NBA Trade Deadline Hypotheticals

With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, teams are making moves to either secure a playoff spot or load up with future contracts and draft picks. GMs all around the league are determining whether they are buyers or sellers and what the best move to make for their team is. Teams are frantically looking for that final piece or two to load on their roster to make that deep playoff run while other teams are looking to unload those monster contracts they so foolishly awarded to unproductive players.

Lets go over some of the buyers/sellers and what they need/need to get rid of

Buyers:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Need(s): Defense

Cleveland is in desperate need of defense if they’re going to make another NBA finals run. They’re in the middle of their classic mid-season Cavs slump but these stretches of games have shown the fans a lot. It seems Lebron James can’t do everything for this team and (without even addressing the locker room dysfunction) they need defense to bring them to the championship. This year, they’re giving up 109.5 points per game to opponents. A team that is 30-21 (3^rd place in the East) that is giving up more to opponents per game (109.5) than they are scoring (109.2) truly needs some defense.

San Antonio Spurs

Need(s): Offense, Youth

In complete opposite to the Cavaliers, the Spurs have no problem on defense. Offense is where they need help if they’re going to compete with the Warriors and the Rockets. Guys like Kyle Anderson, Davis Bertans, Danny Green, Dejounte Murray, etc. have been unable to fill the void left by Kawhi Leonard and Rudy Gay’s injuries.

They seem set with Dejounte as their future point guard once Tony Parker retires, but they do need to get younger elsewhere, with veterans like Aldridge, Pau Gasol & Ginobili all getting towards the end of their career.

Then again, this is the Spurs we’re talking about, they probably will stay put and find a way to win with what they have.

Denver Nuggets

Need(s): Depth

The Denver Nuggets are probably the one team that will be buyers and sellers at the same time, as they try to offload players like Emmanuel Mudiay and Kenneth Faried who have both overstayed their welcome in the Mile High city.

At the same time, they’re looking to make the playoffs for the first time in a while. They have an extremely young and talented core and can use that bench depth to help them have success during the last stretch of the season.

Miami Heat

Need(s): Wing scoring

The unfortunate season-ending injury to Dion Waiters has created a big need for Miami to fill as they also prepare for a playoff run.

Sellers:

Teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings (basically any team far away from a playoff spot) are all looking to either get rid of big contacts, tank or change a culture recognizing that this season is probably a wash and begin building towards the future.

After using the ESPN Trade Machine, we’ve analyzed some trades (big and small) that may happen and could work:

Trade #1

Cleveland receives: Jonathon Simmons, Dewayne Dedmon, Ersan Ilyasova

Orlando receives: Kent Bazemore, Tristian Thompson, 2018 CLE 1^st round pick

Atlanta receives: Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Gordon, Channing Frye

 

Well it looks like Cleveland is getting two of the most underrated defensive monsters in the game in this deal & giving up the contract of Tristian Thompson. The only bad part is losing the 1^st round pick, whether it be their own or the Brooklyn one they own, but the deal wouldn’t be fair value wise without it. Both Simmons and Dedmon are on friendly-enough contracts that Cleveland can afford to keep them for the duration of their contracts while Ilyasova would be a potential buy-out candidate or a definite free agent once the season is done.

For Orlando, the new front office of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are trying to clean up the mess left for them by the previous front office. Orlando has made such bad trades over the past years that it makes this one look amazing, especially considering how they’ll be acquiring another 1^st round pick. Both Bazemore and Thompson have 3-year deals worth about the same money, if they lock up Elfrid Payton this offseason their starting 5 next year can be Payton Fournier Bazemore Thompson Vucevic with young talent like Isaac, Hezonia and whoever they draft coming off the bench. If Weltman and Hammond don’t screw it up this team can be a playoff contender within 3 seasons.

Atlanta, in my opinion, would be the biggest long-term beneficiary from this deal. While the Biyombo contract is big, he doesn’t take any more cap than Bazemore did. Getting Aaron Gordon a fresh start could revitalize his career and, at just 22, can be the face of Atlanta’s rebuild, along with Dennis Schroder.

Trade #2

Miami receives: Lou Williams

Los Angeles Clippers receive: Justise Winslow, Okaro White, 2020 MIA 1^st rounder (protected)

After the blockbuster Blake Griffin trade, the Clippers have made it clear they’re sellers even if they make the playoffs this season. The Clippers have also made it clear what they want in return for Lou Williams and/or Deandre Jordan.

Miami needs some scoring to replace the loss of Dion Waiters. Lou Williams has been producing at a spectacular level this season, averaging career highs in both points and assists this year. He’s on a very friendly 1 year contract so Miami can decide in the offseason if he’s more than a rental or not.

Although Justise Winslow is still only 21, he has not been producing like the 10^th overall pick he was picked at just 3 years ago. Hindered by injuries & inconsistencies, Winslow can be a key piece that the Clippers acquire and make a part of their rebuild.

Since Miami doesn’t own a pick this year, they would have to give away their 1^st round pick from either the 2019 or 2020 draft. As well, since there is no guarantee Lou Williams stays past this offseason, they probably would want to throw some sort of protection on this pick (whether top-5, top-10, lottery who knows).

Trade #3

Denver receives: Joe Johnson, Rodney Hood

Utah receives: Kenneth Faried, Emmanuel Mudiay, 2019 DEN 1^st round pick

This trade really looks like a win-win for both organizations. Utah gains another 1^st round pick along with two very talented players. Faried and Mudiay are both seldomly used by Denver but still have a ton of talent and upside. Mudiay can slot into that backup point guard role (replacing/depth for the oft-injured Dante Exum) and challenge Ricky Rubio for the starting bid. Faried is still an athletic freak and would be fantastic coming off the bench for both Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors.

Denver on the other hands gets two role-players to deepen their bench and offer reliable assistance for the starters. Joe Johnson will be an excellent veteran, with playoff experience, to add to such a young room. He offers so much more than bench scoring and Denver will benefit from acquiring him.

With the emergence of rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell in Utah, Rodney Hood finds himself in a real position to get traded. He can bring a ton of energy and scoring to that Denver bench this season before deciding on his future this offseason. Acquiring both Johnson and Hood are going to save Denver about $4 million dollars against the cap, while they also have a plethora of 2^nd round picks this season that I see it possible they let go their 1^st from next year.

Trade #4

Boston receives: Tyreke Evans, 2018 MEM 2^nd round pick

Memphis receives: Marcus Smart

The final trade possibility we looked at involved some bigger names than the others. Tyreke Evans production this season has been nothing short of spectacular and is a real steal for any team that acquires him with that measly $3.29 million contract for the rest of the season.

Both Evans and Smart would probably command a 1^st round pick, so this 1-for-1 (basically) works and benefits both teams.

Smart is very expendable, with Terry Rozier proving able to be Kyrie’s backup (for this season at least). His age, contract and defensive capabilities make him a very attractive player for Memphis to focus a part of their rebuild on. He can fill in for the injured Mike Conley for this season and play along side him next season. This trade would give Smart the starting opportunities he’s earned.

The unfortunate injury to Gordon Heyward doesn’t only open a roster spot, but also opens cap for the Celtics to invest this season. Evans is only signed through the end of the 2017-18 season and would be one of the best sixth men in the league on that playoff-bound Celtics roster.

Whether these trades happen or not, we are excited to see what the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline has to offer.

As always, make sure to follow us on Twitter @CasualSportsPod for instant trade reaction and analysis!