One NBA analyst has predicted Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Kevin Durant, Ja Morant and Domantas Sabonis to request trades.
In a column titled “Predicting NBA’s Next Star Trade Requests: Giannis Antetokounmpo Ditching the Bucks?,” Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report predicted that Antetokounmpo, Ball, Durant, Morant and Sabonis will be the next stars to request trades.
Jimmy Butler requested a trade from the Miami Heat and was traded to the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron James and Bradley Beal are the only players in the NBA with a no-trade clause. James is expected to retire with the Lakers, while the Phoenix Suns will try to get Beal to waive his no-trade clause this summer. If that doesn’t happen, Phoenix could waive the veteran.
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He has won two MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, one championship and one Finals MVP with the Bucks.
Milwaukee, though, has struggled in the playoffs since winning it all in 2021. The team is currently down 2-0 to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of this year’s playoffs.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The franchise hasn’t made the postseason once during the Ball era.
Durant and the Suns are expected to part ways this summer. Durant has one year left on his contract.
The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Morant with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant is one of the top point guards in the league, but the Grizzlies have won only one postseason series with him.
Sabonis has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Pacers and Sacramento Kings. He’s expected to speak with the Kings this summer about the direction of the franchise. Sacramento traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and acquired Zach LaVine from the Chicago Bulls.
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