NBA Trade Speculation: Sagging Teams That Must Make Moves

There are some teams in dire need of a trade. Whether it's a team that was hoping to chase a championship or a team that was hoping to make the postseason, or even if it was a team that was just hoping to be better, these are teams that have been a bit disappointing so far. 

These sagging teams need to make a trade, and they need to do it soon.

First, though, there's a couple of "bonus" slides, featuring teams that need to make a coaching change. 

Bonus Slide: New York Knicks

Record: 6-7

Slump: Lost 3

The New York Knicks are an incomplete team.They are a playoff team, but they are not the true championship contender they are hoping to be. 

I said in the preseason they dug one hole to fill another. So far this season has borne that out. Iman Shumpert and Toney Douglas have both shown they are not really able to navigate the team as a point guard in head coach Mike D'Antoni's system. 

I know right now the going philosophy in New York is that Baron Davis will save them.

He won't. He's just not the Baron Davis of 2006. 

The problem with the Knicks is they are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. They need to get rid of D'Antoni. A coach like Larry Brown fits the personnel they have much better. 

Bonus Slide: Washington Wizards

Record: 1-12

Slump: 1-12

The Washington Wizards have the worst-coached team in the NBA. They are also the worst team period. They are a rebuilding team that is not building.  Flip Saunders needs to go. 

They actually have talent there, and that's part of the problem. When you have that much talent and so little leadership, everyone starts trying to be in it for themselves. This team is on the verge of exploding and one of the game's great talents, John Wall, could be ruined if they don't fire Saunders and get someone who knows how to groom young players. 

One thought would be bringing in the freshly-fired Mike D'Antoni (provided the Knicks have read the previous slide and agreed). The composition of the Wizards actually works much better with his system and would be exciting to watch. 

New Jersey Nets

Record: 3-11

Slump: 2-11

The Nets were a team hoping to make it to the postseason. At this rate they won't get there. 

The New Jersey Nets traded for Deron Williams last year with no assurances he would re-sign with the team. It was a huge gamble considering that the Nets were gave up a large part of their future in trading for Williams.

Now it's looking more and more like a gamble that may not pay off. While Howard could decide to sign there next year, and that would be enough to keep Williams, if he doesn't then Williams is gone like a pancake at fat camp. 

The Nets need to make a move—any move—that entices Williams to stay. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 5-8

Slump: 3-5

The Wolves are a player away from being a playoff team. 

Micheal Beasley is clearly in the doghouse, but he does have talent. What the Timberwolves could do is trade for a player like OJ Mayo, who has a similar value and history. 

What that would also do is give the 'Wolves a player who has the ability to create shots and score from the perimeter. That would give hem a nice trio of players in Rubio, Mayo and Love.

That would make Minnesota a bona fide playoff team. 

Boston Celtics

Record: 4-8

Slump: Lost 5

The Boston Celtics are not a good team this year. They thought they were. We thought they were. They were supposed to be at least a playoff team, and at most a champion. They look like neither. 

They aren't what we thought they were.

If they are going to be, they need to make a move. 

I think I just made myself dizzy. 

Boston needs to make a move. That's my point. It's not time to rebuild, it's past time to rebuild. 

What trade should they make? I don't know. It's all about what people are offering.

The phone has to be ringing about Paul Pierce. I say answer the phone.

Dallas Mavericks

Record: 8-6

Slump: 1-5 Against .500 teams

The Dallas Mavericks have gotten their record up to 8-6 but don't let that fool you into thinking they've rebounded. Against teams with winning records they are only 1-5. If they want to repeat as Champs they have to work on that. 

They are still struggling to replace that interior defensive presence that they lost in Tyson Chandler. One thought is Boris Diaw of the Charlotte Bobcats, who has reportedly been put on the trading block. 

The Mavericks have slowly been showing signs of coming around, but Diaw is a underrated low-post defender and would also help the Mavs stretch the court. 

Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 10-5

Slump: One 100-point game this season. 

The Lakers as a team might not be slumping. For the most part they are winning games, and they have a 10-5 record. The problem is that they've only broken the century mark one time. 

The Los Angeles Lakers are very close to being a championship-level team if they aren't already. In fact, I believe this team, even as constructed could win a championship, but their chances would get even better if they had the right point guard. 

The Lakers could try and make a trade for someone like Mo Williams, or else they could wait until players come back from China in March and try inking someone like Aaron Brooks. He is a restricted free agent, though, and Phoenix can match any offers.