Which role players could affect the NBA championship race if they're traded between now and the Feb. 10 deadline?
As the deadline approaches, much of the attention is naturally on the bigger names who might be moved. However, a well-timed acquisition of a role player can ultimately have as much impact on the title chase -- if not more.
Consider last season, when the Milwaukee Bucks acquired forward P.J. Tucker from the Houston Rockets a few days before the deadline. Although Tucker played sparingly the remainder of the regular season due to injuries, he moved into the starting lineup for a matchup against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets and never left, serving as a key contributor as the Bucks won their first championship in 50 years.
Admittedly, Tucker is an extreme example of an under-the-radar deadline acquisition paying off. Still, that won't stop other teams without the resources to chase All-Stars from trying to repeat Milwaukee's feat this season.
Let's take a look at eight players who could make a difference if they're dealt to contenders before Feb. 10.
Robert Covington
Portland Trail Blazers
Forward
Given the Blazers gave up two first-round picks for Covington before the 2020 draft, his acquisition hasn't helped Portland as much as hoped on defense, even though the team has been far better defensively with him on the court. Now that Covington is in the final year of his value contract (he's making $13 million), the price should be far more reasonable if the Blazers decide to move him.
Quietly, Covington has been playing at a high level since returning to the starting lineup in place of the injured Larry Nance Jr. Over his past 10 games, Covington has shot 42.3% from 3 while averaging 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks as Portland has gone 6-4. That might mean the Blazers won't be active at the deadline, though they still have significant incentive to get under the luxury tax line.
If Portland does move Covington, he'd actually fit well with the team that previously had him -- the Minnesota Timberwolves -- though it would probably require adding a third team because of the tax implications.
Goran Dragic
Toronto Raptors
Guard
Hey, remember him? Dragic hasn't played since Oct. 25, as he and the Raptors agreed to send him home so the team could play younger options behind starting point guard Fred VanVleet. We're still barely 15 months removed from Dragic helping spark the Miami Heat's bubble run to the NBA Finals, and while that kind of play is unrealistic to expect from Dragic at age 35, he could certainly help teams as a backup guard.
One way or another, Dragic won't be on Toronto's roster past the middle of February. A buyout seems inevitable, but a team that wouldn't be able to win a bidding war for Dragic's services could still land him via trade. One obvious candidate is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a need at guard after losing Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton to season-ending injuries. The Cavaliers could flip Rubio and a draft pick for Dragic, a move that would create enough room under the luxury tax for the Raptors to fill out their roster.
Eric Gordon
Houston Rockets
Guard
As the elder statesman on a Rockets team with three rookies who get rotation minutes, Gordon seems reinvigorated at age 33. He's hitting both 2s (56%) and 3s (45%) at career-high rates after a two-season swoon that saw him make just 32% beyond the arc in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Teams should be a bit wary of Gordon continuing to shoot so well, but it's reasonable to expect him to settle in near his career mark at 37%. Given Gordon's volume (he averaged better than 10 3-point attempts per 36 minutes the past five seasons before dropping to 6.3 this season), that still makes him a dangerous threat. Gordon's physical strength also makes him a good fit for switch-heavy defenses in the postseason.
Unlike most of the players on this list, Gordon isn't a rental, with one more guaranteed year at $19.6 million in 2022-23. That might make him a fit for teams (say, the LA Clippers) that would be contenders when healthy next season.
Montrezl Harrell
Washington Wizards
Center
Discarded by the Los Angeles Lakers after one underwhelming season, Harrell has reminded everyone why he's two years removed from winning the Sixth Man Award. In fact, playing a lower-usage role with the Wizards, Harrell is posting a career-high .693 true shooting percentage -- best in the NBA among players with an above-average usage rate.
So why might Harrell be on the move again?
Washington has three viable centers with the return of Thomas Bryant, leading to an awkward time-sharing arrangement. Bryant and Daniel Gafford are younger and more likely part of the Wizards' future plans.
The challenge is finding a contender with the right mix of matching salary and need for a center. The Charlotte Hornets might be the most likely Harrell suitor.
Justin Holiday
Indiana Pacers
Forward
Trade talk involving the Pacers has focused on the possibility of breaking up their frontcourt duo of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner or finding a new home for Caris LeVert. If I were running a contending team, I'd also be calling Indiana about Holiday, whose 3-and-D skill set and modest salary ($6.0 million, then $6.3 million in 2022-23) make him a fit just about anywhere.
One intriguing option is reuniting Holiday with his brother Jrue in Milwaukee. If the Bucks don't believe they can afford to re-sign Donte DiVincenzo, a restricted free agent this summer, a deal sending DiVincenzo and a minimum-salary player to the Pacers for Holiday would be close to salary-neutral and give Milwaukee more size on the wing.
Robin Lopez
Orlando Magic
Center
Unsurprisingly, Lopez has proved superfluous with Orlando at full strength despite the Magic playing Wendell Carter Jr. frequently at center. Lopez has nearly as many DNP-CDs (i.e., healthy scratches -- 19) as games played (22). If Lopez is willing to forgo proximity to Disney World the remainder of the season, he could help a team looking to shore up its defense off the bench at a reasonable rate ($5 million).
In many ways, Lopez is a more logical short-term fit in Charlotte than Harrell given how he could help a Hornets defense that ranks in the 15th percentile leaguewide with starting center Mason Plumlee on the bench, per Cleaning the Glass lineup data.
Kenrich Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder
Forward
Acquired by the Thunder in part of the trade sending Steven Adams to New Orleans as matching salary, Williams has dramatically outplayed a contract that paid him a non-guaranteed $2 million this season and next. (Williams' 2021-22 salary is now guaranteed, not that he was at any risk of getting cut.)
The biggest problem with Williams in Oklahoma City is he might be helping the Thunder too much to secure favorable lottery position. Amazingly, Oklahoma City has outscored opponents by 2.0 points per 100 possessions with Williams on the court according to NBA Advanced Stats. (Center Mike Muscala, whose minutes often overlap with Williams, has a similarly positive on-court net rating and might be another useful pickup.)
In part, Williams' on/off differential reflects some opponent 3-point shooting that is outside the control of individual players. Still, Williams is a high-IQ player with the well-earned nickname "Kenny Hustle" and has also developed into a 42% 3-point shooter on low volume with the Thunder. He could be acquired for a player making the veterans minimum and fits anywhere.
Thaddeus Young
San Antonio Spurs
Forward/Center
Hey, remember him? Like Dragic, Young was traded to a young team with little need for his services. Instead of being sent home, Young has instead played sparingly (346 minutes). His per-play statistics remain similar to last season, when Young was one of the NBA's top reserves for the Chicago Bulls.
During 2020-21, Young excelled as a playmaking 4/5, averaging a career-high 4.3 assists per game at age 32 while making 58% of his 2-point attempts. Defensively, Young is capable of guarding on the perimeter or bigger opponents in the post and he fits in a switching scheme for the postseason.
As with Dragic, the biggest question is whether a team has the matching salary to add Young's $14.2 million salary or he ends up on the buyout market.