NBA Power Rankings: Rating 25 'available' trade candidates, from worst to first
With the February trade deadline looming, the NBA marketplace is officially open for business, though the definition of "open" varies drastically depending on who you ask. The latest power rankings have taken a unique approach to the chaotic rumor mill, organizing 25 of the league's most "available" names not just by talent, but by their realistic trade viability—ranking them from the "worst" assets to the "first" priority targets.
At the bottom of the list, the rankings highlight the complex reality of the modern NBA: big names with even bigger contracts that have become nearly immovable. Players like Zach LaVine and Ben Simmons find themselves anchoring the "worst" section, not necessarily due to a lack of on-court ability in a vacuum, but because their massive salaries and injury histories make them negative assets in the eyes of rival front offices. For teams like the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, moving these pieces would likely require attaching draft capital rather than receiving it, a pill most rebuilding franchises are unwilling to swallow.
Climbing toward the middle of the pack, the list identifies the true engine of the trade deadline: the high-end role players. Veterans like Bruce Brown, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Malcolm Brogdon represent the sweet spot for contenders. These are the "plug-and-play" options—guys who don't demand the ball but provide the defensive versatility and shooting depth necessary for a deep playoff run. The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets hold the cards here, controlling the market for teams desperate to shore up their rotations without gutting their future.
At the "first" spot, the rankings pivot to the game-changers who are actually attainable. Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant emerge as the crown jewels of this deadline class. Unlike the distressed assets at the bottom, these forwards offer legitimate two-way production on contracts that, while expensive, are digestible for desperate buyers. As the deadline approaches, the power dynamic is clear: sellers with portable wings are in the driver's seat, while those holding onto expensive stars may find the market far colder than anticipated. The race is on to see which contender blinks first.
At the bottom of the list, the rankings highlight the complex reality of the modern NBA: big names with even bigger contracts that have become nearly immovable. Players like Zach LaVine and Ben Simmons find themselves anchoring the "worst" section, not necessarily due to a lack of on-court ability in a vacuum, but because their massive salaries and injury histories make them negative assets in the eyes of rival front offices. For teams like the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, moving these pieces would likely require attaching draft capital rather than receiving it, a pill most rebuilding franchises are unwilling to swallow.
Climbing toward the middle of the pack, the list identifies the true engine of the trade deadline: the high-end role players. Veterans like Bruce Brown, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Malcolm Brogdon represent the sweet spot for contenders. These are the "plug-and-play" options—guys who don't demand the ball but provide the defensive versatility and shooting depth necessary for a deep playoff run. The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets hold the cards here, controlling the market for teams desperate to shore up their rotations without gutting their future.
At the "first" spot, the rankings pivot to the game-changers who are actually attainable. Kyle Kuzma and Jerami Grant emerge as the crown jewels of this deadline class. Unlike the distressed assets at the bottom, these forwards offer legitimate two-way production on contracts that, while expensive, are digestible for desperate buyers. As the deadline approaches, the power dynamic is clear: sellers with portable wings are in the driver's seat, while those holding onto expensive stars may find the market far colder than anticipated. The race is on to see which contender blinks first.
