Welcome back to the world's most accurate power rankings, where this week, before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, we are adding a wrinkle, rating 25 "available" NBA players from worst to first.
Just how "available" they are is in some question. Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example, may want out, but until he formally requests a trade, the Milwaukee Bucks will be hesitant to grant him one. Others are readily available. Some may only be parted with for the right asking price.
But all of them make some sense as trade candidates, given their situations. So, here we are to sort them based upon their talent, their contracts, their fits, their everything. Mostly: Can any of them meaningfully change a team's championship chances? Here we try to sort them in order, mostly, based on how much each could alter this year's title picture. Surely you will not argue.
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One more thing before we get to the rankings: Karl-Anthony Towns. Is he available?Whispersare growing louder, if only because his New York Knicks are struggling. But I still cannot imagine a world in which the Knicks disrupt their roster — one that remains a favorite to emerge from the East — for anyone but Antetokounmpo. So we will leave him sidelined for now.
Honorable mentions:Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers; De'Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers; Malik Monk; Sacramento Kings.
25. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
On Thursday, Kuminga demanded a trade from the Warriors. On Friday,we discussed whether he was even a good basketball player. On Monday, Golden State's Jimmy Butlertore his right ACL, leaving open a massive hole on the wing. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked if he will turn to Kuminga, and in a disheartened voice he said, "Sure. Absolutely." Audition time, I guess?
24. Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have canvassed the market, shopping "some of their players, including RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley," looking to see what value they might find, according to ESPN. Among theirreportedpotentialtargetsare Anthony Davis and Ja Morant. Why a trade partner would want the three years and $97.5 million left on Quickley's deal is a question to which it would need answers.
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23. KristapsPorziņģis, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks, along with the Raptors, arereportedlyamong the teams that remain interested in the services of Davis,even after a hand injurythat could sideline him through the All-Star break. Any Hawks trade for a high-priced star would have to include the $30.7 million expiring contract for Porziņģis, whose health remains a concern. Get him on the court, though, and he would help.
22. Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics
Over the summer, Boston was "still very much willing to talk about Simons" in trade discussions, per longtime Celtics insider Steve Bulpett, even after acquiring the former Blazers guard in July. It makes sense, given Simons' expiring $27.7 million salary. Boston has two reasons to shop him: 1) to duck the luxury tax or 2) to roll that salary forward for a surprisingly competitive roster.
21. NikolaVučević, Chicago Bulls
Because Vučević is on an expiring $21.5 million salary, longtime trade speculation has onlyrampedupthis season, and Vučević himself might even wanta change in scenery. To that end, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, "I do think he's invested and committed." Which may make him even more tradable. The Bulls hold enough expiring money to pursue Davis, a local product.
20. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns
While Green has not been mentioned in any well-sourced trade rumors, the Suns would almost certainly have to include his $33.6 million salary in any discussion of upgrades to a team fighting for a guaranteed playoff seed in the West. The former No. 2 overall pick has shown flashes as a 20-point scorer, though his defense and an ongoing hamstring injury are reasons for concern.
19. Herb Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III are amongthe names the Pelicans are not willing to discussahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, per Chris Haynes. But teams will continue to call, so long as New Orleans remains at the bottom of the standings. Jones, a 3-and-D wing who has shot 32% from distance over the past two seasons, signed a three-year, $67.6 million extension in July.
18. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
The NBA'sworst-keptsecret: Everyone on the Kings, including Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, are available in a trade, particularly as Sacramento pursues another headliner. The Kings could even be open toa DeRozan-for-Morant swap, so long as it does not cost them much more than Devin Carter, but is that enough to persuade Memphis?
17. Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings
As with DeRozan, there is no secret about LaVine's availability via trade. He is owed $49 million next season, when he will turn 32 years old. He has played four playoff games in 12 years. He has always been an efficient 20-point scorer, even if he cannot defend well and commits almost as many turnovers as he registers assists. It only makes sense that his contract is up for grabs.
16. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors
Like Quickley, Barrett's salary — $27.7 million this season and $29.6 million next season — makes for an intriguing match in Toronto's pursuit of an upgrade, which is another reason why he has beenlinkedtorumorssurrounding both Davis and Morant. Barrett holds some value on his own, as the 25-year-old has averaged a fairly efficient 20-5-4 for the fourth-place Raptors.
15. Coby White, Chicago Bulls
Rival executives are circling the Bulls, according to ESPN's Jamal Collier, andthey may be more open to trading White's expiring $12.9 million salary than ever before, per Substack insider Marc Stein. Of course, White is owed a potentially costly contract extension at season's end. The Wolves arereportedlyamong the teams weighing whether that juice is worth the squeeze.
14. Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
Given the mix in Cleveland, with Evan Mobley emerging as a force in the middle, we have long wondered whether Allen would be long for the Cavaliers.Trade considerationsubsided last season, as the Cavs won 64 games, but ever since they lost another second-round playoff series and started this season in search of a playoff guarantee,speculationhas onlyresurfaced.
13. Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Miami will be linked to whatever superstar becomes available, including if and when the Bucks decide to entertain sweepstakes for Giannis Antetokounmpo. One of the few assets the Heat can offer in return is Herro, a 26-year-old, one-time All-Star and former Sixth Man of the Year. He is owed $33 million in 2026-27. How enticing that is to a team trading a superstar is in question.
12. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
"Ball has grown increasingly frustrated with the organization and is open to a trade away from the franchise," according to Yahoo Sports' Kelly Iko. Of course, Ball denied this publicly, saying, "The source wasn't me, so it's false info," thoughreportseversincehave maintained that rival executives are operating under the assumption that Ball is available. Does anyone want him?
11. Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
As is the case with Allen in the frontcourt, there is a logjam in Cleveland's backcourt, where Donovan Mitchell is the premier option. Garland's impact is somewhat redundant, and the Cavs might be looking to make better sense of their roster. For those interested, though, Substack's Jake Fischer insists, "I just haven't heard any credible rumblings about Garland's availability."
10. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Credit Lakers superstar LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, for entering Reaves' name into the trade discussion, ashe proposed a swapof the Lakers' 27-year-old guard for Jaren Jackson Jr. Paul is not wrong, either, as Reaves could be owed a near-max contract at season's end, and any quest for a star partner to James and Luka Dončić would require Reaves' services in return.
9. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Again: No secret has been made about the availability of Sabonis, LaVine and DeRozan. The Kings are looking to mix things up, once again, and if it costs them their best players, so be it. It is not like Sacramento is winning anything as currently constituted. And Sabonis is capable of a triple-double on any given night, although his defense might dissuade most potential suitors.
8. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Williamson is amongthe names the Pelicans have been unwilling to shop, Haynes reported, thoughhe may be the most likely of New Orleans' targets to be traded, per The Athletic's William Guillory. The Wizards arereportedlyon the list of teams that could be interested at the right price. The right price for the oft-injured forward, though, may not be what the Pels want.
7. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
"Everybody in here who knows me, knows I'm a very loyal guy," insisted Morant. "I got a logo on my back, andthat should tell you where I want to be." Of course, based oneverything else we have heard, Morant no longer wants to be on the Grizzlies, and they no longer want him, either.As anticipated, multiple suitors have emerged for Morant, including Miami, though at what cost?
6. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
And again: Murphy is among the names New Orleans has been unwilling to discuss. Still, "not completely no on Trey, but a pretty high price tag," according to The Athletic's Sam Amick. And it makes complete sense. Murphy (22-6-4 on near 50/40/90 shooting splits) is the exact kind of 3-and-D wing, with the potential for more to his game, that any rival team would want to acquire.
5. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
It is unclear how much the Warriors'reportedinterest in Porter has changed in the wake of Butler's injury, as it was evenunclear how much Golden State was interestedanyhow. Detroit hasdiscussedthe idea of dealing for Porter, according to Fischer. We have seen Porter win a title. Surely another contender can convince itself he can help them win, too.
4. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
As the market for Morant unfolds, "there's a growing thought [among rival executives] that Jackson … could be the next domino to fall at some point," according to Iko. That thought is widely held about the NBA's 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. What need would Memphis have for Jackson if the franchise is,as reported, seeking a future-focused package for Morant?
3. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Davis' most recent injurymuddied the watersofhis trade market, as has every injury he has sustained throughout his career. Atlanta and Toronto both appear to still be interested, but "the cost is most certainly going to be lower than it was even a month ago," per ESPN's Shams Charania. Which is why it may be in the best interest of Dallasand Davisto keep the status quo.
2. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
It was thought a long shot that Markkanen would remain a member of the Jazz, but Utah exec Austin Ainge insisted the Finnish forward "hopefully is part of our next team when we're going up." Keyonte George's emergence gives Ainge further reason to believe in a come-up, so any trade of Markkanen would surely cost his suitor "an arm and a leg in years of draft capital."
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Funny thing about Giannis. He might want out. "I don't know," he said most recently, "I take it day by day." Heshouldwant out, since his Bucks are bound for the lottery. Buthe does not want to ask out, for fear of alienating the fans in Milwaukee, per Collier. So maybe he will let his agent do his bidding. In which case, the league will line up for his services. This is Giannis, after all.
