The NBA offseason is moving into August and while K-Love is dominating trade talk, names like LaMarcus Aldridge, Michael Carter-Williams, Thaddeus Young, Kenneth Faried, Larry Sanders and Paul Millsap could also be on the block next season and they are potential targets to be traded in 2014-15 depending on how things play out for their teams.
This season could see some interesting moves and obviously some, none or just one of these players could be traded and right now it's all speculation. Faried is coming up to his free agency and the Nuggets want to keep him, but they also shopped him last year and could do the same again. The Bucks are rebuilding hard and after his off the court stuff, Sanders could be trade bait as well.
Carter-Williams is unlikely to get traded, but since he is with the 76ers and the team is totally rebuilding, there is always a chance they try and get something for him when his value is highest. Aldridge is likely not moving, but he is going to be in line for a ton of money next year and the Blazers may end up having to make a move. The Warriors likely will not deal Klay Thompson and they are likely to sign him to an extension if they can.
The Blazers obviously have no interest in trading Aldridge, but that's not the point, as he is set to be a free agent and he has already passed on an extension with the team. While it doesn't mean he will be leaving, Aldridge is smart and deserves to get the maximum amount of money after establishing himself as one of the best forwards in the league and that is what he is looking to do. Aldridge may end up getting trade simply because the Blazers may not have enough cash to sign him, as the team also has to deal with a contract for Damian Lillard coming up soon and he likely will get max money as well.
Last season Aldridge helped the Blazers win a playoff series for the first time in years and he was great during the postseason. During the opening series against the Rockets Aldridge had back to back 40 point games and helped Portland pull of an upset in the first round.
Love is still the top trade target in the league, but he now is off the market basically since the Cavaliers have the best deal and are going to trade for him. Love is the top young big man in the league and he is coming off of a fantastic season when he had 25 points and 12 rebounds per game for a bad Wolves team and now he wants to make the playoffs.
The Bulls were in the mix but now they are out and other teams like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets also were considered options, but not anymore. The Warriors were close, but they held onto the idea of not trading Klay Thompson and that ended things between them and the Wolves. The Warriors initially offered David Lee and Harrison Barnes, but Minnesota wanted more and now they are getting Andrew Wiggins most likely from the Cavaliers.
