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It's mid-December and about 30 games in, we already have a pretty decent picture of the top teams who'll be contending in the playoffs. With roughly 40% of the players hitting free agency last off-season, a lot of them have just recently become eligible to be on the trading block on December 15.
The road to the championship has been the most wide-open it has been in the last five years, and teams and players alike are just itching to make the best move for themselves.
With this in mind, which players could ask for a trade from their current team? Let us look at the same.
#1 JJ Redick
Last offseason, JJ Redick signed a two-year $25.5 million contract with the recently-overhauled New Orleans Pelicans. The 6'3 shooting guard hasn't missed the playoffs in his 13-year career, and with the Pelicans reeling at 14th in the West, Redick might consider asking for a trade to a contender.
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There were rumors that the Lakers were interested in signing him as he'd be a great fit alongside LeBron. This didn't come to fruition though, as Redick went on to sign with the Pelicans. Although the Lakers aren't exactly missing him now as they're currently on top at 24-4, the Lakers could still look to trade for him in exchange for a point guard in Quinn Cook and a defender and shooter in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
Another promising destination would be the Milwaukee Bucks. The sharpshooter will be perfect alongside Giannis as he'll be a great floor spacer and an additional scorer for the contending team. The Bucks might need another team though, as they're also interested in Covington and they don't want to give up too much for Redick's $13m/year salary.
Redick was probably looking forward to playing with Zion Williamson. However, after his surgery sidelined him even before the season started, his timeline of return remains unclear. As the young Pelicans squad isn't exactly clicking yet, Redick's playoff streak might end this year if he remains in New Orleans. The sharpshooter is already 35 years old, and although his game has aged extremely well, he might be looking to win the chip before he retires.
#2 Robert Covington
Robert Covington has been gaining interest around the league as he's the 3-and-D prototype—someone a contending team would be willing to pay for. He's on an expiring deal, and with the Minnesota Timberwolves not looking great with their squad right now, RoCo might consider asking for a trade while teams are still high on him.
The Bucks are rumored to have interest on the 6'7 forward, and with an $11 million contract, a package that includes Ersan Ilyasova might interest Minnesota, who'll get back a floor spacer in the Turkish player. The Bucks might also try to find another team so they don't move too many players. They might call OKC, as Schroder could just be the shooting PG the Timberwolves need. With other teams interested in Covington, the Bucks might also need to add a pick and another player to get him.
Another team interested in Covington are the Houston Rockets, who are currently in need of a defensive specialist on the wing. The Rockets almost beat the Warriors in seven games two years ago, which was in large part of Trevor Ariza's elite wing defense and floor spacing. RoCo can help with Houston's size and need of a 3-and-D. The forward's game also fits the Rockets' offense well. The Rockets are tight right now though, so they might have to give up more than Danuel House and picks to pull off the trade. If this isn't enough, they might also need another team to please Minnesota.
#3 DeMar DeRozan
Last season, Toronto shook up the NBA by trading for Kawhi Leonard (and Danny Green) in exchange for the fans' beloved DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected first-round pick. Toronto went on to win the championship as DeRozan had a first-round exit with the Spurs.
The Spurs are currently 12th in the West right now, and DeMar might consider asking for a trade if he sees San Antonio's chances of making their 23rd straight playoff appearance get slimmer and slimmer. Currently, the high-flying G/F is averaging 20.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists—a stat-line that could impress a playoff contender. DeMar will also be a restricted free agent next year, and the Spurs might look to test the market so they don't overpay to keep him or lose him for nothing come 2020.
A trade destination could be the Orlando Magic, who sit uncomfortably at the eighth seed with a 12-14 record. They badly need a wing scorer who will not only help them climb the standings but also make them more competitive come playoff time. A package of a young center in Mo Bamba and a forward in Aaron Gordon might thrive in the Spurs' system. With Marcus Morris leaving the Spurs hanging the last off-season, this might be a great deal for the Spurs as they're clearly looking for bigs. They could also package DeMar with Bryn Forbes, who'd make for an additional playmaker for the Magic.
The Pistons could also be an appealing destination for DeMar. Detroit could try if a package that includes Thon Maker, Reggie Jackson, and Langston Galloway (plus a pick or another young player) might make the Spurs bite.
#4 Dennis Schroder
With the roster shakeup that the Thunder experienced after dealing Russell Westbrook and Paul George, Dennis Schroder might want to ask for a trade to a playoff contender in need of a playmaker. They may be doing okay this season, but he's still playing backup to aging Chris Paul and a promising Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If OKC decides a full rebuild and successfully trades Paul's contract, the skinny backcourt of Schroder and SGA might not be the best way to go.
Schroder is only 26 years old and he's proven to be a serviceable starter on other teams. The Minnesota Timberwolves might be a good place for him as they need a reliable point guard who can shoot and playmaker. A package that includes Gorgui Dieng, a pick, and another player might interest the Thunder.
The guard might also like it in Detroit. He'll be a much-needed playmaker and floor-spacer for the Pistons. The German guard's $15.5 million contract comes with a price though, and Detroit might need to include Tony Snell's contract with Luke Kennard and/or a pick if the Thunder don't want Reggie Jackson's $18 million back. If the Thunder agree to get Jackson back, Detroit might ask for another player like Mike Muscala in exchange for Jackson and a pick.
#5 Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala was dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies last off-season as part of a cap-relief to be able to sign D'Angelo Russell. Teams were expecting a buyout earlier in the season, but the Grizzlies have made it clear that they want something back for the three-time champion. He didn't report to training camp and has not played a single game this season, and Iguodala has said that he and the team were on the same page. The Grizzlies are looking to get as much as they can for the valuable wing.
Iguodala has been rumored to go to LA, and both the Lakers and the Clippers are very much interested in him. For the Lakers, a package that includes KCP, Quinn Cook, and a pick might interest the Grizzlies. It will be a little difficult though, as Iggy comes with a hefty price of $17 million and the Lakers have already built great chemistry with their current squad.
The Clippers, on the other hand, could dangle their 2020 first-rounder, Mo Harkless' $11 million expiring contract, and some young player in their roster. This would get the Grizzlies good players around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr while the Clippers will further boost their defense and add a playmaker with this trade.
Another team that could swoop in would be the Denver Nuggets. The veteran might actually not mind returning to Denver alongside the young core of Murray, Harris, and Jokic. As they are currently at the bottom-10 in the league in threes, adding an elite wing defender and three-point shooter in Iguodala might be the solution to their sluggish start this season. To entice Memphis, Denver might need to give up some of their young guys outside the core and a few picks if they want this to happen. They could also have a trade package that includes Millsap for cap relief and get some players and swapped picks back.
