Set for February 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET, the 2023 NBA trade deadline is fast approaching.

With each passing day, trade rumors continue to intensify, with a number of small deals already materializing. With the amount of parity in the NBA this season, there are a handful of teams in position to acquire a player who can take them to another level; some teams can go from being forced into the Play-In to being in the top six, while others are one piece away from being a legitimate title contender.

That said, there is a specific type of player capable of raising the roof of a team. TSN’s Scott Rafferty has examined the ways in which Pistons forward Jerami Grant fits into that bill, and he’s one of many ceiling-raising players who will be available at this year’s trade deadline. .

We’ll see…

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Who are the main targets of the NBA trade deadline?

Jerami Grant, Pistons

Grant, who turns 28 in March, is the perfect example of the type of player capable of raising the roof of a team.

While he hasn’t played since undergoing surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb, Grant averaged 20.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists through the first 24 games of the 2023-22 campaign. In theory, its versatility will allow it to fit anywhere; however, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report has reported that Grant “has little interest in joining a new situation where he doesn’t appear as a primary offensive option.”

Since joining Detroit, Grant has attempted 16.8 shots from the field per game. Most contenders would have to break away from a significant package or rebuild their offense to allow Grant to play a similar role.

What helps is the fact that the eight-year veteran is making $20 million this season and is under contract through the 2023-23 season. Relatively speaking, Grant’s salary shouldn’t be extremely difficult to match in potential trades, but would the return be tempting enough for the Pistons to make a deal?

Best situation: Bulls

More realistic situation: wizards

Sleep situation: Lakers

Myles TurnerPacers

Turner seems to have been the talk of the trade deadline for years.

While talks have never come to an agreement in the past, this year could be different. In a December interview with The Athletic, Turner lamented his role with the Pacers, saying “it’s clear I’m not valued here other than as a glorified role player, and I want something more, more opportunities.”

Combine Turner’s discontent with Indiana’s reported stance as sellers at the deadline, and you have the formula for a deal.

In theory, Turner is the quintessential big man for today’s game: At 6-foot-11, the 25-year-old is working on his third shot-blocking title at 2.8 blocks per game and is also a shot-stopper. 3 points of 34.9 percent in his career. . His floor space and rim protection would be valuable to various teams looking to compete.

Salary-wise, Turner is under contract through the 2023-23 season and is owed $18 million both this year and next. With Pacers owner Herb Simon saying “we can have a good team and (the goal is) to improve rather than break it up,” Indiana appears to be looking for players in return, not future draft capital.

It’s worth noting that Turner is currently sidelined with a stress reaction in his left foot that will keep him sidelined beyond the deadline. Whether or not that will affect interest in the market remains to be seen.

Best situation: Mavericks

More realistic situation: hornets

Sleep situation: celts

Eric Gordon, Rockets

A classic case of a player not fitting into a team’s development timeline.

Gordon, 33, is the last remaining member of the Rockets team that came one win away from the NBA Finals in 2018. He is now the second-oldest player on a Rockets team that is focused on rebuilding for the future.

Therein lies the disconnect.

Gordon is playing to his trade value this season, averaging 14.9 points per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and hitting 2.4 3-pointers per game at a 45.5 percent rate. Salary-wise, he’s earning $18.2 million this season and is under contract through a partial guarantee in the 2023-24 season. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Rockets are seeking a first-round pick in return.

The 14-year veteran brings shots and a veteran presence to teams ready to win now.

Best situation: Suns

More realistic situation: gentlemen

Sleep situation: Lakers

Terrence Ross, Magic

The Magic were sellers at the 2023 trade deadline, and 2023 should be no different.

As Orlando shifts its focus to the future, Ross, who will soon be 31, doesn’t exactly fit the picture, as his contributions are far more befitting a team built to win now. This season, Ross is averaging 12.2 points per game off the bench, and while he’s shooting just 31.4 percent from 3-point range, let’s not overlook his position as a 3-point shooter in the 36.4 percent in his career.

Ross, who is on the books for $12.5 million this season, has one year and $11.5 million left on his contract. A December report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicated that the Magic were seeking draft capital in exchange for the veteran scorer.

A team in need of a scoring hit could well be in the mix for Ross’ services at the deadline.

Best situation: gentlemen

More realistic situation: celts

Sleep situation: Lakers

Thaddeus Young, Spurs

With San Antonio rebuilding for its next era of basketball, Young has fallen out of Gregg Popovich’s rotation.

The veteran addressed why he wasn’t a good fit on “Posted Up” with Yahoo’s Chris Haynes in December, saying “we’re going to compete and we’re going to try to compete and try to do things, but we’re in a rebuilding situation. Being in a rebuild situation, that’s not ideal for a guy who’s just coming off a really good season, going into his 15th season to go into another rebuild.”

At 33, Young has traveled extensively: San Antonio is the sixth stop of a 15-year career that has included playoff runs with the 76ers, Nets and Pacers. Young is a player capable of doing a bit of everything as well. Just last season, he averaged 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 68 games with the Bulls.

Young, who is in the final year of his contract, is making $14.2 million this season, a salary that wouldn’t be hard to match for a team contending in a potential trade. The intangibles he brings to a team make him the perfect seventh or eighth man for a playoff team, capable of playing around 20 minutes a game.

With his desire to contribute to a deep playoff run, teams could call on Young, though the Spurs’ asking price is still unknown.

Best situation: Suns

More realistic situation: Mavericks

Sleep situation: Suns