As we know Free Agency remains the best way to sign a marquee player but on some occasions big stars get traded. The most recent example of this is Kawhi Leonard who wanted out of the Spurs and the Spurs managed to get their hands on Demar DeRozan in return. Winning games and rings is the perfect way to combat any trade talk and as we know only 1 team can win per year, so this leads to unrest and it comes to a point that when big stars cant get the job done we start hearing whispers of possible future suitors. Player contracts are usually very franchise friendly and its only when the players are entering their last year of that contract that trade winds turn into full on hurricanes.
The next batch of star players who are Free Agents in 2019 are a really good group but as we know if they don't start off too great there is a possibility their teams trade them to make sure they dont lose them for nothing. The main players that will be Free Agents next summer are Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Kemba Walker, Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan.
I am happy to rule out the 3 Warriors as they are in the middle of their championship window and have a 0% of trading any of these players midseason. Furthermore with the Raptors giving up DeMar for Kawhi and still being a top 3 team in the east there is no chance they trade Kawhi without giving this roster a full season.
So, I have ruled out 4 players who have a 0% of getting traded and next I will move onto the 2 players I think have a very small (less than 15%) chance to get traded; Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. The Celtics look to be a team built to succeed for the foreseeable future and with Kyrie having 1 year left there is a small chance Danny Ainge gambles and tries to sign a PG with a better contract both in terms of length and money. If the rumours are to be believed Kyrie wants to play for the Knicks and maybe team up with someone else on this list (Carry on reading to find out who if you haven't already guessed). Despite the predicted success for the Celtics this year, they may feel it is the right decision. However my initial feeling is that the Celtics believe in themselves enough to let this season play out and then re-sign Kyrie as a Free Agent.
The second player I had in this cluster was DeAndre Jordan, he only signed a 1 year deal with Dallas so it is unlikely they try and flip him but as we know they have no chance of making the playoffs and this could unsettle him. If a team that is making a push and feels they need a Center to protect the paint, Dallas could cut their losses and look to get back a younger set of assets who fit more with DSJ and Doncic. Not many players, especially 'good' players are traded in the middle of a 1 year deal so this is unlikely but lets remember the NBA is a business and they will do what is right for the franchise.
Last but certainly not least we have the 3 players I believe have the highest chance of being traded. I would give these players anywhere between a 25% and 60% chance of getting traded. Memphis are in a tough spot and have a mixed bag roster. They have Conley and Gasol who were the cornerstones for the franchise but after a injury hit season they have been overtaken but many teams in the West. With Chandler Parsons being on a contract that looks hard to move (though not impossible; see Ryan Anderson) and Conley being hard to move due to the depth of PG's, it leads to Gasol being the most likely to be moved. Similar to DeAndre Jordan, Gasol could be valuable at the trade deadline for a team looking to make a deep playoff run and the fact that he will be a Free Agent won't put them off the short term deal.
Teams to look out for:
Portland Trail Blazers
Toronto Raptors
Jimmy G Buckets is the next player on the list. Something doesnt seem right with this Wolves team and I'm not sure what the problem is, is it Coach Thibs? Wiggins? KAT's work ethic? or all 3? Regardless it seems like Jimmy will definitely leave in Free Agency if he is not traded before then. A first round loss to Houston wasn't a failure but they did not put up as much of a fight as I thought they would. Its only been 1 season and admittedly when he was healthy he was playing at an MVP level while leading the Wolves to the 3rd seed but after his injuries the team regressed and I just dont think this team chemistry is right. Jimmy Butler is a winner and needs to win now so I can see him leaving if things don't start great. No team will want to lost a star for nothing and while his stock is high, the Wolves could cash in and move him on, hopefully to a situation where he can re-sign in the summer.
Teams to look out for:
Los Angeles Lakers
Philadelphia 76ers
Kemba Walker has a legacy in Charlotte, he is the teams all time leading scorer and I feel that his career has been wasted to this point. He has never been surrounded with a roster that can compete and its time for him to move on. I cant see Charlotte making the playoffs and with Kemba about to enter his prime its about time he finds a new home and a team with better prospects. Kemba has one of the best contracts in the NBA ($12M) and it attractive for teams, not too many teams need a PG, especially the elite ones but there is still a market for him. I think the combination of his loyalty to Charlotte, Charlotte's dead roster and team that are hungry make him the most likely player to be traded at some point this season.
Teams to look out for:
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns