2015 NBA Trade Deadline: How Each Team Can Solve Its Biggest Weakness
Thursday's NBA trade deadline isn't likely to shift the league's landscape. Not upon first glance, at least.
A flurry of deals have already passed through the transaction log, highlighted by Rajon Rondo's arrival in Dallas, Jeff Green's move to Memphis and the two trades that helped the Cleveland Cavaliers turn around their season. The biggest names dealt this year could have already made their moves.
But with the championship race still appearing to be wide open, teams may not be finished reshaping their rosters. Even if the deadline comes and goes without a notable name changing addresses, second-tier acquisitions could still help turn the tide come playoff time.
There are no perfect teams; every one has at least one area that could be strengthened. The stat sheet helped identify those areas for most teams, though injuries created voids in other spots. Some of these issues were seen before this season started, but they're still waiting for a correction.
Shoring up that strength could call for anything from a major move to a low-cost flier or even no activity at all. (Patience, as they say, can be a virtue for the right team.) With that in mind, this is how each of the 30 NBA teams can address its biggest weakness at the trade deadline.
Atlanta Hawks: Attacking Rebounding Woes
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Sitting out the trade deadline wouldn't be the worst move for the Atlanta Hawks. They have a 6.5-game cushion in the Eastern Conference and are one of only two NBA teams with top-seven efficiency ratings on both sides of the ball.
Add in the fact that chemistry has played such a pivotal role in this team's success, and standing pat sounds even better.
However, the Hawks could still look to strengthen themselves for what should be a lengthy playoff run. And if that's the plan, look for Atlanta to focus its deadline efforts on improving itself on the glass.
The Hawks are tied for 25th with a 48.4 rebounding percentage. It may not be a fatal flaw, but this group has been nearly unbeatable when it wins the battle of the boards (17-1 when it grabs more rebounds than the opposition).
Atlanta won't want to rock the boat with a major trade, and any player it brings on board must fit with coach Mike Budenholzer's versatile offensive system. But if a well-rounded, high-energy big could be had for cheap (Brandon Bass?), the Hawks can afford to take a low-risk gamble on a potentially productive piece.
Boston Celtics: Moving Vets Who Don't Fit Long-Term Plan
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The Boston Celtics have already cashed in their biggest trade chips, converting veterans Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green into a small army of draft picks and prospects. But since they call the Eastern Conference home, that flurry of activity hasn't pulled this team out of the playoff race.
The Celtics sit just 1.5 games back of the No. 8 seed, and they entered the All-Star break by picking up four wins over their last five games—including a one-point victory over the East-leading Hawks. There could be some motivation for Boston to see this playoff push through, especially for the experience it would add to this young core.
But the Celtics can't afford to quit thinking about the future. Not when they still employ several veterans who could generate interest among playoff contenders.
"If the Celtics can find trade partners as they continue to rebuild, three veterans with expiring contracts—Tayshaun Prince, Marcus Thornton, and Brandon Bass—would be candidates to depart," noted Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
Boston needs to significantly upgrade its talent base to eventually force its way back into championship discussions. Dealing any of the aforementioned vets wouldn't return a substantial package, but any move that nets an asset is one worth making for the Celtics.
Brooklyn Nets: Trimming the Overpriced Big Three
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There's an obvious disconnect between what the Brooklyn Nets are paying their roster and what they're receiving for that investment.
Their league-high $91.2 million payroll has produced a 21-31 record that isn't even good enough to grab a playoff spot in the East. Brooklyn's minus-4.7 net efficiency rating ranks 25th overall, trailing the likes of the Paul George-less Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets, among others.
The Nets desperately need to trim salary, and it's obvious where those cuts must be made. There is too much money tied up in the underwhelming trio of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez to build anything of value around it. Despite shopping all three since early December, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk, the Nets haven't found the right offer for any of them.
In fact, Brooklyn could now be considering moving forward with its costly triumvirate intact. Lopez seemed like the easiest to move—he's the youngest of the three and holds only a player option for 2015-16—but the Nets reportedly haven't closed the door to their own future with the 7-footer.
"[Nets general manager] Billy King is giving off the vibe that he is fine with keeping the guy and trying to build around him," a source told Sporting News' Sean Deveney. "It is not coming off like they’re having some kind of fire sale out there."
Youngmisuk reported that the Detroit Pistons have called to inquire about Joe Johnson, with the injured Brandon Jennings and expiring contracts making up Detroit's offered package.
Hopefully, this is just posturing on Brooklyn's end. The Nets won't be looking at a promising future until they can get away from their exorbitantly priced present.
Charlotte Hornets: Finding a Two-Way Wing
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The Charlotte Hornets have the wrong type of pick-your-poison scenario playing out on their perimeter. Rather than putting opposing defenses in such a situation, the Hornets themselves been forced to choose the lesser of two evils.
"The Hornets don’t have a good defender with 3-point range in their entire perimeter rotation," wrote Grantland's Zach Lowe.
Charlotte has shooters in Mo Williams, P.J. Hairston and Troy Daniels, but all three give away something defensively. Gerald Henderson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can shore up that end, but the former has made only 30.4 percent of his three-point attempts and the latter hasn't let a single shot fly from that distance this season.
The Hornets need to find someone capable of checking both boxes. Defense will be key to Charlotte's playoff hopes, but spacing is a necessity to free up room for Al Jefferson's work in the post and Kemba Walker's off-the-dribble attacks.
Prized offseason pickup Lance Stephenson, who's been testing the limits of that label since the ink dried on his deal, could be key in finding a solution. The Hornets continue shopping the mercurial swingman, a source told Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears, and Charlotte has to hope it can turn him into a two-way wing like Arron Afflalo or Wilson Chandler, both of the Denver Nuggets.
Chicago Bulls: Putting a Consistent Shooter Behind Starters
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The Chicago Bulls are dangerously close to figuring things out. If they could just find a way to shake the injury bug for good, their future would look blindingly bright.
Pau Gasol just made the first All-Star start of his career, Jimmy Butler had the first All-Star appearance of his. Derrick Rose looked the part heading into the break, averaging 21.5 points on 44.3 percent shooting over his last six games.
The pieces are falling into place for this on-paper juggernaut, but one could still be missing from the equation. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls would like to strengthen their roster with one more shooter.
Tony Snell's inconsistent track record makes it hard to trust his recent shooting surge (15-of-25 from deep his last four games). Rookie Nikola Mirotic's shooting has been in a tailspin since the calendar changed, and fellow first-year player Doug McDermott has struggled to grab a rotation spot since returning from knee surgery.
The Bulls have to decide whether to address this need via trade or free agency. They've been connected to both Denver's Afflalo, per ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne, and free-agent sniper Ray Allen, per ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell. Regardless which route Chicago takes, it has to lead to a three-point marksman.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Safeguarding Roster with Interior Insurance
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The Cleveland Cavaliers used the early portion of this season to address the inherent flaws with their roster. They grabbed a perimeter gunner in J.R. Smith, a backcourt stopper in Iman Shumpert and a rim protector in Timofey Mozgov.
Now, their challenge is to grab a massive insurance policy who helps them maximize the effectiveness of those earlier deals. The Cavs have exponentially improved, but they're a fontcourt injury away from disaster.
"The front office has been great and put together a good group," Cavs coach David Blatt said, per ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. "We will be good with what we have if we can stay healthy."
Health risks are real for any team, but they are particularly worrisome in Cleveland. The Cavs have three bigs that Blatt can trust in Mozgov, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, four if he can pull LeBron James away from his preferred small forward spot. Of that group, Mozgov is the only true interior deterrent for opposing drivers.
Unless a rim protector falls in their laps by way of a buyout—Kevin Garnett or Larry Sanders, perhaps?—the Cavs will need to take one more trip to the trade market to guard against injuries ruining their championship chances.
Dallas Mavericks: Building Chemistry with Already-Revamped Roster
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The fluidity of the NBA trade market means no team is ever truly done dealing. But unless presented with a no-brainer offer, the Dallas Mavericks should be ready to sit this trade deadline out.
They already attacked their point guard problems and defensive deficiencies in the December deal for Rondo. The size sacrificed to land the floor general has since been replaced by rookie Dwight Powell and former All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire, whom RealGM's Shams Charania first reported has committed to joining the Mavericks after being bought out by the New York Knicks.
Dallas could still consider making a move, especially if veteran center Jermaine O'Neal ultimately decides he has a 19th NBA season in him.
But outside of a no-risk flier on O'Neal, the Mavs shouldn't be looking to reshape their roster more than they already have. Their goals for the final two months should be finding a rhythm with Rondo and working out a rotation spot for Stoudemire. Making more changes could complicate either process.
Denver Nuggets: Hitting Inevitable Reset Button
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The Nuggets can't advertise their deadline approach as a going-out-of-business sale. Doing so would only diminish the value of anything Denver can get back in return.
But even if the Nuggets can't label it as such, that's exactly what this period should be. Any and every veteran on this team should be obtainable. And they all reportedly are.
"There are no untouchables on the roster, save for the rookies—center Jusuf Nurkic and shooting guard Gary Harris—whom the Nuggets want to keep and develop," wrote Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post.
The Nuggets have too much talent to give their guys away. But as soon as potential trade partners express a willingness to meet a reasonable price, Denver must be ready to pull the trigger. Picks and prospects have to be prioritized, even if that means parting with the likes of Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari, along with the more often discussed Chandler and Afflalo.
There isn't enough coming through the pipeline to help Denver lift its ceiling above mediocrity. That makes demolition inevitable, so the Nuggets can build a core capable of significantly more.
Detroit Pistons: Bolstering the Battered Backcourt
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Credit the Pistons for avoiding a complete collapse after losing starting point guard Brandon Jennings for the season to a torn Achilles. And credit veteran D.J. Augustin for making that possible.
For the second consecutive season, Augustin has given his team new life as a substitute starter. He helped the Bulls survive the loss of Rose last season, and Augustin has provided an even bigger lift this time around. In the 10 games since Jennings' injury, Augustin has averaged 20.3 points and 8.2 assists while posting a parkling .468/.432/.963 shooting slash.
The Pistons look set at the starting point guard position. But there's a trickle-down effect behind Augustin that looks very problematic. Rookie Spencer Dinwiddie clearly isn't ready for the big stage, and veteran journeyman John Lucas III has never looked good in a full-time role.
Detroit shouldn't chase a high-priced point guard, because 1) there's a cap on how high this team can climb, and 2) both Jennings and Augustin are on the books for next season. But if the Pistons can find a low-cost reserve—they have reportedly considered Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole, per Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group—they may be able to swipe a playoff spot yet.
Golden State Warriors: Using Buyout Market for Shooting, Interior Depth
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It's hard to find holes in the Golden State Warriors. They are, after all, the NBA's only team with either a winning percentage above .800 or a positive net efficiency rating in the double digits (plus 12.3 points per 100 possessions).
But that doesn't mean the Dubs will keep silent at the deadline. If they could find a new home for the $15.5 million owed to David Lee next season, they'd have to consider it. Given the money restricted-free-agent-to-be Draymond Green has earned this season, it likely wouldn't take the Warriors long to reach that decision.
But good luck finding any team that wants to pay a 31-year-old who has always been alergic to the defensive end that type of money.
Assuming the Warriors can't find that salary relief, their only concern should be staying ready to pounce on a veteran free agent. They could use a shooter off the bench or insurance behind oft-injured Andrew Bogut who defends better than Lee or Marreese Speights and packs more offensive punch than Festus Ezeli, so they'd be a logical landing spot for either Allen, O'Neal or, if he's ever bought out, Garnett.
Houston Rockets: Upgrading at Point Guard
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The Western Conference playoff picture is going to produce a minefield of potent point guards.
If current positions hold, it would feature the likes of Rondo, Stephen Curry, Mike Conley, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Tony Parker and the Phoenix Suns' three-headed monster: Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas. Russell Westbrook or Jrue Holiday could join the party if the Oklahoma City Thunder or New Orleans Pelicans secure a postseason spot.
For the Houston Rockets, Patrick Beverley carries their point guard torch. In the Wild West, that's equivalent to bringing a sharpened spoon to a gunfight.
Beverly is a bulldog defender and career 36.5 percent three-point shooter. But his 3.3 assists-per-game average makes it hard to call him even a secondary playmaker. He averages fewer drives per game (4.8) than power forwards Paul Millsap and Josh Smith.
The Rockets need a more offensively threatening lead guard. They are reportedly one of many teams trying to pry Dragic out of the desert, per Stein, and should be interested in any floor general who brings more than Beverley's three-and-D skills inside the lines.
Indiana Pacers: Grabbing a Playmaker
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If the Indiana Pacers weren't sellers before, they certainly aren't about to embrace that approach now. Not with President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird openly discussing his playoff hopes and injured two-time All-Star Paul George planning to make a mid-March return, per Spears.
The Pacers are only two games out of a playoff spot. And if George can get back into the action, they'd have 80 percent of a starting lineup that propelled them to each of the last two Eastern Conference Finals.
This isn't a typical 21-33 team. Indiana should be looking to buy at the deadline, and it isn't hard to see where improvement is needed. The point guard problems that helped derail the team's recent playoff runs still haven't been corrected.
Reserve Donald Sloan is the only player averaging more than 3.8 assists per game (4.3). Since Indiana also needs a go-to scorer, it can't expect George to fill both roles. The Pacers need a table-setter, and history says starter George Hill is not that player (career 4.0 assists per 36 minutes).
Indiana should keep Phoenix on the phone, whether for a deal involving Dragic or even the spark plug Thomas. Either would be a major offensive upgrade over the Pacers' current options.
Los Angeles Clippers: Fortifying Thin, Damaged Frontcourt
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Throw a dart at the Los Angeles Clippers' list of reserves, and chances are you'll hit an area that needs upgrading. Perennial Sixth Man of the Year contender Jamal Crawford has provided his typical lift, but the bench mob around him has left so much to be desired.
Shoot-first combo guard Austin Rivers owns a career .391/.324/.624 shooting slash and three times as many field-goal attempts (6.6) as assists (2.2). Stretch 7-footer Spencer Hawes is shooting a career-worst 43 percent from the field and only 32.7 percent from deep. The Clippers have been 15.7 points per 100 possessions worse offensively with Glen Davis on the floor. Veterans Hedo Turkoglu and Ekpe Udoh and rookie C.J. Wilcox have struggled to hold permanent rotation spots.
Any of these positions could be improved, but one might stand above the others in others in terms of importance.
"The Clippers are in need of depth at power forward after Blake Griffin had surgery last week to remove a staph infection from his right elbow," wrote Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. "Griffin is expected to miss at least another two weeks."
Ideally, the Clippers can find a player capable of playing at both the 4 and the 5. Tayshaun Prince, who could fill either forward position, is also reportedly on LA's radar if the Celtics cut him loose, per Comcast SportsNet's A. Sherrod Blakely.
Los Angeles Lakers: Addressing Insufficient Asset Collection
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At 13-40, the Los Angeles Lakers can't fool themselves into thinking there's any way to salvage this season. That means just about everything outside of Kobe Bryant and Julius Randle—and maybe Jordan Clarkson and Ed Davis—should be available to the highest bidder.
The problem is holding a fire sale won't be as easy it sounds, as Mark Medina of the LA Daily News explained:
"The Lakers would love to do anything to improve their roster. But it’s kind of complicated. The Lakers do not have assets. They also do not want to become burdened with players that have multi-year contracts, which would reduce the Lakers’ precious financial flexibility that could enable them to make plenty of moves this summer.
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The Lakers don't have the tools to chase a big fish, and they can't accept any bad money attached to a low-cost prospect. They would probably flip any player outside their core four for draft picks, but who will pay that price for an injured Jordan Hill, an expensive, declining Jeremy Lin or a trigger-happy Nick Young?
Maybe the Lakers get lucky and find a team desperate enough to sacrifice future assets for win-now parts. If that happens, it would be an easy call to make for the Purple and Gold.
Memphis Grizzlies: Tracking Down Missing Second-Unit Size
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The Memphis Grizzlies boast one of the league's most complete starting lineups.
Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are a mountain of frontcourt production, tallying 35.1 points and 20.1 rebounds between them on a nightly basis. Mike Conley is a pesky point guard at the defensive end and a guy more than capable of finding his own shots or creating them for others on the opposite side. Athletic wings Jeff Green and Courtney Lee defend, shoot the long ball and aggressively attack the basket.
But Grizzlies coach David Joerger has had difficulty finding that same rhythm with his reserves. Memphis ranks 20th in bench scoring at 31.9 points per game, via HoopsStats.com, with the second-teamers shooting only 43.3 percent from the field and 27.7 from distance.
The Grizzlies have capable reserves at most spots, but power forward isn't one of them. Jon Leuer is shooting a career-worst 45.1 percent from the field. Rookie Jarnell Stokes hasn't seen action since a two-minute stint Jan. 14. The Grizzlies have taken 10-day gambles on Tyrus Thomas and JaMychal Green, but neither lasted long enough for a second 10-day contract.
Memphis doesn't need to put a great player behind Z-Bo. But right now, it would settle for someone capable of giving the big bruiser a breather.
Miami Heat: Landing a Legitimate Lead Guard
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With the Miami Heat having plummeted from perennial NBA Finals participants to now fighting for their playoff lives, there may seem to be some incentive for holding a fire sale in South Beach.
But with only top-10 protection on the 2015 first-round pick Miami owes the Philadelphia 76ers, the Heat would have a hard time bottoming out the way they'd need to in order to keep the selection. And even that's assuming the hyper-competitive Pat Riley would sign off on such an idea.
Miami seems much more likely to think about the present. And that present looks a lot better than the Heat's 22-30 record would suggest. They have been a world-beater when injuries haven't decimated their ranks. In the 44 minutes that Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Hassan Whiteside have played together, Miami has slaughtered its opponents by 30.7 points per 100 possessions.
Assuming health problems don't keep that core from sharing the floor—and that's a giant assumption—the Heat could be a pesky playoff opponent. But even if Miami can put its injury woes behind it, this team still needs a considerable lift at point guard. Miami's ranks dead last in points (13.3 per game) and 29th in assists (6.5) among NBA point guard platoons, per HoopsStats.com.
The Heat aren't littered with assets, but any at their disposal should be used to rehabilitate a position that grew appreciably more important after LeBron James' offseason departure.
Milwaukee Bucks: Listening to Offers for Vets
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Having already doubled last season's win total, the Milwaukee Bucks are in a unique position approaching Thursday's deadline. They are simultaneously pursuing a playoff spot today while developing talent for tomorrow.
So many critical young players are already in prominent positions that Milwaukee doesn't need to deplete its ranks to get more burn for its prospects. O.J. Mayo is the only player over the age of 23 who's logging more than 24 minutes a night, and even he's only getting 24.6.
The Bucks could opt against disrupting the chemistry they've found with first-year coach Jason Kidd and consider moving forward as is. But they employ a lot of veterans who can't be part of their long-term plans. If they can move any of those players—think Ersan Ilyasova and Zaza Pachulia—for future assets, that's something they'd have to think about.
Again, this isn't a call for action. Standing pat would hardly be a crime. But not keeping their ears open to what the rest of the league might have to offer would qualify as such.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Removing Win-Now Roadblocks, Embracing Youth
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Despite being without a representative at the NBA All-Star Game, it's hard to imagine the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't like what they saw over the weekend.
Of the 233 points scored during Friday's Rising Stars Challenge, 68 were poured in by the four Timberpups selected for the game. MVP Andrew Wiggins dropped in 22, as did Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine. Gorgui Dieng and Shabazz Muhammad combined for 24 on 10-of-16 shooting.
The future is packed with promise in the Gopher State, and it's time for the Timberwolves to go all-in on their youth movement. Trading veteran Mo Williams was a start, but they have to see what they could get back for the likes of Kevin Martin, Nikola Pekovic, Thaddeus Young and Chase Budinger.
The focus here wouldn't be solely on the pieces headed back to Minnesota, though any team with this much young talent should be hunting for picks and prospects. But the bigger benefit could be the minutes freed up for the young guys already in place, the group that made Minnesota one of All-Star Weekend's most unlikely winners.
New Orleans Pelicans: Swiping an Adequate Small Forward
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The New Orleans Pelicans are tying to build something of substance around rising superstar Anthony Davis. They have spent like a championship contender, despite sitting 1.5 games out of the Western Conference playoff picture.
Those efforts have netted New Orleans some intriguing players, but none have addressed the glaring void on this team's perimeter. Breaking up the ball-dominant trio of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans means the Pelicans need another player to grab the reins of their small forward spot.
That hasn't happened.
Luke Babbit is a three-point specialist and nothing more. Dante Cunningham is a power forward by trade, lacking the shooting range to keep defenders honest on the perimeter. Veteran John Salmons hasn't had an average player efficiency rating since 2008-09. Quincy Pondexter has always done his best work as an energetic reserve.
The Pelicans would be a terrific landing spot for Wilson Chandler, but they may not have the pieces to get him. Grantland's Zach Lowe reported New Orleans won't deal Ryan Anderson for "some run-of-the-mill wing player," and the Pellies already owe a first-round pick to the Rockets.
New York Knicks: Cutting Ties with Costly Players
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There is no margin of error for the New York Knicks. Not with their present and future both tied to 30-year-old Carmelo Anthony, whose sore left knee could require surgical attention sooner rather than later.
The Knicks aren't rebuilding with Anthony, they're hoping to reload around him. That's going to require not only chasing the right free agents this summer, but convincing those players to join a team that has lost 81.1 percent of its games this season.
But money talks loudly in free-agent negotiations, and it could carry a louder volume in a place as storied as the Big Apple.
So the Knicks must find a way to maximize their spending money. A lot of dead weight will shed itself—Stoudemire has already been bought out, Andrea Bargnani's $12 million salary is set to expire at season's end—but the Knicks need to look for ways to gain even more financial flexibility.
Point guards Jose Calderon, who's set to collect $15.1 million over the next two seasons, and Pablo Prigioni, owed $1.7 million for 2015-16, are both on the trade block, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone. Even if neither player brought more than salary relief, the Knicks would have to pull the trigger on those deals.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Strengthening Perimeter Defense
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The Oklahoma City Thunder seem focused on improving their interior offense. The Thunder have been linked to Brooklyn center Brook Lopez for a while, per ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, and that interest remains strong, according to Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy.
That being said, a plodding 7-footer would be a curious addition to a team built to overwhelm with speed and athleticism. Maybe the Thunder feel a change is needed, but from the outside, it seems OKC would be better off strengthening the things it already does best.
The Thunder may want to focus on their perimeter, where few players outside of superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook make an impact on both sides of the ball. Oklahoma City has guys who can score (Dion Waiters, Jeremy Lamb), shoot (Anthony Morrow) and defend (Andre Roberson) but no complementary wings who help on both ends.
That's perhaps why the Thunder have a "strong interest" in dealing for Afflalo, as a source told Sheridan Hoops' Michael Scotto. Afflalo could be a perfect fit as a third or fourth scorer in OKC, and his two-way play would give the Thunder something they currently lack.
Orlando Magic: Expanding Future Talent Base by Moving Fading Prospects
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The Orlando Magic haven't climbed the standings how they would have liked this season, but they have hinted at better days lying ahead. Nikola Vucevic played his way into All-Star consideration, while Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton both cemented themselves as long-term fits for the franchise.
But not all of Orlando's young pieces have fit so neatly together. The deadline will give the Magic the chance to turn some of their fading prospects into tools for acquiring new ones.
"You can expect Andrew Nicholson, Maurice Harkless and possibly Tobias Harris to be mentioned as trade candidates," wrote Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
To be clear, Harris isn't a declining youngster. In fact, the 22-year-old has never played better. But his name surfaces as an option here because of the fact that he's slated to hit restricted free agency this summer. And if Orlando is worried about him walking away for nothing on an overpriced offer sheet, it could consider controlling his exit and dealing him for something in return.
As for Nicholson and Harkless, the dimming prospect label fits a little too well. Both have fallen further out of Orlando's plans, with Nicholson last suiting up Jan. 10, and Harkless sitting out more games (29) than he's played (27).
None of these players would figure to fetch a high price, but if the Magic don't plan on keeping them around, they should look to get whatever they can for them now.
Philadelphia 76ers: Keep Grabbing Lottery Tickets to Find Missing Star
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The Philadelphia 76ers have been hoarding draft picks at an almost comical rate. The Sixers could receive one extra first-round selection and four additional second-round picks this summer alone. And that would barely put a dent in their supply of future draft assets.
That doesn't mean, however, that Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie is even close to being done dealing. As Bob Ford of The Inquirer explained, the executive might take a two-pronged approach to what could be a busy deadline for the Sixers:
"First, he has plenty of salary-cap room available with which to lure trade partners looking to divest themselves of cap-clogging contracts in exchange for draft picks, cash, cheap prospects, or some combination of those. Secondly, he might consider his team's 12-41 record as a bit more of an overachievement than he desired in Year 2 of the lottery tankathon. If so, that means he will try to remove some of those offending overachievers from the equation.
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It's tough to say anyone on this roster is guaranteed to stick around. Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid seem the likeliest keepers, but even they might have price tags on their heads.
Unless Embiid sprints out of the gate upon his return from injury, the Sixers don't have an obvious star on their roster. History says it takes at least one to field a strong team—and typically two or more to make a championship run—so until the Sixers have their guy(s), they'll continue throwing that deals at the wall and seeing if any can stick.
Phoenix Suns: Fixing Point Guard Problem
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Who knew how prophetic this seemingly playful media day portrait would be? Some four-plus months later, the Suns seem to be encountering the very real problem that there might not be enough touches to go around for their three point guards.
Dragic, the tallest of the three, seems to be having the toughest transition. Last season's Most Improved Player and an All-NBA third-team selection, he's seen substantial declines in points (16.2, down from 20.3), assists (4.1, 5.9) and usage percentage (21.5, 24.5).
The Dragon "has become increasingly disenchanted" with his role in this offense, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, and league sources feel that trading Thomas is a necessary step to keep Dragic. The Suns could also decide to deal the latter, but sources said that option is "extremely unlikely."
Suns general manager Ryan McDonough previously admitted that the Suns might need to correct their lopsided roster.
"I think our roster balance is a little off...," McDonough told Burns and Gambo of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. "We are a little too backcourt heavy. ... So I think at some point we'll need to balance that out, try to get a little more size, a little more frontcourt scoring and rebounding."
It's anyone's guess where that might lead the Suns. But finding size—and, more importantly, creating a bigger role for Dragic—should dictate the direction of Phoenix's next move.
Portland Trail Blazers: Adding Depth, Insurance at Small Forward
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On the surface, the Portland Trail Blazers face the same problem that last season's team had: a lack of depth—or at least a lack of reserves that head coach Terry Stotts trusts. It's fitting, then, that Portland entered the All-Star break with the same 36-17 record it carried into last year's hiatus.
But this season's group has dealt with a bigger, more pressing problem that no one saw coming. Steady Swiss army knife Nicolas Batum hasn't looked remotely close to his typical self. He's lost nine points off last season's field-goal percentage (37.5 from 46.5) and nearly another nine from his three-point success rate (27.2, 36.1).
Batum has battled wrist and knee injuries, so it's not as if his struggles are impossible to explain. But that doesn't make them any less threatening to what Portland is out to accomplish.
So the Blazers could confront both Batum's woes and their lack of depth at the deadline. They might even address both areas in the same transaction.
"Denver's Wilson Chandler is on the radar," wrote Comcast SportsNet's Jabari Young, "and the Blazers will not hesitate to send some combination of Thomas Robinson’s $3.6 million expiring deal with another player and a first-round draft pick to the Nuggets for the Chandler."
Portland isn't the only team with an eye on Chandler, but it could be most in need of what he brings. We'll see if that pushes the Blazers ahead of a crowded pack of suitors.
Sacramento Kings: Getting Boogie Some Help
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The Sacramento Kings have a soaring star in DeMarcus Cousins, a prolific wing scorer in Rudy Gay and...not a heck of a lot else worth mentioning. Darren Collison has had a decent season, Ben McLemore looks a lot better than he did as a rookie—though he set the bar painfully low—but Cousins and, to a lesser extent, Gay are Sacramento's keys to turning things around.
This deadline has to be used to make Cousins' life easier. He leads the team in points (23.8 per game), boards (12.5) and blocks (1.7). He ranks second in steals (1.4) and third in assists (3.3).
At some point, the big man needs to breathe. And that means the Kings have to find him more help, whether improving the players around him or upgrading the ranks behind him.
They have a few movable pieces to take to the trade block. Rookie Nik Stauskas has reportedly been made available for "either a stretch 4 or above-the-rim defender," sources told CBS Sports' Ken Berger. The camp for Jason Thompson, who's spent more time in Sacramento than any player on the roster, would welcome a change of scenery, a source told Spears.
No one will break down the door for a rookie who hasn't made his mark or a veteran who has declined everywhere but his salary. But if the Kings can use either to start a conversation, they can add any of their expendable players (see: everyone not named Cousins) to a deal that gets Boogie some badly needed assistance.
San Antonio Spurs: Filling a Hole with Another Team's Trash
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The San Antonio Spurs are the NBA's biggest thieves. They constantly see value in areas other teams can't, transforming recycled goods into more powerful entities than they were before.
Their scrapheap pulls in recent years included the likes of Danny Green and Boris Diaw. They turned the above-average George Hill into the potentially elite Kawhi Leonard. Their keen eye for talent is reflected in the wizardry they've worked on draft night, grabbing Manu Ginobili with the 57th pick in 1999 and Tony Parker at No. 28 two years later.
Inevitably, a player will be undervalued by his current club, lured to the Alamo City and rebranded there as a pivotal piece.
It's probably easier—and certainly less disruptive—to pull this off by waiting for the buyout market to grow as opposed to orchestrating a trade. League sources told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck that Bargagni, Bass, Prince, Thornton, Andrei Kirilenko, Willie Green, Randy Foye and Darrell Arthur are all possible buyout candidates.
None of those names are inherently exciting. But watch what happens should any of them find their way to San Antonio.
Toronto Raptors: Bulking Up on the Interior
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The Toronto Raptors have one of the NBA's most efficient offensive attacks. But their overly generous defense (18th in efficiency) could prevent them from enjoying a longer playoff run than they had last season.
History doesn't buy the cliche that defense wins championships. Rather, it points to a need for two-way balance. That means even an offense as potent as this needs a very good complement at the opposite end.
The Raptors have struggled to strike that stability all season, but when they've found it, their ceiling has soared to sights unseen from the ground floor. Toronto is a remarkable 20-3 when it holds teams under the century mark. That record falls to 16-14 when the opposition hits the century mark.
Fixing that problem won't be easy—almost every team wants more defense at this time of year—but the Raptors are reportedly considering some intriguing solutions.
"The Raptors are one of several teams sniffing around for a roster upgrade, specifically at the power forward spot," wrote Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler. "A few names continue to surface around league sources when talking about Toronto, the biggest being Indiana’s David West, the next is Chicago’s Taj Gibson, then Denver’s Kenneth Faried."
The Pacers cutting ties with West is hard to see, and the idea of the Bulls moving Gibson is even harder to imagine. But maybe the Raptors could find some traction on a deal for Faried, whose high-motor and aerial play could help Toronto stop the bleeding on the defensive end.
Utah Jazz: Grabbing a Three-Point Gunner
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The rebuilding Utah Jazz aren't at the point of measuring progress by wins and losses. Right now, the focus is on seeing how these players fit and identifying areas where improvements must be made.
Shooting should be at the top of Utah's list, as the Jazz have struggled finding any consistency in that department among their young players.
Outside of Gordon Hayward and the injured Alec Burks, there hasn't been much floor spacing to be found. Trey Burke, Dante Exum and Rodney Hood have had trouble hitting from all over the floor. Burke leads the young trio in both field-goal and three-point shooting, despite converting only 36.7 percent of the former and 31.6 percent of the latter.
Regardless what Utah decides to do with Enes Kanter, keeping the paint free from congestion is going to be a major concern going forward. Whether the guards are driving to the rim or Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert are finishing plays above it, this offense will center its attack around the basket.
The Jazz must identify ways to pull defenders away from it. If they could somehow enter the bidding for Stauskas, the three-point cannon he flashed at Michigan could be a critical piece of Utah's future.
Washington Wizards: Giving John Wall Better Spacing and a Backup
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The Washington Wizards could have a busy trade deadline even though they're sitting fourth in the East. They defend at a championship level (fifth in efficiency), but their 14th-ranked offense could prevent them from joining the NBA's elite class.
They're reportedly searching for help in two areas, both of which should help simplify things for All-Star point guard John Wall. Washington, according to Spears, would like to find "a speedy backup point guard...and a shooter."
Father Time appears to be finally catching up with 38-year-old reserve Andre Miller, who was never confused with a track star during his prime. The Wizards have assembled an athletic core around Wall, but a lot of those gifts go unused when he's not on the floor.
Washington is one of the NBA's most accurate three-point shooting teams, sitting fourth overall with a 37.4 percentage. But it only attempts 16.2 such shots per game, which is the fourth-fewest in the league.
Adding a high-volume shooter with Wall and Bradley Beal could give the guards wider driving lanes and Washington's bigs more room to operate in the post. The Wizards need to be careful to not rock the boat too much, but a low-cost speedster at point or sniper on the wing could make a major impact.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
