Trade season is here

The unofficial NBA trading season had started last December 16 when most of the free agent signings league-wide the past offseason become eligible to be dealt to other teams.  The trade deadline is on February 6, 2025.

It started with Dennis Schroeder being dealt to the Golden State Warriors from the Brooklyn Nets and Thomas Bryant dealt to the Indiana Pacers by the Miami Heat last December 15.

86 players are eligible to be moved at the unofficial start of the trading season.  Aside from free agents, the list includes stars like DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul and James Harden.

The mentioned players most likely won’t be moved but the Warriors had shown interest in LeBron earlier this year but he was not interested.  Things could change if some teams will offer a more convincing proposition that would make him think twice, maybe perhaps make him do major decisions on basketball matters.

Despite his age, LeBron still plays better than most players half his age, but the LA Lakers need fresh legs.  Off loading him would benefit the franchise in the long run with the multiple talents that the team can get by dealing him.  But this is far from happening.

Among the notables are Immanuel Quickly (TOR), Miles Bridges (CHA), Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Kuzma (WAS), Max Christie (LAL), Precious Achiuwa and OG Anunoby (NYK), Obi Toppin (INA), Nic Claxton (BKN), Tyrese Maxey, Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre (PHI), Malik Monk (SAC), Goga Bitadze and Gary Harris (ORL), Royce O’Neal (PHX) and Luke Kennard (MEM).

Valanciunas had been on trade reports for some time with the Lakers showing interest.  They could use the 32-year old big man’s average of 11.6 points and 8 rebounds.  He could start at center and Anthony Davis could move to his natural position at power forward.

Washington would likely part ways with him considering they have this year’s number 2 overall pick Alex Sar of France who, at 19-years old and stands an even 7 feet, submits almost identical stats as Valanciunas.

Another option at the middle for the Lakers is Claxton who’s only 25-years old but they had some kind of a fixation on aging players.  Remember Carmelo and Westbrook?  2021 was the season when the Lakers had six players above 33-years old.

If he starts at center with AD, Claxton could improve on his 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per outing.  The Lakers badly need frontline help with Christian Wood, Jaxson hayes and Jared Vanderbilt nursing various foot injuries.