New Orleans Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr recently made a bold statement about the untouchability of certain NBA players and named two guys who aren’t available in any trade scenario.
“Luka’s untouchable, Steph is untouchable, and I’m saying you can’t trade these guys for anyone,” Nance Jr. said on the “Road Trippin” podcast with Richard Jefferson, Allie Clifton, and Channing Frye.
A select group
There are NBA superstars, and then there are untouchables – players who ascend into the rare category of immeasurable value on the trade market, becoming immovable assets for front offices.
And while Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry are a lock to make that category, Nance had his doubts about the Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar Joel Embiid.
Is Joel Embiid untouchable? Since we just saw what kind of package Rudy Gobert got, Jo’s gotta be,” he said.
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The Pelicans forward is correct in regards to Rudy Gobert diluting the trade market when the Minnesota Timberwolves sent an astonishing five players and five picks (including four first-rounders) to the Utah Jazz to secure his services.
We can only assume what the Sixers’ asking price would be, and that alone makes Embiid untouchable. However, what if someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo was offered in a deal?
“You mean to tell me if Milwaukee said, ‘Hey, we’ll trade you Giannis for Jo,'” Nance asked, implying that there are superstars in the league the Sixers would trade their big man for.
Notable mentions
Nance Jr. also didn’t mention a few other names.
Nikola Jokic is building his way to his third consecutive MVP award, Giannis is widely regarded as the best player in the world, and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant proved his market value was indeterminable when he formally requested a trade this offseason.
All those superstars, in addition to the names Nance Jr mentioned, would be considered untouchable in just about every front office in the league. And justifiably so. However, none of them are as important as Doncic and Steph are for their respective organizations.
That being said, It’s safe to say none of those names will be on the trading block any time soon, as front offices explore every way possible to maximize their championship window with the best of the best on their rosters.
