where Luke Babbitt and John Salmons are manning the position. Anderson could help New Orleans shore up what has been their weakest position. Due to his unique skills, however, the Pelicans are unlikely to do so.

6. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin Looks On
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

6. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin Looks On
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

For someone considered to be a franchise player, he has some startling weaknesses. He's below average on defense according to DRPM, and certainly below average as a rebounder and shot blocker for his position. As the mayor of Lob City though, it's hard to imagine he'll get dealt for anyone short of perhaps Carmelo Anthony.

5. Kevin Love

Kevin Love Looks On
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kevin Love

Kevin Love Looks On
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

It's not exactly an original idea to trade Kevin Love right now. He's included on this list because if you believe in the early returns from Cleveland, it would be wise for the Cavs to deal Love before he loses more value or enters free agency this summer. Of course, Cleveland invested a lot to get Love, and abandoning him after 35 games could prove to be a franchise-wrecking decision for a town quite familiar with them.

4. Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson Layup
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

4. Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson Layup
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Al Jefferson has not taken much blame for the Charlotte Hornets' poor start this season, and he deserves none. Still, he could be a free agent at the end of this season and may decide to leave for greener pastures and a chance to win for the first time in his career. It's unlikely that Charlotte will deal him because it is interested in keeping him, and Charlotte has chosen Lance Stephenson as the scapegoat to its poor start.

3. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving Shoots
Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving Shoots
Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

While Kyrie has a reputation as one of the league's best point guards, the reality is that he's yet to contribute like one for an extended period of time this season. Never a pass-first point guard, Irving has struggled at times not being the No. 1 option on offense, and is averaging a career-low 5.2 assists per game. 35 games isn't enough time for Cleveland to deal one of its big three, but if they did, Irving would be the right choice.

2. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Dunks
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

2. Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook Dunks
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most divisive players in the game, Russell Westbrook is enjoying an MVP-caliber season to this point in the season. Westbrook has shown the ability to be a No. 1 option. The Thunder could nearly pick any player they wanted in exchange for him. Which is exactly why they're going to keep him.

1. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony Shoots Free Throws
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

1. Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony Shoots Free Throws
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Carmelo Anthony may not be having the best year of his career, but there's little doubt he remains one of the league's biggest stars and best scorers. Despite these credentials, Carmelo has yet to produce anything of significance in the Big Apple. Furthermore, while Phil Jackson was able to retain Anthony's services this summer, he has no experience in his current role in the front office. However, trading Melo is unlikely to benefit the Knicks.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on