[Stein] There is going to be “significant center movement” in the trade market in coming weeks. Anthony Davis, Domantas Sabonis, Nikola Vucevic, Nic Claxton, Nick Richards, Robert Williams III, Jusuf Nurkic, and Jonathan Isaac are a few names expected to make up the market.
Source: https://open.substack.com/pub/marcstein/p/talking-zone-defense-nba-big-men?r=nuq3a&utm_medium=ios
#Domantas Sabonis & Anthony Davis
“Generally speaking, though, Sabonis and Davis figure to be mentioned in tandem a fair bit between now and the deadline if both end up truly being made available by their respective teams.”
“We’ve already been writing about frontcourt players who could well become available before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Prime among them, of course, are Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis and Dallas’ Anthony Davis.”
#Nikola Vučević
“Chicago’s Nikola Vučević continues to be an offensive force at age 35…”
He’s making better than 40% of his 3-pointers for the second consecutive campaign and is seemingly certain to generate external interest on an expiring contract worth a comparatively modest $21.4 million.”
“I’ve heard from more than a few rival executives who have noted Vučević’s trade-friendly contract…”
#Jusuf Nurkić
“Jusuf Nurkić, meanwhile, has performed well enough in Utah that he’s also expected to generate some interest from rival teams as he plays out his own $19.3 million expiring deal.”
#Nick Richards
“Phoenix has made Nick Richards available for trade since this past summer, league sources say.”
#Robert Williams III
“I’ve also been told that Portland is forecasted to be more willing to move Robert Williams III this season compared to last season, when the Trail Blazers maintained a high asking price for the oft-injured big man.”
#Nic Claxton
As with Vučević, Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton is expected to generate incoming calls to the rebuilding Nets about Claxton’s availability.
#Jonathan Isaac
“One final name to consider from the Big Man Market: Orlando’s Jonathan Isaac.”
“Rival cap strategists are thus increasingly pinpointing Isaac as a potential salary casualty in the Magic Kingdom…”