NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Injury-Riddled Teams That Must Make a Deal

The ridiculously grueling lockout-shortened season has left a large portion of the league with a big red cross over their heads.

Who would have guessed that playing three games in three days and four in five nights would end up resulting in sloppy play and an uptick in injuries?

Regardless, it’s still an even playing field and the difference between the top teams in the league and a fringe playoff team is not that high. Here are five teams that are a move or two away from putting a Band-Aid on their injuries and capable of making some noise this spring.

The March 15th deadline is only a month away…

Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Randolph's injury has really hurt the Grizzlies' offensive attack and flow. Marc Gasol is a terrific defensive center that is efficient offensively, but he’s no Z-Bo.

With Rudy Gay’s return, OJ Mayo really isn’t a necessary piece of the puzzle anymore.

What’s the harm of sending Mayo to the Indiana Pacers for some sort of mix involving the likes of George Hill, Dahntay Jones, Darren Collison and Tyler Hansbrough?

All of those guys aren’t as talented, but they are better fits for this specific Grizzlies team. 

Boston Celtics

Much has been made about the age of the Celtics, and with good reason.

Kevin Garnett is the only player to have registered minutes in every game and the absence of Rajon Rondo has really clogged up their offense.

Now that Brandon Bass and Jermaine O’Neal have gone down, they need more depth in the frontcourt and players that aren't as fragile as a glass vase.

What’s the harm in nabbing Javale McGee from a Wizards team desperate to get rid of him? Now that’s a trade both sides could desperately use.  

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are thrilled to welcome Steve Blake back into the lineup. That’s all you need to know about their current situation. This team would be awful without Kobe Bryant.

Matt Barnes has been a bust since coming over from Orlando, Metta World Peace is perplexed by his new role in the offense under Mike Brown and Derek Fisher may be one of the slowest guards in the league.

Other than that they’re just fine. Some sort of move has to be made to avoid a first-round flameout and subsequent Kobe freak out. 

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are one of, if not the deepest team in the NBA (thanks ‘Melo), but are really getting tested at the moment.

Danilo Gallinari is out for around a month, Ty Lawson and Nene have been banged up, as well as Arron Afflalo.

They don’t have a go-to scorer in crunch time and there is no easy fix to acquire one, but dangling some of their younger assets (Timofey Mozgov, Kenneth Faried, Jordan Hamilton) in a deal to land a guy like Danny Granger, Monta Eliis or Ray Allen would solve the problem.

With a veteran coach in George Karl and plenty of depth, this team is closer to winning a championship than most fans realize. 

New York Knicks

Linsanity has solved one of the Knicks' issues, but a premier perimeter defender is still something the team desperately needs.

Andre Iguodala would be perfect for this team, but would the 76ers want a poo-poo platter of Iman Shumpert, Toney Douglas and Steve Novak?

If they can pull it off…Lin, ‘Melo, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Iggie would be one heck of a starting five.

One that could win a championship.