In a perfect world, every trade request would be accepted and there wouldn’t be a salary cap or free agent restrictions. In reality, you have to find players that a team is willing to give up and that you also find valuable. The best general managers know how to find players to fill in their team with talent in spite of the salary cap.
Players that have an injury history or expiring contracts are the primary players to look at for trades. A team that is rebuilding or looking for a missing piece is more willing to let go of a player of value if it fills a need for their roster. Good players early in their contracts are harder to pry from a team.
Here, you’ll find all of the easiest players to trade for in NBA 2K23:
5. Seth Curry
Overall Rating: 78
Position: SG / SF
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Archetype: Deadly Sharpshooter
Best Stats: 97 Mid Range Shot, 85 Driving Layup, 93 Close Shot
Seth Curry is the younger brother of Stephen Curry and at times can be just as deadly from behind the arc. Seth does not have the same level of production as Steph but he does have a slightly higher shooting percentage from behind the 3-point line. Last year with the Nets he averaged 15 points, 3.6 assists, and shot 42.2% from long range.
Curry has only one year left on his contract at $8.5 million. You won’t have to give up a star player or high draft picks for a player like him. He is probably the best guy on the market if you need a player strictly for shooting and have a strong defense around him.
4. Aaron Gordon
Overall Rating: 79
Position: PF / SF
Team: Denver Nuggets
Archetype: 2-Way Athletic Defender
Best Stats: 95 Driving Dunk, 95 Standing Dunk, 92 Vertical
Aaron Gordon’s true skill level is sometimes overshadowed by his size and athleticism, and for many he is better known for his legendary performances in the slam dunk contest rather than during actual games. Gordon is a great all-around defender and can score, but leaves a lot to be desired as a playmaker. He averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds, and shot 52% from the field in the 2021-22 NBA season.
He has four years left on his contract with no trade clauses. A player of his calibre is worth $20 million especially if you think about having him locked into that price until 2025. Gordon can serve as a defensive anchor and dominate in the paint on both sides of the ball.
3. Derrick Rose
Overall Rating: 81
Position: PG / SG
Team: New York Knicks
Archetype: Playmaking Scorer
Best Stats: 86 Driving Layup, 91 Close Shot, 92 Free Throw
Derrick Rose is not who he was when he first entered the league as the 1st pick of the 2008 draft. His career has been marred by injuries, but he has still played well when healthy and at times shows signs of his old self. He remains an effective scorer and decent defender. In the 2021-22 season, Rose averaged 12 points, 4 assists, and shot 96.8 percent from the foul line but only appeared in 26 games.
Rose has two years left on his contract at around $15 million a year. That might seem high for a player that will most likely come off the bench but he is a solid and productive veteran when he is healthy. Rose is still athletic and is nearly automatic from the free throw line. This makes him extremely valuable when closing out games.
2. Victor Oladipo
Overall Rating: 78
Position: SF/ SG
Team: Miami Heat
Archetype: Athletic Two-Way Player
Best Stats: 85 Driving Dunk, 84 Perimeter Defense Vertical, 81 Three Point Shot
Victor Oladipo has had a very interesting eight-year career in the NBA. In 2018, he became an NBA All-Star for the first time, led the league in steals, and was voted the Most Improved Player. He has a very high motor and can do many things well. He has had some injury problems in the last few years but he has a history of playing well when healthy. In the 2021-22 season, he averaged 12.4 points and shot over 40% from the three-point line, though that came in just eight games after he was forced to undergo season-ending surgery.
Oladipo recently signed a two-year, $18 million dollar deal with the Heat. You won’t have to give up a star player to acquire him but you will get all-star level productivity out of him if he stays healthy. Every team needs that guy that can get you a point when you need it and can also make big plays on defense in clutch situations. Oladipo is that type of player.
1. Clint Capela
Overall Rating: 84
Position: C
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Archetype: Athletic Interior Defender
Best Stats: 95 Standing Dunk, 93 Defensive Rebound, 98 Hustle
Clint Capela is almost 7 feet tall, weighs 256 pounds, and plays exactly the way his body was built. Capela made a name for himself because of his rebounding and defensive abilities. He is a guaranteed double-double when he steps on the floor, and last year he averaged 11 points and 11.9 rebounds. Capela also shot 61% from the field, which is only slightly lower than his career average.
Capela is owed a little more than $20 million over the next two years. He could likely command more money as a free agent simply due to the fact he will drastically improve the defense of any roster. Matching his salary can be done with minor role players and possibly picks but definitely not a 1st rounder.
So there you have some of the easiest trades to make in NBA 2K23. Keep your eyes open during the season to find ways to improve your roster. As the season progresses, the needs of some teams may change, while others may be forced into trades due to injuries. There are some great deals to be made, so go out there and be the best GM for your team that you can be.