TITLE: Report: Multiple Veteran Centers Expected to Hit Trade Market Before Feb. 5 Deadline
SLUG: veteran-centers-trade-interest-feb-5-deadline
CONTENT:
Several experienced big men could become available ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, according to Jake Fischer’s latest column for Marc Stein’s Substack.
The report states that Brooklyn is bracing for inquiries about Nic Claxton, while Phoenix has kept Nick Richards on the block since the offseason. Portland is considered more willing to discuss Robert Williams III than it was a year ago, and rival executives expect Utah center Jusuf Nurkic to draw calls despite his $19.4 million salary figure.
Bulls’ Vucevic Headlines Potential In-Season Targets
Nikola Vucevic may be one of the more intriguing names ahead of the deadline. The 35-year-old Bulls center is on an expiring $21.5 million deal and is averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 49.5 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from three and 78.6 percent at the line.
While Vucevic alone could attract suitors, league sources told Fischer that some teams wonder if Chicago will instead pursue a bigger swing, such as Anthony Davis of the Mavericks or Domantas Sabonis of the Kings, leveraging the Bulls’ expiring contracts and future cap space.
Davis Could Seek Extension If Dealt
Fischer notes that Davis and his representatives are expected to request a contract extension should the All-Star forward be traded. The 31-year-old is on a maximum-salary pact that runs through 2026-27 and includes a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. An extension would position Davis to secure a new deal beginning in 2028, when he will be 35, contingent on his health and performance after returning from a calf strain.
Warriors Unlikely Front-Runners for Sabonis
Golden State’s chances of landing Sabonis appear slim, Fischer writes. Matching the Kings center’s $42.3 million salary would require adding multiple rotation players to Jonathan Kuminga’s $22.5 million contract, a move the Warriors are not eager to make. The organization explored Sabonis trades before Indiana moved him in 2022, but concerns over his lack of three-point shooting and rim protection lessen current interest.
Cap Concerns Could Put Isaac on Magic’s Trade Radar
Rival cap experts believe Orlando may eventually need to shed forward Jonathan Isaac. The 27-year-old is midway through a four-year, $59 million contract that is only partially guaranteed in 2026-27 and fully non-guaranteed afterward. Whether the Magic shop Isaac during the 2025-26 season remains uncertain, but league observers are monitoring the situation.
The trade chatter is expected to intensify as the Feb. 5 deadline approaches.
Source: Hoops Rumors
