The 2015-16 NBA season is right around the corner and while the majority of rosters already seem set, the disparity between at the haves and the have nots has created a unique situation where some teams might be more willing to deal star players in order to work towards building a better future.
The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings all find themselves in unique positions for different reasons and could be willing to move star players. With that in mind, here is a look at the three potential All-Stars that could be on the trade block in the NBA.
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Anthony has a no-trade clause and a long-term contract, but with the Knicks looking like a team that is still pretty far away from contending for an NBA title, he could make the decision that he wants to be moved to a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
Anthony is now 31-years-old and while he might not be the player Phil Jackson wants to build his roster around, he could be a huge addition to a team that already has some pieces in place to win now. Anthony averaged just over 24.0 points per game in 2014-15 and could be motivated to perform at an even higher level in the right situation.
There’s also the speculation the Anthony wasn’t happy with the fact that the team drafted Kristaps Porzingis in the first round as he’s a multi-year project instead of NBA-ready. If that’s true and the Knicks struggle again, the Anthony trade winds will start to swirl much harder. The Knicks would be better off to move Anthony and commit to rebuilding around its young players but they might want to make the move while he still has value. He’s not getting any younger.
Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets
Johnson isn’t the same talent that Anthony is but he is a name that has been talked about a lot as a potential trade piece over the last couple of years. With Brooklyn considered a fringe playoff contender in an improved Eastern Conference, they could decide to move him. Johnson is 34 years old and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year, so if the Nets struggle early on, they could decide to cut ties and move him to a contender with the opportunity to actually get something back for him in return.
This isn’t exactly news as the Nets have been trying to trade Johnson for a couple of seasons now. While he has a ridiculous 2014-15 salary of just under $25 million, the reason he’s movable this year is the deal expires at the end of the season. It’s still not an easy contract to work with to make salaries match for a trade but but a legitimate contender that is looking for one key piece could make it work. We’ve heard persistent rumors of Johnson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, so that shows that there is some interest for him now that his contract is on its last legs.
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Cousins and head coach George Karl appear to have (at least temporarily) patched things up and the Kings don’t want to move him, but the potential is there for things to go south in a hurry – especially if Sacramento struggles early on.
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Unlike Johnson or even Anthony, Cousins is a young 25-year-old superstar talent that would demand a big package in return and there will be no shortage of teams lining up for his services if he becomes available. The relationship between Cousins and Karl will especially be worth monitoring early on as there appears to be a power struggle between the coaching staff and the front office. They may determine that they can’t build a successful team around him and may move in another direction if a team like the Los Angeles Lakers offers a sweet enough package.
