This is the 2^nd installment of a 2-part series focused on the NSL trade deadline.  If you’d like a list of the teams the league has expected to be buyers as we approach the deadline, consider reading part 1 that was posted a few weeks ago. 

Discourse across the league would suggest this NSL trade deadline won’t have nearly as many fireworks as deadline’s past.  In recent years, the NSL has seen big names move.  Last year we saw stars like Bradley Beal, Stephen Curry, and Donovan Mitchell all moved in week 15, along with a host of high-level role players.  This season, we have had some stars dealt, and perhaps that’s why there’s not much anticipation of an explosive trade deadline on the horizon.  In the 2024-25 season, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Paul George, Dejounte Murray, John Collins, Jordan Poole, Julius Randle, Kristaps Porzingis, and others have already been dealt.  Most teams are locked in for a chance at the postseason, or on the flip side, are squarely entrenched in their long term play to rebound their franchise.  I hypothesize that a few factors will lead the NSL to a lack luster deadline, those factors include:

1)     Salary cap crunches, most competing teams don’t have the cap space, or matching financial assets to spend on a difference maker to aid the run, and if they do, they likely don’t have the picks those rebuilding teams covet to give up a good asset. 

2)     Lack of sellers in the market has led to teams being more aggressive and competitive in the early trade market, vs waiting for the deadline.

3)     Variability in 2k results.  I think many of the teams in the playoff hunt have seen a version of their team that they truly believe can be competitive down the stretch.  Each team, this season, have gone through moments of looking unstoppable, and also moments that have encouraged their GM to tear it all down.  This variability can lead to indecisiveness at the helm of any front office. 

With that being said, there are a few big names who have been floated out on the trade market, and a plethora of difference making role players available.  In this article we will determine if the sell on a player is real, and if it is, we will speculate on a trade value.

Jamaal Murray

The star point guard of the NSL Spurs has had his name floated on the trade block of late.  The Spurs have outright labelled him as tough to get, and rightfully so.  His impact on the offensive side of the court is one that many teams would covet.  This publication views it unlikely Murray is moved by the deadline.  By all accounts Murray would only be dealt in a move that increased the Spurs chances to win, and given the depth they already have in place, they will likely find they are better off holding onto the star guard if the goal is to win games now. 

Myles Turner, Jerami Grant, Kelly Oubre

I lumped these three players together because I do believe they ride in a similar boat, with Turner being the potential obvious outlier.  Turner brings serious 2-way capability, and his fit next to Giannis is superb, but with all of these guys, if the value is right, I could see the Spurs moving on from them in the next few weeks.  With Turner, the expectation would be to bring in a win-now player at a different position, or a high potential pick, if the Spurs were to sputter out in the next few weeks.  Oubre and Grant seem much more available, and with Grant’s high salary number, I would peg the most likely departure to be Oubre.  He's been on the market for a few weeks now and has had multiple inquiries. 

Expected value:

Win-Now: 3&D type 2/3/4, especially if they move off grant too.

Rebuild/Retool: a mid-late first round pick, from a contending team, if there is one out there.

Marcus Smart

Smart was recently dealt to Portland in a heavily talked about deal that saw Lou Dort head to Milwaukee.  These days, players above the age of 25 aren’t long for the Trail Blazers, and we expect Marcus Smart to be no different.  JMac’s plan is simple.  Amass draft assets, while also bringing in a player capable of impacting a championship run, for the contending teams to bid over.  Smart brings a lot of invaluable trait’s to any team he’s on, but his ~20 Million dollar salary may hamper negotiations.

Expected Value:

JMac way: 1-2 useful 2k vets, and 1-2 2^nd round picks.

Other avenue: 20 Mil of dead, negative value or injured player salary, and a late projected 1^st round pick, or multiple 2nds.

Joel Embiid

Here’s a name that could shake up the NSL trade deadline, one of, if not the most polarizing players and names that have been floated leading up to the date.  On one hand, you have one of the most dominant big men in NSL history, and on the other is his current injury concerns.  This is not the first time this season Embiid’s name has been up on the block.  The offers GM Jase was sent must not have been proper value, as he was not traded previously, and I don’t expect him to be now.  Sure, Embiid is great, but a team would likely have to feel completely out of the race to trade for him at this stage.  A sleeper team to watch would be the Spurs.  Though I am not sure they have the correct combination of value and useful pieces for the Jazz run, pairing Giannis with Embiid is a tantalizing thought.  If they could somehow keep Murray while pairing him with Giannis and Embiid, it’d be hard to imagine a team better positioned as the favorite to win the 25/26 NSL title. 

Kris Middleton

Kris’ name has been a recent addition to the trade block.  He’s a highly impactful 2-way 2k contributor, that can play a 3^rd or 4^th fiddle on a championship contending team.  The problems he has, are similar to Smarts, in the sense that he’s a tough salary number to work up to, and he’s cursed to be with the NBA Wizards.  I’d say his departure is a 50/50 proposition.  We’ve seen teams give up 2 lesser role players for a premiere 2^nd banana in the past, and I could see that happening here.

Expected value: 2, lesser win now role players, or 1 similarly rated player at the PF spot.

Desmond Bane

Desmond has really showed some 2k chops this season, and he has proven he is certainly a useful 2k piece.  The issue that has always plagued Desmond in game is his set shooting dependency, short wingspan, and average athleticism.  With the new development of 2k25, he’s shown a heightened value, and the Hawks are looking to cash in on that.  I’d say he’s another guy who is about 50/50, maybe 60/40 that he will not be dealt.  The Hawks hold a high value on Bane, after multiple first round picks, though perhaps they settle on 1 very highly projected one.  Half of the first round is owned by 2 teams, and most of the contending ilk do not have the pick(s) required to get a deal done.  Miami is a sleeper team to consider in a potential Bane sweepstakes.  He’s young enough to consider a part of the future, and Pete has a proclivity for scoring guards.  I still view Bane move as slightly more on the unlikely side.

Domantas Sabonis

This is breaking news, a name that has not been shopped publicly, but more privately in recent months.  Sabonis will get another hard look from the Nuggets front office, who have been on the fence for a couple of seasons now about shipping him out.  The Nuggets are rumoured to be looking for a power forward, likely a more athletic, younger version of Sabonis, and have been rumoured to be exploring his market behind doors.  Sabonis is a name that could top the trade market of the NSL 2025 trade deadline. 

Expected value: Useful role players to match salary, 1 high projected, or multiple mid-late projected 1^st rounds picks.

Negative Value/Injured player matching salary, 2 high projected 1^st round picks, a handful of middling picks.

Mikal Bridges

Mikal is a recent addition to the trade block, a development that was spurred by the sudden season ending injury of Pacers star big man Victor Wembanyama.  In Bridges teams will have the chance to acquire a high level 2-way threat, who’s on a very reasonable contract.  The Iron Man of the NBA, and by virtue NSL, is being sold for young players and draft picks.  The most likely route to this is 2-3 young players on rookie contracts, or a combination of a decently paid vet, young guys, and picks.  A sleeper team to consider in the Bridges stakes is Portland.  Bridges is a young enough piece to build around, and if they can come to an agreeable price, he’s a piece worth considering as a potential cornerstone of the future looking franchise.

There are of course other names who deserve to be on this list.  There should still be a plethora of deals to go, but perhaps not names at the level of deadline’s past.  One thing is for sure though, there is never a dull moment in the NSL, and I don’t think we will start now.