With the dates changing rapidly and the end of the calendar year approaching all too quickly, it’s time to take a brief detour from the action on the NBA courts to look ahead to the February 6 trade deadline.
Teams have now played enough games to know who they are, what they are missing and what direction they should go in. Well, some teams may still be unclear about that last part.
We’ll take a look at which Central Division teams should make a move, and how each team should approach the deadline, with free agents who signed during the offseason now eligible to be traded.
Previous divisions: Atlantic
Chicago Bulls
Status: Competitive
Approximation: Salespeople
Chicago drastically changed its on-field strategy for the better, but the timing was always odd and it didn’t necessarily lead to anything interesting.
The Bulls are without a doubt the most confusing team in the NBA, and they should enter the deadline with the mindset of selling as many veteran pieces as possible.
There’s a challenge ahead in getting decent returns for players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, but if the Bulls find themselves in a situation where they can get rid of one or both of their contracts without giving up an asset, that’s a win.
If anything, the Bulls should use the fact that they are $4.5 million under the tax line to allow teams across the border to burn money for a decent return. Now that the new CBA is in force, having financial leeway is in itself a huge asset.
The question, of course, is whether the Bulls are even aware of this, given the waste they have committed with their contracts in recent years.
Probability of trade: Must be significant
Cleveland Cavaliers
Status: Contenders
Approximation: Buyers
The Cavaliers are legit, and there is every reason for them to add rather than subtract before the deadline.
They can’t give much away, which limits their options. The Cavs will likely only make a small move, if they even make one, given the symmetry of their core guys.
You could argue that getting Max Strus back almost counts as a midseason acquisition. The 6-foot-4 forward signed with the team in the summer of 2023 and had an effective season for Cleveland, spacing the floor and acting as a third playmaker.
Strus has missed the entire season so far due to an ankle injury, but is expected back soon. When he enters the rotation, the Cavs should be stronger.
If they want to take a small step in the meantime, a real backup center wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to look for.
Probability of trade: Reasonable
Detroit Pistons
Status: Reconstruction
Approximation: Salespeople
There’s no doubt that this team needed adults in the room, which explains why Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley are on the roster.
However, this trio isn’t exactly expected to stick around for years to come, as the keys to the franchise will eventually be handed to Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren.
Is that the time, or will the Pistons prefer to make changes over the summer?
For them, since they have their own choice this year, the time should be now. The 2025 draft is seen as loaded with talent, and if the Pistons were to land a high pick, it would be all the better for the team’s long-term prospects.
Of course, whether teams are even interested in Harris, Hardaway or Beasley remains to be seen. But the Pistons should realize before February that the chance of potentially landing a Cooper Flagg or Ace Bailey is too tempting.
Probability of trade: Big
Indiana Pacers
Status: Competitive
Approximation: Buyers
It’s hard to argue one way or the other with the Pacers, who have been disappointing this season. There is an argument for acting as both a buyer and a seller.
The determining factor is Pascal Siakam, who is no longer a spring chicken and has a huge contract. If they don’t add anything to the roster, they can only go the other way, which means a smaller retooling process that will take a few years to get off the ground. Who has time for that?
With Tyrese Haliburton around, the Pacers probably don’t want to signal to him that they’re taking a step back by selling pieces. That would be a tough sell, especially for a team that generally doesn’t attract much interest from free agents.
Even if Indiana can’t find a big deal, it can find smaller ones, and considering it lost both James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to Achilles tears this season, finding a big backup is likely on the whiteboard.
Probability of trade: High
Milwaukee Bucks
Status: Competitive
Approximation: Buyers
It’s quite simple. When you have Giannis Antetokounmpo on your roster and added Damian Lillard as a second star just over a year ago, you can’t help but be buyers.
The Bucks are weird. They are inconsistent. They are old. They have a questionable coaching staff. Their role players range from decent to “maybe that guy should play in the G League.” And it is for these reasons that Milwaukee must be aggressive in their quest for quality.
Outside of Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the organization doesn’t really have any major trading assets, so finding a reliable, consistent contributor won’t be easy. But it should at least explore the market.
Naturally, the Bucks are about $6.5 million above the second platform, so the trade logistics are rough. They don’t have much to play with. So even if they find something exciting, CBA rules can make a transaction difficult. But that’s a problem for later. For now, look for an upgrade by any means necessary.
Probability of trade: Small, because they sit over the second platform
