by Black Friday sales are everywhere… except in the NBA.
There won’t be any post-Thanksgiving trades in the NBA — but that doesn’t mean the shopping hasn’t started. Trade talks have begun to slowly intensify within the league, although discussions rarely become serious until Dec. 15 — when many players who signed new contracts this summer become eligible to be traded — and it usually takes the pressure of February 6. business deadline to do something. It remains to be seen how much will actually be accomplished this year, as the new salary cap rules cripple almost everyone. But these teams are talking.
Where will front offices do their Black Friday shopping? Here are three teams that could sell.
BROOKLYN FILLETS
It’s no surprise that the rebuilding Nets are open to trading veterans, despite their solid 9-10 start under new coach Jordi Fernandez (who deserves a lot of credit for getting this roster on board). ). In writing about potential trade partners before the season, I gave Brooklyn its own section. Almost every player you can name in Brooklyn – Dennis Schroder, Dorian Finney-Smith, Bojan Bogdanovic, Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton – is available at the right price.
However, as a source told Brian Windhorst on ESPNdon’t try to rebuild Brooklyn in exchange for a bad long-term contract.
“Almost everyone on their roster is available as long as they don’t take back money long term,” a source told ESPN of Brooklyn, who also could have a $70 million cap hit in the summer next. “They’re not betraying anyone. At least, not yet.”
Nets general manager Sean Marks has shown previously that he is patient and knows how to build a team from the ground up, he won’t change course or take on bad contracts. However, teams looking for a playoff push will settle for the Nets’ asking price.
CHICAGO BULLS
Currently, the Chicago Bulls are tied for the #8/9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft (obviously depending on lottery results). That’s important because the Bulls owe their pick to the Spurs in the DeMar DeRozan trade, but he’s protected in the Top 10 — if the Bulls play well enough behind hot shooting from Zach LaVine, they could move up to ranking and suddenly have first. Choice No. 11 or 12. Which means they have no choice. The Bulls were expected around the league to make trades and pivot to defeat at some point to ensure they kept this pick in a deep draft.
This is all a long-winded way of saying that teams expect the Bulls to be sellers at the trade deadline, something Jake Fischer talked about writing for The Stein Line. The Bulls are particularly interested in moving LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball.
“So it’s no surprise that Bulls executives, according to league sources, have signaled to rival front offices that they’re willing to discuss the majority of their roster in trade talks leading up to the deadline. February 6 trade deadline Most notably, sources say Chicago has expressed a desire to move LaVine, Vučević and Ball – who are collectively making nearly $85 million in salary this season.
Chicago tried to trade LaVine and Vucevic this summer and that hasn’t changed, although Fischer adds that teams that had expressed interest in LaVine — among them Sacramento and Golden State — no longer do so. If a team wants to take on these big contracts, it will need a sweetener, Fischer adds.
To take on any Chicago player earning a sizable salary, more than one rival team told The Stein Line they would seek former first-round pick Dalen Terry and recent second-round selection Julian Phillips in the part of any package.
Bulls decision-maker Arturas Karnisovas has held on to players longer than other general managers would have, it’s possible we see him again this trade deadline. However, the Bulls need to decide if they want to keep this draft pick and, if so, they need to work out deals over the next few months.
THE ASSISTANTS OF WASHINGTON
This is the least surprising team on this list – the Wizards are in the middle of a rebuild, tried to find trades for veterans such as Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole this offseason, brought them back but started this season 2-15 , and will try to be sellers again on the deadline.
The Wizard most likely to be traded is center Jonas Valanciunas, league sources told NBC Sports. Considering several teams – the Lakers, Suns, maybe the Pacers or Heat – will look to add frontcourt depth at the deadline, Valanciunas should have a market. Beyond him, Malcolm Brogdon is a veteran who could be on the move, alongside Kuzma and Poole. One way or another, expect the Wizards to be sellers.
