NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Players That Are Best AVOIDED At the Deadline

While there are many sought-after players being bid on as we head quickly towards the trade deadline on Feb. 5th, a big name isn't necessarily a smart addition. There are some "stars" that are best left alone, for a number of reasons, be it cap/luxury tax implications, injury or off-court troubles, or simply a bad fit on the floor.

John Gonzalez of CBS Sports runs down the list of 5 players that are best avoided at this trade deadline:

1. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

This is pretty obvious. Since arriving in Dallas a year ago in the infamous Luka Doncic deal that eventually got GM Nico Harrison fired, the oft-injured Davis has played in just 29 of a possible 80+ games with the Mavs, and is currently out with his latest injury.

He's raking in $54 million this season, it goes up to $58 million next year, and $62 million on a player option the year after. Nicknamed "Street Clothes" for the amount of time he's spent in his civvies during his injury-prone career, Davis has virtually no chance of living up to those cap hits, despite his dominance when he does miraculously appear in uniform.

2. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

After the exceedingly low price the Atlanta Hawks received for another mercurial and controversial point guard who plays no defense (Trae Young), it's not surprising that teams aren't bowling over the Grizzlies with blockbuster offers. Like Davis, Morant has had trouble staying on the floor as well. But it's not just injuries (of which there have been many), but also suspensions for off-court conduct that Morant has had to serve.

"Just as concerning," writes Gonzalez, "he hasn't progressed on the floor. If anything, he's regressed. For much of his career, Morant has relied on his outsized athleticism. He's produced some breathtaking highlights. But those only get you so far. He's a good passer, but in a league that greatly values shooting, Morant has never added an outside element to his skillset." And with $87 million owed for the two years remaining on his deal, that's a hefty price to pay for a player who has stopped improving even at the young age of 26.

3. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

The Pels aren't shopping Zion, but for much the same reasons as the above two, he just hasn't been available often enough to justify that same $87 million owed over the following two years. Yes, when he plays, he's as dynamic as they come. But with only two seasons of over 30 games played on his seven-year resume (including this year's 33), it's just not worth the investment.

4. LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Yes, we're starting to see a pattern here. Another player who just can't stay on the floor, Ball's games played in his previous three seasons were 47, 22 and 36. And when he does play, can he really be counted on to lift a team on his shoulders? It's been said that Ball "doesn't contribute to winning." With his lack of defense, and poor shooting efficiency, it's hard to argue with this stance. Granted, Ball has been excellent in helping lead the Bugs to a current 5-game winning streak, but any team that can't see the forest for the trees will get burned.

5. Zach LaVine, Sacramento Kings

When it comes to "empty calories" on offense, no one takes the cake like LaVine, according to many basketball observers. He's certainly a high-level scorer, but it's not often seen as contributing to winning. "LaVine has a player option for next season at nearly $49 million. Hard to imagine many teams knocking down the Kings' door for the chance to pay him that much," concludes Gonzalez.