NBA Draft 2012: Loaded Teams Who Should Trade First-Round Pick
Trade bait, it’s what every NBA team would love to have.
With the NBA draft less than a month away, every team in the league is evaluating their rosters and deciding where they need to fill holes.
Some teams don’t have holes to fill. Some teams are overflowing with talented players that merely need more experience. Some teams can afford to trade their first-round pick to instantly get better.
With teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets without a pick in Round 1, the following teams should be seeking them out for a potential trade.
Houston Rockets (Picks No. 14 and No. 16)
The Rockets are in an awkward position right now.
They have plenty of assets that look valuable to other teams, but they don’t have enough top-tier talent to compete in the rugged Western Conference.
If the Rockets can package the two picks for Pau Gasol…the Lakers would have to bite, right?
Seeking the best offer for a draft pick and a guy like Courtney Lee or Kevin Martin could garner some serious offers.
.500 isn’t going to cut it any longer.
Philadelphia 76ers (Pick No. 15)
The 76ers were the big surprise of the postseason this year, and it’s clear they will only get better as young guns like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Lou Williams gain more crunch-time experience.
They don’t have minutes for a new guy who doesn’t have top-10 skills. Trading this pick to a team like the Nets for an established veteran like Kris Humphries would makes sense for both parties.
Denver Nuggets (Pick No. 20)
The Nuggets roster is ridiculous.
Aside from Al Harrington and Andre Miller, every player is under the age of 30 and looks to have their best basketball in front of them. Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee (if he re-signs) and Arron Afflalo make a terrific young core that is only missing more experience in big games.
With Corey Brewer’s emergence in the playoffs, the return of the injured Rudy Fernandez and Wilson Chandler, this team is full. Don’t forget about 2011 first-round pick Jordan Hamilton, who has yet to really be used at all by the team.
They don’t need to add another second-tier prospect; the only way they can get better right now is by acquiring a star. Packaging the pick with two of the above mentioned players may be enough, but at the very least, they should look to add a veteran presence that can help them in the playoffs.
The last thing they need is another young guy that doesn’t have playoff experience.
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