Most Glaring Issue for Every 2015 NBA Contender to Correct on the Trade Market
Trades have been coming fast and furious during the 2014-15 season, but we aren't done yet. The deadline for deals doesn't come until Feb. 19, and many of the league's contenders can't be finished positioning themselves for the stretch run.
After all, holes abound, even on the league's best rosters.
At this point in the year, the number of title contenders is beginning to shrink. We're past the point in the season where we still have to call the Chicago Bulls (barring health miracles), Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors true contenders, even though they play in the weak Eastern Conference.
In the tougher half of the league, the Dallas Mavericks have fallen from that category, even though their record is misleading due to an easy schedule.
We're down to seven true contenders—only five of which really need to fix glaring issues with trades—and two more squads that have to be mentioned, if only to account for the risk that they'll come back to bite anyone who doubts them.
Let's solve their biggest problems with one deal apiece.
The 'Don't Touch Anything!' Teams
1 of 7
Atlanta Hawks
Fourteen wins in a row heading into a Friday night showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder? Twenty-eight wins in a 30-game stretch?
Why would you mess with that type of success?
The Atlanta Hawks' roster is by no means perfect. Mike Budenholzer could use a true backup center to protect the rim when Al Horford needs to rest for a spell, just for example. But this squad lives and dies by its chemistry, and there's no reason to risk spoiling the good feelings that permeate the locker room in Philips Arena.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been the best team in the NBA during the first half of the 2014-15 campaign. Frankly, it hasn't even been close, and there's no need to make any changes to the closest thing the Association has seen to perfection.
As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Not only do the Dubs boast several stars in the starting lineup, but they're also arguably the deepest team in the league now that David Lee and Andrew Bogut are back in the rotation. Steve Kerr has squeezed every ounce of possible production from everyone on the roster, and, much as is the case in the Peach State, the chemistry is ridiculously good on the opposite end of the contiguous states.
The "We're Not Actually Contenders Yet, but You Can't Leave Us Out" Teams
2 of 7
Cleveland Cavaliers
While the Cleveland Cavaliers have been much better since LeBron James returned from his two weeks of rest, even winning four of their last five games, this team is by no means a contender quite yet. There are too many flaws, as Timofey Mozgov isn't an ideal solution as a rim-protecting big and the defense as a whole has still struggled massively.
However, the Cavs are too talented to be ignored, especially since they still play in the Eastern Conference and are turning on the jets heading into the second half of the season. But contender or no contender, Cleveland no longer has enough assets to land any significant pieces.
It's time for internal improvements to take over.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Much like the Cavaliers, the Oklahoma City Thunder aren't contenders yet, but they can't be counted out of the championship picture entirely. It's still an uphill battle just to make the playoffs, even if they could potentially become the most dangerous No. 8 seed in league history and use Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to fight through the Western Conference gauntlet.
But after trading for Dion Waiters, the Thunder shouldn't make any more major moves.
They could deal Reggie Jackson now that he's falling out of the rotation and attempt to package Kendrick Perkins' expiring contract, but it's far better to ride it out with the superstars and let everyone gain chemistry. Waiting too long to acquire all of the proper pieces is dangerous when every game truly matters for the playoff push at this point in the season.
Houston Rockets: Point Guard Help
3 of 7
The Houston Rockets have been able to get quality production from many of their backups in the frontcourt, and because of the two marquee superstars, they're still competitive night in and night out—except when playing the Golden State Warriors, of course. James Harden and Dwight Howard are more than capable of doing the heavy lifting during most every outing.
But the point guard rotation, one led by defensive pest Patrick Beverley, isn't getting the job done, and that's keeping a futuristic offense from functioning at the level it should. Changing that is vital to keep pace in the tough-as-nails Western Conference, and Houston can do so by making a big deal for a floor general who wore a Rockets uniform earlier in his career.
Goran Dragic hasn't fit in with the Phoenix Suns as well as he did last year, as Isaiah Thomas and a healthy Eric Bledsoe have consistently stolen touches from him. But put the slithery 1-guard on the Rockets, and he'd be a great complement to Harden, helping the offense reach the impressive levels the defense is already at.
Very much a combo guard, Dragic is capable of playing off the ball and ceding offensive responsibilities to a certain bearded 2-guard. But his presence in the backcourt would take loads of pressure off the rest of the offensive stalwarts in Houston, and that matters quite a bit heading into the stretch run of the season.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Rockets have scored only 106.6 points per 100 possessions—the No. 12 mark in the Association. Even if it means giving up some of Beverley's minutes and letting the No. 6 defense in the league slip a bit, this offense must be upgraded, and the smallest spot in the lineup is the place to do so.
Ideal Trade: Kostas Papanikolaou, Terrence Jones and 2015 first-round pick (from New Orleans Pelicans) to the Phoenix Suns for Goran Dragic.
Los Angeles Clippers: Wing Defenders
4 of 7
The Los Angeles Clippers still desperately need an upgrade—or at least a change in scenery—on the wings, and the recent acquisition of Austin Rivers isn't going to fix that problem.
In fact, I'm not really sure which problem Rivers fixes, especially since the team chemistry isn't going to be trending in the right direction after the coach/president of basketball operations traded for his son in what may seem like an effort to salvage the younger family member's career.
Even more problematic is the glaring lack of assets.
Small forward is a problem, and 82games.com shows that quite well:
| PG | 21.4 | 13.7 | 7.7 |
| SG | 16.7 | 13.5 | 3.2 |
| SF | 11.4 | 13.4 | Minus-2.0 |
| PF | 19.9 | 16.1 | 3.8 |
| C | 20.2 | 18.3 | 1.9 |
It's pretty obvious which position stands out, and it's not in a good way. But how do the Clippers fix that when they've already emptied part of their coffers for the younger Rivers and no longer have any significant picks to deal?
Well, they can cut their losses and go after Andrei Kirilenko, as the Russian forward hasn't played—or even reported to duty—since he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers. General manager Sam Hinkie has proved quite fond of acquiring second-round draft picks, and that may be just about all it takes for the Clippers to get their hands on him, even if it isn't conveyed until 2019.
Kirilenko may very well be washed up. But he's also had a lot of time off to get healthy, has always been a savvy, intelligent player and brings the versatility that the older Rivers could use from his team's weakest position.
Plus, to make the salaries work without just giving away Matt Barnes, the Clippers can get one other feasible backup as well.
Ideal Trade: Ekpe Udoh, Hedo Turkoglu, C.J. Wilcox and a future second-round pick to Philadelphia 76ers for Andrei Kirilenko and Henry Sims.
Memphis Grizzlies: A Wing Shooter
5 of 7
Chris Copeland has completely and inexplicably fallen out of the Indiana Pacers' rotation. He has yet to score in any of the team's last six games, though he's received did-not-play designations (DNPs) in two of them and spent less than a minute on the floor during two more.
But Copeland is still an offensive talent, especially when used in a role that allows him to gain some sort of comfort. He can stroke the ball from the outside, as evidenced by his 42.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc as a rookie and his 41.8 percent mark in the follow-up 2013-14 campaign.
This year is an aberration, and the Pacers haven't properly showcased his talent. But now that he's clearly not worth much to the team, the Memphis Grizzlies should be able to steal him away, getting him at a bargain price and then using him to shore up a unit of perimeter shooters that's still rather lackluster.
Acquiring Jeff Green provided an athletic boost at the forward positions, but David Joerger still can't want the former Boston Celtic serving as one of his primary marksmen. In five games since arriving on Beale Street, Green has taken 18 triples, and he's made only three of them, "good" for a 16.7 percent clip.
On the season as a whole, Memphis has made more threes than only the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings. Even with Green, Courtney Lee and a few other capable players on the roster, another perimeter threat is needed, if only for the sake of variety once the playoffs come around and teams have more time to scout out the traditional flow of an offense.
And the best news of all? The Grizzlies still have a trade exception they can use to absorb Copeland's salary without giving up any on-court pieces, whether future or present ones.
Ideal Trade: A future second-round pick to Indiana Pacers for Chris Copeland.
Portland Trail Blazers: Everything
6 of 7
The Portland Trail Blazers were already a shallow team. Now, with Robin Lopez and Joel Freeland potentially out through the All-Star break (h/t Dan Graves of Blazer's Edge) and LaMarcus Aldridge sidelined for up to eight weeks with his thumb injury, shallow doesn't begin to describe the lack of depth on the roster.
This team needs everything. Absolutely everything.
The frontcourt is completely depleted. Nicolas Batum has regressed significantly during the 2014-15 campaign and doesn't bring all that much to the table right now. The backcourt reserves aren't trusted by Terry Stotts, and they aren't all that talented in the first place.
Rip City could use its assets to shore up the big-man rotation. It could trade for Wilson Chandler and/or Arron Afflalo by offering draft picks and young players to the Denver Nuggets. It could hold tight and count on the wins it earned earlier this season to help it withstand the next few months on the schedule, hoping that's not enough to knock it all the way out of the playoff picture.
Zach Lowe, writing for Grantland and explaining what the Aldridge injury means (warning: It's scary if you're from the Pacific Northwest), breaks down a few other options:
"The Lakers have Ed Davis and Jordan Hill on semi-expiring contracts. Enes Kanter’s future in Utah is unclear, though the idea that Utah should just shove him out the door to make way for the French Rejection is a little premature.
Olshey might sniff around the possibility of nabbing Jason Thompson from Sacramento on the cheap, though Portland has already dealt away the rights to its second-round picks every year through 2018.
Taking on Thompson’s salary for next season would also eat away at Portland's potential cap room, which could matter in the nightmare scenario that Aldridge bolts in free agency.
"
There are no perfect situations here. Panaceas don't exist for a roster with as much depth as a two-day-old puddle under the baking sun of the Sahara Desert.
At this point, Portland can upgrade just about anywhere in the lineup and attempt to prevent Damian Lillard from running himself too ragged during Aldridge's absence.
Ideal Trade: Anything that nets a usable piece.
San Antonio Spurs: Insurance for Kawhi Leonard
7 of 7
The San Antonio Spurs have to find an insurance policy for Kawhi Leonard, ideally in the form of a two-way forward who can play a handful of effective minutes each night and step into a larger role whenever Leonard needs some time off. This team is too reliant on the excellence of the reigning Finals MVP to have no feasible backups behind him.
"Kawhi Leonard has spent more than three years playing in the shadow cast by the San Antonio Spurs' storied Big Three," Bleacher Report's Dan Favale wrote recently. "Even by San Antonio's self-effacing standards, even after being named the NBA Finals' MVP, Leonard's importance has been marginalized, his standing cheapened by this notion that he's the future."
That value is only increased by the lack of options who play the same position.
After all, Kyle Anderson is the only natural 3 behind Leonard on the depth chart, and Gregg Popovich has been forced into playing Marco Belinelli and Boris Diaw out of position at small forward in No. 2's absence. Especially without Austin Daye on the roster any longer, it's time for the Spurs to look for external help, and there's no better option than Wilson Chandler on the current market.
Chandler is by no means a game-changing player, but the Spurs don't need one. They just need an insurance policy who won't hurt them, and Chandler's shooting ability and defensive work (on the right team, which hasn't been these Denver Nuggets) would prove natural fits under Popovich.
"My mindset is the same every game," Leonard told reporters, via Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo. "Whoever I'm playing against, I go in and try to stop their best scorer and try to get myself going on the offensive end."
Thing is, he'll only be able to keep that mindset—and remain effective—if he's not run down by the weight of too much responsibility.
Ideal Trade: Marco Belinelli, Jeff Ayres and a 2015 first-round pick (top-20 protected) to Denver Nuggets for Wilson Chandler and a 2017 second-round pick.
