One of my favorite things to do with my friends back home is gather around my buddy Jordan's coffee table, break out the yellow legal pad and play NBA General Manager for an evening. This act of fantasy - and certainly delusion - allows me to write up various trade proposals, many of which my buddies will claim are a mere pipe dream, some of which actually make sense. With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, I felt that this would be the best time to share some trades that do make sense, at least from my point of view.
The object of these trades vary for the teams involved. Some are meant to cut payroll, others are meant to acquire assets, whereas a few are intended to push a team over the top and provide them with that "piece" they have been looking for. While likely none of these trades will be executed in the real NBA, I believe that all of the forthcoming deals make sense for the franchises - and players - involved. For each transaction I will also provide my reasoning as to why the trade makes sense for all parties involved.
The First Domino: Carmelo Anthony
New York Knicks Acquire: Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets and $4 million trade exception from the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic Acquire: Ronny Turiaf (NYK)
Minnesota Timberwolves Acquire: Anthony Randolph
Denver Nuggets Acquire: Eddy Curry (NYK), Wilson Chandler (NYK), Daniel Orton (ORL), 2011 1st Round Pick (MIN via MEM), 2013 1st Round Pick (NYK)
By now everyone knows that the biggest trade target this season is Carmelo Anthony, likewise, everyone knows that the Knicks are the most likely suitor. All the scuttlebutt about Carmelo going to the Lakers is just a bunch of media hype. There is no way that the Lakers will trade away their greatest strength (the ability to line up two 7-footers) for another volume scorer. Nevertheless, the Knicks offerings to this point have been anything but strong.
However, via this transaction, the Nuggets accomplish a few things. First they get a large expiring contract in Eddy Curry. They also acquire a strong asset in Wilson Chandler, a player who can replicate a lot of Carmelo's numbers, and a guy who really brings it on the defensive end. They land a high draft pick in this year's lottery (via Minnesota) and New York's 1st round pick two years from now. Finally, they get a backup big man, who may or may not develop. Not a bad haul if you ask me. Additionally, this deal allows them to complete the makeover by finding a suitor for Chauncey Billups and getting way under the salary cap for this season and the next.
The Knicks obviously do well in this trade, as they get one of the top scorers in the NBA and a $4 million trade exception for a back-up center (Turiaf), their starting power forward (Chandler), a first round pick, and an overweight center who hasn't played in three years (Curry).
The Timberwolves land an asset in Randolph for a first round pick this year, a selection they were likely going to botch anyway.
The Magic are the "sneaky" team in this deal. They really need a player who can back up Dwight for 12-16 minutes a night, play tough defense, and finish around the rim. They also don't have many assets to give up. Enter, Ronny Turiaf. He has playoff experience from his days in Los Angeles, he is tough-as-nails, he can block shots, and he doesn't mind committing hard fouls. I think the Magic would gladly welcome him on their second unit.
The Upgrade in Big D: Danny Granger
Dallas Mavericks Acquire: Danny Granger and James Posey (IND) alone with a $1.5 million trade exception
Indiana Pacers Acquire: Caron Butler, Roddy Beaubois, DeShawn Stevenson (DAL) and 2012 1st Round Pick
This might be more of a pipe dream for Dallas, as opposed to a trade that could actually be executed in the real world. The Pacers are really going nowhere with Granger, and he - along with James Posey weighty contract - is the only financial obligation that the Pacers have moving forward. By acquiring Butler and Stevenson (both expiring this summer) the Pacers can move so far under the cap that they will only owe $16 million for the 2011-2012 season. By landing Beaubois, the Pacers finally land a guard who can score in buckets. With a core of Hibbert-Collison-Beaubois, their 2011 1st Round Pick, and roughly $40 million to spend, the Pacers could rebuild quite quickly. An offer of 5 years and $55 million for Nene (likely to leave Denver this summer) and 5 years and $42 million for Jeff Green (I doubt OKC would match that), would really fill out their front court, and would support Roy Hibbert moving forward. They would still have about $20 million to spend on other spots on the roster, and they would finally have some semblance of a true "team" for their future.
For Dallas, this gives them a legitimate shot at winning the NBA Championship this year, and helps them in the future too. Granger can play shooting guard, or small forward, and with Posey as a defensive stopper on the wing, a crunch time lineup of Kidd-Granger-Posey-Nowitzki-Chandler is suddenly quite formidable on the defensive end. Move Granger up front and Terry in to the starting lineup, and suddenly you have three great shooters flanking a creative point guard and a suddenly-dominant inside presence (Chandler.)
Moving Monta:
Atlanta Hawks Acquire: Monta Ellis (GSW)
Golden State Warriors Acquire: Josh Smith (ATL)
I don't know which team balks first at this trade. For the Warriors, this trade signals that they are moving forward with Stephen Curry as their franchise guy. The whole Curry-Ellis back court is simply too small and too defensively challenged to play together. Enter Josh Smith. By inserting Smith in to the starting lineup and moving Dorell Wright to shooting guard, the Warriors become a vastly superior defensive team to the one they have right now. Wright is a great on-the-ball defender and Biedrins - when healthy - is quite adept at protecting the paint. Smith is an all-world defender who blocks shots, clears the glass and moves the ball up the court. His defensive chops would pair well with David Lee's back to the basket game and defensive shortcomings.
For the Hawks, this trade injects them with some badly needed youth scoring. Pair Monta with Joe Johnson - whose natural tendencies as a bigger "set up man" play quite well with a scoring point guard - and you have a monstrous back court to go with one of the best young centers in the league (Horford.) This also allows the Hawks to develop a bench around Bibby, Teague and Crawford, and even opens the door to move a player such as Crawford to a team that needs a scorer. I think this works for Atlanta, but I am often wrong.
Better Now than Later:
Utah Jazz Acquire: Eric Bledsoe (LAC), Boris Diaw (CHA), Will Bynum (DET) and Minnesota's 2012 lottery-unprotected 1st Round Pick (LAC via MIN)
Los Angeles Clippers Acquire: Deron Williams (UTA), Rip Hamilton (DET), Sherron Collins (CHA)
Charlotte Bobcats Acquire: Baron Davis (LAC), 2011 2nd Round Pick (LAC), 2011 2nd Round Pick (UTA)
Detroit Pistons Acquire: Chris Kaman (LAC) and Dominic McGuire (CHA)
If we have learned anything from the Summer of 2010, it's that it is far better to trade a franchise player early, and get something in return, than it is to lose him for nothing in free agency. With all the recent news out of Utah, it appears the writing is on the wall, Deron Williams will either leave in free agency in 2012, or will demand a trade before then. So, if you are Utah, why not trade him now, get some assets and start to rebuild.
Herein, I think the Jazz actually get a decent deal for Deron. They pick up Eric Bledsoe, who, as a rookie, has already shown himself fully capable of running the point; Will Bynum, who, as a small scoring guard off the bench injects some needed life in to the Jazz; Boris Diaw, who has a large ($9 million) expiring contract; and a 2012 1st round pick (originally from Minnesota) which could very well be the top pick. The Jazz are a well run organization, and with Bledsoe, Jefferson and Millsap as their core, bench pieces like Bynum, Gordon Hayward, Mehmet Okur and C.J. Miles, and roughly $20 million in cap room this summer (Kirilenko's contract will be over) they could position themselves well for the future so long as they get a true "paint-protecting" center and a scoring guard with range.
The Clippers do this deal for the obvious reason: Deron Williams is a major upgrade over Baron Davis, he is younger, and they now have the best young core in the NBA. A starting five of Williams, Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, with Rip Hamilton, Randy Foye and Craig Smith coming off the bench is a formidable 8-man roster. They will also have about $6-8 million to spend in free agency this summer, and could easily land another piece to add to their arsenal. If they could land D-Will, they would be a scary good team.
Detroit does this deal because they get something in return for Rip Hamilton - a player they have completely marginalized since they hired Coach Kuester - and bring in a home town guy (Chris Kaman is from Michigan). Additionally, bringing in a true low post player allows them to move Greg Monroe - who has looked terrific of late - back to his natural position (power forward). The Pistons can finally trot out a lineup that makes sense: Stuckey, Gordon, Daye, Monroe, Kaman; with Charlie V., Maxiell and Jerekbo coming off the bench. That is a huge upgrade over playing five small forwards, right?
At first glance, this trade doesn't make sense for the Bobcats. I mean, after all, why would they want to take on all that money for Baron Davis? Well, let's remember what happens when Baron Davis is motivated... he plays well. Pair him with Captain Jack - his old running mate from Golden State - and Gerald Wallace, and you suddenly have an excellent perimeter troika. Once Tyrus Thomas is healthy, along with Nazr Mohammed, that is a decent starting five (and a terrific defensive group.) This also allows D.J. Augustin to get more time to season his game. I could absolutely see a reckless owner like MJ take a chance on a rejuvenated Baron Davis. I just hope he is reading this (update: he is not.)
Cleaning up Cleveland:
Cleveland Cavaliers Acquire: Marcus Banks (NOH), David Anderson (NOH), Willie Green (NOH), Aaron Gray (NOH), Aaron Brooks (HOU), and Jared Jeffries (HOU)
Portland Trail Blazers Acquire: Mo Williams (CLE)
New Orleans Hornets Acquire: Antawn Jamison and $4.8 million trade exception (CLE)
Houston Rockets Acquire: Luke Babbitt, Joel Przybilla (POR) and $8.9 million trade exception (CLE)
The Portland Trail Blazers do this deal because they give up an oft-injured backup center and a rookie who has yet to see any playing time for a former all star guard who can light it up from outside. From my perspective this deal is a no-brainer for them. Given how frail Brandon Roy is, adding Williams to a back court of Wes Matthews, Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez, provides Portland with options for a post-Roy future. They also don't have to surrender any core pieces such as Batum or Aldridge (in addition to the aforementioned Wes Matthews) and they can run a terrific small ball five of Miller, Williams, Matthews, Batum and Aldridge. If I am Portland, Mo Williams is the player I have on my radar.
From the Hornets perspective, adding Jamison provides them with two things. First, it gives you a "stretch four" who can keep defenses honest when CP3 penetrates and adds quality depth to an otherwise depleted front court. Second, it gives them a player who can start at power forward should David West decide to walk this summer. Furthermore, the Hornets get a $4.8 million trade exception that they can then use to acquire another scoring guard. I would also expect that if they sent this many players to Cleveland that one or more of them (likely Willie Green and David Anderson) would be immediately bought out, sit out the requisite 30 days, and rejoin the Hornets.
The Rockets are making a sneaky move here. They are sending out perhaps the player with the most upside in the entire deal in Aaron Brooks, but they are landing a center who protects the basket, rebounds and doesn't need the ball on offense, and a young asset in Babbitt. Przybilla is a great player to pair with Scola - who is more focused on the offensive end - and his contract expires this summer. I would fully expect the Rockets to re-sign him to a friendly contract and develop Jordan Hill and Patrick Patterson behind their starting power players. Babbitt seems like a Chase Budinger type and he has already paid some dividends for Houston. Finally, the Rockets are nabbing an $8.9 million trade exception. Darrel Morey is such a savvy GM that I can see him making a move like this, and this transaction would position them perfectly to make another move in the future.
At this point, the Cavaliers are a sad franchise, but things don't have to be that way forever. If they can unload the heavy contracts owed to Jamison and Williams, get some expiring deals, and perhaps an asset like Aaron Brooks, then they can look to rebuild through the next few drafts. The only thing worse than losing 26 straight games, is doing so with a roster that is going to remain the same for the next two years. Cleveland needs to change the culture of their locker room, and the best way to do that is to refurbish their roster.
In the end, what I think we will see this trade season is a couple small deadline deals - using trade exceptions and expiring deals - and fewer blockbuster deals than we have grown accustomed to seeing. The trades listed above are just deals I think make sense for the teams involved, I do not expect any of them to come to fruition.
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