Milwaukee Bucks
Mike Miller has slumped this season, but he remains an attractive potential trade asset. AP
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• Team payroll: $70.9 million
• Potential trade assets: F Joe Alexander, G Damon Jones
• Outlook: Michael Redd (knee surgery) is done for the season and there are whispers that Andrew Bogut (stress fracture in back) may not return. GM John Hammond did a terrific job reshaping the roster last summer, but he simply doesn't have enough assets to make any significant moves before the deadline.
Minnesota Timberwolves
• Team payroll: $68.9 million
• Potential trade assets: F Mike Miller, G Rashad McCants, F Brian Cardinal
• Outlook: Miller is having an off year, but his track record as a shooter puts him in demand. Minnesota's youth movement makes Miller expendable. Reports have linked him to New Jersey and Cleveland.
New Jersey Nets
• Team payroll: $62.7 million
• Potential trade assets: G Vince Carter, F Bobby Simmons, F Sean Williams
• Outlook: Here is the question facing the Nets: Do they try to cut payroll (namely, Carter) and continue building toward 2010, or do they make a short-term deal in order to bolster their chances of making the playoffs? With a move to Brooklyn looking less and less likely, the Nets have to realize that few top free agents are going to want to play in the Swamp. The Nets are looking to add sharpshooting big men to play in their dribble-drive offense.
New Orleans Hornets
• Team payroll: $66.8 million
• Potential trade assets: G Rasual Butler, C Hilton Armstrong, F Julian Wright
• Outlook: They appear content to stand pat. If the Hornets can get everyone healthy for the stretch run, they have the talent to challenge for the Western Conference title.
New York Knicks
• Team payroll: $97.6 million
• Potential trade assets: F David Lee, F Jared Jeffries
• Outlook: Any GM looking to talk to Knicks president Donnie Walsh about Lee should be prepared to have Eddy Curry's name thrown into the mix. Lee isn't going anywhere unless Walsh becomes certain he can't sign the double-double machine in the offseason. Trading Curry is the Knicks' No. 1 objective, but there's no market for him because he's played only one game this season. The Knicks already made two big moves in dealing Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph in November. Don't expect another splash.
Oklahoma City Thunder
• Team payroll: $65.2 million
• Potential trade assets: F Chris Wilcox, F Nick Collison, F Joe Smith, G Earl Watson
• Outlook: The 11-win Thunder have some of the league's most desirable assets. Because interim coach Scott Brooks has done a good job settling players into their roles, a major shakeup is doubtful. But don't expect GM Sam Presti to pass up a cost-cutting, draft-pick-returning deal for Watson or one of his big men.
Orlando Magic
• Team payroll: $70.4 million
• Potential trade assets: G J.J. Redick, F Hedo Turkoglu, F Tony Battie
• Outlook: Orlando's title hopes likely vanished when Jameer Nelson suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder. If Nelson elects to have season-ending surgery instead of trying to rehab and come back late this season, that could ramp up the Magic's interest in dealing Hedo Turkoglu. The small forward plans to opt out of his contract after the season, and Orlando, which has invested $243 million in contracts for Nelson, Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis, may not want to hand another massive deal to a player whose skills mirror Lewis'. GM Otis Smith would consider moving last season's Most Improved Player if he believes the season is lost without Nelson and if a legitimate power forward is available.
Philadelphia 76ers
• Team payroll: $67.2 million
• Potential trade assets: G Lou Williams, G Willie Green, F Thaddeus Young, G Andre Miller
• Outlook: Don't expect GM Ed Stefanski to try to fill the void left by Elton Brand's season-ending shoulder injury. Stefanski is loath to deal any of his young talent for a short-term fix. He will listen to low-risk offers, but keeping Philly's young core together is priority No. 1.
Phoenix Suns
The Suns are said to be open to trading All-Star forward Amaré Stoudemire. AP |
• Team payroll: $75.8 million
• Potential trade assets: F Amaré Stoudemire, F Grant Hill
• Outlook: GM Steve Kerr is at a crossroads: Does he continue building around Stoudemire and Steve Nash, or does he completely dismantle Mike D'Antoni's team and attempt to build a new one? While recent reports have suggested that Phoenix would be open to trading the 26-year-old Stoudemire, multiple league sources believe a deal for the All-Star forward is unlikely. "It would have to be a pretty enticing package," an Eastern Conference executive said. Meanwhile, Hill would probably retire before he gave up the desert weather and the Suns' talented training staff. Realistically, the Suns have to hope they jell in Terry Porter's offense in the second half.
Portland Trail Blazers
• Team payroll: $80 million
• Potential trade assets: F Travis Outlaw, F Raef LaFrentz, G Sergio Rodriguez, F Channing Frye
• Outlook: Portland continues to shop Outlaw, who will make just $3.6 million next season. LaFrentz's $12.7 million expiring contract is a huge chip. With rookie guard Jerryd Bayless coming on recently, Rodriguez could be expendable. Rival GMs say the Blazers have been pursuing a veteran point guard and a backup big man, but they will be careful with what kind of contracts they take back as owner Paul Allen will have to pay to retain Portland's best young talent over the next few years.
Sacramento Kings
• Team payroll: $70 million
• Potential trade assets: C Brad Miller, F Kenny Thomas, G John Salmons, G Beno Udrih
• Outlook: The Sacramento Bee reported that nearly the Kings' entire roster is available. Miller, a big man with passing and shooting skills, has been linked to Miami, Chicago and Cleveland; the Cavs' interest, however, is said to be lukewarm. A lot of teams are calling about Salmons, whose contract ($11.2 million over the next two seasons) is modest when compared to his production (18.7 points, 47.9 percent shooting). But Salmons is not high on GM Geoff Petrie's to-deal list.
San Antonio Spurs
• Team payroll: $68 million
• Potential trade assets: None
• Outlook: The shrewd Spurs are rarely deadline dealers. San Antonio's big deal came in the offseason when it got younger on the wing by signing the clutch-shooting Roger Mason Jr. Rookie George Hill's development precludes any need for a backup point guard, so expect the Spurs to stand pat.
Toronto Raptors
Team payroll: $70.8 million
Potential trade assets: C Jermaine O'Neal, G Anthony Parker, F Jason Kapono
Outlook: Toronto has been one of the most active teams in talks, with O'Neal as the primary bait. GM Bryan Colangelo is seeking talent upgrades at multiple positions, including small forward. Colangelo has always been high on Shawn Marion, so if O'Neal shows enough in the coming days, that deal could be revived.
Utah Jazz
• Team payroll: $65.8 million
• Potential trade assets: F Carlos Boozer, C Jarron Collins, G Brevin Knight, G Morris Almond
• Outlook: Collins, Knight and Almond have small expiring contracts, but sources say general manager Kevin O'Connor hasn't been burning up the phone lines. Any talks involving impending restricted free agent Paul Millsap have been a non-starter. Boozer is likely to stay (and doesn't have much value until he returns from left knee surgery). But the Jazz face a difficult decision in the offseason about whether to re-sign Boozer for $11-$12 million per season or retain Millsap, a cheaper, younger and more durable alternative, and spend the rest of that money elsewhere.
Washington Wizards
• Team payroll: $70.6 million
• Potential trade assets: C Andray Blatche
• Outlook: Blatche, a talented but inconsistent big man, is an attractive commodity, though he's out for another month with a knee injury. Washington will likely be content to play out the string and hope for a high draft pick and the healthy return of Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood next season.
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