As the NBA trade deadline looms on Thursday, February 5, not every team is chasing splashy headlines or star-studded shakeups. Some are playing a different game-one that’s more about smart maneuvering around the edges than swinging for the fences. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and Utah Jazz are three such teams quietly working the phones, eyeing minor deals that prioritize flexibility over fireworks.
These aren’t the blockbuster-type trades that dominate Twitter feeds and talk shows. Instead, they’re the kind of calculated moves that help clean up cap sheets, open up roster spots, and give teams room to breathe. Stein noted on the ALL NBA Podcast that these franchises are actively looking to make deals that allow them to better manage their rosters-whether that’s converting two-way players to standard contracts or shedding salary to dodge the luxury tax.
“Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Utah. Those are three teams that are all very willing to take up and do the kinds of trades that you suggested,” Stein said. He also mentioned that teams like the Nuggets and Raptors are in similar boats-needing to make strategic adjustments, even if they’re not swinging for the fences.
Let’s break down where each of these teams stands heading into the final stretch before the deadline.
Charlotte Hornets: Quietly Climbing
Don’t look now, but the Hornets are heating up. After a 102-95 win over the Pelicans on Monday, Charlotte improved to 23-28 and stretched its win streak to seven games. Over their last 12 contests, they’ve gone 9-3 and are sitting just outside the Eastern Conference play-in picture in 11th place.
This recent surge puts Charlotte in an interesting position: they’re not quite buyers in the traditional sense, but they’re also not looking to blow things up. Instead, they’re likely to tinker-maybe move a veteran piece or two, clear a roster spot, or convert a two-way player if the opportunity presents itself. The Hornets hit the road for a two-game trip starting Thursday against the Houston Rockets, and the front office will be watching closely to see if this momentum can be sustained.
Brooklyn Nets: Building for the Long Haul
The Nets, on the other hand, are deep into a rebuild. At 13-35 and sitting 13th in the East, Brooklyn has dropped 16 of its last 20 games, including a rough 130-77 loss to the Pistons on Sunday. That kind of result doesn’t just sting-it highlights how far this team is from contention.
So what does that mean for the deadline? Expect Brooklyn to be active, but not in a headline-grabbing way.
They’re likely to explore deals that bring back draft assets or young talent while offloading contracts that don’t fit their long-term vision. With the Lakers coming to town Tuesday night, the Nets will try to reset on the court, but off it, the front office is already looking ahead.
Utah Jazz: Searching for Stability
Utah finds itself in a similar spot. The Jazz have lost six straight and are 15-35 on the season, also sitting 13th-this time in the Western Conference. They’re in the middle of a five-game road trip, with a matchup against the Pacers on deck Tuesday night.
Like Brooklyn, Utah isn’t expected to make any seismic moves before the deadline. But that doesn’t mean they’ll sit idle.
The Jazz are likely to explore low-risk trades that give them more roster flexibility or help them shed salary. With a 4-16 record over their last 20 games, it’s clear this team is still in evaluation mode, trying to figure out which pieces are part of the future and which are better suited elsewhere.
The Bigger Picture
While the Hornets, Nets, and Jazz aren’t expected to shift the league’s balance of power this week, their activity could still ripple through the trade market. These are the types of deals that don’t make headlines but can quietly shape a team’s trajectory-clearing the way for future moves, unlocking developmental opportunities, or simply tightening up the books.
And in a trade landscape where uncertainty around big-name stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo has put some larger deals on pause, these smaller, strategic plays might end up being the most common theme of this year’s deadline. Keep an eye on Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Utah-not because they’re going to steal the spotlight, but because they’re making the kind of smart, behind-the-scenes moves that can set the stage for what comes next.