NBA trade deadline: Should your team buy, sell or stand pat as Feb. 6 looms?

The NBA trade deadline is right around the corner, and front-office executives across the league are working the phones to scan the market and figure out the best paths forward for their respective teams.

The Athletic NBA staff decided to offer an assist. For all 30 teams, we’ve selected a short-term route — buy, sell or stand pat — they should take as the clock ticks to Feb. 6. Some choices may surprise you. Others might not.

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

Stand pat: After their struggles over the last month, the Celtics should obviously sell everything and start over. (OK, fine, I didn’t mean that.) If Boston does anything, it should be a minor move to improve the wing depth near the end of the bench. The Celtics don’t need much. Their frontcourt is good enough that Xavier Tillman can’t even get a chance. Their perimeter talent is good enough that Sam Hauser has lost minutes lately. They could use one more 6-foot-6 or 6-foot-7 option that Joe Mazzulla would trust, but those are hard to find, and it’s not a desperate need anyway. — Jay King

Brooklyn Nets

Sell: The Nets have already declared themselves ripe for the picking this season, trading Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith before the new year. Cam Johnson is one of the most coveted players on the market, a versatile wing who could squeeze into the starting lineup of just about any contender. The Nets have stockpiled second-rounders, which can be useful as trade chips as they start to build back up after the upcoming draft. Johnson should bring back a first-rounder at the very least. The question is whether the Nets keep the fire sale going beyond that if they can’t get more firsts for their other players. Because the draft lottery odds are flat for the four worst teams, they don’t have to race all the way to the bottom and could keep some of their young guys like Cam Thomas to see how they develop. — Jared Weiss

New York Knicks

Buy: At this point, with how much the Knicks have committed to their starting lineup, the team has to continue to build toward being a title contender. New York isn’t one yet, and part of that is because of its struggling bench. The team could desperately use some wing depth. The question, though, is how does New York get it? Mitchell Robinson is the only non-starting player who makes more than $10 million, and it’s still unclear when he will play his first game of the season after undergoing foot surgery in May. With New York not too far away from the second apron, it’ll have to get creative in how it makes additions … if it does at all. — James L. Edwards III

Philadelphia 76ers

Sell: The Sixers are in a conundrum because they put together a roster all-in on winning now but has been so injured that making the playoffs is at risk. They probably have a better feel for whether Joel Embiid and Paul George could be healthy for the postseason, but this team has been so bad that adding another role player isn’t going to make much of a difference to the Sixers’ upside. Their best outcome could be to end up in the top six of the draft and not have to send their pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Sixers have a few role players who could bring in some decent draft pick value, so they should consider trading Guerschon Yabusele, who will command more than they can offer in free agency this summer. — Jared Weiss

Toronto Raptors

Sell: The Raptors have no shot at the playoffs and an exceptionally easy schedule down the stretch. They have to find creative ways to lose some games. They can do that through their own, errr, roster manipulation, but if they can get some light draft compensation without taking on too much future money for the likes of Bruce Brown, Chris Boucher, Davion Mitchell and Kelly Olynyk, that would be nice, too. And if someone bowls them over for Jakob Poeltl? Well, it’s worth considering, although that seems unlikely. — Eric Koreen

Central Division

Chicago Bulls

Sell: At some point, the Bulls must admit defeat. Their continued attempts at retooling have only landed them in the messy middle for the past four seasons — with just one playoff appearance and one playoff win as a result. Extensions for Zach LaVine, Nikola Vučević and Patrick Williams in consecutive summers all look like mistakes. None have moved the needle or truly impacted winning. Now the Bulls are at risk of losing this year’s first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs as compensation for the DeMar DeRozan trade if the selection falls out of the top 10. To prevent that worst-case scenario from becoming a reality, the Bulls should sell for whatever they can before the deadline and rebuild. — Darnell Mayberry

Cleveland Cavaliers

Buy: These exercises have become dangerous for me; I nearly had to sell my house in Cleveland after the last one. I think, but who can say, Cavs fans will agree with me here. If they can make an upgrade on the wing, they should. I recently reported the team’s interest in Cam Johnson. Not sure if the assets are there for Cleveland to pull off such a move, but bigger guards and wings have given the Cavs problems because of a combo of the relative lack of size and physicality on the part of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland (when going against bigger opponents) and the inconsistency the team gets out of the small forward position. Mitchell and Garland are great, but against bigger backcourts, they’d be greater with a little more help from a tall, athletic wing who can shoot. Whether or not the Cavs can make that happen is another matter, again, because of the assets available to them and competition on the market. — Joe Vardon

Detroit Pistons

Stand pat: I’ve gone back and forth, but I’ve settled on this: Detroit has an average age of just over 24, has been hampered by injuries and needs time for this group to blossom. The biggest area of concern is the lack of a secondary ballhandler and playmaker outside of Cade Cunningham. Without Jaden Ivey, the offense has the tendency to become stagnant when Cunningham is on the sideline. That said, I’m willing to bet on Cunningham continuing to ascend and young players such as Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II taking advantage of increased opportunity. If Detroit were to be buyers, it could jeopardize the chemistry of a team oozing with camaraderie and possibly stunt the growth of first- and second-year players. — Hunter Patterson

Indiana Pacers

Stand pat: Myles Turner is on an expiring contract and could surely help a contender off the bench. But the Pacers have surged recently and are playing better at both ends, and coming off last season’s deep playoff run, there is no reason not to allow the team as currently constructed to take another swing. Given the strength of the teams ahead of them, I’m not sure this is the year to spend the assets they have, but I don’t see this club as a seller, either. If Tyrese Haliburton has a healthy, steady second half, the Pacers could be a tough out. I love Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin together, and Pascal Siakam has been good. Keep it going. — Joe Vardon

Milwaukee Bucks

Buy: After a rough start, the Bucks have stabilized and worked themselves back into the top four in the Eastern Conference. On the season, they are just outside the top 10 in offensive efficiency and inside the top 10 in defensive efficiency. With one of the best players on the planet in Giannis Antetokounmpo and an All-Star-level point guard in Damian Lillard, they have the NBA’s top scoring duo. It is perfectly reasonable for them to try to add more to their roster to try to make a deeper playoff run. — Eric Nehm

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Stand pat: The Hawks spent a year finding out the trade value of their weightiest contracts, and except for the departed Dejounte Murray, the answer was “not much.” Between that and owing this year’s first-round pick to San Antonio, they might as well plow forward and deal with the futures of players like Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter this summer. At the same time, the Hawks aren’t exactly in win-now mode with a young, mildly overachieving team that’s just over .500. Maybe they trade a second for a backup point guard, but it’s not time to push in their remaining chips. — John Hollinger

Charlotte Hornets

Sell: The Hornets’ choice is abundantly clear. They are in Year 1 of a rebuild under new basketball operations head Jeff Peterson. They have slowly accumulated draft picks for the future as they try to not only strengthen their asset base but find new ways of acquiring talent. They won’t contend for a playoff spot this year, and may not next year either, even in a league in which two-thirds of the teams make the postseason. Charlotte has a few veterans who might be able to help other teams, such as Miles Bridges, Grant Williams and Tre Mann. The Hornets also could work their way into trades to create room for maneuvering for other teams, which would come with a likely payoff of a draft pick or young player. — Mike Vorkunov

Miami Heat

Sell: Technically, if you’re the team shopping a player as accomplished as Jimmy Butler ahead of the trade deadline, that probably makes you a seller. But as we know, the Heat are never looking to take a step back. This franchise always has an eye toward making the playoffs, and although all signs point to the Heat moving on from Butler sooner rather than later, they won’t be looking to rebuild anytime soon. Will the return in a Butler deal be enough to put this team back into contention for the Eastern Conference crown? Probably not. But this will be a great opportunity for the Heat to assemble a few assets for the future. Rebuilding is considered a bad word in Miami. Perhaps a better way to put it is that Butler moving on will allow the Heat to restructure the foundation of the roster by prioritizing Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. — Will Guillory

Orlando Magic

Buy: The Magic have slumped lately, but even with the recent return of star Paolo Banchero, they remain inundated with injuries, including to defensive standouts Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze. Franz Wagner, Orlando’s second star, on Thursday played his first game since Dec. 6. A larger problem remains with their 3-point shooting, an area where the Magic need significant help. A top-level 3-and-D guy would be ideal. In other words, Orlando needs exactly the characteristics so much of the league needs. With Moe Wagner out for the season, a decent backup big would help, too. — Josh Robbins

Washington Wizards

Sell: There’s a caveat here. Yes, because the Wizards are early in their rebuild, they would benefit from trading for young players with upside and future draft picks, particularly future first-round picks. But at the same time, the team shouldn’t “sell” low on its current veterans merely for the sake of making a deal. For instance, Kyle Kuzma, who’s having an uncharacteristically unproductive season by his standards, may need time to resuscitate his trade value. It’s also critical for Washington to retain veterans who play the right way and are leaders by example. — Josh Robbins

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets

Buy: Denver has become … let’s call it frugal … since winning the 2023 championship. We’ve seen several key players find their way out of town for nothing in return. While I wouldn’t expect any big deals, Denver should try to add another quality rotation guy. Nikola Jokić continues to do some special stuff, and this front office and ownership should not take it for granted. Get him the help he deserves. — Zach Harper

Minnesota Timberwolves

Stand pat: I can hear Wolves fans screaming at me right now, but hang with me. The Wolves do have needs, but not a lot means to address them. They could use a rim-protecting backup big and another shooter. The problem is they are a second-apron team, which severely restricts their ability to make trades. They also don’t have a ton of ammunition to make offers, so the likelihood of landing an impact player is low. Yes, the Julius Randle fit has been awkward, but I think there are bigger problems the Wolves have to solve. The biggest issue they have right now is Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley have not played nearly as well as they did last year. Gobert doesn’t have much of a trade market, and Conley is still valuable as a mentor to Rob Dillingham. This team is in every game it plays. I don’t see a trade out there that makes the Wolves markedly better or a sell move that drastically improves their position going forward without them incentivizing a team to help them. It may not be popular, but it may be what makes the most sense. — Jon Krawczynski

Oklahoma City Thunder

Stand pat: The Thunder remain the subject of rumors involving just about anyone. Such will always be reality for a team that owns the most draft picks in the league. But that doesn’t mean they have to use them now. Oklahoma City has built this thing from the bottom — and in a matter of only a few years. Sure, the Thunder have flaws, though not many. They still rank near the bottom in defensive rebounding. Deep in the playoffs, they could potentially benefit from an extra facilitator. But they are also the runaway best team in the West without their second-most important player, Chet Holmgren, who has been hurt for most of the year and is expected back before the playoffs. Playing Holmgren with Isaiah Hartenstein will clean up the rebounding issues without taking away space from the offense, and Holmgren will give them another high-scoring option. If the Thunder don’t make any major edits to the roster, think of Holmgren as their big-time deadline acquisition. Just bringing him back could be enough to win a title. — Fred Katz

Portland Trail Blazers

Sell (sell, sell): The Blazers are not winning games as currently constructed, so they might as well take away all impediments to figuring out their future by trading the likes of Jerami Grant, Robert Williams, Anfernee Simons and — if there is any team gullible enough to believe he can be a winning piece — Deandre Ayton. The only certainties on this Blazers roster are that Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara are worthy building blocks, and that Shaedon Sharpe has shown enough promise to keep. As for Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Kris Murray and Rayan Rupert? It’s time to clear the way for more playing time to see just how promising — or bleak — the cupboards are … and gain some draft capital in the process. Sure, trading away the veterans will set up the Blazers for more losses, but it’s not like they are winning with them. — Jason Quick

Utah Jazz

Buy … and sell: The Jazz should be in both markets. They should try to send out more veteran options like Jordan Clarkson, John Collins and Collin Sexton for future assets or further flexibility. At the same time, they need to be in the market to acquire players other teams need to jettison to avoid the tax. You pick up draft capital in the process. — Zach Harper

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

(Soft) buy: The Warriors, despite employing the greatest shooter in history, have been one of the five worst NBA offenses over the last two months. They have made it clear they don’t plan to “mortgage the future” at the trade deadline because they don’t see a reasonably priced path to a legit co-star for Stephen Curry and don’t believe enough in this current team that a single move will leap them into contention. But you can get something done at the trade deadline with expiring contracts (of which the Warriors have a few) and a sprinkle of draft capital: Second-rounders, maybe a heavily protected first. Nikola Vučević is a popular name because he’s a stretch center who’d open up the floor with his shooting and unlock lineups in a congested Warriors’ frontcourt. That’s the type of move worth making, if Chicago’s price is reasonable. — Anthony Slater

LA Clippers

Buy: This is more on the buy-stand pat spectrum. The Clippers have some clear long-term objectives, such as keeping the powder dry for the 2026 and 2027 free-agent classes. That is when James Harden’s (player option exercised) and Kawhi Leonard’s contracts expire. But this is the maiden voyage of Intuit Dome, and Steve Ballmer is not a tank owner. This organization wants a winning record and to host a playoff game. There are contracts that need to be dealt with by next month, and the Clippers survived without Leonard to stay relevant in the West. They’re in position to optimize the 2025 roster. — Law Murray

Los Angeles Lakers

Buy: The Lakers may only have 18 months remaining of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. If they’re not going to go for it at the deadline, what exactly are they doing? As it stands, the Lakers are not good enough to truly contend for a championship but also not well-equipped enough with draft picks and young players for the post-James era. They need to pick a lane, and unless they’re willing to trade James and/or Davis and tear it all down, buying and taking one final swing at contention is the most sensible approach. Standing pat or taking a small swing, which is certainly possible, would be a mistake. — Jovan Buha

Phoenix Suns

Sell: In the mortgage business, Mat Ishbia believes in identifying problems quickly and fixing them quickly. This approach with the Suns should lead him to one conclusion — sell. Phoenix has gotten progressively worse over the past three seasons. They have changed coaches. They have overhauled the bench (and added Bradley Beal). They have changed lineups (and demoted Bradley Beal). Nothing has worked. This season, the Suns have lacked the togetherness to beat a good team and the fire to put away a bad one. On many nights, they just look old. Acquiring Jimmy Butler — if a deal can be constructed — would help, but it won’t make Phoenix a championship contender. — Doug Haller

Sacramento Kings

Buy: They’re committed, at this point, to keeping the win-now pedal down on this Domantas Sabonis-De’Aaron Fox era. It’s why the Kings gave up a valuable first-round pick swap to San Antonio this summer to complete the DeMar DeRozan deal. Everything looked shakier a few weeks back when they were 13-19, and it looked increasingly likely Fox might nudge his way out of town. That still remains possible in the semi-near future, but winning cures plenty in sports. The Kings have leaped back over .500 after a hot streak under interim coach Doug Christie and have maintained internal motivation to add to this core, not subtract. Cam Johnson is a known target. They’ve been discussing him with Brooklyn since the summer. — Anthony Slater

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Stand pat: The Mavericks were 19-10 with the No. 4-ranked offense and the No. 11-ranked defense before they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas. They were dealt some bad luck when Luka Dončić exited that game with a left calf injury. Dallas should see what it has when it’s healthy and then re-assess this summer. The Mavericks looked like one of the NBA’s elite teams before their best player getting hurt. — Christian Clark

Houston Rockets

Buy (or finance): The Rockets brass continue to maintain a cautious, patient stance as it relates to roster construction, but I respectfully disagree. Even if there isn’t a clear blockbuster move to make Houston “buy” at this juncture, the franchise should definitely take a financing approach — smaller moves around the margins that can pay dividends come postseason time. A once-stout rebounding unit has seen its numbers plummet to around league average since losing Jabari Smith Jr. to injury, and the Rockets’ shooting woes won’t just dissipate overnight. This season has been filled with feel-good vibes, but we’re in an age of parity that simply hasn’t been around in quite some time. If there’s a trade that makes the Rockets better, even if it’s by 5 percent, they should do it. It may be the difference between a conference finals run and a first-round exit. — Kelly Iko

Memphis Grizzlies

Buy: The Grizzlies have a reasonably good chance at making the second conference finals in team history even if they stand pat. Their odds of true contention increase, however, if they can add size and shooting at the forward spots that would alleviate the scheming the Grizzlies will likely face in the postseason, especially if its a player on their timeline (i.e. not Jimmy Butler). We already know the Grizzlies will willingly offer Luke Kennard and John Konchar as a salary match, and Memphis has access to all its future first-round picks. If the right player is available, it’s time to go all-in. — John Hollinger

New Orleans Pelicans

Sell: Based on the Pelicans’ record, the answer to this question should be obvious. When things have gone as poorly as they have this season, it’s probably the right time to cash in on a few assets and start looking at the future. The tough part for New Orleans is finding the right move that can bring in the value the Pelicans are looking for. Brandon Ingram has practically been on the trading block since last summer. He’s more likely than anyone else on the roster to get moved before the deadline, but who else? Is CJ McCollum playing so well that he’s removed himself from trade speculation? Is it too early to look at Zion Williamson deals? This team will be active ahead of the trade deadline, but it probably isn’t looking to make the big, forward-thinking moves some may be expecting. — Will Guillory

San Antonio Spurs

Buy: Devin Vassell is starting to shake off some rust after returning from injury and looks more like himself as of late (four straight 20-point performances entering Thursday’s game in Paris), but until the Spurs figure out their center depth behind Victor Wembanyama, they’ll continue to struggle. Given where they are in their rebuilding process, Nikola Vučević probably doesn’t make a ton of sense, but in a vacuum, he brings the perfect blend of scoring, floor spacing and rebounding to jolt a second unit — and even play alongside Wembanyama at times. Between Zach Collins, Tre Jones and Charles Bassey (the latter two of whom are expiring contracts), San Antonio has avenues to wheel and deal should it choose. — Kelly Iko

Sign up to get The Bounce, the essential NBA newsletter from Zach Harper and The Athletic staff, delivered free to your inbox.

(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; top photos: Mark Blinch, Issac Baldizon, Luke Hales / Getty Images)