Surprise, surprise. The 2017 year is finally over. In this year, we got to see the Golden State Warriors reclaim their NBA title. We also got to see a plethora of free agent signings, NBA plot twists, and the formation of new title contenders. Now that 2017 has come to a close, NBA teams have to get ready to compete now that the season is in full swing. That doesn't mean that a trade can't happen before January is up.
Here are five trades that can be made before January ends. These players are likely to not finish their season as a member of their current team.
5. Jordan Clarkson
It's no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers and Jordan Clarkson want to part ways. Clarkson is a starting caliber shooting guard, but his minutes have been inconsistent this year. The Lakers have already indicated that they want to build around Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma. Clarkson seems to be the odd man out, and a trade involving the ball dominant guard may not be too far from the present. Clarkson is an ideal shooting guard for teams looking for a reliable scorer to fit into their starting lineup.
The Lakers seem to be in no rush to trade Clarkson, being that he is a valuable contributor to the team. That could change now that we are in a new year. Fortunately, the trade deadline is coming closer now that January is upon us. The Los Angeles Lakers may be stubborn now, but if push comes to shove, they will trade their disgruntled shooting guard. In fact, expect the Lakers to trade Clarkson if a deal appears and they can't refuse. Fringe NBA contenders could use some scoring, so a deal for Clarkson could catch fire around the league if the Lakers are selling. They are selling, by the way.
4. Paul George
This may seem ridiculous, but it just may happen. Paul George obviously doesn't fit with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is a talented player, but he doesn't seem to be what the Thunder need as a partner for Russell Westbrook. The Thunder aren't producing decent results right now, and it's probably time for Paul George and the Thunder to move on. The month of December is usually the time for teams to send in offers for players to retool their rosters, and this month should be no exception this year. More importantly, Paul George has already expressed that he wants to sign with the Lakers during his free agency, so what's the point of the Thunder wasting a season trying to pair him and Westbrook together?
The Thunder should explore options to trade Paul George. The season is getting late, and the Thunder will be in a bad position if it has to fight for a playoff spot. Therefore, the Thunder should trade Paul George to get the pieces that they need to win now. The NBA is definitely a league where anything can happen, so it wouldn't be totally unreasonable for George to be moved before January is over.
3. Anthony Davis
It's not shocking that Anthony Davis is in constant trade rumors, He's a great talent that can put a lot of teams into contention. However, Davis has recently expressed doubt about his stay with the Pelicans and that's a bad thing. It's really bad. It's not promising to hear your star power forward talk about if he doesn't know if he will get traded or not. What exactly is going on in the Pelicans' front office. No one knows for sure, but you can reasonably assume that a trade is in the works.
Anthony Davis would fetch a large price if he were on the trade market. Considering what happened to DeMarcus Cousins last year, it's a safe bet not to count an Anthony Davis trade out in the future. After all, he's in his prime and he can fetch some quality pieces for a team that is looking to compete in the tough Western Conference. Davis may have signed a contract extension for a long term future in New Orleans, but no one can be sure if he will stay there. That's especially true with the way DeMarcus Cousins has been playing.
2. Julius Randle
Unlike Clarkson, Randle has been completely thrown out of the Lakers' future plans. With the excellent play of Kyle Kuzma, Randle has been forced to accept a backup role for the Lakers. Luke Walton has even opted to play Larry Nance Jr. over Randle, which has to be upsetting. Since Randle obviously has lost his starting job to Kuzma and looks to be out of the Lakers' rebuilding focus, a imminent trade seems likely. With the trade deadline approaching, Randle could be gone in a flash if a team as a need for a quality power forward.
Fortunately for Randle, teams like the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls can use Randle's services. The Lakers are currently in a rebuilding phase, so if a good offers slides on their desk, expect Randle to be gone shortly after. Make no mistake. Julius Randle is a good player. Though, it doesn't make sense to hold him hostage if he won't be used in the future. The Lakers are better off trading him, and they will before way before the deadline ends.
1. DeAndre Jordan
What is going on with DeAndre Jordan and the Clippers? Jordan is an amazing talent, but he doesn't seem to be in the Clippers' long term plans moving forward. As such, Jordan has been linked in a lot of trade rumors, especially with the Cavaliers and the Bucks. Jordan is a hot commodity on the trade market because he is what every team needs. He's a quality rebounder and rim-protector. On the right team, he could be of great value in the post season. That's why the Clippers will trade him to avoid paying him in the future and to get a quality return.
All of these players may or may not be traded soon, but with the way the NBA is, anything can happen. Who knows; these players may get to spend the trade deadline totally safe on another team.
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