The NBA is a year-round sport with rumors and dialogue between teams.
When is the perfect time for trades to happen?
The offseason because of the flexibility of trading.
During the regular season, teams might not want to go over the luxury tax or they simply don’t want to hurt team chemistry.
Let’s take a look at 3 NBA stars who could be traded this offseason.
Star #1: Pascal Siakam
This was a surprising name that recently popped up in rumors over the last couple of weeks.
The rumor started due to a heated exchange between Pascal and coach Nick Nurse during a game against Cleveland.
Pascal Siakam's outburst at Nick Nurse reportedly went 'beyond standard cursing', forcing teammates to intervene. 😳 pic.twitter.com/g7AYBjpDjW
— theScore (@theScore) March 24, 2021
The exchange was deemed beyond the line of a normal altercation between star player and coach.
That is when teams began calling the Raptors about his services.
The Toronto Raptors are in the middle of wanting to start a rebuild by trading Norman Powell and dangling Kyle Lowry during the deadline.
They are currently on the outside looking in for the playoffs this season, which means the rebuild is potentially on the horizon this upcoming off-season.
Pascal is on year two of his big contract extension he signed, so if a team would want to trade for him, they can have him for the foreseeable future on their roster.
Star #2: Kemba Walker
The Boston Celtics are going to need to shake things up this off-season.
This team is far off from what their expectations were coming into this season after an Eastern Conference Finals appearance the previous year.
Their big move can possibly be moving on from four-time all-star guard, Kemba Walker.
Kemba has been very up and down throughout this season recovering from a knee surgery during the shortened off-season.
The Celtics had offers for him, but never executed on a trade.
Former NBA Executive on Kemba Walker;
"They tried in the offseason. Had a few offers on the table and almost pulled the trigger. Kemba is very likely to be on the move this coming offseason."
(via @massey_evan) pic.twitter.com/176eONIkuq
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 31, 2021
This upcoming off-season can be the time to do it before it is too late.
He is still under contract on a very hefty price, while dealing with knee injuries the last couple of years.
After this disappointing season concludes, the Celtics need to re-evaluate the roster and make the necessary moves to compete for banner number 18.
Star #3: Bradley Beal
The “Free Bradley Beal” hashtag seems to be trending after every Washington Wizards game.
As a fellow STL native #FreeBradleyBeal
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) January 28, 2021
Beal is such an elite scorer that has been playing on a disastrous franchise for his entire career now.
He has openly admitted that he loves to play for the team, but the losing has to become an issue at some point.
Every team in the league would love to have a Bradley Beal on their roster and can easily put any contender over the top.
His loyalty might get in the way of all of this.
He might turn into a Reggie Miller type; staying loyal to a franchise with no real chance of winning it all.
The trade offers are there and have been for over a year now.
All that needs to happen at this point is for Beal to give the front office the go-ahead to trade him.
That is all the Wizards front office is waiting for; even if it is not what they truly want.
Every contender this off-season will be calling, but it is what Beal says and does that will get a trade done.
Honorable Mention: Khris Middleton
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Khris Middleton is on the fringe of a star that could be traded in my eyes.
He is still very productive and perhaps the second best player on this Bucks team.
The issue is with the Bucks’ ceiling as an organization.
They have had the best record in the NBA and number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but have gotten bounced out of the playoffs both years.
If there is another season with no finals appearance, then maybe it is time for a roster shake up.
Think of the Raptors with Demar Derozan; competitive team that continuously failed in the playoffs.
They decided to move on from their coach Dwayne Casey and Derozan after a number 1 seed; and brought in Kawhi Leonard and Nick Nurse to win a title the following year.
This can be the potential road map for the Bucks trading their two-time all-star.
NEXT: 3 Biggest Winners Of The 2021 NBA Trade Deadline