SUMMARY
- Multiple NBA stars are likely to be traded after the 2023-2024 NBA season.
- Ben Simmons, Draymond Green and Jordan Poole top the list.
The 2023-2024 NBA season is rapidly reaching an end as only 8 teams from the Eastern and Western Conference will be a part of the playoffs and look to contend for an NBA title. Every season is filled with teams making trades in order to get better and make their presence and relevance in the league felt.
While it is almost impossible to know which players will be traded at the end of every season, there are always clues that indicate details on the stars who are expected to be moved. With that being said, fans might be interested in finding out more about 5 stars who are likely to be traded away from their current teams after this season comes to an end.
Draymond Green
Those who have been following the Golden State Warriors games in recent times will be aware that Draymond Green has been causing quite a lot of issues. His erratic and borderline violent behavior has led to him undergoing multiple ejections as well as a suspension.
Since the Warriors offered Draymond a $100 million contract at the start of this season, the team has clearly invested quite a lot in him and will inevitably grow sick of his antics at some point in time. In that case, it wouldn’t be unfair to claim that GSW will be eager to trade him away and gain other assets to put alongside Steph Curry and re-establish themselves as contenders.
Ben Simmons
Given the problems that Ben Simmons has caused this season, it can be considered a no-brainer that the Brooklyn Nets are eager to find a way to trade him away. Although Simmons came into the league as a generational talent, his recent issues regarding shooting and scoring coupled with his reported injuries make him a greater liability than an asset for the Nets.
While the Nets could certainly make the decision to continue to rely on Simmons, that would not be considered prudent given that he has played in just 15 of their 73 games so far this season. Since Ben is under contract until 2025 and is to be paid almost $80 million over the next 2 years, it would be in Brooklyn’s best interests to find a trade that sends him to another team in return for more reliable stars.
Zach LaVine
Fans who have been following trade news prior to the NBA trade deadline will be aware that Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine was a subject of interest and discussion among teams in the league. Despite playing quite well this season, LaVine has not been able to help the Bulls establish themselves as postseason contenders.
Moreover, Chicago has made it public that the team has no problem with trading him away in return for other stars who can help them get marginally better. Zach is currently in his 7th season with the Bulls and has not seen much success. Therefore, a decision to trade him away is quite likely.
Jordan Poole
After his elite play during the 2021-2022 playoffs, Jordan Poole was considered the third splash brother and expected to take over the Warriors as their leader in the aftermath of the Steph Curry era. However, he was traded to the Washington Wizards at the start of this season.
Despite having reasonably talented members on his roster such as Kyle Kuzma, Poole has not been able to transform the Wizards at any level. After all, the team currently holds a record of 14 wins and 59 losses, making them one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Since Poole is at the start of a 4-year contract worth $128 million, there is no denying that the Wizards could get quite a good deal for him. Consdering that his pairing up with Kyle Kuzma doesn’t seem to be working out as expected, his trade from the Wizards is certainly possible and likely.
LeBron James
While the Lakers have no desire to trade away LeBron James, he has made his desire to play alongside his son Bronny clear several times over the past few years. Since Bronny is completing his first year of college, he will be eligible for the upcoming draft and is expected to be selected by one of the 30 teams in the NBA.
In that scenario, LeBron is expected to ask for a trade from the Lakers and to join Bronny’s team to play with his son. Since Bronny has not been playing well this season, there is no way of knowing if he will declare for the NBA or be selected. However, LeBron requesting a trade is certainly likely under the assumption that Bronny is drafted into the league.