NBA Lottery 2012: 5 Potential Trades We Could See in the Wake of the Lottery
For 26 NBA teams the season is over. Now the non-playoff teams know exactly where in the first round they'll be making their selection.
There are players who will be free agents this summer, players who will be free agents next summer and a whole crop of talented new players arriving on the NBA scene when the draft takes place on June 28th.
To say there will be trade-winds would be an understatement.
Here are some potential blockbusters that could steal headlines in the month leading up to the draft.
Dwight Howard Heads to Texas
1 of 5Orlando Gets: Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry and Samuel Dalembert
Houston Gets: Dwight Howard and Chris Duhon
The Rockets were one of a handful of teams that Dwight Howard could have been sent to back during the trade-deadline in March.
Now this deal makes sense for both teams.
The Rockets get a bona-fide center and also get to rid themselves of Samuel Dalembert's $7 million salary. Houston also gets to rid itself of disgruntled point guard Kyle Lowry. The Rockets can then focus on resigning Goran Dragic and Duhon, who is best suited as a back-up point guard, which fills that need.
The Magic get to grab something for Howard, who may very well walk as a free agent at the conclusion of next season.
Scola is a bruising power forward who will help make up for the loss of Howard inside. Dalembert is a decent shot blocker and Lowry allows the Magic to let Jameer Nelson walk, while also getting an upgrade at the point guard position.
Pau Gasol in the Big Easy
2 of 5The Trade:
Lakers Get: Emeka Okafor, Jarrett Jack, Hornets #10 Pick
Hornets Get: Pau Gasol, Lakers Future First Round Pick
NBA Trades are often cases of two teams with players who aren't bad but are not good fits on their current teams.
The Hornets will be bringing Anthony Davis into play in the middle. Emeka Okafor has never figured out where he fits in with the Hornets. Gasol on the other hand would be a great compliment to a young big man who is strong defensively, but could use some guidance on offense.
Jarrett Jack was a very capable point guard last season but while he was hurt, Greivis Vasquez, who is much cheaper, filled in quite capably.
Los Angeles bowed out in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The team desperately wants to figure out a way to surround Kobe Bryant with enough support to win one more ring before he retires.
The tenth pick would bring in a solid young player. Okafor could play opposite Bynum without taking as many shots as Gasol did. Jack is a more athletic point guard than Ramon Sessions, who could depart via free agency.
Andre Iguodala Goes Hollywood
3 of 5Philadelphia 76ers Get: Pau Gasol
Los Angeles Lakers Get: Andre Iguodala and Nikola Vucevic
This deal only happens if the Lakers decide to amnesty Metta World Peace. If that happens then this works out well for all parties.
Philadelphia is coming off an impressive run in the post season. There were a couple of things that were exposed as glaring weaknesses on the Sixers in their seven-game loss to the Celtics. The 76ers lack a go-to offensive player and they also don't have big men that are good passers.
Gasol basically fixes both of those problems.
The Lakers get Nikola Vucevic to back-up Andrew Bynum and they get Iguodala who gives Kobe a potent athletic option to pass the ball to who will make other teams pay dearly for putting too much defensive focus on Bryant or Bynum.
The Bulls Get a Sub for Rose
4 of 5The Trade:
Chicago Bulls Get: Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola
Houston Rockets Get: Carlos Boozer and C.J. Watson
In case you haven't heard, the Chicago Bulls have a pretty good young point guard named Derrick Rose. Mr. Rose suffered a severe knee injury in the first game of the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. As a result Rose will miss a considerable part of next season.
Unless the Bulls are planning on tanking, they're going to need a bit more than just a patchwork backcourt to make up for Rose's absence. In this scenario the Bulls get Lowry to fill in for Rose. If he plays well and Rose comes back then Lowry could be a decent trade chip.
The Bulls also get Luis Scola, who is a different type of power forward than Carlos Boozer.
Houston gets Watson, who would be able to back-up Goran Dragic, who the Rockets appear to be leaning towards signing. They also get Boozer who is a more offensively minded power forward than Scola.
Utah Gets into the First Round
5 of 5Utah Jazz Get: Jose Calderon and Toronto's First Round Pick ( #8)
Houston Rockets Get: Al Jefferson ( Utah) and Ed Davis ( Toronto)
Toronto Raptors Get: Kyle Lowry ( Houston) Luis Scola ( Houston)
This is a three way deal that works for everyone. Utah is currently without a first round pick in the 2012 Draft. The Jazz do have a surplus of talented young big men from drafts past, such as Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter.
With Al Jefferson approaching free agency, his time in Utah may be waning. The Jazz get Calderon who is a more natural point guard than Devin Harris. They also get the number eight pick to use on either another talented big man, a scoring guard, or small forward.
The Houston Rockets, who have been trying to get a talented big man, get one in Al Jefferson. They also get a young player with some upside in Ed Davis.
Finally, Kevin McHale gets to usher Kyle Lowry out of Houston and hand the keys to the offense to Goran Dragic.
Toronto losses Calderon but gets Lowry back in return. Lowry is not much worse than Calderon and under some circumstances he can be better. Toronto also gets a guy who can bang on the glass in the front court in Luis Scola.
That's what they thought they had in Andrea Bargnani when they selected him first overall in the 2006 draft. Bargnani is a decent scorer but he doesn't rebound well for his size. Scola is the opposite.
