The NBA trade deadline is one month away. Which teams might be considering a deal? Who might be on the move?

The NBA’s trade deadline is a month away, and there’s been a lot of talk among league executives about what will happen before the Feb. 9 deadline.

Some teams are trying to improve their rosters, cut staff, get draft picks, and determine if it’s worth keeping or trading players whose contracts expire.

What about the Los Angeles Lakers? Kyle Kuzma is the most popular player, will the Washington Wizards trade him? What about the Toronto Raptors?

Before the trade deadline, let’s take a look at some notable teams and players.

los angeles lakers

An interesting time for the Lakers. LeBron James, who has played great for his age, seems to want the Lakers to make a move. But with Anthony Davis injured and the Lakers 13th in the West (but only 3 games from 5th), is there a deal that would make the Lakers better than a play-in and a first-round loss? ? The timing of the deal was pre-season. The Lakers are looking forward to the summer as he makes one before the deadline or is content to celebrate that James passed Kareem his Abdul his Jabbar to make his name on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Will he make the 2023-24 contender with his cap space on his salary done?

toronto raptors

The Raptors matter. will they blow it up? Do small movements? do nothing? It’s also an interesting situation, as the Raptors have players that other teams want, including Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scotty Barnes. Even more intriguing is the contract situation. Siakam and Anunoby could become free agents in 2024, VanVleet will follow up as a free agent this season, and Barnes is seeking a big pay rise in his rookie extension. The 17-23 Raptors will have to make a financial decision at some point. Under team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster, the Raptors are not known to be without big deals at the trade deadline. The banburrito deserves attention. Orlando’s sly move for VanVleet shouldn’t be taken lightly, as his name is linked to a possible contract with the Lakers.

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Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis

Washington Wizards

Kuzma and Porzingis are having the best seasons of their careers. They can become free agents after this season and help competing teams.The Wizards need a decision. Keep them and re-sign or try to trade one or both before the trade deadline. Wizards doesn’t reach out to them personally, but his GM Tommy Shepherd at Wizards has been known to do his due diligence. If Shepard wants to trade one and re-sign another, his best bet is to trade Kuzma and try to convince Porzingis DC and the Wizards to be there for him.

The Hawks are looking to advance John Collins and make a big shot. Or once. Collins’ 3-pointer shooting percentage was 40.1% in the 2019-20 season, 39.9% the following season, and 36.4% last season. However, he is only 22.9% this season. Change is underway in Atlanta. Travis Schlenk stepped down as president of basketball operations just before Christmas, star guard Trae Young clashed with head coach Nate McMillan, and the Hawks, who are two seasons away from playing in the East Finals, hit the trade deadline. It’s a play-in team heading to . Collins has markets and includes Utah, Brooklyn, and Dallas.

The Heat are notoriously tight-lipped about their plans. However, the league as a whole believes the Heat are willing to drop Kyle Lowry’s contract and pay him his $29.6 million in 2023-24. The Heat, who made it to the 2020 Finals and last season’s Conference Finals, are 21-20, placing him in eighth place. Lowry is another player linked to a potential deal with the Lakers, and Minnesota’s sending D’Angelo Russell to Miami for Lowry would result in a contract expiry with the Heat.

After winning their fourth title in eight seasons, the Warriors struggled with injuries, replaced key players and developed a new rotation. Stephen Curry returned Tuesday, but a loss to Phoenix took the Warriors to his 20-21 mark and dropped him to eighth in the West. The Warriors believe they are title contenders and will seek to improve their roster until proven otherwise. It’s about keeping Bob Myers, the expiring president of basketball operations. Warriors owner Joe Lacob says the franchise has made Myers two contract offers. There is speculation around the league that Myers, who has helped build the Warriors’ roster over the past decade, will become a free agent in the offseason and seek other NBA jobs.

More news and nuggets

Brooklyn may be willing to make a deal if the team is looking to acquire 3-point specialist Joe Harris. attention from the team of …The Utah Jazz are open for trade, except for a deal that includes potential All-Star Lauri Markkanen and rookie Walker Kessler.…His Los Angeles Clippers are looking for a backup his center. … Detroit’s asking prices for available players, including shooter Bojan Bogdanovic, are high, with the team pausing on possible trades. …the upstart Cleveland Cavaliers are looking for that final piece: his 3-and-D wing.

Follow Jeff Zirgit on Twitter @Jeff Zillgitt

This article was originally published in USA TODAY: Lakers, Raptors, Heat may move at NBA trade deadline