Who's Truly Untouchable? A Deep Dive into NBA Player Stability

Today, we tackle the pressing question of player safety in the NBA trade landscape—who's truly safe and who could be on the move? With recent trades shaking up the league, the conversation is timely and relevant.

• Exploring the current landscape of NBA trade rumors 
• Analyzing player safety versus trade viability 
• Defining what it means for a player to be "safe" in the NBA 
• Discussing notable players on the safe list and those in question 
• Speculating future trades and their potential impacts 

If you have thoughts on who's safe and who's vulnerable, let us know! 

Chapters

• 9:00 Intro to NBA Player Safety
• 18:00 Defining Safety: How Long Is Safe Enough?
• 57:00 Question Marks: Players on the Trade Rumor Mill

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

What's up everybody. It's your favorite show, favorite show, get a bucket. I'm your host, trey, and, as usual, I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. Now we got to talk about the NBA. Who's safe?

Speaker 1: 0:18

I know this Luka trade, this Luka acquisition by my Lakers is kind of opening the eyes of NBA fans, nba players, hell, even some owners, and it's like yo, is anybody really safe? Because, again, luka Doncic just went to the NBA finals last year, like I said, the finals okay, like he was close enough to win it all, like he was a third option option, a consistent third option, away and maybe a little uptick from kairi from winning the championship, and the man in his prime got traded. So we gotta wonder, well, if he got traded, brother bro, like who else is, is, is not, is liable to get traded? Like, come on now, like what? Like that's a lot. I do understand that as a Laker fan, I do understand that. Ladies and gentlemen, um, my thing is this what is the definition of actually being safe in the NBA? Cause, it could be viewed a little, a little weird, right? So I I deem it as you not getting traded for about three seasons. Keep in mind, the average nba career is about three to four seasons. So I mean, if you can last that long, that's somebody's nba career right there. Champ, feel like that's being said, but you know, again, that's just my definition. If you got a different one, cool uh.

Speaker 1: 1:41

But for I looked at about 13 players that I deem are safe. So here we go Steph Curry, nicola Yogi, shea Gilders, alexander Jason Tatum, anthony Edwards, jalen Brown, devin Booker I do have an asterisk around Devin Booker. Follow me though. Jalen Brunson, jaron Jackson Jr, cade Cunningham, who I also have an asterisk around Victor Wiminyama, paolo Bencaro and Tyrese Maxey. Now, the reason I put asterisks behind Devin Booker and Cade Cunningham is because maybe, just maybe, their organizations are dumb enough to trade them. Maybe, but again, I do expect them to be safe overall. Now, the reason why I have all of them listed as safe again, I don't expect them to go anywhere for the next three seasons. Fingers crossed, but again, I also probably would have had Luka on this list. We saw what happened.

Speaker 1: 2:35

Now the question marks I got about 20 people on this list. All right, this one. I want y'all thoughts and inputs on this, because this one's a little bit tricky. Definitely let me know if I miss somebody on the who's safe list, but they might be on my question marks list and there's justification as to why. So, with that being said, as a Laker fan, I got to put Luka back on the question mark list. Like what happens if he states he doesn't want to re-sign with us, right, like again, he just got traded. Maybe we might want to flip him to get something back in return. Until I see that, I'm leaving him on the question mark list. Personally, I again I've said before he might want to go to the spurs. That could be a legitimate thing. But hey, we, we'll see.

Speaker 1: 3:23

Anthony Davis I have him on this question mark list only because I would put him safe. But there is a lot of pressure. If you don't get to the finals, I do think people, meaning the Dallas Mavericks fans, will be a little perturbed Well, even more so than what they are right now Because again, they just got to the finals. Right, y'all got to get there, which I think is possible. Y'all don't believe me? Listen to my other audio podcast where I talk about it. But again, there is some pressure for AD, I do think he's safe.

Speaker 1: 3:55

Carl Anthony Towns I have him as a question mark only because he is new and he did just get traded, even though he did go to the Western Conference Finals and produced, by the way. But his production so far makes me think he is safe. But again, there is a question mark around it, especially over three seasons. That's the, that's the thing. Over three seasons, again, luca, we have to AD. I think they have to Cat, I don't think they have to. Maybe they get a bigger, a better piece, but who knows, we'll see Tyrese Halliburton, this one's kind of weird. He was just on Team USA, right. I've been hearing a lot of rumbling that he's overrated. That is part of my reason. Why I have him on the question mark was, if he's not what the Pacers expect him to be, I could see them trying to offload him. But let's see what happens too. I do think Tyrese Halliburton is a decent point guard and could be a solid one for the future. Actually, I'm not going to hold you so I haven't met the question mark, but I could see him on the Pacers. But at least for the next three seasons, lebron James LeBron James is up here as well.

Speaker 1: 5:04

Ladies and gentlemen, this is this, is not hate. This is basically his age, like I understand. We got Luca, but again, we did get Luca. So you got to think. Well, you got to be thinking future. And with us thinking future, you also got to be thinking about LeBron and him thinking future. Retirement that could be coming quicker than we imagined. Future retirement that could be coming quicker than we imagined. So again, age over three seasons. I don't think it's unfair to say LeBron might not be on the Lakers in that timeframe. It could happen. And again, if y'all think that's hate, that's cool.

Speaker 1: 5:35

But one of my favorite players is Kevin Durant, and he's on this list of question marks for the very same reason. So again, I don't want to hear it. End of day, these fellows are actually a little older and in fact, kd was just in rumor talk. So again, it's not out of the realm of possibility that they're not deemed as safe, but I could see them staying on their respective teams over the next three seasons.

Speaker 1: 5:56

Kevin Durant, to a lesser degree though With Zion. I expect him to get traded, potentially just off the fact that he ain't been healthy. And it's disgusting too, because when he gets I feel like when he gets traded he'll start snapping, and that's. I think that's what the Pelicans are worried about too. I'd be so pissed off if I was the man. But he's definitely on my question mark list because, again from the Pelicans, you don't want to lose such a talent. He's the youngest player to get to five thousand points. Come on now. That's kind of crazy. He ain't played that much Like. That's ridiculous. So again, someone like Zion, that's kind of crazy. You don't want to lose that. But if I'm them two though, I got to think availability is the best ability, and that's where my trepidation is. So, zion, you are my question mark list.

Speaker 1: 6:48

Champ De'Aaron Fox as well. Only reason why I put De'Aaron Fox there? Because he's had that tryout period right. Ideally, he would like to list with the Spurs, but what happens if they don't pan out? What happens if victim of Miyama keeps having shutdowns, right? Does he want to stay with the Spurs? Because now we're wasting away your prime? You may want to get traded. So again, those tryout period could have De'Aaron Fox, not on the Spurs. We'll wait and see. But again, that is a question mark. Again, we're thinking three years, ladies and gentlemen. Three years. Another point guard, john Moran.

Speaker 1: 7:24

This one's a little surprising for y'all. I get it. Hear me out, though the off the court antics that happened, right, I understand. I'm not trying to hold that against them. I'm saying that made him tradable in the eyes of Memphis, and then also he's had health issues himself. So because of those factors and because, respectfully, point guards are kind of you know Not, I'm not going to say a dime, a dozen, but he's not the most elite point guard out here. So I mean, respectfully, he could get traded from Memphis.

Speaker 1: 7:56

And I said Jaron Jackson Jr is actually safe and that's because Buddy has actually been a deep boy. He's been actually playing well this season, even when Ja was down. So again again. And desmond bain is on the squad too. So maybe they can flip a job morant for another star and get something. But job morant is tradable in my eyes. So there's a question mark right there, ladies and gentlemen. Again, over the next three seasons he could stay there, though, but over the next three seasons I'm not gonna be surprised if he gets traded. I'm in thom. Y'all might be surprised.

Speaker 1: 8:27

I put him on this list. I view him quite highly, right? I've hesitantly said he could be, if he plays his card right, one of the faces of the NBA. Based on his current situation, if management is dumb. They could trade him. I hope not. I don't expect them to. But again, question marks, just because, again, it could happen. It could happen. Some team could try to fleece the Rockets from Ahmed Thompson. I hope not, though, because really good player Rockets have both, and I hope E-Made does his thing too, because I might leave if I'm him Scotty Barnes this thing too, because I might leave if I'm him scotty barnes.

Speaker 1: 9:08

I have him as a question mark only because, like bro, what if he makes a trade request, like maybe you know I'm saying like I, I got to double check and see when his seven-year marker is, because maybe he can get the super max, but if the raptors don't start winning now, I mean like getting to the playoffs and can make some noise, which they have the talent to do. So if i'm'm Scottie Barnes, I'm trying to pair up with Anthony Edwards because I think that duo can cause some havoc. So I have him as a question mark again for this three-year period. I don't expect the Raptors to want to trade him, but if he makes a trade request, you to. So look out for that one. Now labello ball.

Speaker 1: 9:50

I have question marks solely because buddy has not been healthy and it's been a problem. Like I, I don't. I don't feel comfortable drafting him in fantasy at all. I really don't. And if the, if, the, if the hornets feel like you know what, he's not worth the hassle. Good talent, good talent. I'm sure somebody else will think that too and might actually be willing to take a chance on Buddy. You can actually get a nice little haul for him. So if I'm the Hornets, I'm paying attention to that. But question marks around the mellow ball because of his health. Ultimately he's been injury prone. What can I say?

Speaker 1: 10:21

Giannis Giannis Antetokounmpo, that, giannis Giannis Antetokounmpo, that is an interesting one, right? Maybe not if you've listened to some of the names on this list, but hear me out, though. What if he makes a trade request? Because I actually have expectations that he does make a trade request. I've been saying this over the last couple seasons, pretty much ever since he got Damian Lillard. They're on a clock now because you don't want to waste Giannis' prime, prime and keep in mind too, like, who gonna go to milwaukee, who wants to go to milwaukee. Realistically, people go there because yannis was in his prime. It's ideal. Because yannis was in his prime, yannis is still viewed as a top 10, top five nba player. So if he's recognizing that, maybe he wants to go play with someone like steph curry, or maybe he wants to go play with someone like Steph Curry, or maybe he wants to come to my Lakers that just got brought up to me recently. So, again, I'm not expecting Giannis to stay on the Bucs for the next three seasons personally, but you know, let's see, there is some allure though to that Lakers thing Because again they could form potentially the greatest international duo in NBA history. But we'll have to see how that shakes too, because they got to win some championships personally.

Speaker 1: 11:35

Bam Adebayo Now, when you're looking at the Heat squad, I get you there aren't too many players on the squad that could realistically stay and I think he's safe personally. But I'm not comfortable that. He is like Tyler hero could get trained. Everybody on the heat squad, I believe, could get traded at some point in time. He's just the safest player. But I could see a world where Bam get out of bio, gets traded into season Again. I don't expect this. I do remain. I do expect him to remain on the Miami heat squad at least until the next all-star, on the Olympic break or mashup squad, at least until the next All-Star. I mean Olympic break or matchup, but at least. But Bam is on that list. There's something about it. There's something about him where I'm like he could get traded.

Speaker 1: 12:22

Trey Young same thing. I could see a trade request. Keep in mind, they have traded pretty much all their good assets, right? They had John Collins, dejounte Murray, they had all these these guys, and they ended up trading away all of them for Trae Young. They do have Zachary, richa Shea and Jalen Johnson. Maybe they think, hey, we can make it work with them. Oneka Gumake is pretty good too. Oneka Okongwu is pretty good too. I could see Trae being traded as well. There is a world in three seasons Because again a trade request could happen. Get your brand, buddy, and then leave. So Trey Young might not be on the Hawks for the next three seasons.

Speaker 1: 13:14

An interesting person on this list for me is Alprin Sengun. In fact, I do have him as a question mark on staying on the Rockets for the next three seasons. I could see him staying. Don't get me wrong. I do view him as safe. I do. But if the right trade package comes along, because again the era, right. But if the right trade package comes along because, again, the era right. Maybe someone views Sengun a little higher than the Rockets do.

Speaker 1: 13:41

I am curious if the Rockets view him as untradeable, good player. Good player Could actually be better than DeMontis Sabonis. But again, no teams are loyal. If they get the right value for you, you might be, you might be going and the Rockets ain't won nothing, so again could get traded. But I do, I do view him as safe. I do view him as safe.

Speaker 1: 14:05

Jalen Green, same thing. If they feel like, hey, you know what I'm in, thompson and Alper and Sengun, that's my one and my two and you're not an elite enough score and they can get an uphaul for you and someone views you highly, hey, that could happen too. Jalen Green is tradable and he's been playing extremely well, ladies and gentlemen, so it's not like it's out of the realm of possibility that someone could view him higher than the Rockets do. So again, for me, I do view Jalen Green as tradable. And also, what if he makes a trade request too? Because let's say again, alprendon and Amin are there one and two? Will Jalen's ego allow him to play the three option? He came in as supposed to be the guy. That's a lot. So we got to wait and see. View that one a little bit. That could be a lot going on in the Rockets over the next couple of seasons.

Speaker 1: 14:57

Derek White and Drew Holiday I'm just packaging them up in one lump sum, right, because I do view Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown as safe, right Borderline, untradeable, but relatively safe. I mean they make a trade request or maybe there's some internal friction. Jb wants to be okay, cool, something like that happened. Right. Drew holiday and derrick white these boys I don't expect to leave. But at the same time we have to consider okay, do we need to evolve as a team? Celtics fans, like do you need to get ahead of the curve? Celtics fans, like let's say you don't win this season, all right, should you try to trade some players like Drew Holiday or Derek White? That could be a thing. I know.

Speaker 1: 15:44

Christoph Porzingis is definitely tradable over the next three seasons, especially because of his health, but maybe that might make it hard to trade him. But Derek White and Drew Holiday are not hard to trade. These guys are champions, olympic gold medalists and hoopers, two-way players at an elite level. You want to get good value for them. Now is the time, so that could be a time to trade them over the next three seasons. So again, I don't expect them to trade them, they just want a championship. Let them ride it out. Maybe I can see that happening. But you lose enough, or you lose early enough a couple of times. Somebody might, somebody might be gone and they do have Peyton Pritchard, so maybe he makes somebody expendable. Have Peyton Pritchard, so maybe he makes somebody expendable, one of these two expendable, that is a thing to note. And finally, franz Wagner. Now Buddy has been hooping.

Speaker 1: 16:39

I can't hold y'all on the magic. I've been asking whether or not he's a second or third option. I'm coming around on him being a second option as he matures right. So I do have him as a question mark only because maybe somebody wants to take a chance and view him as a first option. Maybe they try to take him away from the Magic, but I do expect the Magic to re-sign this man and he stay for a little while and pair with Paolo. They are a nice little duo. I can't lie to y'all, the Magic looking pretty nice for the future. So again, I do have a question mark, but I do expect him to remain on the Magic.

Speaker 1: 17:17

And again, a lot of these players I expect to remain on their teams, but they're all worlds where they definitely get traded. Again, kevin Durant could go to the Wolves. We could see that happen. Who knows? Lebron James, I don't know where he'd actually go. Nicks, actually, that'd be an interesting one, but I could see him getting traded. Maybe he wants to finish out his career on the Cavs, who knows? But again, ladies and gentlemen, that's what.

Speaker 1: 17:42

Those are my listings for who's safe and then my question marks. So if y'all have, if y'all think I missed somebody on either list, missed somebody on either list, please let me know. But anybody outside of that easily should be able to get traded in my eyes. But I'm that well easily. It's tough because you got people like jay dub too, who you could put as question marks, which I expect them to be on the squad still. But again, same thing with some of the question mark players chet home, grin again, health like. Like there are other players out there too that I could put up there as well, but it's going to be similar stuff. So I'm curious what y'all thought as well. But definitely, please like, subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is Trey. I'm the host of Get a Bucket. Hope you all are having a good one. Take care.