In honor of the NBA Finals, we’ve put together a list of notable players who have been on basketball’s biggest stage. Without further ado, here are five names every fan needs to know!
The “best gifts for a one year old” is the name of a list that has been compiled by ESPN. The list includes five names that every basketball fan needs to know.
The NBA trade deadline is soon coming, on February 10th. The fact that there haven’t been any big trades so far is immaterial; a rush of activity is expected as clubs become more anxious to find their missing piece.
Those that have little chance of making a major playoff run are preparing to trade important players for future assets. Those teams who believe a title is just out of reach might put their future on the line in a win-now agreement.
A few players in particular have been considered as probable trade possibilities since trade rumors began to circulate around the NBA.
In the last days before the deadline, these are five names that every fan should know.
Jerami Grant is a forward for the Detroit Pistons.
For the previous month, Grant has been the player most often mentioned in hypothetical trades, apart from Ben Simmons.
Cade Cunningham is now in charge of Detroit, and he wants to get rid of Grant in exchange for assets that will aid in the future.
During his tenure with the Pistons, the former Syracuse star is a long, athletic, and versatile defender who has showed glimpses of scoring potential. Competing teams are interested in all of those talents.
The hold-up in a trade for the 6-foot-8 winger is twofold: first, Grant has just recently returned to the court following a thumb injury, and second, Detroit is demanding two first-round selections or a first-round pick plus a good young player in exchange.
The 27-year-old winger would undoubtedly provide a significant boost to any team looking to make a deep postseason run, but he would come at a significant cost.
The Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards are among the clubs that have been connected to Grant.
Spencer Dinwiddie is a guard for the Washington Wizards.
Spencer Dinwiddie on his role as a Wizards leader: “It’s a unique circumstance. [This season], I spoke out a little early on. It wasn’t always well-received. As a result, as I already said, I make every effort to complete whatever tasks are assigned to me. Everyone, at the end of the day, has a job to perform…”
— Chase Hughes (@ChaseHughesNBCS) January 30, 2022
Dinwiddie, speaking of the Wiz, is the most probable player on this list to be moved on or released before the deadline.
The locker room at Washington looks to be entirely sold on its 6-5 point guard. Dinwiddie “looks like a shadow of his former self, and his teammates don’t want him there,” according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Yikes.
As a result, it looks that the former Brooklyn Nets star will be transferred (pardon the pun).
However, at this year’s deadline, the guard market is quite deep. De’Aaron Fox of Sacramento, Jalen Brunson of Dallas, Goran Dragic of Toronto, Dennis Schroder of Boston, and Kemba Walker of New York have all been linked to speculations at one time or another.
Dinwiddie, on the other hand, is a viable NBA starting point guard when he’s at his best. On both ends of the floor, his stature helps him, and he’s showed a flair for scoring and playmaking.
In his career, the former Colorado Buffalo has averaged 12.9 points and 5.1 assists. Before sustaining a knee injury in 2019-20, he averaged more over 20 points per game with the Nets.
Dinwiddie is a competent backup at worst, and the Wizards’ need to sell him brings down his price. He’d be a good fit for the team and wouldn’t cost much more than salary cap space and a second-round selection or two.
Domantas Sabonis is a forward for the Indiana Pacers.
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The Pacers said they were ready to blow it up early than other teams. At the start of December, the franchise revealed that Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Caris LeVert were all on the market.
Turner has since been sidelined, and LeVert isn’t quite as excellent as Sabonis, making Domas Indiana’s most valued asset.
The Pacers are said to be asking for two first-round selections in exchange for the 25-year-old big man. Sabonis, like Grant, might be a game-changing move for a contender, but at a premium cost.
The 6-foot-11 versatile center, on the other hand, would bring more to the table than Detroit’s prized asset.
On a team that isn’t going anywhere, Sabonis is averaging more than 19 points and 12 rebounds. He’s also spent his whole career in Turner playing with another center, so his complete skill set has yet to be shown.
However, the former Gonzaga star has already established himself as a dominant low-post scorer, a high-level rebounder, and a playmaker with legitimate flashes.
Putting Sabonis in the high post and allowing him to run the show for a few minutes, or at the very least be a vital component in a ball-movement offense, would go a long way toward transforming a playoff club into a championship squad.
Domas has also been connected to the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, Washington Redskins, and New Orleans Pelicans.
Harrison Barnes is a forward for the Sacramento Kings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHVe onSOE
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Barnes should be at the top of every competitive team’s priority list. His game is comparable to Grant’s, but he’s been more consistent in terms of production (not just this year, but throughout his career), and he’s proved he can handle a low-usage position.
From his time with Steph Curry and the Warriors, the UNC product has extensive postseason experience and a championship ring.
Barnes is a good athlete who stands 6-8 and weighs 225 pounds. Throughout his nine seasons in the league, he has shown his ability to defend numerous positions.
With the Kings this season, he’s averaging more than 16 points per game while shooting 40 percent from three, and defensive measures back up his claim to be the team’s greatest defender.
A true three-and-D winger who is willing to do everything is required of him and already has a ring on his finger would be the perfect acquisition for a club looking to win a championship.
John Collins is a forward for the Atlanta Hawks.
Since the start of the 2018-19 season (210 games), John Collins has accumulated the following numbers:
In 30.8 minutes, he averages 18.7 points and 8.7 rebounds.
Per 100 possessions, he averages 29.1 points and 13.6 rebounds.
79.5 percent FT, 56 percent FG, 38.6 percent 3PT
eFG: 60.6 percent, TS: 63.9 percent, USG: 22.3 percent
(And each season, the defense and passing have been better.)
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) February 2, 2022
Atlanta and Collins are likely to be involved in some way if Simmons is traded before the deadline. It’s more than likely to be a multi-team deal, but the Hawks seem to be willing to let go of a few guys and want to combine Simmons with Trae Young.
Atlanta seems to have turned a turnaround in recent weeks. The squad has gone 7-3 in its previous ten games and is currently ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference, a far cry from where it was just a few weeks ago.
The Hawks have already completed one trade, sending Cam Reddish to the Knicks in New York. Outside of Young and Clint Capela, the team’s general manager, Travis Schlenk, has said that no one on the roster is safe.
At the proper price, a blockbuster contract for Simmons makes sense. Ben and Trae would make an ideal backcourt pairing, since each would cover the other’s most noticeable flaws.
Other clubs, such as the Mavericks and the Kings, have allegedly inquired about Collins. He’d be a huge asset in driving a squad to the next level.
NBA.com provided all data.
RELATED: Sacramento Kings’ Forward Trade Rumors Every championship contender’s No. 1 target should be Harrison Barnes.
