NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks and the Biggest Buyers This Season
Well, the day in which players signed to a contract in the previous years are eligible to be traded has come and passed, and now it is time to look forward to the trade deadline and then the playoffs.
There are a handful of teams that could use a key piece or two in order to put them over the top and propel them deep into the playoffs.
There are those teams that are borderline playoff teams and then there are those teams that are a lock for the playoffs and could put themselves in a situation for the conference finals with an extra player.
So, let's take a look at the five teams who are most likely to make a move by the time that the February 24th trade deadline rolls around.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
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Before trading away Sasha Vujacic for veteran forward and more cool-headed Joe Smith, I thought that the Lakers would do what they normally do around this time: stand pat and wait for the playoffs to dominate the competition.
Now, however, with the Vujacic-Smith trade, Los Angeles also got a trade exception worth just north of $5 million, which will last for the next 365 days.
However, they should be hesitant to save it for this offseason because it could become worthless depending upon the new deals of the new collective bargaining agreement, or if a strike turns the offseason into a deadlock, so here we are.
Biggest Needs
Nothing really, but if I were to pick something it would be an improvement on the backup power forward (which Joe Smith may or may not be) or a versatile swing-man.
If they do end up using the exception, they will use it on a guy who won't mess with the chemistry of the team and has an ego the size of an egg at the max.
This swing-man role could be filled by either Antony Parker or Jamario Moon of the Cleveland Cavaliers, both of whom are great shooters (with Moon being a good defender as weel) and will be on the trading block.
If Joe Smith doesn't work out as a reliable backup forward, then New Jersey's Kris Humphries may be the way to go. He's a good defender, reboudner and shot blocker who would fill in well and give one of their starting big men some much needed rest.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Oklahoma City is looking to have another fantastic year this season, and if they want to get better this trade deadline, there are a few pieces that they have to trade.
They have the Thabo Sefolosha/James Harden shooting guard combination, and both of those two are too good to come off the bench, so trading one wouldn't be a big mistake.
The Thunder also have four big almost interchangeable white guys that they would part with for the right price in Nenad Kristic (who probably will remain with the team, but still is not great), Nick Collison, Cole Aldrich and BJ Mullins, all of whom are at least 6'10", meaning they have some trade value.
Biggest Needs
If there is one thing I think the Thunder need, it is a reliable backup big man.
There are a few big guys who are out there on the trade block that could bring both reliability and energy to their team, the main one being Anderson Varejao. He is a quick, hard-working big who can rebound, has a pretty good jump shot and would be a benefit to any contender.
The second would be Joel Przybilla, who just returned from injury in Portland and is a vast improvement on defense over any of their backup centers.
3. Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls are a promising young team, but they learned so far this season that injuries can kill them, and injuries will kill them.
They have very few good tradeable pieces, but they do have draft picks and a few players that they can trade.
Biggest needs
The biggest thing that the Bulls need right now is depth, specifically at the five spot.
Right now, the Bulls have four players backing up Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah, and besides Taj Gibson, they are more or less (channeling Charles Barkley) "turrible."
With Omer Asik and Kurt Thomas as the main alternatives to Noah and Brian Scalabrine behind Gibson at the power forward role, they are seriously lacking good big men.
If they are dumb, they will trade for Eddie Curry's expiring contract, who has been a problem throughout his career, so he is not advisable.
The best option, if Memphis decides to start selling, is Zach Randolph, who is a terrific rebounder and a great defender, or even Charlotte's Nazr Mohammed, who would be an upgrade over Asik or Thomas.
2. Atlanta Hawks
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The Atlanta Hawks are still trying to cling to their borderline elite status in the Eastern Conference and it is tough to tell in which direction they are moving.
There are a few players that could at least help them for this season and could help them for a few more seasons down the road.
Biggest needs
It seems that the thing the Hawks need most is a legitimate backup point guard and a reliable big man coming off the bench.
One team could help the Hawks tremendously, as if Memphis is selling around the time the trade deadline rolls around, then they should look toward Zach Randolph, who has an expiring contract, and O.J Mayo, who has fallen out of favor in Memphis.
Another contract that could be on the move is that of Samuel Dalembert, who, while he isn't an offensive presence, is a stellar defender.
They could also make a move for Anthony Parker for a guy to stand in the corner and shoot threes when needed. He would also help out with the recent injury to Joe Johnson.
1. New York Knicks
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New York started off slow, with many teams questioning whether they could end up in the playoffs or not.
Now people are wandering how deep they can go.
They are running hot right now, even with their loss to the Celtics Wednesday night, which was impressive on its own accord.
I don't think they have enough firepower to run too deep into the playoffs, however, as they have players playing too many minutes—they need bench help.
Biggest Needs
Like I said above, the thing the Knicks need above anything else, and that includes Carmelo Anthony, is help coming off the bench.
First, let me say that I think the Knicks should not trade for Carmelo this season, as he has already expressed his desire to play there. They should be able to convince him that the best way to win a title in New York is to improve the team through subtle trades this season, sign him in the offseason and go from there.
So, the biggest thing they need first is guard help coming off the bench.
One such player that can fill a guard role for them is Mo Williams, who is a great player so long as he isn't asked to be one of the team's top two options.
Then, there is also Richard Hamilton, who would be easily moved by Detroit for an expiring contract and a draft pick and T.J Ford, who is no longer Indiana's No. 1 point guard option and has an expiring contract.
Another guard who would probably be available and fit in great with New York is O.J Mayo, who has fallen out of favor in Memphis.
