Here are the contracts that expire at the end of this upcoming season for players making over $10M. With Kawhi signing his new deal, it got me thinking who we would see activity from at the trade deadline and who would be big salary dumps, or guys moved to contenders, or who would simply hit free agency.

Stephen Curry (GSW) - likely extension, if not soon then re-sign next summer as a free agent

Jimmy Butler (GSW) - likely traded. Golden State already tried to move him to get Curry help, I think they’ll try again at the deadline and a team blowing it up might be okay with taking half of season of Jimmy Butler to clear $56.8M of cap space.

Zach LaVine (SAC) - likely hit free agency. I can’t see LaVine having a ton of value at his dollar amount, no contender is going to move $48M of money to have LaVine be their big all-in move. I think he’s stuck on the Kings and will sign a much smaller contract in free agency

Michael Porter Jr (BKN) - honestly not sure. Brooklyn hasn’t extended him yet, but I don’t know which way this would go. Could be flipped to a contender, could stay with Brooklyn, but they may want to move him if he’s seeking max money because he’s not a max money type of player.

Jordan Poole (NOP) - likely hit free agency. Poole was kind of bad last year, but it’s not that easy to just dump $34M. I suppose it’s possible Poole and other young talent on New Orleans is flipped for a star, I just don’t know really know what the Pelicans are doing

Tyler Herro (MIL) - likely hitting free agency. I think Herro is totally fine just getting shots up and putting up numbers in Milwaukee. He’s not really a “missing piece” type of player that can put a team over the top, and I think Milwaukee is fine with clearing cap space

RJ Barrett (TOR) - likely traded. I think he’s kind of an awkward fit with Kawhi and Barnes, and the Raptors could move him at the deadline if they feel they’re contenders. $29M of expiring money could probably be pretty enticing for a team who needs to move on from a player making similar money.

Draymond Green (GSW) - likely expiring. I think this will depend on what they do with Curry, but I get the feeling if Draymond doesn’t play with Curry in Golden State next year, he simply retires to go do his podcast and a tv job.

Fred VanVleet (HOU) - likely traded. FVV is coming off an injury and Houston will likely want to upgrade at PG. They brought in Smart as a backup and have depth, someone like Kyrie would make a lot of sense for them where he has also played with Durant and Smart, Udoka was an assistant coach when Kyrie played in Brooklyn, and solves some of the offensive issues that Thompson and Sengun present with perimeter shooting.

DeAndre Hunter (SAC) - probably extended/re-sign. Hunter has been moved a couple times now and I don’t think has any leverage to demand a trade. He’ll take a payday and Sacramento I’m guessing will be fine giving him one.

Cameron Johnson (DEN) - not really sure. He was Denver’s big acquisition when they dumped MPJ’s money, but Denver is right up against the 2nd apron and I’m not sure if Cam will be the guy they move to try and get under it. They can’t really afford to lose more talent but I don’t recall him being a huge factor for Denver last year.

Miles Bridges (PHX) - don’t care

CJ McCollum (ATL) - don’t really know. McCollum is older and it’s not like he’s a star so Atlanta could use him to find an upgrade, but he was so good for them in the playoffs that I’m not sure if they want to move him or try to re-sign to a smaller deal

Kyle Kuzma (MIL) - likely hitting free agency. No trade value, nobody wants to give anything up for him. He’ll sign a new deal with a new team next year.

Luguentz Dort (ATL) - likely extended/re-sign. Atlanta just traded for Dort and he’s probably part of their plans for the next few years. Him and Daniels can make it really tough for ball handlers and Atlanta probably likes what Dort brings as a vet

Keldon Johnson (SAS) - maybe traded. With the addition of Harris replacing Harrison Barnes and a possible ascension of Carter Bryant, Keldon Johnson could be an expendable piece. He was a 6MOY so I think they’ll keep him, but if they’re desperate for a backup Center to not go through the Kornet playoff experience again, his money would be a way to get a really solid backup for Wemby

Max Strus (LAC)

Brandon Miller (CHA) - likely extended. They just moved LaMelo and can’t afford to lose more talent. They clearly want to win based on what they’re saying and aren’t going to trade Miller at $15M to simply get back an okay player and some picks and go back to rebuilding. He and Knueppel are who they are building around now.

Caris LeVert (MIL)

Josh Green (UTA)

Grant Williams (CHA)

Jock Landale (ATL)

Scoot Henderson (POR) - I have no idea what Portland is doing with their guards

Donte DiVincenzo (MIN) - likely hitting free agency. DiVincenzo is going to miss time with his Achilles injury, and will need time to work back from it. Even if he did a quick recovery like Tatum, he’ll be back around January or February and so I don’t think he’ll be ready to play for another team so no one is going to give anything significant up to get a guy rehabbing.

Davion Mitchell (MIA) - likely extended/re-sign. He seems like an integral part to what Miami is building, and it’s hard to just flip him and find someone better. There may be a move with him later, I just don’t think it will be this year, and they can’t afford to lose him in free agency and have no PG’s.

Isaac Okoro (CHI)

Derrick Jones Jr (LAC)

Anthony Black (ORL) - likely re-signed. Orlando’s weakest position is probably PG and they have a promising young player. Not sure why they’d want to be so quick to move him when there aren’t many upgrades you can find around $10M.

Anyone I didn’t give an opinion on I have no idea what their teams are planning with them. They could be traded just as likely as kept on new contracts, and aren’t making a ton of money so either seems likely.