NBA 2K11: Letting Trade Finder Fill NBA Team Needs
This year, a lot of teams lost talent over the offseason.
Toronto, Cleveland, the list goes on and on.
Many of them have potential, but they don't know how to reach it.
Others are in a deep hole until they make some changes. These changes can range from trades, free-agent signings, coaching changes or just finding some luck.
Many have players who were given too big of a contract, and some just plain signed the wrong people.
For each of these teams I give suggested trades using NBA 2K11's Trade Finder. 2K11's Trade Finder is a new addition that has made it easier to find trades that make sense and fill needs. It was used for all the teams. Money-wise it's correct and talent-wise it's based on a player's trade value. Players with high potential, skill or a combination of the two have higher values. There are players with skill but low value due to age, potential, etc.
All these factor into determining the trades and creating accurate trades.
Toronto Raptors
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The Toronto Raptors have made many mistakes.
First, they drafted Andrea Bargnani.
Bargnani was a bad pick, considering LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy were both picked in the same draft. Both would be superior to him, as Aldridge does everything Bargnani does but better. He also brings with him a post game and rebounding, two things Andrea does not have at all.
Also, they need to find a real scorer, someone who can score off the dribble, spot up and slash. The closest player they have to that is Leandro Barbosa, who is nothing more than a shadow of his old, Sixth Man of the Year self.
Also, the team has no player who can really set up others, play defense and score.
They also need a real center, one who can rebound, play defense and even get some easy buckets in the paint.
Toronto has to make a lot of changes to even contend for a playoff spot.
Trade Suggestions
Good: Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson for Roy Hibbert and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Good: Andrea Bargnani and Linas Kleiza for Emeka Okafor
Other Trades
Leandro Barbosa and Ed Davis for Jamal Crawford and a first-round pick
Andre Bargnani and a second-round pick for Andris Biedrins and a first-round pick
Los Angeles Clippers
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Ah, the Clippers.
What can we blame their disappointment year in and year out on? Can it be their injuries? How about horrible draft choices? Maybe it's just the unluckiness of playing in the same town as the Lakers.
Whatever it is, the Clippers are a sad franchise.
Much of their fanbase is only consists of people who like underdogs.
Half their attendance at every game is there just to see the other team play.
The Clippers need to add a real bench, as their bench goes two deep, and those two are rookies. The other players look lost when their on the court.
Their point guard in Baron Davis just isn't going to cut it, as he is aging and losing determination.
Gordon and Griffin are the only bright spots of the team, which features a starting lineup of role-players and a bench made of benchwarmers and prospects who see little playing time.
They also have a horrible coach, and no matter how much the Clippers organization tells me that Del Negro won them over with his plans to turn the team around, they will go nowhere with him at the reins.
They fail at making the playoffs every year, and they don't do well with the high lottery picks they have almost every year.
The Clippers need change, and fast.
Trade Suggestions
Best: Baron Davis and a first-round pick for Devin Harris and Anthony Morrow
Good: Chris Kaman and Al-Farouq Aminu for J.R. Smith and Nene
Other Trades
Al-Farouq Aminu and a first-round pick for Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson
MInnesota Timberwolves
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Let's just say this, Minnesota has a lot of work to do.
But hey, I'll cut them some slack, they have a couple wins already.
First and foremost, they need to get rid of at least two point guards on the team. They can use the number of point guards they have to acquire a real center, as Milicic isn't going to produce, no matter how high he was picked in the draft.
They also need to play Kevin Love more. I mean, c'mon, the guy has talent and can play. He can also do something no one else on the team can do—rebound. In the loss to LA, he had over 20 points and 20 rebounds, with 11 offensive.
Minnesota needs to also work on forming a stronger bench.
Here are my suggestions for Minnesota's lineup when Johnny Flynn comes back:
Starting Lineup: Flynn (PG), Brewer/Johnson (SG), Beasley (SF), Love (PF), Milicic (C, unfortunately)
Bench: Brewer/Johnson (sixth man); Webster, Ridnour, Tolliver, Telfair (role players)
Trade Suggestions
Best: Jonny Flynn and Corey Brewer for Roy Hibbert and T.J. Ford
Good: Michael Beasley and Luke Ridnour for David Lee and Ekpe Udoh
Philidelphia 76ers
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They take Evan Turner with the second overall pick and play him off the bench.
That itself calls for change.
It's clear Iguodala needs to go, and just about everyone sees it. Problem is the giant contract that was he was given.
Here's an idea, trade Gilbert Arenas for Iguodala. This way, Wall plays with someone who doesn't need to dominate the ball, and Turner can play next to someone who doesn't have his same playing style and tendencies.
Second, Philadelphia needs to bring in a real center. Hawes has a game suited for a power forward. Next, they need to get rid of Elton Brand. The guy is too old and is too plagued by injuries to contribute anymore.
Philadelphia has a long way to go, but they can make it with some changes.
Trade Suggestions
Best Trade: Andre Iguodala and a second-round pick for J.J. Hickson and Mo Williams
Good Trade: Andre Iguodala for Emeka Okafor
Houston Rockets
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Well, Houston is a team stacked with talent. Problem is that their best player is never healthy.
Houston really needs to look at moving Yao, as him playing limited minutes is not going to help the team. If they can find the right buyers, they can make a trade to bring in a center and maybe another player to boost the bench, or they can play small ball and trade for more forwards/guards and move Scola to the C or start Chuck Hayes.
Last year, Houston proved they can play small ball, and if they had Kevin Martin from the beginning, they would probably have been a playoff team last year.
Houston's only real problem is Yao. Even though he is extremely talented, he is pulling his team down and the rest are carrying dead weight.
Trade Suggestions
Best Trade: Yao Ming and Kyle Lowry for Andrew Bogut and John Salmons
Good Trade: Yao Ming and Chase Budinger for Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson
Detroit Pistons
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Let me just say this, if the Pistons drafted normally in 2004 they would be the best team in the league for years until Wade would have decided to go to Miami.
First off, they need to get rid of Ben Gordon and Charlie.
They are talented, but their contracts are WAY too big.
This is keeping them from acquiring players through trades and free agency.
Second, they need to find a new center. Wallace would be amazing, if it was back in the good old days. Sadly, those were at least four years ago.
Detroit could really look to possibly look for a new center (see the Houston Rockets slide) and could send some guards, which they're stacked with, in the deal.
I don't know about the numbers, but it would make sense talent-wise. Maybe Hamilton or Prince and Wallace for Yao. Maybe even either Charlie or Gordon and some other player like Austin Daye for Yao. Sky's the limit when it comes to trading (Ray Allen and Garnett to Celtics).
Trade Suggestions
Best Trade: Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva for Zach Randolph and Tony Allen
Good Trade: Ben Gordon for Luol Deng
Washington Wizards
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The Wizards acquired their player of the future. All they need to do is build around him.
The Wizards need to get rid of Gilbert Arenas, plain and simple.
The rest is really all a game of development. Will Andray Blatche develop? Will JaVale McGee develop?
We're just going to have to wait and see.
Trade Suggestions
Best Trade: Arenas and Trevor Booker for Chris Kaman and Randy Foye
Good Trade: Arenas and McGee for Andre Iguodala and Andres Nocioni
Suggestions and Feeback
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Please leave feedback and suggestions. Keep in mind that these trades were from 2K11's Trade Finder while you leave feedback.
I am also taking suggestions for my next article and how I should write it.
I used the Trade Finder as a breath of fresh air to bring a new way of finding things to write about, and thought of it due to my need to find good trades that would match a team's need. If you like it, I can keep using this method for future articles about a specific player or team.
Hope you enjoyed!
