The dawn of a new NBA season brings with it renewed hopes for 30 fanbases, the promise of a fresh batch of breakout ballers and a nightly highlight reel your eyes will struggle to believe.
Oh, yeah, and we have another excuse to talk NBA trades again—not that we needed it.
While teams have spent the past several months fine-tuning their roster, the next few weeks could force clubs to rethink those decisions. With both a seemingly wide-open championship race and major incentive to tank ahead of what appears to be a stacked 2023 draft, this season could be hyperactive on the trade front.
To help set the stage for the #TradeSZN ahead, we're breaking down each club's top three trade assets and ranking them based on their likely appeal.
A few quick notes before getting started. We're only examining assets that have a realistic chance of being traded this season, so you won't see top-tier superstars or recent blue-chip prospects who are clearly leading a rebuilding project. Also, rather than spotlighting specific draft picks, we'll simply include a blanket reference to draft considerations, since protections are unsettled and different suitors may place different values on certain selections.
Enough for the particulars, though, let's get to the assets.
Atlanta Hawks
3. Jalen Johnson
It's too early for Atlanta to even dangle this year's first-rounder, AJ Griffin, but it might be willing to talk shop on Johnson, last year's No. 20 pick. He logged just 120 minutes as a rookie and remains without a clear path to the hardwood. As a trade chip, though, he's only 20 years old and in possession of an intriguing blend of handles and hops for a 6'9", 220-pounder.
2. First-round pick
While the Hawks sent out three first-round picks and a swap in the Dejounte Murray megadeal, they could still ship out their 2023 first-rounder if they feel so inclined. If Murray makes a smooth transition to Atlanta, and this roster looks ready for anything close to championship contention, the front office might be willing to sacrifice another draft pick in pursuit of a title.
1. John Collins
Collins never strays far from the rumor mill, which speaks to his appeal as a target but imperfect fit as a building block.
The selling point is easy: He's an athletic, 25-year-old, 6'9" combo big with career per-36-minute averages of 20.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.2 threes. On the other end, he's a flawed frontcourt defender that is neither a great rim protector nor a lockdown stopper on perimeter switches.
If a high-end shopper sees third-star potential in Collins, it might make an offer rich enough to finally pry the bouncy big man out of Atlanta.
Boston Celtics
3. Payton Pritchard
Pritchard has struggled to find consistent floor time through two NBA seasons, and that could continue to be a challenge given his lack of size (6'1", 195 lbs) and athletic limitations. However, teams could still see significant spark-plug potential in him, as he pairs a fiery three-ball (career 41.2 percent) with sound decision-making (1.9 assists against 0.7 turnovers).
2. Future draft picks
The Celtics owe a top-12 protected pick to the Pacers in 2023 and only have top-one protection on a 2028 swap with the San Antonio Spurs, but otherwise, all of their first-round picks are in their possession. They have a decent amount of youth for being a win-now contender, but a pick that wouldn't convey for a few more years would hold substantial appeal.
1. Grant Williams
The Celtics opted against extending Williams, which could be a signal that he's not a part of the franchise's future plans.
Should they not want to cover the cost of his upcoming free agency, they should find a healthy market of interested suitors. Last season was his first in a prominent rotation role, and he responded by striping 41.1 percent of his long-range looks and flashing impressive defensive versatility for a 6'6", 236-pound forward.