Five players likely to change teams at the deadline
The 2024 NBA trade deadline is shaping up to be relatively mild. Whether it was Toronto making its big trades early or trade candidates like Zach LaVine suffering injuries, there aren't a ton of big names primed to move at the deadline. Still, here are five players who should keep their bags packed and avoid signing a lease before Thursday's deadline.
1. Kelly Olynyk, Utah Jazz: Olynyk is 32 years old, with an expiring 12.1 million contract. He also plays the same position as 20-year-old Taylor Hendricks, who Utah drafted with the No. 9 pick last June.
This year, Olynyk has mostly come off the bench, averaging 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. But what stands out are Olynyk's career-high 4.4 assists and 42.9 percent three-point shooting. He may not be a defensive stopper, but every team in the NBA can use a stretch five like Olynyk. Plus, Utah's recent trade of Simone Fontecchio suggests they'll be sellers and not buyers at the deadline.
2. Bruce Brown, Toronto Raptors: The Toronto Raptors want a first-round pick in any deal for Brown, and reportedly, they've been offered one. They are highly incentivized to move Brown because it's extremely unlikely they will pick up his massive player option for next season.
Brown specifically feels like an ideal fit for the New York Knicks, who have extra first-rounders to trade, a need for wing depth with Quentin Grimes and OG Anunoby banged up and a potential need for large contracts for salary-matching purposes in a summer trade. These teams just made a deal for Anunoby, so they clearly know how to get in touch with each other.
The deal would likely involve Evan Fournier and a first-round pick, and the trade might depend on which first-rounder that is. The Knicks would like to trade a 2024 pick; the Raptors probably don't want another 2024 pick. But that's a minor impediment in a move that's seemed inevitable since Brown started openly campaigning to play for Knick coach Tom Thibodeau.
3. Andre Drummond, Chicago Bulls: Drummond turned back the clock Tuesday night, logging a 16-point, 16-rebound night in the Chicago Bulls' comeback win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, delivering four blocks. It wasn't a fluke, as Drummond has also logged a 24-point, 25-rebound game this season and sports the highest offensive rebounding rate in the NBA this year.
Plus he can really celebrate.
He's simply a generational rebounder, with the highest career rebounding rate in history. However, that's become less valuable in the three-pointing shooting era, and Drummond can't really shoot or chase shooters around. That said, Drummond can really, really rebound. It's just that the Bulls really, really don't need him, with Nikola Vucevic on a long-term deal.
4. Tyus Jones, Washington Wizards: Jones is not a perfect player, especially on defense, but he does three very valuable point guard things: He gets assists, he makes threes and he never turns the ball over. The Wizards turn the ball over 13.7 times per game, Jones does it less than once.
Jones also has an expiring contract and the Wizards truly have nothing left to play for this season. They have the second-worst record and they've already fired their coach. Jones deserves to be set free to find a home with a contender or at least a playoff team. For a hopeful team that needs help at the position - looking at you, Orlando Magic - Jones is less exciting than acquiring Dejounte Murray or D'Angelo Russell, but he might be more valuable in the playoffs.
5. Cory Joseph, Golden State Warriors: On their current road trip, the Golden State Warriors added 23-year-old point guard Lester Quinones to their rotation. He's thrived, which means Joseph has become a moderately expensive luxury for the Warriors.
Joseph signed as Golden State's third point guard, insurance for Steph Curry and Chris Paul. But the emergence of two-way player Quinones, who hit as many three-pointers in the last five games as Joseph has all season, sealed Joseph's fate. And his own rough shooting - 33.3 percent from the field, 28.2 percent from deep. Not only has Quinones passed Joseph in the rotation, so has rookie Brandin Podziemski, now trusted to be a ballhandler on the second unit.
In theory, there are teams who could use a replacement-level guard like Joseph, and the Warriors would save several millions of dollars in luxury tax by ditching his minimum salary. It would also allow them to sign Quinones to a long-term and cheap contract, which is why they'd likely give a second-round pick to whatever team will take Joseph off their hands.
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