MirO's In Season Trade Primer:
I'm going to try to stay away from player names and proposals and talk on a more conceptual level about some unwritten rules that while occasionally are broken, almost always apply to In Season Trades:
1. In the beginning of the season, about 22-24 either actually believe they can make the playoffs or present that to their fanbase. Pretty much all of these teams will not be looking to see good role players until at least January when some of them realize/accept they are not playoff contenders.
2. You will rarely see an in season trade between two teams in the same conference involving established quality players. Yes, there are always exceptions because of weirdos like Ben Simmons for example.
3. It's a little more common for an EC contender to trade with a WC contender in season, but still difficult because both teams are looking to make additive trades that help their postseason chances, not neutral trades or acquire future asset trades.
Based on those three concepts, when looking at players who you like as a fit around Mobley, Garland, Mitchell, and Allen, I think the tiers are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
1. Almost NIL chance you will make an in season trade at any point in the season: ATL, BOS, MIA, MIL, PHI, TOR, BKN, CHI
2. Would only trade with you if their season doesn't go as planned: CHA, NY, WAS
3. Open for business on their role playing vets at any time: DET, ORL, IND
Western Conference:
1. Possible but hard to make a deal that works as additive for both teams: GS, DEN, MEM, PHX, LAC
2. Could trade surprising players if they're disappointed in Feb: NOP, SAC, POR, MIN, DAL
3. Open for business on their role playing vets at any time: HOU, OKC, SAS, UTAH
4. Who gives a rat's ass: LAL
This is not a straight ranking of the teams in each conference. It's more based on how they see themselves at the start of the season and how that affects their likelihood of being open to doing the type of deal we may want to make like trading guys like Okoro, Windler, Cedi, & LeVert + 2nd rounders in hopes of finding legit playoff quality role players.
Obviously plenty will disagree with some or all of my assertions, but I think they make sense and are backed up by recent historical trends in the NBA. I think it's wisest and most realistic to focus on teams like DET, SAS, UTAH as in season trade partners and then the list expands (very little I like that makes sense on some rosters like HOU, OKC, IND and some others) later in the year as some teams have disappointing seasons and begin to turn their attention more to the draft and 2023 FA