Johnathan Walker:Top six NBA players who could be on the move by deadline as trade rumors swirl

If there’s one NBA player team executives believe won’t be Johnathan Walkeron the team he is on now by the time the Feb. 8 trade deadline expires, it’s Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam.

Where will Siakam end up? The Sacramento Kings were involved in discussions, and The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Indiana Pacers and Raptors are engaged in trade talks involving Siakam to Indiana for Bruce Brown and multiple first-round picks.

Siakam, two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, isn’t sure today where he wants to play next season, which complicates the deal for another team that risks giving up players and draft picks with the possibility of not re-signing Siakam in free agency this summer.

Who else could be traded before the deadline? Here are the top candidates:

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam

Pascal Siakam’s four-year, $136.9 million contract expires after this season, and he has shown little interest in re-signing. He won a title with the Raptors in 2019, was rewarded with a lucrative deal and is now seeking one more max (or near-max) contract. Siakam, 29, averages 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists and shoots 52.2% from the field.

When Toronto president was an executive in Denver, he learned a valuable lesson during the Carmelo Anthony saga. If it’s unclear – or even set in stone – that a player won’t re-sign in free agency, you have to get something in return. Masai and his front-office staff are in that situation.

Pascal is headed somewhere in a trade – to whom and for what will be settled within the next three weeks.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray

The Atlanta Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray, 29, from San Antonio in the summer of 2022 to see what he and All-Star point guard Trae Young could do together in the backcourt. It hasn’t yielded great team success after 1½ seasons.

A team looking for scoring from the guard spot should be interested in Murray, who averages 20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists – on the verge of a 20-5-5 season – and shoots 46.7% from the field and 38.6% on 3-pointers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that can use a player like Murray, who is represented by LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul. The New York Knicks are another team that could use a scorer next to Jalen Brunson in the backcourt.

Murray’s four-year, $114 million extension begins next season, and as the salary cap increases, his contract will be favorable for a team given his production.

Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield is in the final year of his four-year, $94 contract, making him a free agent after this season. If the Pacers can find a taker in need of bench offense and sweeten the deal with draft assets, they’ll make that move.Hield averages 12.7 points and shoots 44.1% from the field, including 38% on 3-pointers.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine

Some teams would appreciate Zach LaVine’s scoring. What makes them hesitate is the three years, $137.9 million remaining on his contract. Yearly, LaVine’s deal will eat up about 30% of a team’s salary cap, and the impact of new collective bargaining agreement will give teams reason to pass on a deal for LaVine.

Still, he’s a solid scorer. Is it worth it for a contender to take a chance on LaVine? Or, will a team that may not have the same appeal as a free-agent destination (say, Charlotte or Detroit) go for LaVine?

Washington Wizards guard Kyle Kuzma

Yes, Kyle Kuzma, 28, is in the first year of a four-year, $90 million, but it’s a manageable deal especially for a player who averages a career-high 22.4 points and career-high 4.2 assists plus 6.3 rebounds. His yearly salary decreases season by season, and his salary projected to take up just 11% of a team’s salary cap in the final season in 2026-27. Kuzma, who won a title with the Lakers in 2020, has handled the situation with the Wizards well and is another player who can provide scoring.

Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry has an expiring deal that will pay him $29.6 million this season. That is valuable for the Heat who can bring in another high-level player with a similar salary and valuable for a team looking to shed salary beyond this season. Could the Heat make a run at Murray – or two players with a salary in the $12-14 million range – and include Lowry in the deal? The Heat also have to consider how much long-term money they want to absorb, money that could impact their ability to get another top-notch player after this season.