The NBA trade deadline, on Feb. 19 at 3 PM is nearly a month away. Many teams are positioning themselves, and their salary cap, for the summer of 2010 when superstars such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are scheduled to become free agents.
That means a lot of movement should be expected until then.
The New York Knicks have been severely strapped by their high payroll for years. Thanks to the mismanagement of the horrible regimes prior to Donnie Walsh taking over.
They struck first early this season by making quite possibly the most blatant salary dump in this history of the NBA when they traded forward Zach Randolph and guard Jamal Crawford away, thus capitalizing on the team's early season success.
While many teams are banking on the star studded class of 2010, some of the more elite team would be wise to take advantage of these opportunities to improve their current rosters.
These same teams, Cleveland in particular, should also do everything to turn themselves into perennial championship caliber teams to make themselves more attractive to potential free agents, and current superstars.
So, without further ado, here are several trades that I think can, and should happen. (Thanks to ESPN.com's Trade Machine which I experiment on a little too much for my own good)
1.) The Utah Jazz trade forward Andrei Kirilenko, who makes $15.1 million this year, and three years left to the Miami Heat for forward Shawn Marion who makes $17.8 million, and has a expiring contract.
Why Miami would do this deal?
The Matrix has regressed a lot since leaving Mike D'Antoni's fast paced offense for South Beach. While Marion is still averaging nearly a double-double for this season he hasn't made quite the same impact that we have come to expect out of him especially on the offensive end.
Kirilenko has thrived in his role as a sixth man for the Jazz and he has cemented his reputation as one of the best defenders in the league.
AK47 would be an excellent fit with the defensive-minded Heat, who are one of the most underrated defensive teams in the league. It would take pressure off guard Dwayne Wade, because he wouldn't have to guard the opposing team's best perimeter offensive threat.
It keeps Wade fresher, more focused on the offensive end and enables him to be a free roaming defender. Which is much like the way former Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan was playing with forward Scottie Pippen.
Kirilenko is one of the best shotblockers and thieves in the league with 1.46 and 1.57 per a game respectively.
Plus, Marion is set to become a free agent after the season and he is seeking a huge contract, which the Heat would not be willing to give him.
With a core of Kirilenko, forward Micheal Beasley, guard Mario Chalmers, guard Daequan Cook, and forward Udonis Haslem the Heat are setting themselves up to be very attractive to Mr. Wade when 2010 arrives.
Why Utah would do this deal?
Marion is still a good player and he would benefit from playing with a great pure point guard in Derron Williams. A lineup of Williams, guard Ronnie Brewer, Marion, forward Carlos Boozer, and forward Mehmet Okur is still very formidable out west.
Most importantly, his expiring contract would free up some much needed space in order for the Jazz to resign Boozer and/or forward Paul Millsap in the offseason.
It also puts the Jazz in position to make a run at an impact player in 2010, while still managing to remain very competitive.
2.) The Cleveland Cavaliers trade forward Wally Szczerbiak who makes $13.7 million, and has a expiring contract, forward J.J. Hickson who males $1.3 million this year, and has two years left, and 2009 first rounder, or trade exception, to the Milwaukee Bucks for guard Michael Redd who makes $15.7 million this year, and has three years left.
Why Cleveland would do this deal?
Cleveland has been the best team in the eastern conference thus far and they are arguably the best team in the league right now. It is scary that they can only get better, because they own a valuable asset in Wally's huge expiring contract.
Cleveland would be getting one of the best scorers in the league in Redd, who played with LeBron on the U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal.
This can be the player that puts the Cavs over the hump and he will make LeBron frighteningly better.
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