NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 24: Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 24, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement; NBA Trades. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
It’s approaching that time of the NBA season where teams that have a chance of making a run in the playoffs look to the trade market to see what can be added to their rosters to improve their chances further.
Meanwhile, teams that have started the season poorly will start to think more about the future. This often means moving on from some established veterans in order to get younger.
The introduction of the play-in tournament means teams who may have previously embraced being in the draft lottery are instead hanging on a bit more to see if they can sneak into the postseason.
But while it has added an element of competitiveness to each conference, there are still a number of teams that have talented veterans who are contributing very little in a rebuilding situation. They would be better utilized playing winning basketball.
There are a number of quality NBA veterans that playoff-contending teams should target in the trade market. Here are five that could offer a lot more in winning situations…
NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Terrence Ross
The Human Torch has barely been lit this season, but when the fire gets set, it reminds everyone of just how much Ross has to contribute to an NBA team.
Ross scored 22 fourth-quarter points to give the Orlando Magic victory over the New York Knicks earlier this season and later scored 19 in back-to-back games against the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.
The 30-year-old was a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate while Steve Clifford was still the head coach of the team. He has been one of the best spark plug scorers in the NBA with his ability to make extremely difficult shots.
Ross is best used in a situation where he can come off the bench and give teams an edge in winning situations. On a team like the Magic, where player development is the aim this season, Ross dominating the ball as part of the second unit does not make sense.
He averaged 15.6 points per game last season and is the perfect guy to come in as part of a second unit that is in need of an offensive boost.
The $12.5m salary makes a trade trickier, as it would take up a decent portion of a team’s salary cap, but the impact Ross can have means that might just be worth it.
POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers
think more about the future.</a> This often means moving on from some established veterans in order to get younger.</p>
<p>The introduction of the play-in tournament means teams who may have previously embraced being in the draft lottery are instead hanging on a bit more to see if they can sneak into the postseason.</p>
<p>But while it has added an element of competitiveness to each conference, there are still a number of teams that have talented veterans who are contributing very little in a rebuilding situation. They would be better utilized playing winning basketball.</p>
<p>There are a number of quality NBA veterans that playoff-contending teams should target in the trade market. Here are five that could offer a lot more in winning situations…</p>
<h2>NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Terrence Ross</h2>
<p>The Human Torch has barely been lit this season, but when the fire gets set, it reminds everyone of just how much Ross has to contribute to an NBA team.</p>
<p>Ross scored 22 fourth-quarter points to give the Orlando Magic victory over the New York Knicks earlier this season and later scored 19 in back-to-back games against the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks.</p>
<p>The 30-year-old was a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate while Steve Clifford was still the head coach of the team. He has been one of the best spark plug scorers in the NBA with his ability to make extremely difficult shots.</p>
<p>Ross is best used in a situation where he can come off the bench and give teams an edge in winning situations. On a team like the Magic, where player development is the aim this season, Ross dominating the ball as part of the second unit does not make sense.</p>
<p>He averaged 15.6 points per game last season and is the perfect guy to come in as part of a second unit that is in need of an offensive boost.</p>
<p>The $12.5m salary makes a trade trickier, as it would take up a decent portion of a team’s salary cap, but the impact Ross can have means that might just be worth it.</p>
<p><strong>POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_437395" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-437395 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2021%2F11%2F1231405028.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1231405028.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2021/11/1231405028-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Jerami Grant #9 of the Detroit Pistons looks on before shooting a free throw against the Sacramento Kings (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Jerami Grant</h2>
<p>Jerami Grant surprised a lot of people with his decision to leave the Denver Nuggets last season, but it was a move that, individually at least, paid off.</p>
<p>Grant averaged 22.3 points per game on a poor Detroit Pistons team last year and, could have easily made the NBA All-Star game. His offensive growth alongside his already solid reputation as a defender established him as a top two-way talent in the league.</p>
<p>But with the franchise firmly in rebuild mode and the focus on whether Cade Cunningham can be the man to lift a long underperforming team out of its slump, the question must be asked as to whether there is really a place for Grant in Detroit moving forward.</p>
<p>His numbers are down this season to 19 points per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the field. However, his dominant 36-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers was a sign that Grant is getting back to last season’s levels.</p>
<p>A lot of teams contending for a postseason spot would love Grant – a versatile wing defender that can score in a number of different ways.</p>
<p>The issue is that he has now established himself as someone who is above the level of a role player, as he was in Denver. He would require a significant role and salary commitment at $20m. However, Grant would make for the perfect third guy on a team with two already proven stars.</p>
<p><strong>POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_438745" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-438745" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1353880610.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1353880610.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1353880610-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Thaddeus Young</h2>
<p>Thaddeus Young had a solid year last season for the Chicago Bulls and proved that he still has plenty left to offer in the NBA.</p>
<p>He averaged 12.1 points per game while being a key part of the rotation, with an average of 24.1 minutes per game. Young has carved out a career as a good all-rounder. He can score, defend, create for others, and has a wealth of experience having played his first season back in 2007.</p>
<p>Young would offer a lot to a team that needs greater depth at the power forward and center spots. At 33 years old, it would make a lot of sense for him to be in a situation where he can squeeze everything out of his talents before he retires.</p>
<p>He is exactly the type of dependable player teams would want in a playoff rotation. With the San Antonio Spurs seemingly unable to compete for a postseason spot this year, it would provide the team with the chance to start building for the future.</p>
<p>Young would fit seamlessly into any team as a glue guy that can contribute on offense and provide solid defense. His $14m a year contract is a significant commitment for someone of his age, but guys with Young’s all-around skillset are hard to find.</p>
<p><strong>POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #4 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_438512" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-438512" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1301833703.jpeg" alt="NBA Trades" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1301833703.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1301833703-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Mike Muscala #33 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball guarded by Montrezl Harrell #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Mike Muscala</h2>
<p>Floor spacing big men are a key focal point of today’s NBA. This is why Mike Muscala has plenty to offer a playoff-contending team.</p>
<p>The strategy of OKC these past couple of seasons has been pretty clear. The focus is solely on the future and on accumulating draft picks – more than the franchise can actually use.</p>
<p>At 30 years old, Muscala is someone that the Thunder could use to further that focus by trading him to a team that needs some extra shooting.</p>
<p>Muscala does not hold a whole lot of value in the trade market, but his three-point shot might persuade a much better team to give up something to bring him in.</p>
<p>He is making an outstanding 45.1 percent of his threes so far this season and made 37 percent of his 5.3 attempts last year. The value of the three-point shot in the modern NBA is enormous, and the chance to get a solid shooter that can force opposition centers out of the paint is a worthwhile endeavor for most contending teams.</p>
<p><strong>POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #5 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421039" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-421039" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1295877704.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295877704.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1295877704-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>NBA Trades: 5 veterans that contending teams should target – Harrison Barnes</h2>
<p>It might have gone slightly under the radar, but Harrison Barnes has taken a bit of a leap this year for the Sacramento Kings. He is averaging 19 points per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three.</p>
<p>There was reportedly a lot of interest in Barnes at last season’s trade deadline, and it’s not hard to see why. Along with his capacity to space the floor and knock down threes, Barnes can also defend at a good level and is very versatile.</p>
<p>Barnes has already demonstrated that he can impact a winning team as part of the Golden State Warriors, but has grown as a player since then and can now do a lot more offensively. He has also proven himself as a threat in the open floor, and can use his size and strength effectively to get inside.</p>
<p>His two-way abilities on the wing make him the perfect small forward or power forward on a team that already has high quality offensive players, but could do with more spacing and defense.</p>
<p>With Sacramento struggling once again this season, and having recently changed head coaches, using Barnes’ trade value could help build a team that is more suited to making a run at a postseason spot.</p>
<p><strong>POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS: Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks</strong></p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 blockbuster NBA trades to get Fox out of Sacramento" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/nba-trades-deaaron-fox-kings/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/27/nba-trades-veterans-target/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/11/26/nba-trades-deaaron-fox-kings/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 blockbuster NBA trades to get Fox out of Sacramento </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">