NBA Trade Season Primer: Rotational Help and Rentals

20 role players who could be on the move

As much as we pretend that every trade deadline will treat us to star trades, the reality is that most moves are to fortify rotations, build out depth, and address serious roster holes. In general, teams want to keep their stars, and on top of that, they’re mechanically difficult to move mid-season due to their salary. Rotation players, on the other hand, are much easier to trade and sneakily have a lot to say about how teams fare in the playoffs. The Mavericks’ additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford propelled them to the NBA Finals, while the Thunder’s move for Alex Caruso turbo-charged their defense. Sometimes, the right role player can have a star-level impact.

I’ve identified 20 role players who could be available this trade season. I generally tried to avoid players on good teams. It’s not that role players on playoff teams don’t get moved; it’s that they’re usually moved to acquire a better player. I’ve broken them down into three positional categories: center, forwards/wings, and guards. I’ll discuss what each player brings to the table, who might be interested in them, and the cost to acquire them. However,...

To kick off the trade season primer, I went over a dozen stars who have been in the rumor mill. Unfortunately, I missed one obvious candidate. To right that wrong, I’m including a blurb for Anthony Davis.

Missing Star

Anthony Davis

Forgetting to include Anthony Davis in a star player trade primer is an oversight akin to trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. It’s inexcusable and should forever tarnish my reputation, but all you can do is eat crow and move on. Davis has had an interesting season. His counting stats are still excellent, as every team in the league could use an elite defensive big who can chip in 21 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on a true shooting percentage (TS%) of 55.9%, but his free throw attempt rate (FTr) has absolutely cratered. His 3.7 free throw attempts per game are the fewest since his rookie season, and his 0.217 FTr is the lowest of his career, by far. Entering the season, Davis had a career FTr+ of 156, but this season it comes in at a minuscule 78. Players don’t just go from being 56% better than league average at generating free throws to 22% worse overnight. Chances are, the Mavericks’ lack of guard play in general has disproportionately hurt Davis in this regard, and any acquiring team, as long as they have a real backcourt, should expect this to improve substantially.

Despite his desire to play power forward, he is one of the best centers in the league who can play some power forward. With how offensive rebounding has come back into vogue, Davis’ desire to have reduced center duties is far more palatable than it was even six months ago. All told, Davis is still an elite player, and he’ll have no shortage of suitors. The only hang-up will be if the Mavericks balk at the offers.

Davis is owed $54.12 million this season, $58.45 million next season, and has a $62.78 million player option for his age 34 season in 2027-28,. For this season and next, those aren’t horrible figures, but his player option could be an inflection point. Davis will likely want one final massive extension, and even if he doesn’t push for the full-max, committing $50 million for a 37-year-old Anthony Davis doesn’t sound like something any general manager really wants to do. This won’t prevent Davis from getting moved, but it will reduce his value. The Mavericks would be wise to trade him this season, because I doubt his value increases in the offseason when you only have one guaranteed playoff run with him left. As long as Davis stays healthy, a sizeable if, I think the chances he gets moved this season are about 75%. Normally, I’d say 100%, but never doubt a franchise’s ability to hold out for something that isn’t there.

Value-wise, Davis is worth matching salary and two first round picks. Depending on who is heading back to Dallas, the Mavericks could coax another asset, but that’d require them to take on some less-than-ideal long-term salary. The market for older, highly paid players who hold a thorny player option is not robust. Even a player as talented as Anthony Davis will have their value hurt by it, and his injury history only further depresses his value. However, the value in moving Davis is two-fold. The sooner the Mavericks move him, the sooner they can start moving back down the standings. No one likes to tank, but the Mavericks don’t exactly have much control of their draft moving forward, and Cooper Flagg looks like he might make tanking an impossibility as soon as next season. That’s the gift and curse of drafting a generational superstar.

Centers

There are very few teams who couldn’t use an upgrade somewhere in their center rotation. Size is king in basketball, and centers happen to be the biggest guys out there. These are six centers who should see their names enter the rumor mill, and could help a team make a playoff push or run.

Myles Turner

Myles Turner’s availability hinges on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade status. However, since a Giannis trade feels inevitable, chances are he won’t be seeing out his contract in Milwaukee. Turner has had a solid season as a stretch big with solid to above-average rim protection. He’s shooting 37.8% from three on 5.9 attempts and is averaging 7.1 defended field goal attempts six feet and in per game.

Due to playing next to Giannis and not next to Tyrese Haliburton, Turner has been utilized far more as a floor spacer this season. He’s quite good at it, but it has slowly become the majority of his offensive contributions. He’s in the first year of a four-year, $109 million contract that has a $29.1 million player option for 2028-29, his age 32 season. This isn’t a toxic deal, but it also isn’t a good one.

The Hawks and Bucks could make for an excellent match. The Hawks have been substantially better with Kristaps Porzingis on the court, but his ongoing health issues and expiring contract could leave them high and dry. This swap could help the Bucks save a ton of money down the line, while solidifying the Hawks’ center rotation for the next few seasons. Toronto, Orlando, and Golden State could all make a lot of sense as well. Essentially, any team that needs more spacing should at least sniff around about Turner.

Due to his contract, I think Turner shouldn’t cost much from an asset standpoint. As long as you provide the Bucks’ salary relief, I’m sure a highly protected first or a sampling of second round picks would do the trick.

Nikola Vucevic

The Bulls have been trying to trade Nikola Vucevic forever, but his lack of defensive impact and salary have kept him in the windy city. Vucevic has always been a talented offensive player, but his 3-point stroke was wildly inconsistent. However, over his past 100 games, he has hit 39.3% of his threes on 4.5 attempts per game, which indicates he might just be a good 3-point shooter now. As an added bonus, he’s a great defensive rebounder and is freakishly durable.

The market for Vucevic won’t be robust due to his defensive limitations, but he could provide a nice offensive boost and salary relief for any acquiring team. He’s on a $21.5 million expiring contract, and the Bulls can take on $30 million in incoming salary. The Celtics would make for an interesting trade partner if they flip Anfernee Simons for Vucevic to get under the first apron and also add a floor spacing center to the rotation. Realistically, Vucevic is likely to be traded for financial purposes, with his offensive game as a nice little bonus.

Asset-wise, I cannot imagine Vucevic nets anything more than a few seconds. The only way the Bulls can net more is if they take on some truly toxic money. I wouldn’t recommend that, which means Vucevic might stay put as the Bulls chase down 39 wins and NBA history.

Nick Richards

The Suns have been surprisingly competent, but their current situation should still see them take calls on just about anyone. They’re about a quarter-million below the luxury tax, and don’t have any draft assets to speak of. So, despite acquiring Nick Richards last season, they should jump at the opportunity to move him.

This season, Richards has been relegated to the end of the bench. I wouldn’t read too much into his stats this season, but for his career, Richards has been an excellent offensive rebounder and, for a backup big, is a bit worse than average defensively. However, any team that could use another body in the front court should be fine taking on a $5 million expiring deal for a protected second round pick.

Robert Williams

Due to chronic injuries, Robert Williams has to be viewed as a luxury player, but what a luxury he could be. When healthy, he is still a devastating defensive player, a beast on the offensive glass, and a solid rim runner. You might only have him half the time for 18 minutes, but you’re probably going to win those 18 minutes. On a per-minute basis, he is one of the most impactful players who should be available on the trade market.

The tricky part in any Time Lord trade is his salary. Williams is on a $13.2 million contract, which is an awful lot for a part-time-part-time player. Similar to Vucevic, the best way for the Trail Blazers to get value is to take on bad money. However, the Blazers’ books aren’t particularly clean either. The Lakers would make a lot of sense from a basketball standpoint, and a swap of Maxi Kleber and Dalton Knecht for Williams works financially. Ultimately, Williams’ inability to consistently play, paired with his salary, pushes his value into the single second round pick tier. However, for a team like the Lakers, it’s worth making that upside swing.

Jarrett Allen

I’m not sure what the Cavaliers will do, but dramatic roster upheaval is increasingly in play. Jarrett Allen has established himself as an above-average starting center, but the Cavaliers have an even better starting center in Evan Mobley, who has been a great power forward due to Allen’s presence.

Allen is your traditional rim-running, rim-protecting center, but he isn’t your run-of-the-mill hulking stiff either. He’s athletic enough to survive in space, and he’s a far better passer and floater range shooter than most generic bigs. In many respects, Allen is a premium version of the generic, which is what half of the league really wants from the center position. While his $20 million salary is a relative bargain, most teams like to go cheap at center, and he’s owed $91 million between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Due to his age, trackrecord, and contractual status, Allen should appeal to some rebuilding teams. And if the Cavaliers continue to struggle, they ought to consider getting cheaper and accumulating assets for an offseason retool. Allen is by far the easiest of their big earners to move in-season, which is the main reason why he’s included. However, chances are the Cavaliers ride out this season, pay an insane luxury tax bill, and do a hard retool in the offseason.

Brook Lopez

The Brook Lopez experience has not gone well for the Clippers, but then again, nothing has gone well for the Clippers this season. I thought Lopez was an excellent signing, but placing him next to a bunch of other geriatric NBAers has made everyone look exponentially older. Now, Lopez is still one of the better volume 3-point shooters for a center, and he’s still a massive human being. Any team in need of shooting and size should be trying to pry him off the Clippers.

Lopez is owed $8.75 million this season, but has a $9.18 team option in 2026-27. That’s a bit more than most teams like to spend on a backup, but the financial flexibility he’ll provide in the offseason is awfully alluring. The Lakers should definitely make an offer, as well as the Celtics, Magic, Raptors, and Hawks. Unfortunately, the Clippers are already past the first apron, so they can’t really do any lopsided trades, but I think Lopez, in a younger environment, should look a whole lot better. If a team can help the Clippers get under the first apron, they may be able to get Lopez just for salary.

Forwards/Wings

Wings are the pitching of basketball. Every contender could use another one, and even teams with enough wings still need more wings. Generally, 3-point shooting and defense are the most valued contributions from the position.

Miles Bridges

Among players to eclipse 20 points per game in each of the past three seasons, Miles Bridges might be the worst NBA player. Now, averaging 20 points per game is difficult and indicates a very high baseline of talent, but this dichotomy best describes Bridges. He is perhaps the best bad player or the worst good player in the NBA. He’s capable of absorbing a high usage rate, but no competitive team would ever need him to do that, and his role player skills are an open question. Bridges has never been considered a good defender, and he has one season of above-average 3-point shooting to his name, all the way back in 2020-21.

On the trade market, Bridges is a wild card. If he can redirect his energy from scoring to defense and floor spacing, then he could be a fantastic pickup. The ability to generate quasi-efficient offense is incredibly valuable from a role player, but they need to do the role player stuff first and foremost. His contract is another issue, as well. He’s owed $25 million this season and $22.8 million in 2026-27. Neither of those figures is in albatross territory, but neither is all that appealing.

Fortunately, wings are always in high demand, which means Bridges will be moved as long as the Hornets are satisfied with the offer. If Jayson Tatum won’t return this season, the Celtics could make some sense because the Hornets could also absorb some salary. I think the best you’d get for Bridges is a protected first, which might see the Hornets wait until the offseason when he’s an expiring and a few million cheaper.

Kyle Kuzma

Before Kyle Kuzma landed with the Bucks, he was living the life in Washington as an inefficient shot creator on a bad team. In many ways, Kuzma and Bridges were very similar, which should give anyone targeting Bridges pause. Kuzma became famous because he played for the Lakers and shot 36.6% from three as a rookie. He has never eclipsed that figure and only once has he come close to matching it. He was 33.8% 3-point shooter as a role player in Los Angeles, shot 33% as a primary option in Washington, and then 33% as a role player in Milwaukee. If you’re desperate for a 33% 3-point shooter, Kuzma is your guy.

Defensively, Kuzma is at best fine, but at this point, he should be viewed as a negative defender. He randomly had an excellent rebounding season in his first year in Washington, but has settled in as average on the boards. When you add it all up, Kuzma has some real talent, but he is incapable of providing anything of substantive value. However, he is owed only $22.4 million this season and $20.3 million in 2026-27.

Honestly, I don’t know what team would really want Kuzma. He has pretty much proven at this point that he isn’t a good role player, and no playoff team needs a guy whose best attribute is pretending to be a star. That being said, if the Bucks do decide to blow it up, they’ll surely be looking to move Kuzma to get his money off their books. The most likely trade scenario is if a playoff team suffers an unfortunate injury and views him as a short-term stopgap and then an expiring salary that can be packaged for a far more useful player. Unless the Bucks are willing to take back an awful contract, they should only expect a second round pick in return.

Dillon Brooks

The Suns should strike when the iron is hot. Dillon Brooks is enjoying a career year, and while he has been instrumental in the Suns’ surprisingly solid season, when you’re out this many picks, you can’t be sentimental. Brooks is an elite perimeter defender who sets a contagious defensive tone. That tone might sound like a car alarm, but it’s music to his teammates’ ears. Offensively, Brooks is enjoying the best mid-range jump shooting season of his career, and he takes enough threes that his relative inefficiency doesn’t render him a non-floor spacer. Owed $21.1 million this season and $19.9 million in 2026-27, the Suns really need to move Brooks when his value is at its peak.

Every team needs another 3-and-D wing, and Brooks has proven to be one of the best in the business. The Lakers would make a ton of sense, as would the Spurs. However, I doubt those would be the only teams sniffing around Brooks if he were to hit the market. Right now, I think the Suns could get a real first-round pick for Brooks and a little extra. However, he’s a poor shooting month away from seeing that degrade to a highly protected first.

Matisse Thybulle

I’m not really sure what the Trail Blazers plan on doing, but if Matisse Thybulle can get healthy, they should consider moving him. At this point, Thybulle’s game is well established. He’s a negative offensive player, but he’s elite at generating steals and is a strong defensive player. He’s set to make $11.55 million in the final year of his deal, so he’s a far more manageable contract to add. Any contender looking to upgrade their defensive depth with a contract they want to unload should be interested. However, his recent health trackrecord clouds his value substantially, and the Trail Blazers should only expect second round picks in return.

Royce O’Neal

Royce O’Neal can really shoot it. He’s a career 38.7% 3-point shooter, and has shot 40.9% from three on 6.2 attempts over his last 104 games. His defense is solid, but he is miscast as a wing stopper, which he has unfortunately been cast as far too often. Any team in need of a shooting upgrade would benefit greatly from acquiring O’Neal, and fortunately for the Suns, everyone is always interested in a shooting upgrade. He’s owed $10.12 million this season, $10.8 million in 2026-27, and $11.6 million in 2027-28. As a 32-year-old, the length of his deal may be a sticking point, but the overall salary figures are modest enough that it shouldn’t be a huge issue. I think the Suns could get a few seconds, and potentially more if they’re willing to take on some longer-term money.

Saddiq Bey

The prize of the Jordan Poole-CJ McCollum trade, Saddiq Bey, is having an excellent season for the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s a super low-turnover player, can do a smattering of self-creation, isn’t a liability on defense, and his 3-point efficiency has been dragged down the past two seasons because he has shot 28.2% on corner threes. Call me crazy, but I don’t think someone who hit 34.7% of their above-the-break threes is going to continue to shoot below 30% on corner threes.

Bey is also on a sweetheart deal. Signed by the Wizards while recovering from an ACL injury, he is owed $6.1 million this season and $6.4 million in 2026-27. The Pelicans would be wise to turn the one good thing about their offseason into something that could help them in the future. Due to his contract and skillset, Bey will have no shortage of suitors and should fetch a protected first.

Guards

The market for role player guards is usually lighter mid-season. The best teams already have their lead offensive initiator, and guard is traditionally the most overcompensated position. The lack of need at the position and the difficulty of larger salaries generally pushes the market down. That doesn’t mean guards don’t get traded; it’s just that guards on value deals tend to be targeted more heavily.

Anfernee Simons

The Celtics had hoped to trade Anfernee Simons in the offseason to lower their tax bill. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to find any takers for his $27.67 million salary, and that’s essentially the crux of the issue. Simons is an excellent sixth man, but he’s paid like a starter. He can go nuclear from beyond the arc, but is only an okay passer, and is awful on defense. For $12 million, that’s a valuable player, but for $27 million, that’s a non-starter.

I think the Celtics will move Simons before the deadline, but they’re probably going to have to pay to get him off their books. Ideally, they’ll package him and an asset to add a cheaper player who has a clearer role. Simons is mainly included here because of my confidence in him getting dealt, but it’s unlikely any team will pursue him.

Grayson Allen

Look, I know the Suns are currently in the playoff picture, but if they want to ever build a contender around Devin Booker again, they’re going to need to move some of their solid veterans. Grayson Allen might be one of the most hated players in the NBA because he went to Duke and has that dog in him, but the dude can absolutely shoot the shit out of it. Since coming to Phoenix, he has shot 43.7% from three on 6.0 attempts per game. You don’t need a calculator to know that’s elite. Outside of 3-point shooting, Allen doesn’t offer much, but he isn’t such a liability on defense that it renders his shooting moot.

Unfortunately, Allen’s contract isn’t the most attractive. He’s owed $16.87 million this season, $18.12 million in 2026-27, and has a $19.37 million player option for 2027-28. From a financial perspective, the Suns would love to move his deal, and if they can net a few second round picks, that’d be the cherry on top. The Magic, Pistons, Cavaliers, and Lakers are the only current playoff teams with below-average 3-point efficiency.

Dennis Schroder

The Kings might have just signed Dennis Schroder to a three-year deal, but they should be trying like hell to move him. Schroder isn’t a bad player, but he’s best as a bench guard who can also play with starters depending on the matchup. For around $14.5 million a season, that’s pricey, but he can be an effective player in the right circumstances. Unfortunately, elite teams usually have pretty settled point guard rotations. The Minnesota Timberwolves buck that trend, but figuring out the finances would be tricky, and potentially impossible. If Schroder is moved, it won’t be for much, as just getting off his contract is the objective.

Corey Kispert

Corey Kispert is basically budget Grayson Allen. He’s a career 38.3% 3-point shooter on 5.1 attempts per game, and his defense isn’t so bad that you can’t play him. While Kispert is not quite as good a shooter as Allen, he’s younger and far cheaper. He’s owed $13.975 million this season and next, and sees that fall to $13.05 million in 2027-28, with a $13.05 million team option for 2028-29. Landing an inexpensive shooter for the remainder of the prime with a team option should be pretty appealing to teams. I doubt Kispert will net a first round pick, but a few seconds and a young player blocked by a veteran would be fair value.

Coby White

Among all the non-star players who could move, Coby White has the most offensive juice. Over the past three seasons, he has averaged 19.9 points and 4.8 assists per game on a 58.6% TS%. White is probably best utilized as a sixth man, but he’d instantly be one of the best bench players in the league. His lack of defensive impact and the fact that he’s more of a shooting guard trapped in a point guard’s body limit his ability to start for a high-level team.

The Bulls should have moved him last season or in the offseason, but his $12.8 million expiring contract should make him an attractive rental. The Thunder have long been rumored as a fit, which they are, but I don’t know if they need to do anything. Since he’ll only be a rental and is likely viewed as a bench piece, the return for White won’t match his points per game. That may ultimately cause the Bulls to hold him in their quest for the play-in, but I’d jump at any offer that included a protected first.

Jose Alvarado

With the explosion in full-court pressure, a player like Jose Alvarado has never been more valuable. Alvarado is a pesky point guard defender who has quietly developed into a solid 3-point shooter (38.1%) and table setter (3.2 assists per game). He’s not really a starting point guard, but he’s too good to be marooned on the bench in crunch time. Alvardo also has the benefit of being instantly beloved by the fanbase, which should count for something, and he’s on an excellent deal.

For the low-low price of $4.5 million, you can employ Alvardo, but chances are, he’ll decline that low-low price of $4.5 million on his 2026-27 player option. While I would view Alvardo as a rental, that’s fine. This is a two-way point guard who allows you to full-court pressure for close to 48 minutes. The Lakers could certainly use a player with his on-ball abilities, but his skill set and salary make him a fit for just about every team.

I think the Pelicans could realistically get a protected first for Alvardo. Perhaps I’m too high on a bench guard, but I think he’s the right type of player for the moment. Pressure appears to be winning, and he can sure as hell pressure the ball.

Keon Ellis

The Kings are morons. We all know this, but their use, or lack thereof, of Keon Ellis is Exhibit A. Ellis is an excellent defensive player who is a career 41.7% 3-point shooter. If that doesn’t sound like a guy you want playing 30 minutes a night, then I don’t know what to tell you. Instead of running Ellis into the ground to cover for the league’s 27th-ranked defense, he’s averaging 16.5 minutes a night.

When Ellis becomes available, teams are going to light up Sacramento’s beam. He’s on a $2.3 million expiring deal and is one of the best 3-and-D shooting guards in the league. Unfortunately, the Kings’ decision to not actually play him will hurt his value. I’d give up a first round pick for Ellis if I were a contender in need of perimeter defense, and I think there has to be someone just as stupid as me running a team. Literally every team has the financial wherewithal to acquire him, and just about every team can use more defense and shooting. I’m hoping the Kings shop him so he can finally go somewhere where he’s appreciated.

For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.