Brandon Jennings and NBA Stars Who Should Be Traded in Offseason
If the trade deadline in February wasn't busy enough for your liking, just wait until the offseason.
Starting on draft night, we could see a flurry of deals—some that have been in the works for months, others that seemingly emerge overnight. Why expect so much activity?
A lot of general managers are still trying to rearrange their long-term plans after the new collective bargaining agreement changed the rules governing how rosters are shaped. From new luxury tax implications to shorter player contracts, the CBA forced a monumental shift in thinking.
That thinking will further be influenced by what happens on draft night. With future talent locked up, teams will be in better position to make the right adjustments and fit together the right pieces.
As for the pieces that don't fit... well, here are some names you might see on the move this offseason.
Brandon Jennings
Because the young guard has given the Milwaukee Bucks no reason to believe he plans on sticking around for the long term, the Bucks may opt to address the situation proactively rather than risk Jennings leaving as a free agent.
It would be a bit unfortunate to see this relationship fall apart. Jennings may not be the most consistent shooter in the world, but he's improved his accuracy and output alike in each of his three seasons (to 19.2 points and 42 percent shooting this season). He's got good range, passing ability and peskiness on defense.
Still, if Jennings isn't committed to building something in Milwaukee, the Bucks have to salvage some value and trade Jennings for something.
To be clear, Howard should have been traded a long time ago, but Orlando should spare itself another season of colossal distraction and disappointment. Howard isn't staying—if even half of what David Pingalore is reporting in Orlando is true, things are too broken to be fixed.
Even if the Magic give Howard the head coach of his liking, how can GM Otis Smith give him a roster that works in everyone's interest? Smith should trade Howard and Turkoglu for Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks and whatever else the Nets can cough up. Getting a deal like that done is becoming less and less of a choice.
Tyreke Evans
Given the Kings' inability to get over the hump for the last six seasons, the franchise is now putting almost any option on the table—including trading Tyreke Evans. The only reason Sacramento should trade Evans is to do the poor kid a favor and spare him the mess he was drafted into.
Evans has struggled with his jumper and decision-making, but that's hardly the fault of a 22-year-old former Rookie of the Year. Evans has been moved from point guard to more of a combo guard and now to small forward. He's dealt with a similarly youthful supporting cast and of course, a midseason coaching change.
O.J. Mayo
Mayo is too good to be a role player on a team that's so stocked with deep talent. He averaged over 18 points in his first two seasons, and he's remained a productive sixth man ever since.
Yes, the Grizzlies need a spark off the bench, and it might not be easy to replace Mayo, but this team isn't utilizing him to his full ability. They could use someone like Jason Terry or Jamal Craword, but Mayo should have the opportunity to become a bigger star.
