Best Defenders Available for a Trade

[nzahir]

As the title states, who are the Best Defenders that may be Available for a Trade that aren’t complete offensive liabilities

Selfishly asking for LAL, but also interested to hear some thoughts

Some common names:

Guards and wings:

Bruce Brown
Marcus Smart
Dillon Brooks? (Less likely with Hou playing well)
Lonzo Ball?
Kuzma
DFS

Bigs:
Jakob Poetl
RW3
Myles Turner?
Kessler?
Claxton?

[Scoot McGroot]

As the title states, who are the Best Defenders that may be Available for a Trade that aren’t complete offensive liabilities

Selfishly asking for LAL, but also interested to hear some thoughts

Some common names:

Guards and wings:

Bruce Brown
Marcus Smart
Dillon Brooks? (Less likely with Hou playing well)
Lonzo Ball?
Kuzma
DFS

Bigs:
Jakob Poetl
RW3
Myles Turner?
Kessler?
Claxton?

Haven't seen anything hinting at Myles coming available, as yet. Neither local nor national. He's guaranteed to hit unrestricted free agency because of when he signed his renegotiation, but the team talked clearly of being comfortable waiting until the summer and wanting to keep him. Obviously, things can change, though.

[LarsV8]

This may be a surprise to most, but we actually really like Brooks, he has been excellent.

JeSean Tate is competent and could probably be had.

[shrink]

Nickiel Alexander-Walker may be available. His great playoff defense wasn’t a fluke - he led the NBA last year in screen navigation. He’s playing even better this season, but the unexpected addition of Donte DiVincenzo may put him on the trade block.

NAW is on a $4.3 mil expiring and can’t be extended, so he is most valuable to a team that intends to use his Bird rights to keep him past this year. MIN is likely looking for a comparably-valued, rotation-level bench center. As a reminder, MIN is over the first and second apron, so they can’t aggregate salary and can only take back a player with a smaller contract.

[Xman]

Houston probably parts with Tate or Adams for seconds.
Brooks is staying since it would take a huge overpay to get him.

[BlazersBroncos]

Thybulle was near 35% from 3 last year and might be one of the 3 most disruptive off ball defensive wings in the league.

PDX has no real minutes for him with Camara showing out so well and Kris / Rupert looking playable.

[DarkXaero]

Out of those guards/wings, it's easily DFS imo. He's having a great shooting year while still being the same defender he has been throughout his career, and he's extremely versatile defensively.

Among bigs, I think Poeltl is the obvious one right now.

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[Laimbeer]

If I'm the Knicks I'd consider moving Bridges or OG for a good, reliable center.

[Homerclease]

Jaden Springer can likely be had for a ham sandwich and a bag of basketballs at this point

[daoneandonly]

Thybulle was near 35% from 3 last year and might be one of the 3 most disruptive off ball defensive wings in the league.

PDX has no real minutes for him with Camara showing out so well and Kris / Rupert looking playable.

Dallas had an interest in him and really wanted the guy before PDX matched the offer sheet. They could definitely use him, but not seeing a deal that makes sense for the Blazers. I'd rather they keep Naji, and dont see you guys being interested in a variation of Maxi/Grimes.

[scoobs07]

If I'm the Knicks I'd consider moving Bridges or OG for a good, reliable center.

Maybe Kessler to New York. Utah likes Lakers picks and Hood-Schifino.

[scoobs07]

As the title states, who are the Best Defenders that may be Available for a Trade that aren’t complete offensive liabilities

Selfishly asking for LAL, but also interested to hear some thoughts

Some common names:

Guards and wings:

Bruce Brown
Marcus Smart
Dillon Brooks? (Less likely with Hou playing well)
Lonzo Ball?
Kuzma
DFS

Bigs:
Jakob Poetl
RW3
Myles Turner?
Kessler?
Claxton?

This is exactly the type of player LAL should be targeting. I like Thybelle and NAW.

[BlazersBroncos]

Thybulle was near 35% from 3 last year and might be one of the 3 most disruptive off ball defensive wings in the league.

PDX has no real minutes for him with Camara showing out so well and Kris / Rupert looking playable.

Dallas had an interest in him and really wanted the guy before PDX matched the offer sheet. They could definitely use him, but not seeing a deal that makes sense for the Blazers. I'd rather they keep Naji, and dont see you guys being interested in a variation of Maxi/Grimes.

I would do MT for Maxi + DEN / PHI SRP.

Maybe MT + Walker for Maxi + Prosper.

[Blazinaway]

POR also has Timelord and Jerami grant available

[JRoy]

Thybulle was near 35% from 3 last year and might be one of the 3 most disruptive off ball defensive wings in the league.

PDX has no real minutes for him with Camara showing out so well and Kris / Rupert looking playable.

Dallas had an interest in him and really wanted the guy before PDX matched the offer sheet. They could definitely use him, but not seeing a deal that makes sense for the Blazers. I'd rather they keep Naji, and dont see you guys being interested in a variation of Maxi/Grimes.

Not really interested in the players, looking for picks.

[scoobs07]

Thybulle was near 35% from 3 last year and might be one of the 3 most disruptive off ball defensive wings in the league.

PDX has no real minutes for him with Camara showing out so well and Kris / Rupert looking playable.

Dallas had an interest in him and really wanted the guy before PDX matched the offer sheet. They could definitely use him, but not seeing a deal that makes sense for the Blazers. I'd rather they keep Naji, and dont see you guys being interested in a variation of Maxi/Grimes.

Not really interested in the players, looking for picks.

Russell + Hood-Schifino + 2025 Clippers 2nd + 2027 2nd + 2029 2nd for Thybelle and Williams

[oldncreaky]

Nickiel Alexander-Walker may be available. His great playoff defense wasn’t a fluke - he led the NBA last year in screen navigation. He’s playing even better this season, but the unexpected addition of Donte DiVincenzo may put him on the trade block.

NAW is on a $4.3 mil expiring and can’t be extended, so he is most valuable to a team that intends to use his Bird rights to keep him past this year. MIN is likely looking for a comparably-valued, rotation-level bench center. As a reminder, MIN is over the first and second apron, so they can’t aggregate salary and can only take back a player with a smaller contract.

I think that's an interesting set-up for a win-win trade, but it's hard to find a target becasue of the money, and you can't really trade with other teams with apron problems


From a quick skim of the basketball reference contracts list, C's who make less than NAW's $4.3M are:

Ke'lel Ware
Mark Williams
Dwight Powell
Dayron Sharpe
Cody Zeller
Yves Missi
Christian Wood
Walker Kessler
Xavier Tillman
James Wiseman

. . . and a bunch of min-salary guys, including:
Neemias Queeta
Jay Huff
Alex Len
Daniel Theis
Thomas Bryant
Mo Bamba
Deandre Jordan
Tristan Thompson
(and more -- there are a lot of C's on min salaries, usually for a reason)

Take out the ones that are too good, or not good enough, or too much potential, or on a 2nd apron team that makes the trade impossible, and I think a short list is something like
Dwight Powell (DAL)
Dayron Sharpe (BRK)
Cody Zeller (ATL)
Jay Huff (MEM)
Alex Len (SAC)

If this is a realistic short list, I think MIN will keep NAW!

[penbeast0]

Johnny Davis is available for cap space and a 2nd. Hardworking and seemingly competent defender, just not showing NBA talent with the ball in his hands despite being a top 10 pick so team didn't pick up his option. That and the coaches like his defense so much he's stealing some of my favorite Jared Butler's minutes.

[brackdan70]

As the title states, who are the Best Defenders that may be Available for a Trade that aren’t complete offensive liabilities

Selfishly asking for LAL, but also interested to hear some thoughts

Some common names:

Guards and wings:

Bruce Brown
Marcus Smart
Dillon Brooks? (Less likely with Hou playing well)
Lonzo Ball?
Kuzma
DFS

Bigs:
Jakob Poetl
RW3
Myles Turner?
Kessler?
Claxton?

Kyle Kuzma? Did you mean to include him on a list about defense?

[shrink]

Nickiel Alexander-Walker may be available. His great playoff defense wasn’t a fluke - he led the NBA last year in screen navigation. He’s playing even better this season, but the unexpected addition of Donte DiVincenzo may put him on the trade block.

NAW is on a $4.3 mil expiring and can’t be extended, so he is most valuable to a team that intends to use his Bird rights to keep him past this year. MIN is likely looking for a comparably-valued, rotation-level bench center. As a reminder, MIN is over the first and second apron, so they can’t aggregate salary and can only take back a player with a smaller contract.

I think that's an interesting set-up for a win-win trade, but it's hard to find a target because of the money, and you can't really trade with other teams with apron problems


From a quick skim of the basketball reference contracts list, C's who make less than NAW's $4.3M are:

Ke'lel Ware
Mark Williams
Dwight Powell …

This is a great post, and demonstrates the methodology that teams above the first apron need to make to find trade targets.

I agree with your final assessment, that there aren’t any good candidates because NAW’s salary is so low. In MIN, he’s been a great rotation player, and the team shouldn’t trade him for a non-rotation player, even at a position of need. Even if MIN loses NAW for nothing (outbid this summer), he has value to the Wolves simply because of his play in this year’s regular season and playoffs.

The only structure I would have any hope in is for MIN to add value, but even then, I don’t think they can reach the price. The idea would be a three-teamer, sending NAW off for rebuilding assets, plus maybe a simultaneous deal sending Minott into the team’s cap space. Still, NAW’s assets + Minott + DET (possible 1st) still doesn’t reach the value levels needed for someone like Kessler.