The Top 7 Stars Most Likely to Be Traded Post Free Agency

Bradley Beal was the first big name to be traded this offseason, and with their trade requests this past week, it seems like it's only a matter of time before Damian Lillard and James Harden follow suit. While the Lillard/Harden duo will occupy most of the trade rumors over the next few weeks, there are plenty of other not-so-obvious star players that could potentially find themselves on new teams in the near future - let's take a look at some of the top candidates.

Creator: Mark J. Rebilas | Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA TODAY Sports

1. Pascal Siakam | Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have major flaws, as they boast an incredibly imbalanced roster with too many big wings and not nearly enough shooting. After losing Fred VanVleet in Free Agency this past week, they need to seriously consider what direction they wish to take moving forward.

The most logical move for Masai Ujiri would be trading Pascal Siakam (or OG Anunoby) and rebuilding the team around Scottie Barnes. Yes, Siakam is an uber athletic, two-way star who averaged 24 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists on 48/32/77 splits last season, but he is also 29 years old and is an upcoming free agent in 2024. The Raptors may not want to trade Siakam - and recent reports seem to suggest that Siakam may not want to leave Toronto either - but it's probably their best pathway to reestablishing themselves as contenders.

2. Jerami Grant | Portland Trail Blazers

Even though Jerami Grant extended with the Blazers for 5 more seasons when Free Agency opened last week, his time in Portland might be coming to an end.

Just mere hours after the Blazers resigned Grant, Damian Lillard requested a trade, and if Lillard gets traded, which seems more likely than not, the Blazers will enter a full scale rebuild around Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. As a result, Grant - with his massive cap hit and older age (29) - will likely be on his way out.

Jerami Grant is coming off of a 2022-23 season where he averaged 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, and should still be able to net Portland a fine return despite his 160 million dollar contract.

3. Zach LaVine | Chicago Bulls

Demar Derozan is about to turn 34 and Nikola Vucevic is 32 - and neither play much defense. Zach LaVine signed a 5 year deal for 215 million prior to last season and has only played in 4 playoff games over the course of his 9 year career. Lonzo Ball was already declared out for the entire 2023/24 season, and this is after missing all of last season with a knee injury. Derozan, Lavine, Vucevic and Lonzo are the top four players on this Chicago team - a team who hasn't been relevant since Derrick Rose tore his ACL in Game 1 vs the 76ers back in 2012.

Despite the major flaws with their core four, the Bulls and GM Arturas Karnisovas - who hilariously went on record saying the Vuc for Franz Wagner/Wendell Carter/Jett Howard deal worked out well for them - continue to keep running it back.

Given Derozan's age and upcoming free agency next summer, LaVine is the most obvious trade candidate and would probably net the greatest return - despite having one of the worst contracts in the league - for Chicago. Furthermore, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Bulls have already started "engaging several teams" in talks regarding LaVine. Ultimately, it's time for a change in Chicago and LaVine is the most likely to go.

4. Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns

Despite coming off a season where he averaged 18/10 and was good for a virtual double double every night, Deandre Ayton vibes seem to be at an all time low. Scoring is the most polished aspect of his game, and the Suns, loaded with three elite scorers in Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, don't necessarily need that from their starting center who has often displayed poor effort and energy throughout his career. Instead, they should look to flip him for a rim running center and a defense first wing that they so badly need.

The Pacers, Hornets, Trail Blazers and Mavericks all seem like possible landing spots that would be worthwhile for Phoenix to explore.

5. Karl Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves trapped themselves in a corner with the disastrous Rudy Gobert trade last summer, and the only way out is by trading KAT (or Anthony Edwards, but that's not happening). Tim Connelly and the Wolves seem to agree, as Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report stated that "many executives around the league believe that the Timberwolves will move the star big in the next few weeks."

Furthermore, the Wolves are paying centers (Gobert/Towns/Reid) over 90 million next season which is just bad business in today's NBA. Towns has incredible basketball talent, but his game doesn't seem to translate to winning and he has played over 50 games just once over the past for years. It's time for Minnesota to recoup as many of the draft assets they lost in the Gobert trade as possible and make the Timberwolves exclusively Anthony Edwards' team.

6. Zion Williamson | New Orleans Pelicans

Trading Zion would have sounded absurd a year ago. Hell, even 6 months ago. But now, on July 5th, 2023, it's a scenario that is incredibly possible and maybe even plausible. After entering the league out of Duke back in 2019, Zion has endured four years of injuries, a mediocre work ethic and poor chemistry with teammates, as his career thus far can be best described as an astounding disappointment.

His elite play whenever he steps on to the court is what seemingly makes this maddening for the Pelicans, but really, that's precisely why they should be open to trading Zion. Teams will bet on the talent and will offer valuable packages for the oft-injured star.

Recent reports have suggested that the Pelicans at least considered swapping him for the number two pick in the draft to take Scoot Henderson before the draft last week, which shows that talks are ongoing and a Zion trade might not be so far fetched after all.

7. Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers

This one depends entirely on Daryl Morey's next move. Coming off a disappointing 2nd round playoff exit and James Harden requesting yet another trade, the 76ers sit at a crossroads. They probably need to trade Harden, but given a roster that is undoubtedly lacking besides Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, Philly needs to get this right. If Morey is able to land a respectable package for Harden that vaults Philly to the ECF or beyond and satisfies Joel Embiid, then cross him off this list. If Morey is not, and an unhappy Embiid and the 76ers suffer through another 2nd round (or earlier) exit, a potential Embiid trade request looms incredibly large.