Whether or not Jimmy Butler is traded ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline, it's possible that a less heralded transaction might be the difference in transforming a team into an NBA Finals contender.
Last season's Dallas Mavericks are a prime example. The Mavs revamped their starting five at the 2024 deadline by adding Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards and P.J. Washington from the Charlotte Hornets, boosting a team mired in the play-in race into the Finals.
But as we saw in 2023, incorporating a bigger star at the deadline remains a challenge. The Mavs missed the play-in after trading for Kyrie Irving. The Phoenix Suns -- who remain linked to Butler this season -- had similar difficulty with Kevin Durant after his midseason arrival, in part due to his injuries.
It's increasingly common for players acquired via midseason trade to play more than 100 minutes in the Finals -- 14 players have done so in the past 10 seasons, including both Gafford and Washington. Between 2006 and 2014, just three players did so: Pau Gasol (2008 Lakers), Rafer Alston (2009 Magic) and Nate Robinson (2010 Celtics).
With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, we examine 10 notable players who could be this season's Gafford or Washington -- including what their current team gets out of a deal and the best possible fits among teams looking to make a deep postseason run.
Jump to a position:
Guards: Beal, LaVine, Clarkson
Forwards: Boucher, Grant, Ingram, Johnson, Kuzma
Centers: Valanciunas, Vucevic
