The NBA Trade deadline is EXACTLY three weeks away!

While a few minor deals have been made around The Association, the biggest fish on the market are still out there as we approach the February 6th deadline. The biggest openly available name remains Jimmy Butler. It’s uncertain where he’ll end up, but it most certainly seems like Miami wants to move him.

In addition to that, Phoenix wants to make a splash but can’t do so without getting some help. Also, the Warriors remain committed to adding around Steph Curry. Could the Bulls be a trade partner?

NBA Trade Rumors

• In my opinion, the Golden State Warriors are going to be the most fascinating team to watch over the next three weeks. After a nice start to the year, they’ve floundered a bit and sit at 20-20 – good for 10th place in a VERY crowded Western Conference playoff race. Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy (and Bulls legend) knows he needs to make a move or two to really give Steph Curry and company a chance at competing for a title this year, which should be the goal for every year Steph has left. The most recent rumors surrounding the Dubs have them targeting a big man, and reports have linked them to Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.

• Vucevic would be a perfect fit with the Warriors. Whether it be his screen-setting, passing, or ability to drain open catch-and-shoot looks, his offensive game makes sense for Golden State. While he doesn’t provide much defensively, he does bring size and the ability to grab rebounds. With the defensive presence in the paint that is Draymond Green still there, Vucevic feels like a solid running mate in the frontcourt.

• HoopsHype has reported that executives believe Vucevic could command a first-round pick given his strong season and somewhat reasonable contract. Vucevic makes just over $20 million per season through 2025-26. There has been enough smoke with this rumor over the past few weeks to buy that there’s at least some interest in a deal here. The Bulls have needed to pick a lane (the blow-it-up lane) for a while now. Could a first-round pick do the trick? It absolutely should! The deal makes sense for both sides, even if it’s several second-round picks instead of a first-round selection.

• Stephen Curry didn’t necessarily put pressure on the Warriors to get something done, but he walked back some of his nonchalant comments from earlier this week. The superstar made clear that he isn’t comfortable with the Warriors hanging around the middle: “Anybody who thinks I’m ok with being on an average basketball team is insane. Take whatever I said, I still stand on it, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not in a situation where you’re trying to get better, make the appropriate moves that help you do that … Trade machines are fun, but what does that actually look like? We’ll handle our business, Mike will handle his.”

• Jimmy Butler remains the biggest fish on the trade market, but where he’ll end up is still very much a mystery. The Suns remain the most intrigued, but getting him there would likely require a lot of help in terms of a third team getting involved. The Warriors were originally a team that seemed quite interested, but that interest seems to have taken a back seat to try to add a big man.

• So, where then will Butler end up? Sam Amick wrote in The Athletic on Wednesday that despite what some have reported, the Milwaukee Bucks have indeed not been told by Butler’s camp that the star forward would not play there. If Butler is open to the Bucks, that move would make a ton of sense for both sides. Making the contracts work is where things might get tricky, but I think Milwaukee would have an easier time getting a third team involved than Phoenix would with Bradley Beal’s albatross of a contract. Nothing really feels imminent here, but things can heat up any time and it does feel like it’s best for both Miami and Butler to make that breakup happen prior to February 6th.

• One way Milwaukee can get closer to making this happen would be by shipping off veteran swingman Pat Connaughton. Connaughton makes under $9.5 million and, if the Bucks were able to move him, it would get them under the second salary cap apron. Doing that would allow them the a more flexible in their quest to add at the trade deadline.

• The Suns made a minor move this week trading for Hornets big man Nick Richards in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks. Having said that, they definitely would like to keep adding. Phoenix is still focused on Jimmy Butler, but as mentioned above that might be a tough puzzle to solve. However, according to HoopsHype, with Kevin Durant in ring-chasing mode as his career winds down and Tyus Jones hitting free agency this summer, the Suns remain motivated to try and add prior to the deadline. Phoenix is in the same boat as Golden State essentially – 19-20 and battling in a very crowded Western Conference playoff race. It remains to be seen what direction they’ll go or who they’ll target if Butler is unattainable, but knowing how they operate, they’ll do whatever is in their power to make an impactful move.

• As for the Hornets, GM Jeff Peterson made it known to the Charlotte Observer that they will continue to listen to any and all offers before the deadline. This could be music to the ears of any team that needs to dump money or get a third team involved.