just wanted to throw some names out there that usually aren't super high on the Trade Machine trending list, but i think have value for their respective teams in a trade scenario. some i think are more controversial than others, but thats what this forum is for. open discussion. also, i wanna emphasize im not saying all these players need to get shipped immediately. im just saying there's value in shopping them, some more urgently than others.

Jaden McDaniels: a lot of moving parts to why i think Minnesota should at least field calls from the league for Jaden. we've seen what he can be at his foundations, but over the last two years it's become clearer that he's struggling to differentiate his success with that of the broader team's. he isn't moving the needle for the Wolves as much as he is riding its ups and downs. they just traded KAT in the name of cap flexibility, but also have just kicked off a 5-year 130 million dollar contract for McDaniels. the production hasn't been that with the team clearly struggling to find consistent success this season, that kind of salary could be really useful in a trade for a better player. with how much money and time on paper, this automatically rules out any low-brow role player swaps that wouldn't achieve much anyway. his contract is the type that can get moved for a premium player with a premium salary. especially if that team is in a young but uninspired phase, looking for a roster shake up. sidenote: of course the deadline is over but also Minnesota is an over-second-apron team. so the timeline for trading him starts, at the earliest, the start of next season. so there's time to think about it.

Wendell Carter Jr. : this one I am quite ardent on. among the team's other issues, it is clear that the Magic need well-defined role players at its ends, and right now Carter is sort of grey matter in one of the league's worst offenses, one that relies heavily on the limited shot creation of Paolo and Franz, and in its absence of advantage creators and leverage-takers, just can't produce. i have salivated over the thought of this Magic team with somebody else at the 5. so many different and interesting options. i most frequently envision Brook Lopez or Bobby Portis, or at least some player of that kind. for the same reason, i mocked Kyle Filipowski to them very frequently in last year's mock drafts. Paolo and Franz will continue to struggle for as long there are negligible offensive assignments at center.

Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland: this one is a bit controversial. i have discussed this with Pistons fans in my life who are, understandably, hesitant to even consider this. but in my opinion Cade is simply way, way too good at this point to resign the team to another 2-3 years of experimenting with other potential franchise players. Ivey is one thing, since he's older and has shown value in the backcourt. Holland, however, as much as I love him, just might not be on the right timeline. even from the moment he was drafted, the reality was that if the team ends up being good, that changes the timeline drastically. you absolutely CANNOT eat up time on Cade's max contract, which starts next year(!!!) still figuring out what those guys are worth. there were even some players this past deadline i thought could be targeted with these two young prospects. again, more so Holland than Ivey.

Anfernee Simons: this is another one im pretty adamant about. Portland is starting to really key in on their franchise guys. Scoot, Shaedon, and Clingan are all 21 years old, and Toumani and Deni are both 24, which is an acceptable gap given their roles. Portland's draft pick this year, which could potentially land several promising prospects, hopes to be the final piece. so that's the reason on the part of the team. as for Simons himself, he's going on the last year of a 100mil contract that leads into UFA... he just hasn't been the guy. for the money, the timing of his free agency, and just his overall play, Portland could move Simons, keep their pick this year, and have an absolute unit of a young core.

Devin Vassell: i do love this guy, but the consistency hasn't really been there, the efficiency REALLY hasn't been there, and good LORD is that a lot of money on his new contract for a team that is in incredible draft position in an elite class, and is now a destination hotspot for other big fish free agent wings. there are targets thru these methods who have higher upside, are a better team fit, and are closer in age to Wembanyama. i just think there are so many exciting ways to improve the team from there. no hate Devin, you're dope. just my opinion.

would love to hear what players you think should be gone and why!