The 2025 NBA trade deadline is still nearly two months away, but with more than a quarter of the season in the books and several dozen players set to become trade-eligible in a week, it's just a matter of time until negotiations between teams start to get more serious.
With that in mind, it's worth checking in on which clubs around the league will be looking to sell at this season's deadline.
It has gotten a little tougher to find in-season sellers in recent years. Before the NBA introduced the play-in tournament, it wouldn't be uncommon for a team hovering around the 11th or 12th spot in its conference to throw in the towel in February, recognizing that climbing into the top eight to earn a playoff spot probably isn't realistic.
Now, with 10 teams in each conference technically advancing to the "postseason" via the play-in tournament, that club holding the 11th or 12th seed is often less inclined to sell, given that it would only take a short winning streak for that club to re-enter the play-in picture.
Still, with several teams in rebuilding mode, a strong 2025 draft class on the horizon, and a handful of clubs potentially trying to hang onto protected draft picks, several prospective sellers are emerging as trade season approaches. In a two-part series, we'll take a closer look at which teams fit the bill and what percentage of their rosters they'll be willing to discuss with would-be contenders, breaking them up into four separate groups.
In part one today, we'll take a look at the two groups of teams who are most likely to be open for business when buyers come calling. Keep an eye out for part two later in the week.
We'll listen on anyone
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets, whose preseason over/under was widely set by oddsmakers at 19.5 wins, have been more competitive than expected -- at 10-13, they're already halfway to their projected win total. Still, given how the front office operated during the 2024 offseason, that hot start may actually make the team more - not less - motivated to sell.
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