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76ers' Tyrese Maxey, Knicks' OG Anunoby Among Stars Whose Trade Restrictions Lifted

Joseph Zucker

The NBA trade market could heat up a bit with the calendar turning to Jan. 15.

That's because another group of player became trade-eligible after having re-signed with their original team in the offseason under specific conditions. This list is much smaller and nowhere near as notable as the one that covered free agents who signed contracts in the summer.

Sam Quinn of CBSSports.com outlined the 17 players who fall under the Jan. 15 designation:

It's worth getting out of the way now that there's virtually no chance the biggest names in that group are going anywhere.

Tyrese Maxey and OG Anunoby are huge parts of the future for the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, respectively. Likewise, the Sacramento Kings' seven-game winning streak after firing head coach Mike Brown, which came to an end Tuesday, almost certainly rules out something drastic such as dealing Malik Monk.

There are some players who may be genuine trade chips between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline, though.

KJ Martin is averaging 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game with the Sixers. He hasn't suited up since a 111-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs due to a foot injury, but his $8 million salary is both manageable and something Philly could use as filler in a trade to improve its rotation.

The Charlotte Hornets could choose to cash in on Miles Bridges' trade value as they remain anchored near the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 8-28.

Bridges is averaging 18.0 points on 42.1 percent shooting, though his 29.4 percent clip on three-pointers is a career low. Getting off his three-year, $75 million contract would give Charlotte some payroll flexibility moving forward, and the team acquiring him could consider the fact his salary will look less onerous as contracts league-wide rise in the coming seasons.

Over in Southern California, Max Christie might be playing his way off the trade market.

Since becoming a regular starter for the Los Angeles Lakers in early December, the 21-year-old guard is putting up 11.9 points per game and shooting 40.6 percent from the perimeter. That stretch includes a 28-point outing in a 114-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 2.

The four-year, $32 million contract Los Angeles handed to Christie was a strong show of faith in his potential, and now the investment is starting to pay off.

If they wanted to pursue another superstar to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers might have to sacrifice Christie as part of the transaction. Absent that, he won't be going anywhere when the Lakers have so few young building blocks on the roster.

   

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