2012 NBA Draft: 4 Blockbuster Trades We'd Love to See on Draft Day
Blockbuster trades happen every year on draft day. The 2012 NBA draft likely will not be an exception to the norm.
For months, experts and fans alike have speculated at a wide variety of trades—some too wild to even fathom, others not so far-fetched.
With the 2012 NBA draft just two days away, we’ve already seen a few NBA teams swing some deals.
The New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards started things off by swapping Trevor Arizona and Emeka Okafor for Rashard Lewis.
The Houston Rockets have since followed suit by trading Chase Budinger and the rights to Lior Eliyahu to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 18 pick in the draft, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chad Ford.
Before the rest of the teams can beat me to the punch, here are four blockbuster trades we’d love to see happen on draft day.
Hopping the Gulf
1 of 4According to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld via his Twitter account, the Houston Rockets are willing to trade for Dwight Howard for next season, the final year of his contract, conceivably as a one-year rental.
It sounds crazy, but the Rockets are confident that they could eventually convince Howard to stay in Houston beyond next season.
Orlando Magic Get: Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and first-round picks
Rockets can now offer No. 14, No. 16 and/or No. 18. They may trade up for better pick to offer Orlando.
Houston Rockets Get: Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu
I think that by adding the No. 18 pick in the draft via the Chase Budinger trade, the Rockets may be hinting at a strong push to acquire Howard.
In fact, the PTI guys are reporting that the Rockets may go after Howard and Deron Williams.
There's a possibility that the Rockets will trade two of their current first rounders to move up in the top 10. They can then use the top 10 pick as leverage in a possible Howard deal.
This would be an enormous gamble for Houston to give up a bounty of players and picks to get the best center in the NBA on a one-year contract. When you throw in the fact that they'd have to take on Turkoglu's ugly contract in my trade scenario, Rockets fans probably have pits in their stomachs.
Nevertheless, this would certainly go down as one of the biggest blockbuster trades in league history.
Assuming the Rockets would re-sign both Goran Dragic and Courtney Lee, with Chandler Parsons and Patrick Patterson already on the roster, they'd have a lot of talented young pieces around Dwight to compete.
Banking on Howard to show loyalty to a new team, however, is a roll of the dice for the Rockets.
Trifecta
2 of 4Los Angeles Lakers Get: Andre Iguodala
Memphis Grizzlies Get: Pau Gasol
Philadelphia 76ers Get: Zach Randolph
This is a straight-up, no-nonsense deal that sees three NBA stars switching uniforms.
There have been rumors that the Grizzlies are interested in bringing Gasol back to Memphis, according to Matt Moore of CBS Sports.
Additionally, there have been rumors that the Lakers want to add Iguodala, according to Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld.
I honestly believe that every team gets better in this three-team deal.
The Lakers add one of the league's most talented wing players who can play at an elite level on both ends of the court in Iguodala.
The Grizzlies reacquire Pau Gasol to pair beside his younger brother Marc Gasol—which would be incredibly fun to watch.
The Sixers add one of the tougher NBA big men in Zach Randolph, who can play as a more efficient version of Elton Brand in their system.
I'd say that the team most likely to turn the trade down is Memphis, since Gasol is getting up there in age and his contract isn't all too favorable. But, he's still an elite NBA power forward who would be rejuvenated back where to he started his career.
Kings/Bulls
3 of 4Sacramento Kings Get: Luol Deng, Bulls' first-round pick (No. 29)
Chicago Bulls Get: Tyreke Evans
The Chicago Bulls are trying to trade Luol Deng and his contract to avoid future luxury tax issues, according to Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald (subscription required).
Tyreke Evans still has a ton of potential at 22 years old, but the Kings already have a log jam in the backcourt at the moment. Also, Marcus Thornton proved to everyone last year he can be a more efficient scorer than Evans.
The Kings need to acquire a small forward and, although Deng's contract is a big one to take on, the Kings get compensated by the Bulls' first-round pick at No. 29 overall.
If nothing else, this trade would provide for some exciting storylines on both sides.
Swapping Picks
4 of 4It seems at this point that a trade between the Charlotte Bobcats and Cleveland Cavaliers has been rumored for years instead of weeks.
According to SI.com, the Cavaliers are enamored with Florida shooting guard Bradley Beal. If they move up to No. 2 in the draft, he's likely going to be the choice.
What we really want to know, however, is what Michael Jordan and company plan to do if they trade back to No. 4 in the draft.
Will Thomas Robinson still be available in that spot? Will Jordan pick a UNC guy in Harrison Barnes? Will he bank on the potential of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist?
Only time will tell at this point.
The Trade:
Charlotte Bobcats Get: First-round pick No. 4, first-round pick No. 24 and second-round pick No. 34
Cleveland Cavaliers Get: Second overall pick
There's a possibility here that the Cavs could deal Anderson Varejao to the Bobcats instead of a third pick, but this is likely the prototype deal we'll see on Thursday.
The Bobcats will acquire quantity—while still keeping quality—as the Cavs move up to No. 2 in order to nab Beal.
