NBA Power Rankings: Rating 25 ‘available’ trade candidates, from worst to first

Welcome back to the world’s most accurate power rankings, where this week, before the Feb. 5 trade deadline, we are adding a wrinkle, rating 25 “available” NBA players from worst to first.

Just how “available” they are is in some question. Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example, may want out, but until he formally requests a trade, the Milwaukee Bucks will be hesitant to grant him one. Others are readily available. Some may only be parted with for the right asking price.

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But all of them make some sense as trade candidates, given their situations. So, here we are to sort them based upon their talent, their contracts, their fits, their everything. Mostly: Can any of them meaningfully change a team’s championship chances? Here we try to sort them in order, mostly, based on how much each could alter this year’s title picture. Surely you will not argue.

(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

One more thing before we get to the rankings: Karl-Anthony Towns. Is he available? Whispers are growing louder, if only because his New York Knicks are struggling. But I still cannot imagine a world in which the Knicks disrupt their roster — one that remains a favorite to emerge from the East — for anyone but Antetokounmpo. So we will leave him sidelined for now.

Honorable mentions: Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets; Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers; De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers; Malik Monk; Sacramento Kings.

25. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

On Thursday, Kuminga demanded a trade from the Warriors. On Friday, we discussed whether he was even a good basketball player. On Monday, Golden State’s Jimmy Butler tore his right ACL, leaving open a massive hole on the wing. Warriors coach Steve Kerr was asked if he will turn to Kuminga, and in a disheartened voice he said, “Sure. Absolutely.” Audition time, I guess?

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24. Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have canvassed the market, shopping “some of their players, including RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley,” looking to see what value they might find, according to ESPN. Among their reported potential targets are…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/nba-power-rankings-rating-25-available-trade-candidates-from-worst-to-first-213505024.html

Author : Ben Rohrbach

Publish date : 2026-01-20 21:35:00

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