The NBA trade deadline is barreling towards us and with that comes a lot of last minute roster changes. As teams look to reshape, rebuild, and rejuvenate their team through the season, the trade deadline always brings talks of theoretical moves between teams. Throughout the season we have heard rumors surrounding many players, but with the deadline in sight we have some last minute players to keep an eye on before everything is said and done.
Jimmy Butler has brought a heart to the team for the last 5 years and has put in the work to bring them to two NBA finals. Now in 2025 there is a lot of speculation towards where he would call home after having disagreements with the Miami Heat management. With conflicts happening over playing time, Butler has made it known that he would enjoy looking for a new team to contribute to and there have been talks of teams like Golden state or Phoenix who have shown interest. With recent reports showing doubts between the Warriors connection involving Butler, it seems that Phoenix is the more probable end location for Jimmy Butler.
Brandon Ingram has also been among many with rumors attached to their name coming into this trade deadline. Ingram has been a prominent forward for the Pelicans over the recent years and other teams have taken notice of how impactful he has been. Unlike Miami’s situation with Butler, the Pelicans are going to be looking to rebuild a package after health concerns linger around Zion Williamson and their inconsistencies throughout the season. There have been recent talks of Ingram joining the Raptors up in Toronto or he could be headed to Atlanta where the Hawks could find a fit for Ingrams playstyle.
Another player with looming talks over his head is Kyle Kuzma. The 29-year-old forward for the Wizards had trade talks about him last year over the trade deadline but he ultimately decided to stay in Washington. This year talks still continue with Sacramento and Milwaukee but Kuzma’s end destination isn’t as up in the air as other players we’ve taken a look at. Kuzma has a good chance to stay put in Washington, but a last minute trade with its back against the deadline is also on the table.
Bobby Portis Jr. has been a great glue player for Milwaukee, grabbing boards, providing energy, and coming off the bench to contribute offensively. However, with a disappointing playoff exit, there are again talks about Milwaukee looking to use the deadline as an opportunity to rebuild for a better playoff run. Because of this other teams have noticed Portis’ ability on the court and have shown interest including the Warriors and Lakers. No matter the team interested in Portis, his ability to stretch to the floor on offense, and continue to be a defensive presence makes him a contender for other teams eyeing up some trade potential.
At the end of the day, trade rumors are just rumors. Each player and team have a long decision to make if they were to move forward with trades and each team has their own strategy for reconfiguring their roster to fit their culture and playstyle to be successful. Will Butler be forced to stay in Miami? Is Brandon Ingram going to take his potential to a new location? On February 6th our questions will be answered and we can finally put these talks to rest with a fresh new path to success, or a road of more adversity.