NBA Trade Rumors: Best-Case Trade Scenario for Each Team
There are roughly 48 more days until the NBA trade deadline. This means there's a lot of time for teams to think of a plan of attack and, by then, teams will know whether they're ready to make a playoff run—or go into rebuilding mode.
Whether a team is trying to re-establish its identity or whether a team feels like it needs that one key player to win an NBA championship, the trade rumor wire will continue to spark as the deadline approaches.
What trades are the best-case scenarios for each of the 30 NBA teams for this season and, hopefully, for the next few seasons?
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
The Hawks are starting to fall behind in the East and need an extra weapon to get back up.
The big name flying around for the Hawks is Suns' point guard Steve Nash.
The Hawks need a point man who can be a leader for the team—and Nash fits that bill perfectly. However, Atlanta has never been a huge destination for anyone and do they have any pieces Phoenix would want?
Odds: 20 percent
I don't think Atlanta would have enough to give up, but maybe they'll find the pieces.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
When the Celtics are healthy, they're one of the top teams in the league, as evident by the top record in the East. This season, however, Boston has been suffering through injuries and health concerns.
With Kendrick Perkins still out indefinitely, the only move the Celtics need to make is to bring in a large body or two should something happen to Kevin Garnett or Shaq.
Odds: 40 percent
They could use the depth, but I think Boston likes their team as is.
Charlotte Bobcats
3 of 30
If the Bobcats want a chance at the playoffs, they need to bring in offense. Their offense is nearly last in the league and there are plenty of possibilities out there.
Perhaps the best possibility is Baron Davis, who needs a change of scenery and, more importantly, the Bobcats do seem interested in him. Davis would bring light to the offense.
Odds: 85 percent
If Charlotte continues to improve under Paul Silas, then this will likely happen.
Chicago Bulls
4 of 30
The Bulls are one of the biggest names in trade rumors, as they're third in the league and looking to get better. Namely, they're looking to buffer their shooting guard position and the top name looks to be O.J. Mayo.
Being part of a playoff team should help Mayo with his shooting touch and making Keith Bogans a sixth man would be a good move too.
Odds: 75 percent
The Bulls will make a trade. I'm just not sure if it'll be for O.J. Mayo.
Cleveland Cavaliers
5 of 30
After having a good November, the Cavaliers skeptics expected to see have shown themselves once again, no longer able to win.
As a result, they need to restart themselves by stocking up on draft picks as they get rid of the more expensive contracts. Anderson Varejao and Antawn Jamison have contracts to ship, but J.J. Hickson is also a possibility due to fights with coach Byron Scott.
Odds: 95 percent
The Cavs have always made big deadline deals—expect another one this year.
Dallas Mavericks
6 of 30
The Mavericks are hitting on all cylinders, with their recent struggles being attributed to their loss of Dirk Nowitzki. Once they get Nowitzki back, they'll be fine.
Now that Caron Butler's out for the season though, they seek a small forward. Their best bet is Kevin Martin I think, though Andre Iguodala could be a possibility.
Odds: 95 percent
Kevin Martin would fit in well and Cuban is never afraid to make a move.
Denver Nuggets
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The best case scenario here is obvious: trade Carmelo Anthony for the best offer.
The question is, though, what's the best offer? There's talk of a three-way deal between the Nuggets, Nets and the Cavaliers—which would bring in Al Harrington, among others.
If they can pull it off, it's better than the Nuggets could have hoped for.
Odds: 95 percent
A few pieces may be tweaked, but a Anthony for Devin Harris/Harrington deal makes sense.
Detroit Pistons
8 of 30
At this point, their best trade scenario is to let go of the past and move towards the future. Trying to combine both has failed miserably.
Both Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton have appeared in various rumors, and getting young players and draft picks for one or both could help them rebuild a contender down the line.
Odds: 15 percent
The Pistons seem very reluctant to give up either.
Golden State Warriors
9 of 30
Another obvious one here, as the Warriors' weakness is size and defense.
Andris Biedrins is alright, but they need an improvement if they want to compete in the West and, more importantly, avoid squandering the talent of Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry.
Odds: 50 percent
They're likely to get a piece if they try, but they won't get anyone worthwhile unless they're closer to .500.
Houston Rockets
10 of 30
Yao Ming may have played his last game so, unfortunately, the Rockets may have to pull a fire sale. They won't do that, though, since they still have a .500 record and several good pieces.
This sounds crazy, but the best move to start is to trade Yao. Yes, he can't play, but he can be valuable off the court if a team uses and markets him right.
Plus, the Rockets could bring in a piece that puts them back in the playoff hunt.
Odds: 0 percent
It is a great idea but there's no way the Rockets do it.
Indiana Pacers
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The Pacers are a tough team to figure out as not only are they mired in mediocrity right now, but there's few trade rumors on them. However, they could use a power forward to help out or replace Josh McRoberts at the position.
Perhaps they could bring in Carl Landry from the Sacramento Kings to place there?
Odds: Five percent
I highly doubt they'll make any moves right now.
Los Angeles Clippers
12 of 30
The Clippers should be a team that builds around Blake Griffin, who's blossomed into a star. To do that the Clippers have to decide whether or not to keep Baron Davis.
There has been talk about bringing in Stephen Jackson from the Charlotte Bobcats for Davis and having an Eric Gordon/Griffin/Jackson combo could make the Clippers a force.
Odds: 10 percent
I don't think they'll trade Baron Davis in the end.
Los Angeles Lakers
13 of 30
A Lakers trade becomes more of a possibility as they slowly slide down the rankings in the Western Conference.
There are a lot of rumors floating around, mostly surrounding Andrew Bynum. But if they want to be successful, they need to mesh together what they have and not try to do too much, since that will end up coming back to bite them.
Odds: 70 percent
I think Lakers rumors are just talk, but you never know.
Memphis Grizzlies
14 of 30
Despite everything going on in Memphis, the Grizzlies do have a solid foundation in place. Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph are playing great at the top scoring options, but O.J. Mayo has struggled and he needs to leave Memphis after the latest incident.
Just as long as they get a good sixth man or potential starter, the best-case scenario here is just no Mayo.
Odds: 100 percent
If Mayo's still in Memphis at the All-Star break, I'll be shocked.
Miami Heat
15 of 30
The main problem for Miami going into the season was that the team needed to mesh together. They seem to have done that now and sit in second place in the conference.
Everyone says they need to make another move, but they seem fine as is, and the best move is to do nothing.
Odds: 25 percent
They probably have something up their sleeve, but I'm not sure what.
Milwaukee Bucks
16 of 30
The Milwaukee Bucks were either really overrated at the start of this season or are now really underachieving, depending on who you ask. Either way, they need to make a move.
They could use a small forward and while Gerald Wallace's name has popped up in trade rumors, Stephen Jackson would be a much better addition at that spot, as Mbah a Moute is a defensive specialist at small forward.
Odds: Five percent
The Bucks will do something, but it won't be acquiring Jackson.
Minnesota Timberwolves
17 of 30
The Timberwolves stink right now. Kevin Love and Michael Beasley make for a great core, but anyone else is expendable if they want to compete.
The biggest trade rumor for them is also O.J. Mayo and given that they don't have a very productive guard right now, it could work out great.
Odds: 10 percent
Mayo will be traded, but to Minnesota? Highly unlikely.
New Jersey Nets
18 of 30
The Nets best-case scenario is acquiring Carmelo Anthony. However, they would have to make sure he's signed to the Nets long-term before pulling off a deal and, more importantly, that they don't give up too much.
Giving up Devin Harris et al. is quite a bit, but that's what they may have to do.
Odds: 50 percent
Between the Knicks and Nets still I think.
New Orleans Hornets
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I don't actually know if they can make any moves even if they wanted to, since the Hornets are being owned by the NBA.
They are playing pretty well right now, but a move to strengthen the bench and to get rid of Aaron Gray would do wonders for the team.
Odds: Five percent
Very unlikely they make any more moves.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
I salivate at the thought of a Stoudemire-Felton-Anthony combo.
Odds: 50 percent
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
The Thunder are in a good spot right now, in the top four spots of the West. If they want to catch the Spurs, though, they'll probably need to make a move.
Their best bet is a good big man to bring in off the bench. Since Cole Aldrich and Byron Mullens are not those guys, Anderson Varejao is a possibility, as are a couple others.
Odds: 85 percent
They're going to buy something right before the trade deadline.
Orlando Magic
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The Magic are still lighting up trade rumor boards even though they already made a huge trade.
I think their best shot is to use what they have. They're an entirely different team with this new lineup and are playing very well. They won their last seven games. Why mess the team up with another move?
Odds: 40 percent
You can't count the Magic out of these rumors.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
The move that the 76ers need to make is to trade Andre Iguodala and move on, rebuilding with what they have.
Lots of teams are in the market for a small forward who can play at the two-guard spot, so they could get several good offers.
Odds: 10 percent
They should trade Iguodala, but I don't think they will.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
The Suns are a decent but one-dimensional team. Steve Nash is a hot commodity and would be their best-case scenario if they gain a couple good defenders or rebounders from it.
The Suns are not in the playoff hunt, so best to get what value they can.
Odds: 20 percent
It's possible, but unlikely, that Nash will leave Phoenix.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 30
The Portland Trail Blazers are a tough one. They're around .500 right now, but with Brandon Roy out, they could easily fall out of the playoff picture.
If they want to push on ahead even without Roy, Nicholas Batum is a player who could bring in a couple guys that will help Portland down the stretch. Unfortunately, there's not really a best-case scenario for the the Blazers.
Odds: Five percent
I don't see them making any moves, though they probably should.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
The Kings have two options: They can either take what they can get now for the talent that's wanted or they can start over and go fire sale. The former is, of course, the best move, as there are teams interested in Omri Casspi and Carl Landry.
Trading Landry for some pieces or draft picks should help the Kings down the road. But with Casspi in particular, the Kings could get a good deal if the market is right.
Odds: 100 percent on Landry; 75 percent on Casspi
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
The best move is no move, plain and simple. They have the best overall record for a reason.
Odds: 100 percent
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
The Toronto Raptors are playing about as well as one can expect seeing as how they lost Chris Bosh this offseason.
There are rumors about Andrea Bargnani going to the Cavaliers, but I don't really see how a trade between two losing teams would help each other all that much.
The best bet could be trying to acquire draft picks by trading the newly-acquired Peja Stojakovic.
Odds: 20 percent
They just got Stojakovic and I don't think they'd want to part with Bargnani.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Even without Carlos Boozer, the Jazz continue to perform well. The starting five is playing very well together, but there is a question of whether or not they have the depth.
The best-case trade scenario would be to get a big man, but Mehmet Okur should finally be returning soon and that depth will be fixed.
The best move may be no move.
Odds: 90 percent
The Jazz don't seem to be active on the trade market and maybe it's for the best.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
The Wizards already got rid of Gilbert Arenas, now all they have to do is build around John Wall. There are many rumors surrounding a trade of Andray Blatche, but I think the best move might be to keep him.
Blatche provides a lot of offense and could fit in with Wall.
Odds: 25 percent
Washington could still trade Blatche, as he has a lot of suitors and, as a result, it's likely he's gone.
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