With the NBA’s Trade Deadline quickly approaching, teams are going to try and make the proper moves to make themselves title contenders. Sometimes those moves are beneficial and can lead directly to championships, or just post-season success. Other times, they become one or two year rentals, and the whole trade was for-not. Regardless of the outcome, teams have to make changes if they want to be competitive. With that in mind, here are three underrated players that teams may be targeting this year.
Josh Hart
Josh Hart is the textbook definition of “role player.” He comes in off the bench, doesn’t do more than what you ask for, and makes an impact. This season he’s averaging 9 points a game, a surprising 7.5 rebounds a game, and 2.2 assists per game. He’s also shooting 46% from the field, and a more than respectable 36% from deep. In watching some of the Pelican’s games this year, you can tell that Hart is out there having fun and playing his part. With Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball on the floor, it would be easy for Hart to slump into the “sit in the corner and shoot” role, but has proven to be more than that role. He crashes the boards, the cuts when the offense calls for it, and he can be a secondary ball-handler. With the Pelicans seemingly being ready to have a fire-sale, shipping out the likes of JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hart would be on the move as well.
Nikola Vucevic
Talk about a waste of time. For the majority of his career, Vucevic has been on the Orlando Magic, and unfortunately for him, it has not resulted in much success. With the Magic clearly heading towards a younger, faster, more modern type of roster and play style, it may be time for Vucevic to be moved. He’s averaging a career high 23.7 points per game, along with 11.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. To his credit, Vucevic has molded himself into a modern player, being able to stretch the defense and shoot the three-ball. He’s been shooting the ball extremely well, going 48% from the field, an astonishing 43% from deep, and 81% from the free throw line. Vucevic would be a terrific pickup for any team, not to mention the true title contenders. With the injury to Anthony Davis, maybe the Lakers take a stab at acquiring the big man. Or maybe the Celtics finally sure up their Center spot. No matter who ends up trading for Vucevic, they will be getting a very good, high quality Center, who can fit the modern game.
Thaddeus Young
It hasn’t been much of a secret, from GM’s around the league or from Young himself, that he wants to be moved from Chicago. With Zach LaVine playing out of his mind, and Coby White becoming a promising young player, it’s only natural for Young to want to move to a new team to prove what he can really do. He’s got an amazing skill-set, he can drive to the basket, he can shoot well from the field, he can play defense when he wants to, and he doesn’t seem to be high maintenance. He’s averaging around 11 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, and he’s shooting almost 60(!)% from the field. In his limited role, he’s proved that he can be reliable, and it would be a good pickup for any team looking for a versatile wing player.
Round The Game 
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