This weekend, expect to hear the beginning of NBA trade season. On Dec. 15, players who signed contracts over the summer will become eligible to be included in trades.
NBA teams are always exploring options to make their rosters better ahead of this year’s Feb. 6 trade deadline. Here are 3 players that will likely be sought after by teams looking to add another piece.
Veteran forward Danilo Gallinari was included as part of the deal that sent Paul George to the Clippers. As a starter for Oklahoma City, he has continued to produce as an effective scorer.
Danilo Gallinari. Photo credited to AP.
Coming off a career-best points per game season last year, Gallinari is efficiently putting up 18 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting 44 percent from the field, and 40 percent from deep.
Gallinari is in the final year of his contract, worth $22 million this season. The Thunder, though a playoff team currently, likely won’t to re-sign the 31-year-old, and would hope to get a young asset in return.
Gallinari will be one of the more sought after players in trade talks. A playoff hopeful would likely try and offer expiring contracts and a young player or draft pick in exchange for another offensive weapon.
While Minnesota is a team on the edge of playoff contention, they could be looking to shake-up their roster before the deadline. This could mean parting ways with Robert Covington, a player with a lot of value for teams in contention.
Covington is a ‘three-and-D’ wing, a role which is highly desired in today’s game. He averages 12.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from three.
Covington’s defense is what will make him one of the most attractive players to potentially be on the market. Additionally, his $12 million salary makes him easily tradeable. The Timberwolves would likely be seeking a young piece in return if they decide to move him.
One of the more surprising players to emerge this season has been Washington’s Davis Bertans. Acquired over the summer from San Antonio, Bertans is having a breakout season off the bench.
Davis Bertans. Photo credited to USA Today.
Bertans is averaging 15.7 points on roughly 47 percent shooting both from the floor and from deep. He makes an average of four three-pointers a game, making himself a critical component of the Wizards’ surprisingly good offense.
Bertans is in the final year of his contract, worth $7 million. The Wizards could look to move him before the deadline, as a contender may be willing to overpay for Bertans’ sharpshooting ability.
Washington would ideally want compensation for a player that will likely not be on the team next season, given his value in free agency.
Featured image credited to Star Tribune.
Stats credited to basketball-reference.com.
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