NBA Trade Deadline 2017: Every Team's Biggest Need at the Start of the New Year
Fire up the walkie-talkies and prepare the smoke signals.
It's trade season in the NBA, which means all lines of communication must remain open at all times.
General managers celebrate the new year by scouring the trade market, hoping against hope they find a bargain. By sending out feelers and praying opposing front offices evaluate talent quite differently, they want to make any deals that could upgrade their teams before the Feb. 23 deadline.
Some are looking to make splashy moves and shore up gaping holes. Others are looking for marginal improvements that put them in better position for the championship push.
But almost every squad has at least one need.
Atlanta Hawks: Direction
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The Atlanta Hawks are at a crossroads.
If they choose to aim for the playoffs, they can hold onto their current core and attempt to weather the inevitable storms. They'd be hoping the win streaks are more indicative than the injury-hampered stretches of uninspired play.
If they choose to break up the roster, they'd be moving Paul Millsap—maybe Thabo Sefolosha and Kyle Korver as well. By doing so, they'd admit this team isn't capable of advancing deep into the playoffs and move on quickly so they can build a stronger supporting cast for the relevant youngsters.
Thus far, the Hawks appear to be leaning toward the latter.
"Sources told ESPN.com that the Hawks, fearful of losing Millsap in free agency without compensation in the summer, are not openly shopping him but are taking calls on the 31-year-old and other pending free agents, notably sharpshooter Kyle Korver and swingman Thabo Sefolosha," Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein reported for ESPN.com.
They'll have until the deadline to make up their minds.
Boston Celtics: Rebounding Help
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The Boston Celtics are in great shape as a fringe contender in the Eastern Conference.
But, as their own players have admitted, they're not there with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"We're not on that level yet," Isaiah Thomas told ESPN.com's Chris Forsberg after a 124-118 loss to the defending champions.
"We're not on Cleveland's level, so we got work to do. And we gotta figure it out. The real good teams, you make a mistake and they capitalize on it, whether it be the Cavs, the Warriors, the Spurs—those type of teams don't let you live when you make a mistake. We're not on that level yet."
To reach that next level, Boston has to fix its rebounding woes.
Al Horford has been a strong presence at center, but he's never been an aggressive rebounder capable of hauling in big tallies on a consistent basis. The same applies to the team's other frontcourt members, even if they do boast notable strengths. The Celtics rank No. 23 in offensive rebounding percentage and No. 29 in defensive rebounding percentage. They're struggling to generate second-chance opportunities, and the defense can be exposed when the opposition is granted another try.
External help is necessary.
Brooklyn Nets: Young Players
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After a relatively strong start to the season—they won four of their first nine games—the Brooklyn Nets have crashed back to reality. With an 8-24 record, they've sunk all the way to the bottom of the NBA standings, putting them in a favorable position to earn the No. 1 pick in the star-studded 2017 draft.
There's just one problem.
The Boston Celtics can choose to swap first-round picks with the Nets, which means Brooklyn will be picking toward the tail end of the first 30 selections. (Foiled again!)
Brooklyn already has a few intriguing pieces to build around with Sean Kilpatrick, Caris LeVert, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Bojan Bogdanovic. But it has to keep acquiring young talent in non-traditional ways if it hopes to expedite this prolonged rebuild.
Trading Brook Lopez might be painful, but what if he yields a potential centerpiece?
Charlotte Hornets: Backup Point Guard
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"Signing Ramon Sessions and bringing back Brian Roberts seemed like a good idea for the Charlotte Hornets. They lost Jeremy Lin in free agency and needed more options at point guard behind Kemba Walker," Bleacher Report's Dan Favale explained before advocating that the Hornets should target the Utah Jazz's Raul Neto as a new backup point guard.
Whether Charlotte sticks with pursuing Neto or goes after another floor general, it clearly needs help behind Kemba Walker. The offense keeps falling apart whenever he goes to the bench:
| With Walker | 108.2 | No. 7 |
| Without Walker | 99.7 | No. 29 |
According to NBA Math, Walker has added 129.78 more points on offense than an average player would on an average team. Sessions and Roberts, meanwhile, have subtracted 8.07 and 17.76, respectively.
Even if it means dealing away some of the team's frontcourt depth, change is necessary.
Chicago Bulls: Shooting, Shooting, Shooting
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It's almost impossible to win in the modern NBA when you can't shoot.
Well, the Chicago Bulls can't.
No team has posted a worse effective field-goal percentage. The same is almost accurate for true shooting percentage, which is even more troubling since the Bulls like pounding the ball into the interior and attempting to draw fouls. Only the struggling Miami Heat fare worse in that ultimate measure of shooting "prowess".
If the Bulls are to sneak into the Eastern Conference playoffs, they need at least one capable sniper helping space the court around Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. Those two have been the team's only positive presences, but their jobs are so much tougher when defenses can collapse into the paint and force them into relying on shaky jumpers.
Even with the recent struggles, Chicago has endured a harsh regression to the mean after its hot start to the year. It's a mere half-game out of the playoff picture, and it has the talent to compete for a berth if it can find the right addition to its personnel.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Help at the 1
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The Cleveland Cavaliers don't have many options behind Kyrie Irving.
DeAndre Liggins has served as the starting point guard in his absence, even though the 28-year-old had never played a minute at the 1 prior to this season. Behind him is Kay Felder, the 2016 NBA draft's No. 54 pick, who has bounced between the Cavs and the NBA Development League's Canton Charge.
That's not the type of rotation a contending team wants at arguably the game's most important position.
What if Irving gets in foul trouble during a big contest? What if he suffers a significant injury and is knocked out of the lineup for a prolonged period?
Without Mo Williams or any veteran presence behind the dynamic guard, Cleveland is playing a dangerous game. Even if the man it acquires before the deadline sits on the bench for the majority of the team's high-leverage minutes, his mere presence will lower head coach Tyronn Lue's blood pressure.
Dallas Mavericks: Draft Picks
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It's time to pull the plug.
Dirk Nowitzki won't push this team into playoff contention as he regains his sea legs. No matter how well resurgent veterans such as Wesley Matthews and Deron Williams might play, the Dallas Mavericks don't have the talent necessary to compete in the Western Conference. And even if they somehow did claw their way back, they'd serve as little more than sacrificial lambs to the Golden State Warriors.
Dallas must rebuild.
That involves more than just tanking—or losing with a dearth of talent. Trades are necessary as the Mavericks look to unload their elder players (excluding Nowitzki) for younger commodities and draft picks.
No matter how well Harrison Barnes plays, Dallas doesn't yet have enough centerpieces to feel good about the distant future. Justin Anderson and Seth Curry only have so much upside.
But with a loaded draft class looming, that could quickly change.
Denver Nuggets: Consolidation
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The Denver Nuggets have too many frontcourt pieces, especially now that Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari are playing even more minutes at power forward and head coach Mike Malone insists on using Kenneth Faried as a center.
Nikola Jokic is entrenched as the team's starting 5. He's not going anywhere.
But as the Nuggets have regained their health, they've run into a conundrum: How do you give Jokic the minutes he deserves as the team's best player while also getting Jusuf Nurkic, Darrell Arthur and the aforementioned players the run they need?
So far, you don't.
Nurkic and Arthur have often been the odd men out, watching entire games from the pine and trying to stay motivated in practice. That's particularly troubling for the former, who looked like a distinct asset early in the season and is still brimming over with unrealized potential.
Consolidation is necessary, ideally by acquiring a big-name veteran for Nurkic and asking the participating team to take Faried's salary off Denver's hands.
Detroit Pistons: More Shooters
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Head coach Stan Van Gundy hasn't stopped running the four-out, one-in system around Andre Drummond.
That scheme asks the Detroit Pistons to place a bevy of shooters on the perimeter while Drummond sticks to the paint. The defense is stretched between guarding their three-point attempts (or long twos) and throwing an extra body to keep the big man off the offensive glass.
Ideally, the opposition has to pick its poison, and the Pistons can capitalize in the area that isn't chosen.
But this system hasn't worked because Detroit still doesn't have the necessary talent around Drummond. It would help if he developed stronger post-up moves and could win one-on-one battles, but the simpler solution involves acquiring more shooters.
Golden State Warriors: Seriously?
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Nope. We're not touching this one.
The Golden State Warriors may have squandered a late lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas Day, bringing back unfortunate memories of their blown 3-1 advantage in the 2016 NBA Finals.
But they're still the league's best team by a wide margin and shouldn't feel the need to make any changes before the deadline.
Integrating Kevin Durant has been a near-seamless process. The Dubs have been able to hand minutes to some of their younger players and let them develop. Per NBA Math's Team Rating, they've even emerged as the second-best team in NBA history, trailing only the famed 1995-96 Chicago Bulls.
Why would they make any moves?
Houston Rockets: Center Depth
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Were it not for Clint Capela's fractured fibula, the Houston Rockets' top priority would involve adding another defensive wing to help mitigate the responsibilities endured by James Harden, who has done everything (and then some) for this team.
But without their starting center, the Rockets have to find a bit more depth for their frontcourt. And they haven't exactly kept this aim hidden.
"Trade rumble: Houston has made no secret of its desire to add a big man and the Kings' Kosta Koufos, I'm told, has emerged as a prime target," ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweeted Friday.
Whether it's Koufos or someone else filling the void, the hole is glaringly obvious.
The Rockets simply won't be able to keep pace with Nene as the starting 5 and Montrezl Harrell functioning as the primary backup. They've worked fine during the interim, but that won't be sustainable as Capela continues his rehab.
Indiana Pacers: Wing Defense
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Paul George is frustrated. He's not having fun anymore, as he said after an Indiana Pacers practice (h/t NBC Sports' Kurt Helin for the transcription):
"(This season) hasn't been (fun). We're trying to work through it. It's been one of the most frustrating seasons I've been a part of…
Maybe I'm just living in the past of how good we used to be, the personnel, the guys I had around. I'm still living in that moment, maybe. I gotta put myself into a different team and maybe I have to do more, maybe that's just what it is, maybe I have to do more now. But whatever is [sic], I'm going to figure it out…
I just have to continue to enjoy playing this game. I've been caught up with officials, getting caught up with on-court stuff. And losing sight of how fun this game is to me,. As long as I'm approaching each game to enjoy it … whatever happens on the court, I couldn't care less. As long as I'm having fun and enjoying what I'm doing.
"
We have a solution: George is playing some of the worst defense of his career, in part because he's taking on too many offensive responsibilities.
Maybe he'd have more fun if the Pacers were able to acquire a legitimate stopper on the wing who could ease the burden and allow George to feel like he's getting the necessary help.
Los Angeles Clippers: No Moves
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The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in a bit of a pickle.
Their performance without Chris Paul and Blake Griffin has been exposing. It's revealed they're not on the same level as the Western Conference's top squads unless those two superstars are playing inordinate numbers of minutes. Even when they are, it's tough enough to keep pace with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.
But they can't afford to become buyers.
Acquiring any pieces would be risky, given the possibility of a breakup looming in the not-so-distant future. Paul could opt out of his contract this offseason, and Griffin is in the same (banana?) boat with an early termination option of his own. Plus, the Clippers can't trade a first-round pick until 2021, so it would be hard enough for them to acquire an impact player.
At the same time, they can't become sellers. When healthy, this team is too good to break up.
And that leaves the Clippers in a pickle, where the only solution is to hold tight and hope for the best on the injury front.
Los Angeles Lakers: 1 Man's Trash
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Keep. Getting. Young. Talents.
The Los Angeles Lakers are already swimming with upside. D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr. have all displayed flashes—some longer than others—of immense talent during the 2016-17 campaign, and that's saying nothing of lesser prospects such as Ivica Zubac and Tarik Black.
But it's not enough.
The Lakers aren't competing for a postseason berth this year, so they may as well keep thinking about the future. If they can get another young talent in exchange for Lou Williams or Luol Deng, it's worth doing. If they can pull off a heist that results in an impressive draft pick, that's even better.
By the time the youngsters are ready to compete, the current veterans may not be worth rostering.
The Lakers might as well capitalize now.
Memphis Grizzlies: Shooting
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The Memphis Grizzlies were able to survive the injuries to Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons—and others, because Memphis can apparently never stay healthy—by playing exceptional defense and allowing Marc Gasol to turn into an MVP candidate capable of knocking down perimeter jumpers.
But if they want to become true contenders, they still need a little more offensive firepower.
Seventeen teams have attempted more three-pointers per game, which is admittedly a major step in the right direction for a Grizzlies organization that has displayed disdain for marksmanship in years past. It's a bit more troubling that the team ranks No. 22 in three-point percentage, however, even with Gasol's marked improvements.
At this point, balance is what Memphis should strive for. It can afford to sacrifice a bit of its defensive excellence for offensive explosiveness—grinding it out won't win every game.
Miami Heat: A Floor-Spacing Wing
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If you're wondering why Hassan Whiteside is struggling a bit on offense this year, the answer is abundantly clear.
No matter how strong the center is, it's tough for him to finish around the hoop when defenders are collapsing and taking advantage of his limited passing vision. No matter how skilled he may be on mid-range jumpers, it's impossible to get them off consistently when the opposition is condensed around him and the painted area.
Defensive studs such as Justise Winslow have value, but the Miami offense will be anemic if it can't space out the floor around Whiteside.
James Johnson, Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson are the only members of the Heat making more than a single triple per game while shooting at an above-average percentage. And that's troubling since two of the three are point guards and don't always share the court with the starting center.
The Heat shouldn't feel compelled to compete now, but grabbing another shooter to pair with Whiteside would go a long way for a long time, even if it only proves how much better he is in that scenario.
Milwaukee Bucks: A Shooting Big
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When you roster Giannis Antetokounmpo, you have to get nontraditional.
Most teams don't have the luxury of using a 7-footer who can line up at any position and serve as the primary ball-handler with such ease. Antetokounmpo's presence allows the Milwaukee Bucks to use a point guard who thrives more away from the ball than when he has possession.
That's exactly what Matthew Dellavedova is after years of playing with Kyrie Irving and LeBron James before cashing in during free agency.
But the Bucks would be even better if they could find a big man who extends the defense. Antetokounmpo is capable of protecting the rim every once in a while, but his lack of shooting off the dribble does hamper the team's spacing. As such, that has to come from elsewhere.
Thus far, Milwaukee has no answers at the 5:
| John Henson | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Monroe | 0 | 0 |
| Miles Plumlee | 0 | 0 |
Yes, that trio is collectively 0-of-2 from downtown.
Not per game. Total.
Minnesota Timberwolves: A Veteran
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Back in November, Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher reported that Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau was growing impatient and may deal one of the team's up-and-comers for a veteran who could aid with the immediate winning process.
It's hard to imagine that impatience going away.
The Timberwolves are just 11-23 on the year, and that record masks the talent on the roster. Behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins and others, Minnesota has often looked like a playoff squad...but only during the first half.
During the first two quarters, it's outscored the opposition by 8.5 points per 100 possessions—a mark emblematic of not just a postseason contender, but a title threat. Then the third and fourth quarters bring about a steep decline to a minus-12.1 net rating, which makes Minnesota look like one of the league's worst teams.
Thibodeau may be boiling over at this point, more convinced than ever that getting a veteran who knows how to win would be a beneficial move.
New Orleans Pelicans: Whatever Anthony Davis Wants
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The New Orleans Pelicans can't afford to make Anthony Davis unhappy.
He remains a generational talent in the midst of a stunning individual campaign, but the team isn't winning. It hasn't surrounded him with the right complementary pieces, which means the unibrowed big man is staring in the face of another lottery finish. (Starting with a 14-21 record isn't exactly indicative of a year that extends beyond 82 games.)
If Davis decides he wants Jrue Holiday or Tyreke Evans gone, the Pelicans should look to move them. If he wants the team to acquire another shooter on the wings or find a big man other than Omer Asik to start at center and push him back to power forward, it should do exactly that.
New Orleans simply can't risk Davis going the route of Kevin Love on the Minnesota Timberwolves and becoming so disenchanted by losing that he forces a trade to a contender.
New York Knicks: A Defensive Guard
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Derrick Rose has been better than expected during his first season with the New York Knicks, and Brandon Jennings has held his own as a facilitator off the bench. But the two-man combination at point guard serves as a glaring liability on defense, and that's easily exploitable by any of the elite squads the Knicks might face in the first round of the playoffs—so long as they get there.
Just take a peek at how NBA Math breaks down the two-way abilities of these guards, keeping in mind that a score of zero in any category is indicative of perfect averageness (by no means a bad thing):
| Derrick Rose | Minus-1.9 | Minus-34.12 | Minus-36.02 |
| Brandon Jennings | Minus-6.49 | Minus-29.19 | Minus-35.68 |
Having point guards who perform average offensively isn't a disaster when you roster Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis. But when both guards function as glaring defensive liabilities, it is a problem, especially with Porzingis struggling to play high-level defense away from the rim.
It's time to bring in a fresh body.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Help for Russell Westbrook
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Russell Westbrook is human.*
Eventually, he has to slow down as the responsibilities he's enduring take their toll. It's not the least bit hyperbolic to say he's doing more than any other individual in NBA history has ever done.
Take his usage rate as proof: Westbrook's 42.0 usage rate is easily the highest mark ever recorded. Kobe Bryant's rate from the 2005-06 season (38.7) was the standard-bearer heading into 2016-17, but the gap between Westbrook and Bryant is as large as the discrepancy between Bryant and last year's version of DeMarcus Cousins (35.4), which sits at No. 13.
And that's not all.
Westbrook's assist percentage of 59.6 also stands as the highest mark in NBA history, beating out John Stockton's 1990-91 campaign (57.6) for the No. 1 spot. Even when he's not finishing possessions, he's usually helping his teammates get buckets.
No one man should have to do this much, which is why the Oklahoma City Thunder must find another player who can help ease the load.
*Technically, we can't confirm this. There's a solid chance he's a host from Westworld.
Orlando Magic: A Home for Nikola Vucevic
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For the first time since his rookie season, Nikola Vucevic isn't playing more than 30 minutes per game. He's checking in at a mere 27.8 for the Orlando Magic through his first 32 appearances—only 16 of which have come as a starter.
Orlando assembled a glut of frontcourt talent over the summer, and it now needs to move some of the pieces.
Vucevic just isn't as effective in this role, but it's the one he's stuck in so long as he remains on the same roster as Bismack Biyombo, Serge Ibaka, Aaron Gordon and the rest of the Magic bigs.
After signing Biyombo to a four-year deal worth $72 million, the team is too invested in the 24-year-old to trade him. The same applies to Ibaka after Orlando moved Victor Oladipo for his services. And that leaves Vucevic as the odd man out, especially because his contract is palatable for the next few seasons.
A contender could surely use his offensive acumen off the bench, or even in the starting lineup if he finds a particularly advantageous situation.
Philadelphia 76ers: A Point Guard
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Jerryd Bayless is out for the year after tearing a tendon in his wrist, and that leaves the Philadelphia 76ers with T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez as their primary point guards. Even though both are capable backups, their constant presences on the court could prove detrimental to the development.
We've seen it happen before. When a team lacks a high-quality distributor who can run a legitimate scheme, the ensuing offensive sludge can hinder a franchise building block's growth.
That's the last thing the Sixers want for Joel Embiid, who's begun his NBA career in sterling fashion and already looks the part of a future All-Star. Of similar—but lesser—concern is Dario Saric, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel.
Philadelphia doesn't need to acquire a veteran guard such as Brandon Knight or Ricky Rubio because it wants to compete. It has to keep trusting the process, but that's only possible if head coach Brett Brown can first trust his floor generals to run advanced schemes.
Phoenix Suns: A New Home for Veterans
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The Phoenix Suns need to unclog their roster and open up more opportunities for the youngsters who could help turn the franchise around someday.
Brandon Knight, who has struggled immensely throughout his second full season in the desert, shouldn't be blocking Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis from developing together. Tyson Chandler's minutes come at the expense of Alex Len, Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender, as do the ones allotted to Jared Dudley at power forward.
Is it really beneficial to play P.J. Tucker while T.J. Warren waits in the wings?
The youth movement must begin in full, even if that means the Suns continue to sink toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Achieving mediocrity doesn't help anyone, and that's all these veterans are going to help do.
Portland Trail Blazers: Defensive Assistance
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If I told you the Portland Trail Blazers were scoring 106.9 points per 100 possessions—one of the 10 best marks in the Association—you'd expect Rip City to be tracking toward another postseason berth. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum must be thriving as score-first guards while carrying their team to one victory after another.
But we're missing one crucial piece of information.
The Blazers are also allowing 109.7 points per 100 possessions, which beats out just the Los Angeles Lakers. According to NBA Math, Mason Plumlee (40.01), Al-Farouq Aminu (9.63) and Ed Davis (2.46) are the team's only players with above-average scores in defensive points saved.
That's why Portland is trending down into the realm of lottery squads, unable to pull itself out of its recent funk because it can't stop a nosebleed. The Lillard-McCollum pairing has always been trouble on defense, but it's been particularly devastating as the Blazers attempt to squeeze minutes out of liabilities who suit up at bigger positions.
The Blazers desperately need to trade for a wing stopper—it isn't difficult to figure that out.
Sacramento Kings: A New Spot for DeMarcus Cousins
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The worst thing the Sacramento Kings can do is fall victim to their own hype. They can't afford to get swept away in the luster of competing for a playoff spot, even if they currently own the final berth in the Western Conference.
They are not a great basketball team, even if they trail only seven teams in their half of the NBA. A 14-19 record should make that clear. If it doesn't, perhaps their standing in Basketball-Reference.com's simple rating system (based solely on margin of victory and strength of schedule) can, since they sit at No. 21.
Something has to change, and that means trading DeMarcus Cousins.
Yes, he's (by far) the best player on the roster. Yes, he's been one of the league's best centers in 2016-17. Yes, moving him means you're doomed to rebuilding for a while longer.
But this season has made it clear the status quo isn't working. Even with Cousins playing better than ever, management can't assemble the right pieces around him, and the outbursts in the locker room aren't helping.
Make him available, Sacramento.
San Antonio Spurs: Another Plus Defender
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Wait, don't the San Antonio Spurs already thrive on the defensive end? Aren't they ranked No. 4 in defensive rating?
Yes and yes.
But adding another strong wing defender could make them even better, if only because of the role Kawhi Leonard has been forced into. Multiple metrics show he's having the worst defensive season of his career, but that's only because teams are isolating him away from the action and then taking their chances with the rest of San Antonio's defense.
CBSSports.com's Matt Moore, who pioneered this analysis in early December, has more:
"Watching the Spurs' defense, the same pattern emerges. The opponent takes whoever Leonard is guarding to the corner and plays 4 on 4, often to great results. Much of this is because Leonard shares the court with Tony Parker and Pau Gasol, who simply can't contain in the pick and roll.
This is the key component: As good as Leonard is, you can neutralize him. This wasn't possible in previous years because the rest of the Spurs' defense was so good. But now, with certain lineups, there are real weaknesses.
"
In their current form, the Spurs are already great. But they could be so much better if they prevented teams from exploiting this trick, and you can only do so by adding another defensive asset.
Toronto Raptors: A Power Forward Upgrade
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It's no coincidence that ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein revealed the Toronto Raptors as one of the teams interested in talking with the Atlanta Hawks about Paul Millsap. Even though Patrick Patterson has been a solid two-way threat for the Eastern Conference contenders, they need more out of the position.
Patterson isn't big enough to protect the rim when paired up with Jonas Valanciunas, and he's not quite threatening enough from the perimeter to space out the floor for DeMar DeRozan's mid-range assault. He's good at doing the little things and remains a valuable rotation commodity, but he's not the star Toronto needs at the 4.
Millsap could be. Derrick Favors could be. Nerlens Noel could be.
Toronto is in the middle of a fantastic season, set to become one of the most dominant offensive squads in NBA history behind the all-around excellence of Kyle Lowry. But that shouldn't stop it from tinkering.
Tinkering, after all, is necessary if this team wants to reach the lofty level occupied by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Utah Jazz: Nothing
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The Utah Jazz are better than their record (21-13) would indicate.
When all the pieces are healthy, they're capable of beating anyone. Gordon Hayward is playing like an All-Star, while Rudy Gobert should be the Defensive Player of the Year favorite at this stage of the season. George Hill has served as an offensive revelation, and we have yet to see what Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood can do with extended periods of health.
Once the Jazz get both Alec Burks and Dante Exum back, they'll have depth and two-way ability at every position. The roster is almost perfectly constructed, only missing a bona fide MVP candidate in its quest to rise to the top of the Western Conference.
There's no reason to blow anything up.
Washington Wizards: Go-To Bench Scorer
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No, Marcus Thornton does not qualify.
The Washington Wizards have been dominant when their starting five is on the floor. Per nbawowy.com, the five-man combination of John Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat has produced a 10.2 net rating in 486 minutes.
But that falls apart when the bench has to play.
Hoopsstats.com shows that the second unit ranks No. 30 in defensive efficiency, which is troubling enough. It's even worse when paired with the last-place finish in offensive efficiency.
Washington can't trust anything about its bench, but acquiring a go-to scorer (see: Williams, Lou) would go a long way.
Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.
Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com and NBA Math are accurate heading into Monday's games.
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