With the NBA trade deadline right around the corner the anticipation is building as fans look forward to seeing what contending teams do as they look to solidify their rosters heading towards the postseason. The teams on the outside will do their best to add as many present and future assets as possible and while there is no shortage of potential trade candidate on the block there are four clubs in better position than others to get a deal done. Here is a look at the four most coveted players on the NBA trade block right now.
Nerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have compiled a pretty impressive group of young assets but with Noel, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid all talented young big men there is no doubt that they will want to move one of them in exchange for some balance. Okafor appears to be the real deal and there is no way that Philadelphia will be able to get good trade value for Embiid after he sat out because of injuries the last two years, but there is a very good chance they would be able to get a significant return on Noel. He’s the one that makes sense to be on the NBA trade block.
The former first round pick is still only 21-years-old and he offers an excellent combination of size, strength and athletic ability with the potential to become an elite defender at the NBA level so don’t be surprised if a number of teams make a strong push in order to acquire him as a valuable asset that can provide immediate help and serve as a core franchise player for years to come.
Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat
Whiteside morphed from a journeyman big man to a legitimate starting center last season and that has carried over to this year as he has averaged 12.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game this season. The problem is that the Heat actually own a higher scoring average when he is on the bench rather than on the floor so it’s no surprise that his name has come up in trade reports. Whiteside is still limited in what he can do when it comes to defending pick-and-rolls and big men that can shoot from the perimeter so Miami might not want to pay him big money this offseason but that doesn’t mean another team will feel the same way. Whiteside’s value has never been higher than it is right now so don’t be surprised if the Heat decide to move him before the NBA trade deadline.
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
It seems as though Howard hasn’t been happy ever since he left the Orlando Magic in 2012 and according to reports there is a good chance he would like out of Houston at some point in the near future. That wouldn’t exactly be a major shock if it was true and the reality is that at this point the Rockets might be better off without him. There is no doubt that Howard hasn’t really fit in with the way that Houston wants to play but he could be a very valuable piece somewhere else where he is a better fit with another scheme. Howard can still play at an elite level and his star status would make him a coveted asset that could net the Rockets a substantial return, which is why he’s on the NBA trade block.
Thaddeus Young, Brooklyn Nets
Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov talked about the team’s need to rebuild but that process can’t officially start until Brooklyn makes some major moves in order to acquire assets that can contribute to a potential turnaround moving forward. Young has been one of the team’s best players averaging 15.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this season but the reality is that he has his limitations and at 27-years-old he likely won’t have much to offer by the time the Nets are ready to contend for a playoff spot again. That makes Young the most likely trade chip for Brooklyn as a player with a reasonable contract that could net some decent assets in return. The Nets lost a ton of draft picks selling out for a chance to contend in the Eastern Conference right out of the gate once Prokhorov took over the team and trading Young would be the first step towards acquiring at least a couple of pieces that could help them on the long process in turning things around for the long run.
