More than halfway into the season, the line of demarcation between buyers and sellers is starting to make itself more pronounced, and social media teams around the NBA stratosphere are starting to hop on Photoshop to put players into new jerseys.

Free agency in recent years has been lacklustre, as the propensity for in-season transactions has started to take hold. Players like Pascal Siakam, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Domantas Sabonis and Tyrese Haliburton have all been traded at or before the early February deadline in seasons past.

Though new salary cap impositions might make things harder for teams come Feb. 6, championships are won at the trade deadline, and contending teams who feel the breeze of an open window this season or the next are sure to find ways to make things work.

We’ve covered which teams are looking like buyers, sellers or bystanders, but now it’s time to look at which players could be on the move, and who the biggest prizes of this year’s shopping spree will be. Here’s a look at the top 20 names that could find themselves on new teams once the deadline alarm rings on Feb. 6.

1. Jimmy Butler, SF, Miami Heat
17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists; 54.0/36.1/80.1 (FG%/3pt%/FT%)

Jimmy Butler has tripled down on his trade request out of Miami, making it clear that while he suits up in a Heat uniform, his mind is anywhere but South Beach. Despite saying he’s willing to get traded to any of the 29 other teams in the Association, rumours are floating that his mind is set on a select few (by few I mean Phoenix), and the Heat seem almost willing to see how it plays out. Despite the outside noise, and his clear distaste for his current situation, Butler remains one of the top two-way players in the league and has a proven track record in the playoffs any contending team should covet.

2. De’Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings
25.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists; 47.9/32.1/81.5

To be clear, De’Aaron Fox is a bigger prize than Butler. However, the likelihood he gets dealt is smaller, considering the extra year he has on his deal for $37 million in 2025-26 and the fact that the Kings have been on a run of late since parting ways with head coach Mike Brown. If there is a team that’s willing to pay a king’s ransom for the electric guard, and if Sacramento is ready to look inwards and understand that their window is shut, any deal for Fox would transform the playoff picture in the NBA.

3. Zach LaVine, SG, Chicago Bulls
24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists; 51.4/45.0/81.6

Time is a flat circle, as Zach LaVine’s name just can’t seem to escape trade rumours. However, as opposed to last season, when the guard was putting up some of his worst numbers since joining the Bulls, LaVine has had a stellar campaign and is playing with career-high scoring efficiency. What once looked like an albatross in year three of a five-year, $215 million contract, now looks like a game-changing offensive piece for a championship team.

4. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans
21.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists; 48.5/20.0/62.4

Williamson might be the most intriguing name on the list, as someone with a ceiling like his doesn’t usually find himself on the trade block only six years into his NBA career. Injuries have taken an obvious toll on the enigmatic forward, and a recent controversy that saw the Pelicans suspend him one game for tardiness is starting to spin the rumour mill. Any team taking him on assumes the risk that comes with Zion, but if that potential is fulfilled, if all he needs is a new environment, any team willing to pull the trigger may land a franchise player.

5. Brandon Ingram, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists; 46.5/37.4/85.5

In for a penny, in for a pound. The Pelicans, following a disastrous start to the season, seem primed to sell ahead of the deadline. Though Ingram has also dealt with his fair share of injuries, his skillset offers much more plug-and-play ability than Williamson’s, as he’s capable of playing more off the ball with a 40.8 per cent catch-and-shoot rate from deep. His contract is also set to expire at the end of the year, giving New Orleans incentive to sell him and other teams more willing to buy knowing he won’t infringe on the salary cap beyond this season. However, he hasn’t suited up since Dec. 7 as he recovers from an ankle injury, so any trade comes with question marks.

6. Cameron Johnson, SF, Brooklyn Nets
19.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists; 49.1/41.9/89.8

Johnson is the most intriguing piece for a predestined seller in the Brooklyn Nets. The 28-year-old 3-and-D wing is having his most productive year in the league, scoring at career-high marks while also upping his efficiency. He makes sense for any team in the Association, providing length, spacing and reliability on the wing while coming in at a reasonable $22.5 million cap hit. The two more years he has on his contract after this season could also raise the return for the Nets.

7. Nikola Vucevic, C, Chicago Bulls
20.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists; 55.4/41.1/80.9

Vucevic is the first name on the list for any team looking for size. The Chicago big man has had a strong showing, finishing with career-high efficiency both from the field and from deep, and the Bulls should be looking to sell as high as they can. He’ll be on the books for another season at $21 million, but it’s not an amount that should make teams gulp, as opposed to his teammate in LaVine.

8. Anfernee Simons, SG, Portland Trail Blazers
18.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.9 assists; 42.1/36.6/90.4

The Blazers have been patient with former third-overall pick Scoot Henderson, and the guard has finally started to show something to write home about in recent weeks. This means it’s time for them to move on from Simons, who is in year three of a four-year rookie extension and can provide any other team with a jolt offensively. His skillset would translate to a microwave bench role for a contender, which could attract some squads.

9. Jerami Grant, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists; 38.3/37.9/83.3

While we’re on the topic of the Blazers, Grant still being on this team almost feels like mismanagement. It’s time to part ways. The 30-year-old forward has struggled mightily with efficiency this season, shooting a paltry 38.3 per cent from the field, and is on the books for two more years plus a third with a player option with an AAV of $32 million. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but Grant has proven his ability to be a winning player in the past. The Blazers will hope that a team sees that now.

10. Jakob Poeltl, C, Toronto Raptors
14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists; 61.2/0.0/63.9

The Raptors might look at Poeltl as being necessary for what they hope to build in the future, providing the team with a reliable big and the only real rim-protection and rebounding on their roster. But for a team that’s tanking, he provides more value as an asset than on the court. Toronto doesn’t have a lot of players that can net them big returns, Poeltl is one of them, and they need all the pieces for the future they can get.

11. Kyle Kuzma, PF, Washington Wizards
14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists; 42.4/25.7/58.7

Talk about having a down year. Kuzma is putting up career lows in field goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage, all while getting in the way of the development of the young pieces the Wizards hope to build around in the future. Though he has two more years on his contract after this season, his cap hit will depreciate in value going down to only $19m in the 2026-27 season, meaning that any team taking him on as a plug-and-play contributor now will incur less risk in the future.

12. Collin Sexton, SG, Utah Jazz
18.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists; 48.0/41.6/90.1

In his time with the Jazz, Sexton has done well as an innings-eater, with the team knowing full well that they’re tanking. He’s produced nicely with his opportunity, working as more than just a “someone has to score” guy, getting the ball into the basket efficiently, especially from deep, shooting a career-high 41.6 per cent this season. With only one year left on his deal after this one, he could be a valuable offensive contributor off the bench for most teams.

13. John Collins, PF, Utah Jazz
17.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists; 52.5/43.8/86.7

Even after finally getting dealt away from the Atlanta Hawks, Collins can’t seem to escape the rumour mill. However, in this latest iteration, the 27-year-old high-flyer looks much less like a negative asset than he did back with the Hawks. He’s hitting a career-high 43.8 per cent of his looks from deep and is set to become a free agent after this season if he declines his player option. The market should be a lot more active this time around.

14. Jonathan Kuminga, PF, Golden State Warriors
16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists; 45.9/34.5/63.9

No, the Warriors aren’t selling, but Kuminga is the best piece the team can dangle if they want to actually try to contend in the twilight years of Steph Curry’s career. The fourth-year forward is currently dealing with an ankle injury, and according to coach Steve Kerr, is “nowhere close to being ready to play.” That shouldn’t matter to any tanking team, as the former seventh-overall pick has shown flashes that could intrigue any seller at the deadline.

15. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Washington Wizards
11.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists; 56.1/21.7/88.9

Coming off the bench for the first time in his 13-year career, Valanciunas has still found ways to put up solid numbers in limited minutes. He’s averaging 21.2 points, 14.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per 36 minutes, so if he’s given a bigger role on a team desperate for help at the five, he could still be a productive contributor. He does also come with two more years of term after this season, at an average of just over $10 million per season, meaning it won’t be too bitter a pill to swallow.

16. Jordan Clarkson, SG, Utah Jazz
16.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists

The Utah Jazz firesale continues as the team looks poised to at last move on from Clarkson, who has been one of the most productive bench scorers in the league for the past five seasons. He is, however, dealing with a torn plantar fascia and is set to be re-evaluated sometime this week. The Jazz will be hoping for some good news about the 32-year-old guard, as depth scoring is always well sought out across the league.

17. Bradley Beal, SG, Phoenix Suns
17.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists; 48.5/38.6/75.0

Paying a sixth man $50 million is certainly not what the Suns hoped for when they traded for Beal in an ill-advised blockbuster, and the buyer’s remorse is so thick it could be cut with a knife. The only suitors for Beal will likely be tanking teams with a ton of cap space, as he’s set to be on the books next season for $53 million and has a $57 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Though he’s still shown some ability to produce, he’s nowhere near a positive asset, and any team acquiring him should also see some picks come their way to take on his contract alone.

18. Chris Boucher, PF, Toronto Raptors
10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.7 assists; 49.1/35.2/78.6

Hate to break it to you Raptors fans, Chris Boucher, the final remnant of the 2019 championship run, will absolutely not be netting a first-rounder. He had a great stretch of play earlier this month, averaging 18.3 points while shooting 66.7 per cent from deep over a three-game stretch, but no front office in the NBA is paying up based on a three-game stretch. He’s an interesting player, capable of bringing energy, shooting and veteran pedigree off the bench, but he’s a tough puzzle piece to find a spot for. The Raptors should take whatever they can get for him and be happy with it.

19. Bruce Brown, SG, Toronto Raptors
8.0 points, 3.6. rebounds, 1.3 assists; 43.7/36.8/78.6

Much like Boucher, Brown isn’t anywhere near a guaranteed return on investment for the Raptors, as injuries have diminished the utility player’s value this season. Though the veteran comes with championship pedigree from his time on the Nuggets, it’s unclear how much contending teams may value that going into this deadline, particularly with a $23-million cap hit for this season and near-career-worst marks in most statistical categories.

20. Lonzo Ball, PG, Chicago Bulls
6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists; 36.5/33.0/75.0

Taking on someone as injury-prone as Lonzo Ball comes with serious question marks, particularly when he hasn’t played to his pre-injury standards so far in his 23 games back with Chicago. But acquiring the 27-year-old and using him in a reduced role could be attractive for any team looking for decent three-point shooting and above-average defence. Despite his struggles, he has still given the Bulls a 2.9 defensive box plus-minus in his return, so he might be worth a flyer for a low cost. Why not swerve and bend the corner?