NBA Trades That Need To Happen Immediately
As we enter March we grow closer to the impending NBA trade deadline on March 25th.
With that comes those rumors and reports we heard all season taking center stage in the news cycle as we see what teams are real buyers or sellers. There’s always that one championship-ready team that is struggling and in need of a piece, a star player we’re looking to put in a better situation, and then there’s the annual LeBron acting as GM trade to bolster his team for a championship push.
With COVID rampaging through the NBA season and affecting some of the top-tier teams, GMs are looking more than ever to take advantage of this window to win a championship. Others are preparing themselves for an offseason of moves and offloading deals.
Here are the trades that need to happen immediately:
1. Zach LaVine to Knicks
The Knicks are back baby! Of course, this is an overreaction to their average season they are having but considering where they’ve come from they have vastly improved. Thibs has this team playing hard night in and out and they currently sit fourth in the East. Julius Randle has transcended into an All-Star this season and the Knicks have shown they can hit in the draft with Immanuel Quickley showing strong signs. All this team needs now is an effective partner to pair with Randle to make them a more respectable and serious FA destination and that is Zach LaVine.
LaVine again is having an improved season, having career-highs all across the board but most importantly in his efficiency and three-point shooting. He’s sixth right now in scoring in the NBA and is a showman extraordinaire with his dunking ability. Both the Knicks could use right now, I mean LaVine in Madison Square Garden will become an actual attraction for Knicks fans. And the Knicks could desperately use some scoring other than Randle as they are second to last in the NBA in that category. Though they have an elite defense, adding an elite scorer like LaVine makes the Knicks scary in the playoffs. Yes, that is a sentence you just read in 2021.
Whether the Bulls would be willing to make that trade is the question. They are currently 10th in the East but as currently stand can qualify for the play-in tournament. But that’s if they keep this position which I don’t think is possible with teams like the Hawks, now with Nate McMillan coaching them, and the Wizards in striking distance. Bulls management has also failed to put anything around LaVine in his tenure there so he’s most likely to leave after his contract is up. The Knicks have the possible assets to trade for him giving the Bulls plenty of first-round picks and they have the cap space to sign LaVine to a big deal that he’s looking for when he hit the market. Let’s see if the Bulls are sellers with this All-Star.
2. Kyle Lowry to Clippers
The Clippers need a point guard. It’s no question about it, they need one bad and not just another Reggie Jackson, no offense. Getting Lowry is no small task and it will cost the Clippers a lot. But if they are going to win in this window that they have now with questions to title favorites star players, they need to go all-in on players that can help them reach their goal.
Lowry can provide a lot for the Clippers. He is a leader at the point guard position that can help get the team in offense, something they often struggle with late in games. He’s shown he can be clutch and a reliable big-game player in playoffs before. And he is still a very good defensive player at his age. With Lou Williams struggling this season and in playoffs before, the Clippers will need to look for that third guy on a championship team that plays many roles for their team.
The logistics of this trade will be difficult to swing for the Clippers. They’ll have to give up a lot and that includes Williams, Beverly, Zubac, and Kennard and possibly a pick or two. But it’s worth it when you think about what those players are doing for the Clippers. Kennard is not getting many minutes on this team though he was one of their few additions this past offseason and of course, Williams is struggling as I mentioned. Beverly is expendable at this point and Zubac might be a draw for the Raptors that can swing this trade as they are in the market for a big man. To fill up their void at the center, the Clippers can go snag Demarcus Cousins from the waiver wire for the cheap to fill out this squad. As crazy as it may seem, this trade might work, and if so I’ll take the Clippers to come out the West.
3. Victor Oladipo to Mavericks
Oladipo is a big-time gamble in this trade market. He’s on the remaining year of his deal and that makes him a trade target but he’s made it quite known he intends on signing with the Heat in the offseason if possible. But if a team can get Dipo to fall for them, then this might make for a sneaky move. Because teams know Dipo’s intentions they are not going to spend much for him giving Mark Cuban and the Mavs a chance at getting the star to pair with Luka and KP and hopefully resign him in the offseason.
The Mavs have some assets they can send to the Rockets for Dipo’s services. In 2022 they have their first-round pick they can send to the Rockets who are looking to gather as much draft capital as possible, along with a decent player like Hardaway for Cap purposes. The pairing is a good fit for the Mavs as they need another guy to help out the two main stars. Though Oladipo has struggled from the field this season he will see more open shots being with the magician himself Luka. The pressure of being that guy will fall off Dipo’s shoulder and hopefully, we will see him look like his old self on a better team that can compete.
The Mavs struggled to start the season due to COVID and injuries but has slowly regained form. They’re back over .500 and they remain a threat in any playoff series with Luka at the helm. Adding Oladipo as another capable scorer that can defend with Luka and KP can make for a scary team. This team with just Luka really gave the mighty Clippers a scare so imagine what they can do at full strength with this trade.
4. Rondo, Vucevic to Celtics
The Celtics are a hot mess. They have been up and down all season to the point where they had coach Brad Stevens under fire before even All-Star break happened. Players looked out of it and their defense that was great last year has been slipping, giving up big leads with no accountability from the main two guys in Tatum and Brown. Granted Kemba has been struggling since coming back from injury but he has slowly improved as the season progressed. Also Smart has not played in over a month and he is the heart and soul of the team and another ball handler at that. But the Celtics do have holes they need to fix if they want to combat the Nets and Sixers for East supremacy, which leaves us with two options: trade small or go all in.
The first option is trading small is going after former Celtic Rajon Rondo. As crazy as this trade would seem it can help out the Celtics in many ways. It will provide a champion-caliber leader to a young team that needs someone to help guide them. As great as Tatum and Brown are, they haven’t been able to make others around them better or make the game easier for their teammates. It’s a lot of your turn my turn. Having Rondo, another playmaker and on-court coach can keep the ball from sticking in the hands of the stars and getting others involved. He’s also the least expensive of these two options and should be heavily considered. I believe as constructed and healthy this team can reach the ECF. Minor tweaks like trading for Rondo will only solidify that position but could pay out big if we get playoff Rondo.
The nuclear option to go all-in is trading for Vucevic. The best way to win a championship in the NBA is to stack the deck. Vucevic is an All-Star level player that is having a career season. He can score in the post and shoot the three effectively as well as bang for the boards. Celtics have the assets to pull off such a deal for the big man too but it will require giving up all that draft capital they been saving. Vucevic will be instant offense and rebounding for this team that desperately needs it but I don’t think they need to go all out for that player. But a lineup of Walker, Smart, Brown, Tatum, and Vucevic might just be one of if not best in the league.
5. Andre Drummond to Hornets
Andre Drummond has been the popular name floating around the trade market for some time now. He is a valuable big man for many teams but unfortunately, a lot of teams can’t afford his services. In fact, it’s not many at all and that is why he is stuck on the Cavs still waiting to be moved. The two popular destinations that were in play were the Raptors and the Cavs. The Cavs sold their hand for Jarrett Allen and has solidified him as their main guy. The Raptors are still in play but as the deadline grew closer came the Hornets who are in desperate need of Drummond services.
Drummond will serve as a legit cent for the Hornets who have been often playing undersize with Washington playing center minutes. They have the money necessary to sign him to deal after this season and keep him on as a solid guy for the immediate future. Because Cavs didn’t trade much for Drummond the Hornets can use that to their advantage to swing a deal for the big guy. Cody Zeller time with Charlotte will most likely come to an end, along with Malik Monk who’s been somewhat of a bust at least for the Hornets, and where they drafted him. Add Biyombo to the deal to make the salaries work and build a home for Drummond so he’ll stay on a team-friendly deal. The Hornets are in a good position now to make playoffs behind rookie Lamelo Ball and they have become one of the more exciting teams. That is something they can sell to Drummond.
Drummond has a ton of value left and it is shame he can’t get to an actual contender. The Hornets may be his best bet to get to a better situation and eventually get the money he wants. Another bonus is he’ll get to make songs with Miles Bridges after practices.
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