NBA Trade Rumors: Best-Case Trade Scenario for Each Team
NBA trade rumors continue to swirl with only a few short weeks before the trade deadline.
There are a number of trade chips out there that teams would love to get their hands on. However, there are plenty of teams that don't need to make any moves.
For every team out there, what is the best-case trade scenario if they were able to push a trade through to improve the team?
Atlanta Hawks
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The Atlanta Hawks have needed a point guard for years now. They screwed up royally when they drafted Marvin Williams ahead of Deron Williams and Chris Paul, and they've been paying for it ever since.
There are two potential point guards that may become available in the near future if either of them already aren't on the trade market: Steve Nash and Chauncey Billups.
Nash obviously elevates their level of play to a much higher plateau, but Billups may actually be a better fit.
Either way, the team needs a true point guard if they want to compete against the Eastern Conference powerhouse teams.
Boston Celtics
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There really are no trade scenarios I can envision for the Boston Celtics. Sure, you could throw out a LeBron James to the Celtics trade, but that's not even remotely feasible.
The Celtics are deep and they have strong chemistry. Making moves at this point in the season could fracture some of that.
Charlotte Bobcats
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The Charlotte Bobcats need to make a number of moves, but trading Stephen Jackson may end up being the most important. He eats heavily into their cap space and he's not exactly a role model.
The Bobcats need to overhaul their roster and Jackson should be the first to go.
If not Jackson, the Bobcats should focus on opening up one of their frontcourt positions to free up some playing time for Tyrus Thomas.
Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls need an upgrade at shooting guard and there are a few out there that could be available.
O.J. Mayo stands out the most, and his time in Memphis appears to be shrinking by the day.
He provides long-range shooting, which is a pivotal trait when playing alongside Derrick Rose, one of the best slashers in the NBA.
He also has some playmaking abilities of his own, making him a good second option to handle the ball.
Cleveland Cavaliers
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I'm not even sure where to begin with the Cleveland Cavaliers. There are so many holes on the roster that it would take several trades to make the team even competitive.
Trading away Antawn Jamison should probably be the first move the Cavaliers need to make. He makes a substantial amount of money and trading him away frees up a lot of cap space.
After they rid themselves of Jamison, they will have some wiggle room to start rebuilding.
Dallas Mavericks
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Caron Butler's season-ending injury was a tough loss for the Dallas Mavericks.
While the team can still compete in the Western Conference, their title hopes were pushed further out of reach with the injury.
Of course, Mark Cuban would love to land Carmelo Anthony as a one-year rental, but that doesn't seem like a plausible scenario at this juncture.
The Charlotte Bobcats' Stephen Jackson may be the solution to their woes.
He provides defense, playmaking abilities and he can shoot from long range. He won't come cheap, but the Mavericks are built to win now. Jackson could very well be the piece to their championship puzzle.
Denver Nuggets
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The Denver Nuggets have the best-case scenario already in the works with the New Jersey Nets, but it will fall on Carmelo Anthony's shoulders to sign off on an extension to push the deal through.
If the Nuggets can also somehow find a taker for Al Harrington and the remaining years on his contract, the Nuggets couldn't ask—well, aside from Anthony signing an extension in Denver—for more.
Detroit Pistons
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Detroit is in the same boat as the Denver Nuggets. The Pistons have a deal in place that would rid themselves of Richard Hamilton and his crippling contract, but they are waiting on Carmelo Anthony to make a move.
Ideally, they also wouldn't have to take on Al Harrington in the trade.
Golden State Warriors
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The Golden State Warriors need a capable center to man the middle.
Andris Biedrins is making $9 million annually over the next four seasons and he has been largely ineffective.
The Golden State Warriors need to bolster their defense and Biedrins is far from being an imposing force in the low post.
If the Warriors could somehow land Marcus Camby—a versatile center who is capable of playing in an uptempo offense—their defense would improve dramatically and they could possibly even make a playoff push.
Houston Rockets
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The Houston Rockets have been looking for a superstar to inject some life back into their franchise and they've made it no secret that they covet Carmelo Anthony.
It wouldn't be an immediate fix, but I trust Daryl Morey would be able to surround Anthony with the pieces to compete for a championship in no time.
Indiana Pacers
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It's odd to ever envision Zach Randolph as the best-case trade scenario for any team, but he helps to answer a lot of problems for the team.
First and foremost, he gives them a true power forward.
Randolph adds a consistent, interior scorer to the team and he's a great rebounder.
He may not be a long-term solution, but with an expiring contract—and a plethora of their own expiring contracts—they can use Randolph to get themselves into the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
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The idyllic scenario would involve the Los Angeles Clippers getting rid of Baron Davis and Chris Kaman.
They have a strong core of young players that could develop into a powerhouse in the west with enough time to develop.
If Donald Sterling can keep his nose out of basketball operations, they will be in good shape.
Los Angeles Lakers
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The Los Angeles Lakers should be getting rid of Ron Artest.
He has a volatile temper, he doesn't provide any consistent offense and he's no longer an elite defender.
If the Lakers somehow managed to grab Andre Iguodala while getting rid of Artest, they would be the scariest team in the NBA.
Iguodala is a perfect in the Lakers triangle offense and he's one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA.
Memphis Grizzlies
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O.J. Mayo has seen his role reduced and his future in Memphis is cloudy. He has become a distraction with his recent fight with teammate Tony Allen and the time has come to part ways.
Mayo is a valuable trade chip and the Grizzlies would be wise to move him now.
A trade that might work out mutually in favor of the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets would be to trade Marcus Thornton and some draft picks from Mayo.
Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat are playing exceptionally well and they do have a stacked roster, but it can still be improved.
Ideally, I believe that trading Chris Bosh for a tough power forward and a full-time defensive center would make them favorites to win it all..
The team's defense is great, but their interior presence is seriously lacking. That weakness will be exposed in the playoffs when they have to match up against the Boston Celtics frontcourt and/or Dwight Howard.
Milwaukee Bucks
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The Milwaukee Bucks need to trade Michael Redd's expiring contract and find anyone that can inject some life into their team.
Pairing Zach Randolph with Andrew Bogut would make for a formidable frontcourt presence and give them an offensive boost.
Minnesota Timberwolves
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O.J. Mayo was on the Minnesota Timberwolves' radar on draft day and they've purportedly made inquiries over his availability.
Mayo would be a huge boost to their backcourt and he gives them an added scorer and ball-handling playmaker.
New Orleans Hornets
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The ideal scenario for Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets would be to pair him up with Carmelo Anthony.
This would quell both stars and they would form a fearsome combination.
The Hornets need a serious upgrade over Trevor Ariza and you don't get much better on the trade market than Anthony.
New Jersey Nets
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The New Jersey Nets already have their best-case trade scenario already on the table.
However, it may never come to fruition if Carmelo Anthony refuses to sign an extension with the team. In the scenario that Anthony actually does sign off on a trade, the ideal trade would not force Al Harrington and Richard Hamilton's long-term contracts on the team.
Even so, the Nets are fine with or without Anthony. They have plenty of draft picks stocked up and some promising, young talent.
New York Knicks
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Landing Carmelo Anthony appears to be the ideal scenario for most Knicks' fans, but I'm in the minority that believe trading for him is not the answer.
Ideally, the Knicks would land Andre Iguodala and Marcus Camby while somehow managing to keep Landry Fields and Wilson Chandler. Oh, and they need to get rid of Eddy Curry and his carcass once and for all.
I realize that this is an unlikely situation, but we can all dream, right?
Oklahoma City Thunder
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The Oklahoma City Thunder need an upgrade at center. Nenad Krstic does not cut it.
If the Hornets could grab Marcus Camby, they would be one scary team to contend with.
If they paired Camby in the middle with Serge Ibaka, you have a block party just waiting to happen every night.
Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic have been on fire since they made those two big trades with Washington and Phoenix.
However, they didn't exactly answer their most pressing need, which was at the point guard position.
Gilbert Arenas is a shoot first, pass second guard. He also happens to have one of the worst contracts in the NBA.
If Orlando somehow managed to land Steve Nash, they would arguably be the best team in the NBA.
The Nash to Howard pick-and-roll would be near impossible to stop. Plus, Nash's lights out shooting abilities make the tandem a nightmare to defend if Howard and him work the two-man game.
Philadelphia 76ers
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If the Philadelphia 76ers front office had their way, I'm sure the priority would be to get rid of Elton Brand.
Brand is making $16 million this season, $17 million the next season and $18 million the season after that.
While Brand has picked up the slack this season, he's not even remotely close to being worth that type of money.
Getting rid of him for an expiring contract would be a Godsend for the 76ers at this point.
Phoenix Suns
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If the Phoenix Suns are that dedicated to keeping Steve Nash, they need to find a pick-and-roll partner for him to replace the loss of Amar'e Stoudemire.
The easy fix would be if Stoudemire were back with the team, but that's not happening.
At first glance, Zach Randolph doesn't seem like an ideal fit, but he may be the low post bruiser they so desperately need.
Portland Trail Blazers
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For the Portland Trail Blazers, I have the ideal trade scenario already mapped out. Trade Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez to the New Jersey Nets for Devin Harris.
This rids the Trail Blazers of malcontent Rudy Fernandez, and it adds a player the team covets in Devin Harris.
Miller doesn't mesh well with Brandon Roy—which would be a moot point of Roy never fully recovers—and Harris is much is a better fit in Portland.
Sacramento Kings
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While Beno Udrih has been playing well, the Sacramento Kings could really use some veteran leadership and that starts at the point guard position.
The ideal candidate to lead this group of youngsters would be Chauncey Billups.
As a scoring guard who happens to be able to masterfully orchestrate an offense, he would mesh well with Tyreke Evans. This way they can share playmaking duties and create for each other when necessary.
San Antonio Spurs
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If I had to improve the San Antonio Spurs, there's only one player that comes to mind: Danny Granger.
Granger is one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the NBA and he's a much better defender than he's given credit for.
If the Spurs were to somehow orchestrate a trade that sent Richard Jefferson in exchange for Granger, the Spurs would be even scarier than they already are.
Toronto Raptors
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If Toronto can find a taker for Jose Calderon and the $28 million left on his contract, it would do wonders for their franchise.
First and foremost, it opens up cap space to sign some quality free agents.
Second, it opens up playing time for Jerryd Bayless. He has immense potential and they would be wise to hand the keys over to him to see what he is capable of.
Utah Jazz
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Getting Wesley Matthews back on the Utah Jazz would give them an instant upgrade.
Jerry Sloan loved Matthews and he was a great fit on the team.
He gives them a steady perimeter scorer and another playmaker that complements Deron Williams quite nicely.
Washington Wizards
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The Washington Wizards got rid of Gilbert Arenas and his crippling contract, but they took on an equally debilitating contract with Rashard Lewis.
If the Wizards were to find a taker for Lewis and get an expiring contract in return, it would free up a ton of cap space so they can surround John Wall with the pieces they need to succeed.
