NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Bold Predictions for the NBA Trade Deadline
The 2011 NBA trade deadline of February 24th is fast approaching and the rumors are really starting to heat up.
This is the point in the season when GMs must decide if they are buyers or sellers. Is it worth it to risk the future for a chance of success this spring? Or is it better to save money this year with your eyes on 2012 and beyond?
The NBA is unique in that it's the only sport in which horribly over-priced, washed-up players in the last year of their deals are considered a hot commodity. Salary cap relief is huge for the majority of the league and it's a major factor in all of the wheeling and dealing at the deadline.
As the countdown to the 24th approaches, here are 10 moves that are likely to occur.
10. New Jersey Ships Out Troy Murphy
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He has been on the trading block for the entire season and was supposed to be included in the 'Melo deal.
Since that is off the table, the Nets still have to find a way to shed Murphy and his $12M expiring contract.
It should be appealing to plenty of teams looking to open up payroll for next season. The Nets have officially excused Murphy from the Nets to ensure he doesn’t get hurt before they ship him off.
9. Chris Kaman Says Goodbye to the Clippers
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Kaman was voted to the All-Star team last year, but the emergence of Blake Griffin has made his value to the Clips decrease quite a bit.
Not sure Donald Sterling enjoys paying a backup center who averages 10.5 points and seven rebounds a game almost $12M. Kaman is expendable as the deadline approaches.
Tayshaun Prince would be a good pick up for the Clippers if they decide to trade Kaman. Maybe they could get the expiring contract of Troy Murphy, or whatever the Mavericks can scrap together.
There are plenty of teams in the market for a seven-foot center who can be very productive in the post.
8. The Pacers Make a Major Move
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Larry Bird recently told Fanhouse that he intends to use his 2011 first-round pick to acquire a player who can help him right now.
Names such as David West, Luis Scola and Kevin Martin have all been thrown around.
The Pacers could also throw in the expiring $8.5 million contract of T.J. Ford or the $10.5 million expiring deal of Mike Dunleavy.
The Pacers are still in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, and Larry Bird looks like a GM that is ready to push all of his chips to the center of the table.
The Pacers will be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline.
7. Cavs Trade Antawn Jamison to Western Conference
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The 34-year-old Jamison has contemplated retirement following the 2011-2012 season.
Why?
That’s when his contract is up and…his team is currently in the middle of an 18-game losing streak.
Getting shipped to a better situation should help change his mind. He still can score with the best of them—averaging over 17 points a game for a team with little options on offense. He can still rebound as well (6.3 a game) and has a reputation of being a great teammate.
Several teams could be in the hunt for Jamison who still carries starter-level talent. He could be a target for the Nuggets, Mavs, Rockets or maybe even the Utah Jazz.
6. Wizards Trade Kirk Hinrich to Bulls
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Hinrich has played the role of mentor to John Wall in Washington and his minutes have taken a hit because of it. He hasn’t complained and he is embracing the teaching role.
But now the playoffs are on the horizon and the Wiz aren’t evening getting a sniff of the playoffs.
Hinrich was a sturdy point guard for the Bulls before being traded last season and left on good terms with his former team. Aside from Derrick Rose, the Bulls are somewhat weak at the guard position.
Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer aren’t really ball handlers, and Keith Bogans is more of a defender, only averaging 3.4 points a game.
Hinrich is familiar with the team and the combo guard can provide the Bulls with a great ball handler who can shoot and defend as well.
5. The Jazz Keep Andrei Kirilenko
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The idea of Kirilenko to New Jersey has been a popular rumor recently, given New Jersey’s owner Mikhail Prokhorov is also Russian. It seems as if AK47 has been the subject of trade rumors for the last five-plus seasons.
Either he is unhappy with playing time, the Jazz are concerned with his injuries or anything in-between.
But it’s stubborn Utah and this situation seems like it’s between an old married couple.
It’s highly unlikely that the Jazz would trade away one of their better defensive players and flexible playmakers at this point in the season.
He has come off the bench of late and production has dropped a bit, but he still is putting up 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and almost three assists a game.
Odds are Utah will likely re-sign Kirilenko either before the deadline or after the season is over.
The two will renew their vows.
4. Dallas Trades for Al Harrington
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The Nuggets almost instantly regretted signing Al Harrington to a five-year, $33.4M contract. It’s a major turn off to potential trade suitors and may have even been the reason the Nets dropped out of the ‘Melo sweepstakes.
But what team loves bad contracts for big guys? The Dallas Mavericks!
After a season-ending surgery for Caron Butler, the Mavs need to give the banged-up Dirk Nowitzki some help.
Dallas has previously shown interest in Harrington and could very well make a move for him. Owner Mark Cuban knows that the window to win with Dirk and Jason Kidd as the centerpieces of the franchise is closing quickly.
3. The Magic Make a Move for Power Forward/Center
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Orlando needs to give Dwight Howard help if the Magic think a deep playoff run this spring is in the future.
After shipping away backup center Marcin Gortat to Phoenix last month, the Magic are extremely thin down low. They need a big body that can bang and use all six fouls.
Possibilities: Jermaine O’Neal, Troy Murphy, Anthony Randolph, Shaq (imagine a Shaq and Howard front line combo), Nazr Mohammed and Marc Gasol.
I would love to see Shaq and Howard play together. That would be one biiiig front court.
2. Gerald Wallace Gets Traded for Andre Iguodala
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Wallace is fed up with the Bobcats and could use a change of scenery.
The losing is taking its toll on Wallace and—believe it or not—the 76ers are right in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Wallace would provide a lock-down defender and veteran presence to a young-and-inexperienced nucleus on the 76ers. He isn’t afraid to take crunch-time shots, but he will not complain if the play isn’t designed for him.
Iguodala brings some desperately needed excitement to a franchise that is quite stale. His athleticism is non-existent in Charlotte and he may be able to put a few more butts in seats to help a team with one of the worst attendance numbers in the league.
Iguodala makes $12.3 million compared to Wallace’s $10.5 million, which means the 76ers would likely have to toss a second-round pick Charlotte’s way.
All things considered, this trade makes sense for both sides.
1. Carmelo Anthony Lands in Chicago
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Once the Nets backed away from 'Melo, the Nuggets had to have yelled obscenities throughout the Pepsi Center. New Jersey had by far the best deal on the table and it wasn't even close.
The Knicks simply don't have the necessary pieces to give a decent deal for the Nuggets. Eddy Curry and Anthony Randolph? Please.
But behind the scenes, the seemingly way-too-powerful "Worldwide Wes" has been working with the Bulls for a while now and the idea has become less far-fetched by the day.
The Bulls are a great team as constructed but need a scorer like 'Melo if they want to compete for a championship.
The Nuggets could receive Luol Deng, Ronnie Brewer and a few draft picks. The Nuggets have been adamant that Joakim Noah be included, but time is running out and Denver needs to take what it can get at this point.
A 'Melo, D-Rose, Noah and Boozer quartet would be a dream come true for fans in Chicago. The Nuggets can avoid completely rebuilding with solid starters Deng and Brewer and 'Melo is in a big city for his wife LaLa.
Everybody wins.
