NBA Trade Rumors: The Ideal Trade Deadline Scenario for All 30 NBA Teams
Carmelo Anthony may be on the move soon. That's right, all the NBA player movement and speculation of the summer of 2010 was not enough for me.
LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and several others changed teams this past offseason, but I still expect more big names to be moving around prior to this February's trade deadline.
Several teams still have holes they need to fill in their lineups, and there will be plenty of moves leading up to February.
Here are some trades that each and every NBA team may be able to pull off...
Chicago Bulls
1 of 31
What They Need: Elite Wing
Ideal Scenario: Carmelo Anthony for Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and James Johnson
It is not as though rumors about Melo joining the Bulls have just emerged. This possibility has been thrown around ever since we learned the superstar may want a change of scenery.
The Nuggets have insisted on getting Joakim Noah back in any deal for Melo, but the Bulls don't want to give up their young center.
The closer we get to the trade deadline, the more desperate teams will become. Gibson and Deng are actually a pretty decent value for Anthony and they may not get many offers that are better.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2 of 31
What They Need: Someone to take bad contracts off their hands
Ideal Scenario: Caron Butler and Alexis Ajinca for Antawn Jamison
The Cavaliers are looking to rebuild from scratch in this post-LeBron era, and it is unlikely Jamison will be a part of their future.
Caron Butler has an expiring contract, so Cleveland won't be on the hook with him after this year.
Jamison could provide more scoring and rebounding for the Mavericks, two things they can use.
Detroit Pistons
3 of 31
What They Need: Someone to take bad contracts off of their hands
Ideal Scenario: Andrei Kirilenko and C.J. Miles for Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince
The Pistons desperately need to blow things up and start from scratch. Unloading Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince would go a long way toward getting that done.
MIles and Kirilenko are both on expiring contracts, which would give Detroit a little more freedom in the offseason.
Tayshaun Prince would be a sufficient replacement for Kirilenko's defense and Richard Hamilton would be an upgrade over Raja Bell at shooting guard for Utah.
Indiana Pacers
4 of 31
What They Need: Frontcourt help
Ideal Scenario: Jason Thompson for Josh McRoberts and Dahntay Jones
Jason Thompson's numbers aren't great this year. However, he's proven in the past that he can be productive.
Milwaukee Bucks
5 of 31
What They Need: A backup point guard
Ideal Scenario: Baron Davis and Rasual Butler for Michael Redd
The Bucks are not playing as well as many expected. Backup point guard Luke Ridnour was an important part of Milwaukee's success last year but he's gone and no one has filled his shoes.
Baron Davis could be the solution to this problem. Los Angeles may take whatever decent opportunity they can to get Baron off their hands, and Michael Redd's expiring contract is fairly low-risk considering they don't have to re-sign him.
Boston Celtics
6 of 31
What They Need: Not much
Ideal Scenario: Honestly, they don't really need anything. This will be the only team on the slideshow for which I will use this cop-out. Their roster is pretty set.
If you can think of a logical trade involving the Celtics, do tell.
New Jersey Nets
7 of 31
What They Need: Elite Wing
Ideal Scenario: Carmelo Anthony for Derek Favors, Damion James and Troy Murphy
Apparently, Melo was pretty close to becoming a Net prior to the season, but the deal stalled. Many feel New Jersey is unwilling to part with promising rookie Derek Favors, but Carmelo is well worth it.
New York Knicks
8 of 31
What They Need: Elite Wing
Ideal Scenario: Carmelo Anthony for Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields and Eddy Curry
Considering the way Landry Fields has started his career, this deal features a great return for the Nuggets.
A "big three" of Raymond Felton, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire might even be a little better than a certain other East Coast trio.
Philadelphia 76ers
9 of 31
What They Need: Someone to take some bad contracts off their hands
Ideal Scenario: Vince Carter, Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat for Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala and Spencer Hawes
The players Philly would get back in this deal are not on expiring contracts, but they're all solid and on the hook for less time than the players they'd be shipping out.
Toronto Raptors
10 of 31
What They Need: Toughness inside
Ideal Scenario: Marcin Gortat for Leandro Barbosa
The Raptors just lost their enforcer and best rebounder in Reggie Evans. They need some size inside to make up for his loss. Plus, they have decent wings and can afford to give up Barbosa.
Atlanta Hawks
11 of 31
What They Need: Decent value for expiring contract
Ideal Scenario: Andre Iguodala for Jamal Crawford
Rumors about Atlanta wanting to ship Crawford and his expiring contract out have been whirling around for months.
Philadelphia may take it on for some financial relief, and Iguodala could fit well with the other young, athletic Hawks.
Charlotte Bobcats
12 of 31
What They Need: Overhaul
Ideal Scenario: Carmelo Anthony and Nene for Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson, Nazr Mohammed and Boris Diaw
Melo has an endorsement deal with Jordan. Maybe he'd like to play for him?
Miami Heat
13 of 31
What They Need: A new coach...or a center or point guard
Ideal Situation: Jordan Hill for Joel Anthony and draft pick
Joel Anthony was supposed to be the anchor of what was supposed to be this incredible defense. Rewind!
Orlando Magic
14 of 31
What They Need: More firepower
Ideal Scenario: Gilbert Arenas for Vince Carter
J.J. Redick plays much better when he starts in place of Carter. Jameer Nelson could move to the bench and lead what would likely become on of the league's best bench units.
Washington Wizards
15 of 31
What They Need: To finish the overhaul
Ideal Scenario: Jamal Crawford, Maurice Evans and Jeff Teague for Gilbert Arenas
The Wizards would definitely go for this since Crawford, Evans and Teague are all on expiring contracts.
Arenas would turn back the clock a few years at the point guard position for Atlanta.
Golden State Warriors
16 of 31
What They Need: Defense
Ideal Scenario: Rudy Fernandez, Greg Oden, Andre Miller and Joel Przybilla for Monta Ellis and Dan Gadzuric
I don't really buy them anymore, but there are still some rumblings that Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry can't coexist.
With Miller on the roster, Curry could move to shooting guard. Plus, if the Oden gamble paid off, it would look like a stroke of genius.
Moving to point guard would be less difficult for Ellis in Portland than it was for him in Golden State because Brandon Roy is a good playmaker at shooting guard.
Los Angeles Clippers
17 of 31
What They Need: Someone to take bad contracts off their hands
Ideal Scenario: Clippers get Michael Redd, Thaddeus Young and Jason Kapono, the Bucks get Baron Davis, and 76ers get Chris Kaman
Los Angeles has some good young players to build around, but they also have some cumbersome contracts they'd like to get out from under.
Philadelphia needs a center and Milwaukee needs a backup point guard. This trade addresses needs for all three teams.
Los Angeles Lakers
18 of 31
What They Need: Frontcourt depth
Ideal Scenario: Jeff Foster for Sasha Vujacic and draft pick
The Lakers need a lot more depth on the interior. Foster plays solid defense and rebounds very well.
Phoenix Suns
19 of 31
What They Need: To undo a bad trade
Ideal Scenario: Jason Thompson for Hedo Turkoglu
Turkoglu was one of the worst signings of the summer of '09, then he was a part of one of the worst trades of the summer of 2010.
In all likelihood, the Kings would give a flat refusal for this deal, but Hedo still has some fans in the area, so never say never.
Sacramento Kings
20 of 31
What They Need: Legitimate starting point guard
Ideal Situation: Jose Calderon and Leandro Barbosa for Samuel Dalembert and Beno Udrih
Calderon is actually a really good distributor when he has some options to get the ball to. He would take a lot of pressure off Tyreke Evans.
Dallas Mavericks
21 of 31
What They Need: A second scoring option
Dallas desperately needs another elite offensive player to take some pressure off Dirk Nowitzki.
Rodrigue Beaubois is one of the best players Denver could possibly get in return for Melo.
Houston Rockets
22 of 31
What They Need: A center
Ideal Scenario: Chris Kaman for Jordan Hill and Jared Jefferies
Chris Kaman would fit in extremely well in Houston, and Los Angeles may be looking to get out from under his big contract.
Memphis Grizzlies
23 of 31
What They Need: Stability at shooting guard
Ideal Scenario: Monta Ellis for O.J. Mayo, Hasheem Thabeet and Sam Young
Memphis offered something like this to Golden State last year. Don't be surprised if they try to go for it again.
New Orleans Hornets
24 of 31
What They Need: More firepower
Ideal Scenario: J.R. Smith for Willie Green and Marco Belinelli
New Orleans started hot, but their buzz is starting to die down a bit. They need someone who can provide more offense, and Smith can absolutely light it up when he gets consistent minutes.
He and Chris Paul would make for a very exciting backcourt.
San Antonio Spurs
25 of 31
What They Need: Backup small forward
Ideal Scenario: Carlos Delfino for Matt Bonner and a draft pick
The Spurs have been looking for a decent backup for Richard Jefferson since before the season started. They have a few decent players up front around Tim Duncan, so they can afford to let Bonner go.
Delfino is pretty important to the Bucks right now, but Chris Douglas-Roberts just got healthy and Bonner can stretch the floor as well Delfino.
Denver Nuggets
26 of 31
What They Need: Overhaul
Ideal Scenario: Stockpile expiring contracts. Nuggets get T.J. Ford, Andrei Kirilenko, Rodrigue Beaubois, DeShawn Stevenson and Mike Dunleavy, the Mavericks get Carmelo Anthony, the Pacers get Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith, and the Jazz get Caron Butler.
This is a mega-deal that I really hope Denver's management somehow gets a hold of. It would get the Nuggets four expiring contracts, plus bursting-with-potential youngster Rodrigue Beaubois.
It's time to start things over in the Mile-High City.
Minnesota Timberwolves
27 of 31
What They Need: A shooting guard
Ideal Scenario: O.J. Mayo for Corey Brewer, Wayne Ellington and a draft pick
Minnesota has a great forward tandem in Michael Beasley and Kevin Love but they could use some firepower on the perimeter.
O.J. Mayo could fill that role, and Memphis is rumored to be shopping him.
Oklahoma City Thunder
28 of 31
What They Need: A shooting guard
Ideal Scenario: O.J. Mayo for James Harden
There is little stability at shooting guard for Oklahoma City. A straight-up swap could happen if Memphis gets desperate enough to move Mayo.
Portland Trailblazers
29 of 31
What They Need: Healthy bodies
Ideal Scenario: Gilbert Arenas and Yi Jianlian for Andre Miller, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla
The Trailblazers have dealt with an unbelievable amount of injuries over the last two years. Finding someone to take on these injury-prone centers is a task in itself.
Plus, an Arenas-Brandon Roy backcourt could be a lot of fun.
Utah Jazz
30 of 31
What They Need: Stability on the wings
Ideal Scenario: Shane Battier and Jared Jefferies for Andrei Kirilenko
Battier could provide a slight upgrade in perimeter defense, and he's a great veteran leader that would fit perfectly in Jerry Sloan's system.
Your Thoughts?
31 of 31
Let me know what you think.
Are these trades ridiculous? Which ones do you like? Which ones do you hate? Let me know what you think in the comments section.
