my guess is that it's really going to be about cap space, mostly. I don't really see teams trading away uberstars as often as in years past under the new CBA because 1) it's still near-impossible to get uberstars in the first place, and 2) shorter contracts mean teams aren't stuck in cap hell for as long as they used to be, so expirings aren't as valuable, and 3) with the cap supposedly going up, teams won't be as gunshy about having contracts on the books.
My guess is most franchises will be able to avoid the repeater tax without too much trouble, especially if they aren't on the cusp of a dynasty or anything.
SO...the C's are just as likely to let a contract expire as to trade it at this point, barring what would quite frankly be a miracle.
Prince and Bass are great vets to have on the roster for sure, so long as there is a younger version ahead of them. They can close out games in the league. I suppose Evans and Sully are the two youngsters ahead of them. One of those starting Forwards really needs to be an allstar, and neither is at that level. Olynyk...will never be a good defender...
I suppose that leaves Young as the great hope at SF?
An allstar at the guard spot would be nice, and so let's hope Smart develops into that guy by year 3. Let's see him start a season first...
Not the case for Thornton; I don't see him having value even as an expiring. Possible buyout, but I'm looking forward to post-deadline so he doesn't have to play any more. Let's consider him "cap space waiting to happen."
I think we're still in the spot of having enough vets that bringing in one star could give us a puncher's chance of having a lineup that could execute, but really...not much chance of that happening by trade. It'll take summer free agency, so look for our vets to expire and Danny to chase the big name this summer.
With Bradley, Turner, Prince, Bass, and Zeller, there is a veteran group that a star could make a decent lineup. Smart playing with an all-veteran group on the second unit is surely to make him look, feel, and develop better. Even with all the young guys, this suggests to me that Smart is the guy to watch going forward.
Everyone else might be available fairly easily, or allowed to walk, since they're just filling roles.