The NBA season is in full swing.
Although it’s still early, we’re collectively learning which teams are contenders and others who are, well, further away from a title than we thought. The league’s ever so exciting trade season will be upon us before we know it ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline. While we won’t see a deal as shocking as last season’s blockbuster that sent Luka Dončić from the Mavericks to the Lakers (because we likely never will), stars across the league will become available for teams who are one key player away to make a win-now move.
Let’s look at some of those squads who could be just one move away from a run to the NBA Finals as soon as this year.
Before we get into it, let’s set some parameters for this exercise. To have teams who are a move away from becoming a Finals threat, you have to have some teams who already a threat to win it all. In the Western Conference, that’s pretty clear with the defending champion Thunder, plus the Nuggets who have an improved roster around Nikola Jokić. The Rockets with Kevin Durant and an improving young core have a say in that conversation, too.
In the Eastern Conference, things get a bit more tricky, but I’ll hold myself to two Finals contenders from each side. The obvious choice is the Cavaliers, who won 64 games last year and earned the No. 1 seed. Cleveland’s core remains intact with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland. Plus, the Cavs brought in De'Andre Hunter at last year’s trade deadline as a key piece of their rotation.
Our other title threat in the East will be the Knicks, who broke through to the Eastern Conference finals last year before they fell to the Pacers in six games. New York parted ways with Tom Thibodeau and brought in Mike Brown as coach over the offseason while their core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges remains talented enough to make a run in a wide open conference.
Without further ado, here are four teams who could be one move away from becoming a true threat to win the NBA title, along with a potential trade target for each:
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have made a run to the Western Conference finals in back-to-back seasons. They have the talent to do so again, even with the conference’s juggernauts in the Thunder and Nuggets. Minnesota has to play well enough in the regular season to avoid the Thunder before having to go through them for a trip to the NBA Finals.
Mike Conley, 38, may not be able to give the Wolves what they need from the backup guard spot, especially if they make another deep postseason run. There’s Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in last year’s draft, but he may not be ready to provide high-leverage minutes in key playoff games at just 20 years old. In the meantime, Minnesota can use Conley’s expiring contract to go and get an upgrade in the backcourt off the bench, even if they have to give up some draft capital or a young player to get a deal done.
Potential trade target: T.J. McConnellPotential trade package: Timberwolves receive McConnell from Pacers for Mike Conley, three second-round picksDetroit Pistons
Although the Pistons were thought to be a year or two away from true contention in the Eastern Conference, an incredible 13-2 start changes things. It’s still early in the season and Detroit hasn’t played the toughest schedule, but its on an 11-game win streak through key rotation players like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris missing games. The sudden emergence of two-way player Daniss Jenkins helps answer the backup point guard question, especially with Ivey yet to make his season debut.
The Pistons control all of their first-round picks and have expiring contracts plus intriguing young players to use in a splashy trade. A star forward to put alongside Cunningham could help Detroit make an even bigger jump. The question is whether the team’s front office wants to push its chips in immediately.
Potential trade target: Lauri MarkkanenPotential trade package: Pistons receive Markkanen from Jazz for Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser and two first-round draft picksLos Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are out to a great start even with LeBron James missing the first month of the season. That’s credit to Los Angeles’ other stars in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves who have both exploded offensively to start the year. The question is whether L.A. has the supporting cast in place to make a true push in a stacked Western Conference.
Rui Hachimura and Jake LaRavia have been good in the frontcourt, but the Lakers could make a move to bring in an impact 3-and-D player to bolster their defense and give Dončić more options on the floor as the primary creator. Plus, L.A. can include draft capital to bring in a key rotation piece in future years with James’s career in its twilight.
Potential trade target: Herb JonesPotential trade package: Lakers receive Jones from Pelicans for Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht and two first-round draft picksMilwaukee Bucks
Let’s get a little crazy to round us out.
Ja Morant’s displeasure with the Grizzlies’ coaching staff has been clear over the season and Giannis Antetokounmpo was at the center of trade rumors over the offseason. The Bucks have made splashy moves in the past to win now around Anteotokounmpo, which makes a trade this season more difficult without control over their own draft picks. General manager Jon Horst may be reluctant to give up the little draft capital Milwaukee has left after the Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trades, but if a player like Morant is truly available, maybe he puts the rest of his chips on the table.
The Bucks have made moves to contend in the past, so why not now with Antetokounmpo still in the fold and having an MVP caliber season in a wide open Eastern Conference? The Bucks may not be a likely suitor for Morant due to the minimal draft capital available causing the Grizzlies to go elsewhere if they try to find a trade. However, the pairing would undoubtedly be fun and make Milwaukee even more of a contender, even if Ryan Rollins’s emergence as a big-time player makes the Bucks say no thanks.
Potential trade target: Ja MorantPotential trade package: Bucks receive Morant from Grizzlies for Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Harris, future first-round pick and first-round pick swap (other teams control picks through 2030 due to prior trades)