According to the latest from league insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets have established themselves as the biggest sellers ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Washington is considered likely to pursue deals involving Jonas Valanciunas, Malcolm Brogdon and Kyle Kuzma. Valanciunas is in the first year of a three-year deal worth $30 million with no player or team options in the final year. Brogdon is in the final year of his deal, which pays him $22 million this season, and Kuzma is in the second year of a four-year, $90 million contract.
Utah’s most coveted asset is Lauri Markkanen but he’s ineligible for any trade before the deadline because he signed his extension too late into the offseason. John Collins will be the name most likely to float around the trade market, and he’s in the fourth year of a five-year, $125 million contract. Collins is in the midst of a very solid season, averaging 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three in 22 games.
The Nets, meanwhile, are reportedly seeking at least one first-round pick in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith or Dennis Schroeder.
While it will be interesting to see how things play out with the 5-20 New Orleans Pelicans, the report indicates they are not expected to make elite wing defender Herb Jones available.
Though the Wizards Jazz, and Nets are seen as the main sellers of this deadline, front offices are paying close attention as to the Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers stand on a few players in the coming weeks.
