These Players NEED to be Traded…
The NBA never stops reshuffling itself. Some players outgrow their situations. Some situations fall apart around the player. And some stars simply hit a point where staying makes no sense for either side. This season, three names stand out above all, each one represents a different kind of crossroads health, identity, and culture and each one may need a fresh start sooner than front offices want to admit.
#3: Anthony Davis | Dallas Mavericks | 20.3 Points Per Game
Anthony Davis might be the clearest case. When the Mavericks traded for him last February, the move felt like a landmark moment, one of the biggest trades in league history. But nearly two seasons later, the reality is harsher than Dallas expected. Davis has appeared in only 14 games since joining the franchise, missing 38 of 52 due to injuries, conditioning issues, and what has quickly become one of the most disappointing star acquisitions in years.
He’s still productive when he plays, 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.9 blocks, but he hasn’t come close to the dominant interior force he was in Los Angeles. With the Lakers, Davis was a nightly 25 and 12 with elite rim protection, relentless paint finishing, and top-tier Defensive Player of the Year candidacy every season. In Dallas, he has slipped physically, stylistically, and emotionally. At some point the question becomes unavoidable: is this version of Davis even capable of anchoring a franchise at this stage?
That’s why a team like Chicago makes so much sense. The Bulls need a franchise-level defensive presence and a frontcourt scorer, and a healthy Davis paired with Josh Giddey and Coby White gives them a real identity. It would cost assets, Patrick Williams, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vučević, and picks, but the upside is real. New York is another option, where Davis could form a superteam with Jalen Brunson and potentially Karl-Anthony Towns. The only problem is the same one every team must ask: how much do you pay for a superstar whose availability has become unpredictable?
#2: LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets | 20.3 Points Per Game
LaMelo Ball faces a different kind of dilemma. Five seasons into his career, he’s still the face of the Charlotte Hornets, but the timeline feels exhausted. Between recurring ankle injuries, streaky scoring, and inconsistent leadership, Ball has struggled to become the foundation piece Charlotte hoped he would be. Last season’s 25.9 points per game suggested real star growth, but this year’s drop to 20.3 points, even with a career-high 8.8 assists, reveals the same roller-coaster pattern.
For LaMelo, fit is everything. He thrives when surrounded by scorers who move without the ball, shoot in volume, and let him orchestrate. Teams like the Celtics, Rockets, or even the Luka-less Lakers make sense for exactly that reason. Boston could offer Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Xavier Tillman with draft capital. Houston could send Fred VanVleet or Reed Sheppard plus young pieces to fully open the backcourt. The Lakers could center an offer around Dalton Knecht, picks, and matching salary. All three destinations make LaMelo a better version of himself and give a desperate franchise a dynamic playmaker who elevates talent instantly. Sometimes the next step in a career is simply being placed beside the right personnel.
#1: Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies | 17.9 Points Per Game
Ja Morant’s story is more complicated than either of the first two. His decline hasn’t been about fit or injuries alone, it has been about consequences. Morant went from an All-NBA, 27-point-per-game superstar leading a 56-win Memphis team to a player whose off-court issues derailed an entire franchise. This season, he’s averaging 17.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 7.6 assists, shooting 16.7% from three, and has found himself in a tense conflict with the organization.
The Grizzlies have stood by him longer than most teams would, but loyalty has a limit. And when teams like the Kings and Timberwolves begin calling, the timeline accelerates. Sacramento could offer Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and picks. Minnesota could put forth a real package involving Rob Dillingham, Joe Ingles, and draft assets. Even the Pelicans, looking to pair Ja with Zion have the combination of defense (Herb Jones), youth (Yves Missi), and picks to enter the conversation.
Morant remains one of the most electrifying talents of his generation. But at some point, the Grizzlies must decide whether they’re waiting for a return to 2022 form or holding onto a version of Ja that no longer exists. A fresh start may be the only way both sides rediscover clarity.
When stars reach this point, the answer isn’t emotional. It’s practical. Davis needs health and structure. LaMelo needs direction and stability. Ja needs a culture reset. And the teams willing to gamble on them might just find themselves landing the very player their franchise has been missing.
What NBA Trade will change up the league for good, and what trade could make a team, and which trades could destroy a team, are you just wondering, where can I get a place to track every trade that happens? Well very soon BallersCulture is coming out with a trade tracker and a trade simulator, so stay tuned for the trade news!
