10 Under the Radar NBA Players Likely on the Move

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Wayne Ellington - Detroit Pistons

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Wayne Ellington has been journeyman player for his entire 11 year career. But like being a Gatekeeper in MMA, being a journeyman isn’t a bad role. There is a reason a team has always signed Ellington for the past 11 seasons. He is one of the best catch and shoot 3 point threats in the NBA. Ellington is shooting 42% on 6 attempts per game for Detroit. He shoots the deep ball at a 38% career clip and has found a way to contribute and score the ball for years. Multiple contending teams have shown interest in adding the knock down shooter to their bench. The Pistons are in full tank mode and likely to sell high on Ellington’s nice season. Expect most of the top of the Eastern Conference teams to want to add Ellington, as well as the Lakers, Jazz, and Clippers.

Terrence Ross - Orlando Magic

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Terrence Ross is basically a way more athletic version of Wayne Ellington. Ross is tremendous running off screens and shooting contested 3s. He has used the Reggie Miller/Steph Curry method and never being still and always finding a way to spring himself open. He is having a solid year with the Orlando Magic, but the Magic are struggling to pick up wins. They have currently lost 8 games in a row and sit in 14th in the East. This is after securing the 7 seed in last year's Playoffs. Ross would likely be a 6th Man of the Year candidate if Orlando’s season was going better. He is averaging 16 PPG off their bench while shooting 36% from deep. Terrence is only 30 and could still be a big piece to a contending team. Similar teams interested in Ellington have been inquired about Ross. His contract is a bit bigger, but he is the better player. Ross is also a former Dunk Contest Winner who still can play above the rim. He is a very solid bench piece for any fringe contender.

Evan Fournier - Orlando Magic

(theathletic.com)

Ross’s Orlando teammate Evan Fournier is also likely to be traded. Orlando has to blow it up and they must start by getting rid of their most tradeable assets. Fournier is a good scorer for the Magic, averaging 18.5 PPG. The exact same number as last year. He has only played 21 of the 39 games so far this year, which may make it harder to find a trade partner. Teams will be interested in Fournier because of his shooting and scoring ability. He is a starting level player for a fringe contender and a very solid 6th man for a title threat. A team will probably have to gamble on his health, but a healthy Fournier can put one of the Eastern Conference teams over the top. With that being said, don’t be surprised if he somehow ends up in LA.

Larry Nance Jr. - Cleveland Cavs

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I’m actually shocked Larry Nance Jr. is still on the Cavs. He has been their most tradeable asset for two seasons, multiple teams have expressed interest in him, and the Cavs suck, and they still haven’t traded him. Larry is an energy big man who can play above the rim and hit the midrange jumper. The 28 year old is currently in his 5th year in the league and has proven to be able to contribute. He is averaging 9.1 points and 6.5 rebounds a game for the Cavs. Nance has been out for part of the year, but this hasn’t stopped the Pelicans, Celtics, Heat, and 76ers from publicly expressing interest in the big man. He is good enough defensively to stay on the floor in crunch time and his energy is a big plus off the bench. Cleveland has way, way too many big men on their roster.

Javale McGee - Cleveland Cavs

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Javale McGee being on the Cavs too proves my point. He is also a big man that many contending teams desire. McGee came into the league as kind of a goofy dude. He lead the league in Shaqtin’ A Fool appearances and was often the butt of the joke. McGee always had freakish athleticism, but his early struggles on defense left more to be desired. Since going to the Golden State Warriors in 2016, McGee has turned his career around. He is now a 3-time NBA Champion and a very reliable big man. He has shown himself to be a defensive stopper at the highest level. He was apart of 2 Warriors Championships and the Lakers Championship Last Year. I think his days in Cleveland are numbered and many contending teams have expressed interest in McGee. I would bet my left foot he ends up in Brooklyn.

Tristan Thompson - Boston Celtics

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Tristan Thompson’s stay in Boston may be a quick one. Thompson was THE Cavs bigman for the past 8 seasons. He was instrumental in the Cavs Championship in 2016 and has been a reliable player on both ends his whole career. He is one of the best offensive rebounders in basketball and of the past 10 years. His ability to use his big body to carve out position makes him an absolute load on the glass. He decided his time in Cleveland had come to an end this summer and signed with the Boston Celtics. The move was praised by Boston fans as Thompson was seen to be a big upgrade in one of their biggest holes. But the emergence of 3rd year center Robert Williams III has put Boston in a predicament. Thompson and German big man Daniel Theis now have to fight for playing time. Theis has been with the Celtics for 3 years and was their starting Center throughout last year’s playoff run. He is move athletic than Thompson and shoots the 3 ball much better. Thompson doesn’t shoot it at all. I believe Boston will move either Theis or Thompson for bench help. Theis seems more likely to stay as he has the upper hand on Thompson in every category besides rebounding. Toronto had expressed interest in trading for Thompson, but I also wouldn’t be shocked to see him on the Lakers with his old pal LeBron. Thompson and LeBron played together for 4 seasons in Cleveland, making the Finals every time.

P.J. Tucker - Houston Rockets

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P.J. Tucker is definitely getting traded. The Rockets and Tucker have agreed to mutually part ways and P.J. is not playing until he has been traded. Tucker is a hold over from the James Harden era in Houston. He was a starter for Houston throughout all of their playoff runs and is a Draymond Green type of player. He is a corner 3 point specialist, lock down defender, and a brick wall as an on ball defender. Although he is getting up there in age, Tucker will still be a very valuable piece to any playoff team. Basically every single contending team in both conferences have expressed interest in him. Expect the 76ers, Heat, Celtics, Lakers, Jazz, and Nets to push hard to acquire Tucker at the deadline.

J.J. Redick - New Orleans Pelicans

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J.J. Redick still being on the Pelicans kinda baffles me. It was made public knowledge at the beginning of the season that J.J. didn’t love his role with New Orleans and that himself and new Head Coach Stan Van Gundy were not clicking. This surprised me because it isn’t the first time Stan Van has coached Redick. He coached a very young J.J. in Orlando at the tail end of the 2000s. I think most of the frustration came from the location. J.J. is used to making a difference on contending teams and hitting big shots in the playoffs. Before singing with New Orleans last season, Redick had never missed the playoffs in 12 seasons. He signed with the upstart Pelicans, but they haven’t upstarted much since he got there. New Orleans missed the Playoffs last year and haven’t exactly looked improved this season. There is a youth movement going on in New Orleans that I would be surprised to see J.J. invited too. Look for the real title threats like Philly, Both LA teams, and Phoenix to possibly attempt to scoop Redick before a playoff run.

Eric Bledsoe - New Orleans Pelicans

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Another older Pelicans guard that could be on the move is Eric Bledsoe. Bledsoe is only in his first season with New Orleans after being traded from Milwaukee in the Jrue Holiday deal. He was the Bucks starting point guard for the past 3 years and has experience in big games. His performances in those big games aren’t to write home about, but he’s been there. Bledsoe is now probably a 6th man for a contending team. There have been leaked rumors that New Orleans doesn’t feel like Bledsoe fits into their future. A return to the Clippers could add another ball handler to their bench, but they already have Eric Bledsoe The Sequel in Reggie Jackson. Middle of the pack Playoff teams like the Heat, Nuggets, or Trail Blazers could use Bledsoe’s veteran leadership and defensive abilities to give some life to their 2nd unit.

Gary Harris - Denver Nuggets

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Gary Harris is one of the better players on this list, I just don’t think he fits into the Nuggets timeline at all anymore. Harris was drafted by Denver in 2014 out of Michigan State. He was expected to be an athletic, defensively switchable wing for them out of the gate. As his career started, Harris looked like a decent piece in Denver. As team success in Denver built over the years, Harris’s personal stats have gone down. Denver continued to draft good players at his position like Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig, and Michael Porter Jr. Along with the emergence of Jamal Murray as a fringe All-Star Point Guard, Harris has essentially been cut out of their future rotation. Beasley and Craig have since moved on from the team, but Harris has only played 19 games this year. He still has enough potential and name value to be put into a trade for a solid 3rd star for Denver. Contending teams looking to get over the top of selling bad teams looking to get rid of a good player will likely have a spot for Harris on their squad. He will either end up as a solid 6th man for a contender, or a top 3 player on a crappy team. Either way, I don’t imagine him being on the Nuggets much longer.