The trade season can now officially begin in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant and Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma were among the names whose trade restrictions were lifted on Monday and could theoretically be moved before next month’s deadline. Of the names to be traded on Monday, Grant is the biggest with a real eye for excitement.
The Blazers signed Grant to a five-year, $160 million contract last July, which has been met with confusion since his announcement.With Damian Lillard unhappy and looking for a trade, it would make sense for Portland to let Grant go and fully focus on the inevitable rebuild. Instead, the front office signed him to a market-level contract that the company will likely want out of within a year.
He’s a top 3-and-D player, but the nature of Grant’s contract makes finding trade value difficult.
The Wizards could also try to trade Kuzma despite signing him to a four-year, $90 million contract this offseason.
One of the worst teams in the NBA. Kuzma is averaging 22.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season.The Lakers have been linked to stars on the trade market, most notably Bulls guard Zach LaVine, but would like to keep Reaves, who did not become the third co-star to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis. An extraordinary value. Hachimura is the more expensive of the two young players and could be signed if the right deal comes together.
One of the reasons the Bulls are willing to move LaVine is the emergence of White, who could be included in a trade on Monday but probably won’t be. Saved in Chicago. White has played the best basketball of his career this season, and his three-year, $36 million contract looks like one of the biggest deals in the NBA.
The rest of the roster is mostly filled with young, experienced players who could be available if the right deal comes together but aren’t actively being shopped.
