With less than a month until the clock strikes on the NBA's annual trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 20, the rumor mill is sure to be spinning at full capacity. Every team will participate in the ritual, though most will fail to pull a trigger on an actual transaction. The aim for each team varies; some are building for a springtime playoff push, while others are trying to position themselves for a brighter future. Names will buzz on and off the rumor radar, but which teams actually have the most to offer?
To answer that question, we ranked the trade asset for each of the NBA's 30 teams. We both voted on each team's top-five assets to establish a consensus. Players, draft pick and current-season cap space were all eligible to be ranked. Then, using Kevin Pelton's framework for assigning value to each asset type, along with three-year SCHOENE projections, the teams were ranked by the total value of their top-five assets. In each case, we attempted to evaluate the mindset of each general manager, asking two things:
1. Which of my assets would I like to move?
2. Which of those assets have actual value in the marketplace?
It should be noted that while SCHOENE projections involve expected asset performance, they do not take into account the cost of these assets; in other words, it does not take into account the difference between a high-salary, multiyear contract asset (e.g., Ersan Ilyasova) vs. a low-salary, short-term deal (e.g., Ed Davis).
Also, for the purposes of this exercise, we did not include assets that teams themselves would never consider moving, so don't scratch your head over why Kevin Durant doesn't appear as an Oklahoma City asset or how the Bucks' 2014 first-round pick isn't in play.
1. Brooklyn Nets | WARP value (of top-five assets): 58.4
Key assets: Brook Lopez, Mirza Teletovic, Mason Plumlee, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko.
Amin: Brooklyn's asset value is real, even if its championship chances aren't. Williams and Lopez are accomplished (albeit injury-prone) players who still hold value in the trade market, and Plumlee, Teletovic and "AK-47" are competent role players at value pricing.
Bradford: We both included Lopez as a trade candidate, but I didn't include Williams. I wrote about this previously, and it's even more true now that the Nets are playing so well: Brooklyn's best chance to win is now, and Lopez can't help them do that.
2. Denver Nuggets | WARP value: 39.2
Key assets: Nate Robinson, Kenneth Faried, 2014 first-round pick, Andre Miller, Danilo Gallinari.
Amin: Faried's development has plateaued, but there is always a market for athletic energy bigs with another year and a half on the rookie scale. I wrote about Miller's value, both on-court and in the books, and Robinson's the ultimate short-contract spark plug.
Bradford: I wasn't sure about including Faried, but Amin had him ranked No. 1. If the Nuggets decide to move him, he'll be one of the top trade chips on the market.
3. Phoenix Suns | WARP value: 37.3
Key assets: Channing Frye, cap space, Goran Dragic, Markieff Morris, 2014 first-round pick.
Amin: Phoenix has positioned itself to be this year's version of the 2012 Rockets, with a bevy of assets. Dragic and Frye are high-value impact players, and the Suns' cap flexibility and 2014 pick inventory allow them to get creative in any deal.
Bradford: You hate to break up the terrific chemistry the Suns have, but in the big picture Frye is the perfect sell-high candidate. Teams will be drooling to get a legit big guy shooting the ball so well.
4. Detroit Pistons | WARP value: 32.3
Key assets: Greg Monroe, Rodney Stuckey, Jonas Jerebko, 2014 first-round pick, Charlie Villanueva.
Amin: Monroe is a luxury for Detroit at this point and its best bet to return value in a deal as a young, skilled back-to-the-basket big. Stuckey and Villanueva have hefty but expiring deals and bring varying semblances of skill fulfillment.
Bradford: Should the Pistons really give up on their new mix so quickly? Tough call, but given Andre Drummond's ceiling and Josh Smith's potentially toxic contract, Monroe is the one who's got to go.
5. Milwaukee Bucks | WARP value: 30.4
Key assets: Ersan Ilyasova, Ekpe Udoh, O.J. Mayo, Luke Ridnour, Gary Neal.
Amin: At this point, their whole roster has to be in play. Milwaukee has done a fine job of hoarding guys who would be great role players elsewhere. Mayo's and Ilyasova's deals are an impediment, however.
Bradford: If I'm the Bucks, I'm trying to deal all five of these veterans for anything I can get in return.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves | WARP value: 29.4
Key assets: Jose Juan Barea, Dante Cunningham, Kevin Love, Shabazz Muhammad, Alexey Shved.
Amin: Barring a miraculous turnaround and ensuing magical playoff run, Love ain't walkin' [back] through that door. Minnesota needs to be proactive in securing a premium trade haul (a la Utah and Deron Williams in 2011) before the inevitable trade request goes public.
Bradford: I'm not with Amin in including Love. To me, you're trying to woo him, and the time is growing short to do so. You can always tear down later on.
7. Memphis Grizzlies | WARP value: 28.3
Key assets: Zach Randolph, Ed Davis, Kosta Koufos, Mike MillerTony Allen.
Amin: Keeping Randolph past his expiration date would be unwise for the Grizzlies, especially at his price tag. He's still productive enough to garner value in a trade, as is Allen, who has replacements on the roster with more complete games (Courtney Lee, Quincy Pondexter).
Bradford: Randolph just isn't going to get better from here, so whatever trade value he has is as high as it's going to get. Note: Miller is a trade asset, but as per the CBA, because the amnesty clause was used on him, he cannot be traded back to Miami.
8. Boston Celtics | WARP value: 25.7
Key assets: Rajon Rondo, 2014 first-round pick, Kris Humphries, Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green.
Amin: Nothing is untouchable for the Celtics, who find themselves back in the same situation as 2006-07: lots of nice young players and a premium pick to package for big-name talents. In that sense, Rondo might be the least likely to be traded, but Green's contract will scare away some suitors.
Bradford: Amin and I have different reads on the Celts, but we agree about shopping Rondo. As for trading away a pick, if you can add a core piece now, why wait? Boston will still have ample presence in the 2014 first round.
9. Los Angeles Clippers | WARP value: 24.7
Key assets: Jared Dudley, Reggie Bullock, Matt Barnes, Byron Mullens, Antawn Jamison.
Amin: I was surprised to see the valuation place the Clippers so highly on the list. Bullock is the prime trade candidate as a rookie 3-and-D player with 3.5 years of rookie scale left on his deal. Dudley and Barnes are both moderately priced role-player wings who can fetch reasonable value on the trade market.
Bradford: I still think the Clippers need to improve their rebounding, and they aren't using all these guys anyway.
10. Philadelphia 76ers | WARP value: 24.1
Key assets: Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, Spencer Hawes, cap space, Jason Richardson.
Amin: The Sixers' ability to take back more money in deals helps their trade asset stash considerably. Turner is enjoying a breakout season, but it remains to be seen if he can flourish in a role where he's less needed as a scorer. Hawes is an excellent stretch option as a big, and Young is an all-round talent with a less-than-desirable contract.
Bradford: Our valuations might be underrating the Sixers. It's hard to imagine that in the marketplace, there's a team better positioned to move a package of useful veterans.
11. Houston Rockets | WARP value: 23.6
Key assets: Omer Asik, 2014 first-round pick, Donatas Motiejunas, Jeremy Lin, Omri Casspi.
Amin: Asik has been the most talked-about trade target this year, and for good reason, as the type of player who can impact a team's win-loss record immediately. However, his balloon payment next year might scare away suitors; same can be said of Lin's contract.
Bradford: The Rockets can't lose, really. They can be really good standing pat with these assets, or they can nudge further forward if the right offer comes along.
12. New York Knicks | WARP value: 20.3
Key assets: Iman Shumpert, Tim Hardaway Jr., Tyson Chandler, Pablo Prigioni, Beno Udrih.
Amin: I can't see the Knicks realizing that moving away from Melo would be the optimal strategic decision, so their young players and solid vets are the only assets of note.
Bradford: Neither of us ranked Carmelo Anthony as a top-five trade asset for New York, which really means the Knicks have a better chance at retaining his value by keeping him during free agency, as opposed to whatever return they can get by trading him in the next few weeks.