Every team’s asset is the NBA contracts that they have on lock which puts them in a supreme position in terms of roster building and squad management. For the players, a guaranteed NBA contract assures job security on a base level.
However, certain stars have acquired NBA contracts from their respective teams which makes them indispensable no matter what, giving the players a superior hand in their future decisions. Currently, in the NBA, there are a group of players who are restricted from any sort of trade movement and these restrictions are not going to be lifted anytime soon, especially in the timeline of the February 8 trade deadline due to their NBA contracts.
Players with Post-November 8 Free Agent Contracts
First up, we take a look at the players with post-November 8 Free Agent NBA contracts. This season the NBA bore witness to a trend that oversaw teams trying out the players they like before offering them guaranteed contracts.
This led to a spike in the number of two-way contracts present in the league. A two-way contract enables teams to distribute a player’s services between the main team and its G-league, thereby ensuring player fit and functionality.
The list of players includes Taj Gibson (Knicks), James Johnson (Pacers), Skylar Mays (Trailblazers), Joshua Primo and Daniel Theis (Clippers), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Kings).
While the Knicks and Pacers signed Gibson and Johnson respectively, the Trailblazers promoted Skylar Mays from a two-way contract and offered the player a guaranteed NBA contract.
The duo of Primo and Daniel Theis found themselves with guaranteed spots on the Clippers roster while the Kings acquired the services of Juan Toscano-Anderson utilizing their roster spot.
Players with Post-August 8 Veteran Extensions
Next up are the players who signed their NBA Contracts, consisting of Veteran Extensions after the period of August 8. Such contracts can still be signed which will prevent the player from being traded.
While most names on the list are quite dispensable considering their modest skillset, the player that wouldn’t have been traded regardless is Bucks’ phenomenon Giannis Antetokuonmpo. Leading the Bucks this season, the Greek Freak is averaging 30.9 points per game and 11.3 rebounds every night he steps on the court.
The list of players that are untouchable because of this criterion apart from the Bucks’ star are Zach Collins (Spurs), Josh Hart (Knicks), Miles Mcbride (Knicks) and Jarred Vanderbilt (Lakers).
The contracts these players signed suggest that each of them has been truly remarkable in their respective roles for the team. One such player is Jarred Vanderbilt from the Lakers who has been an absolute menace for the team on defense and through his performances, he continues to be the focal point for the Lakers on the defensive end.
Players with Super-Max Contracts
The only player who falls into the Super-Max category is Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown who signed a five-year Supermax extension worth up to 303.7 million USD which happens to be the most expensive contract in NBA history.
While the deal was given to the player as gratitude and trust in Brown’s services, many fans question whether the player deserved such a large payout considering his inconsistent performances for the Celtics.
Regardless, the super-max extensions prevent the Celtics from putting Brown on the trading block. On the contrary, it would be quite bizarre for any team to bother looking into a trade surrounding Brown considering his sub-par performances for the Celtics this season.
Who would you like to see traded to and from your favorite team? Is there any particular player featured in these lists that you would like to see traded? Does Jaylen Brown deserve his supermax extension with the Celtics? We are eager to know your thoughts and opinions, so feel free to comment below.
