NBA Trade Rumors: Each Team's Biggest Questions Heading Toward the Deadline
The 2011 NBA season has been one of the more exciting in the past 20 years. We are over the halfway point and the storylines are endless.
The star-studded Miami Heat, the emergence of Blake Griffin, the Spurs going all out in the regular season, the Lakers inability to beat quality teams, the Cavs' historically awful season, Boston’s big four and of course...the seemingly never-ending Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and drama.
As the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches, let’s take a look at the biggest question for each team.
30. Cleveland Cavs (8-41)
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Who can they get rid of?
It’s all about the picks for the Cavs. Losing 22 games in a row will do that to a team.
Do Antawn Jamison a favor and trade him for picks and expiring contracts. Ditto for Mo Williams.
The Cavs are in rebuilding mode and acquiring as many draft picks as possible is the only solution in the Post-LeBron era.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves (11-37)
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Which point guard should be traded?
This team has way too many point guards and somebody has to go. Why is it so hard for GM David Kahn to see this?
Luke Ridnour, Jonny Flynn, Sebastian Telfair and the rights to Ricky Rubio are all possessions of the T-Wolves.
Trade Flynn to the highest bidder and get a scoring forward in return.
28. Toronto Raptors (13-37)
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How can they gain more cap flexibility?
The Cavs are so bad the Raptors can lose 13 games in a row and nobody really notices.
Looking up and down the roster, you see why they are a forgotten team. Their two best players are Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan.
Not exactly Batman and Robin.
The Raptors need to shed payroll and cross their fingers that the ping-pong balls of the draft bounce their way.
27. Sacramento Kings (12-34)
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Do the Kings have two franchise players?
The Kings have to address whether they can build a franchise around Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.
If they don’t think they can…trade one of them now and find another potential franchise player in the 2011 draft.
Keeping the tandem intact while bringing in another top pick will only make this team even younger and less experienced.
26. Washington Wizards (13-35)
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What are the Wizards going to do with Andray Blatche?
He averages 16 points and eight rebounds a game—but only shoots 42 percent from the field. That’s pretty awful for a big guy.
Blatche has to have more attention from the coaching staff than the rest of his teammates. He has had his share of disputes with other players and Wizards personnel.
The Wizards must decide if he is worth the headache.
25. New Jersey Nets (15-35)
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How can they get a scorer?
The Nets are 29th in points scored this season and have to find a natural scorer.
Sound like someone familiar?
The Nets may have publicly told the world they are out of the Carmelo sweepstakes, but most team executives are calling their bluff.
The Nets are the perfect fit for 'Melo on the court, and he would vastly improve the team right away.
24. Detroit Pistons (17-32)
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What to do with Richard Hamilton?
He hasn’t played since Jan. 10, and the two sides' relationship has been severely damaged.
It’s a shame that one of the best players in team history is having such an ugly break-up, but the Pistons have to trade him now and get some sort of value in return.
Letting him rot away on the bench is not good for either side.
23. Los Angeles Clippers (19-29)
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Should they trade Chris Kaman and/or Baron Davis?
Both players are counter-intuitive to the youth movement that is taking place in Clipperland.
While Davis has played more inspired basketball since the arrival of Blake Griffin, he still is taking up a huge chunk of the payroll for a guy scoring 11.7 points and dishing out 6.6 assists a game.
Kaman has been overshadowed by Griffin and is no longer needed. He is a good player—just not the right fit for the Clippers any more.
The Clippers need to embrace their youth fully and get some picks/young guys for Davis, Kaman or both.
22. Milwaukee Bucks (19-28)
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How can they score more points?
The worst offense in the league has to find some help.
Corey Maggette is never the answer—same with Drew Gooden and Carlos Delfino. Ship ‘em out of town and get players who know how to hit the broad side of a barn.
21. Indiana Pacers (19-27)
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Who will be with this team in the future?
There are a ton of personnel questions surrounding this franchise.
Larry Bird, GM David Morway and all the coaching staff have contracts that expire at the end of the season.
A variety of the vets on the team are in the last year of their contracts as well.
The Pacers will look drastically different in the next few months from top to bottom.
20. Golden State Warriors (20-27)
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Defense?
The 29th-ranked defense has to improve if they ever want to be relevant again. Too many players on this team are unable to stay in front of their man, and the result is a nightly shoot-out.
Build around the Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David Lee nucleus and find them some defensive help.
If it means trading Andris Biedrins or Dorell Wright than so be it.
19. Charlotte Bobcats (21-27)
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Who should be trade bait?
Another offensively challenged team, the 28th-ranked Bobcat offense needs a makeover.
This group of players is not getting it done. The big question is whom to get rid of?
The captain of the team, Stephen Jackson?
Young up-and-comer D.J. Augustin?
Not an easy question to answer.
18. Houston Rockets (23-28)
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Can they land 'Melo?
The dark horse in the ‘Melo sweepstakes, the Rockets need to figure out what to do with all of their favorable assets.
Yao Ming’s giant expiring contract is appealing to almost every team in the league. Shane Battier is still getting it done on the defensive end.
He could be a key role player for a championship contender. Kevin Martin is a premier scorer in this league.
The Rockets need to figure out if they need to throw in the towel or push all their cards to the center of the table and make a move for Carmelo.
17. Philadelphia 76ers (22-26)
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Should the 76ers should even bother to make a move?
The 76ers have quietly enjoyed a solid bounce-back season. Fans would love to see Elton Brand go... but that’s nothing more than a dream.
Philly is on track to make the playoffs but have no shot of making the NBA Finals as constructed this season.
The young core of Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks and Evan Turner should stick together.
If they can find the right deal for Andre Iguodala, then pull the trigger…if not, be patient, 76ers fans.
16. Phoenix Suns (23-24)
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Did the Suns already make their only trade?
The reigning Western Conference runner-ups already answered their biggest question.
Clearly, Suns ownership didn’t think they could compete and blew up the team. Now the aging Steve Nash is stuck with Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat.
Is that the Suns' last move?
Random Suns fact: After beating the Bucks in Phoenix Wednesday night, the Suns have now beaten Milwaukee 23 straight times at home. Incredible.
15. Memphis Grizzles (26-24)
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What to do with the suspended O.J. Mayo?
Mayo was already coming off the bench before his suspension because he wouldn't feed Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol in the post and isn't a good fit next to Rudy Gay.
The Grizz should ship Mayo out of town and admit they shouldn’t have traded Kevin Love on draft night two years ago.
14. New York Knicks (25-23)
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What’s the deal with the front office?
The awful James Dolan has sparked rumors that G.M. Donnie Walsh will not be with the team next season.
Great timing.
Melo is still their man, but the talks have reached a stalemate. Hiring former Nuggets G.M. Mark Warkentien, “Melo’s biggest ally in Denver, certainly looks to be the Knicks' latest chess move.
With the sudden distractions in the front office, the Knicks' next month should be very interesting.
13. Portland Trail Blazers (26-23)
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Should Portland trade Andrew Miller?
Portland is in the proverbial “no man’s land” in the NBA. Good enough to compete, but ultimately going nowhere.
The injury issues of this team have crippled the Trail Blazers' odds of competing in 2011. Might as well trade their veteran point guard for draft picks or expiring contracts.
Andre Miller wouldn’t mind:
"I don't really care, really," Miller told FanHouse on Wednesday. "You know what I'm saying? I would like to stay put, but it's a business and anything can happen."
12. Utah Jazz (29-21)
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How can they find a better rebounder?
The Jazz are 28th in the league in rebounding and are losing ground in the Western Conference because of it.
Outside of Al Jefferson (9.1) and Paul Milsap (7.8), the Jazz must find a guy who can crash the boards, specifically on offense.
Andrei Kirilenko needs a fresh start and he could get a valuable piece in return.
11. Denver Nuggets (29-20)
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You already know.
'Melo?
The Nugs are No. 4 in the NBA with a 21-5 home record. Pretty surprising considering how badly the team has alienated its fans this season.
The ‘Melo soap opera is incredibly old at this point. The city of Denver has been hearing about it ever since he passed on signing the three-year, $66M extension in July.
The Nuggets overplayed their hand with the Nets and are stuck with an underwhelming offer from the Knicks.
At this point, the Nuggets front office should hold onto him 'till the wee hours of the deadline and hope a team like the Mavs and Rockets make a panic move to rent ‘Melo.
Biggest question in the NBA this month, and probably this year.
10. New Orleans Hornets (32-19)
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Is Emeka Okafor worthy?
The Hornets have the second-best defense in the league and Okafor has been a big reason why. He grabs 10 boards and blocks 1.78 shots a game.
But can the Hornets win in the playoffs with him?
He is unproven in that capacity, and the Hornets will be taking a big risk. Grabbing a veteran big man may not be a bad idea.
9. Orlando Magic (31-18)
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Have the Magic made enough trades?
Bringing in Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu was a necessary move. But losing the size of Marcin Gortat has added even more weight to the insanely broad shoulders of Dwight Howard.
Will the Magic realize this and make a move for another big guy?
It’s the difference between the Conference Finals and beyond or a first-round flame out.
8. Atlanta Hawks (31-18)
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Is Mike Bibby too old?
The Hawks 12-year veteran point guard is really starting to show is age. His 3.7 assist average is the lowest of his career.
He is a solid veteran presence for the relatively young Hawks, but it may be time for a change. The problem is, they don’t have any other options behind him to run the point.
Jamal Crawford, anyone?
7. Oklahoma City Thunder (31-17)
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Are the Thunder too young?
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolsha are all just starting their respective NBA careers.
Come playoff time…where is the veteran presence? The Thunder lack a cagey veteran who can calm down the young guys in the heat of the moment.
Something to think about for Thunder management,
6. Dallas Mavericks (33-15)
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Do they trade for ‘Melo?
The Mavs have never been able to give Dirk a legit super-star to play along side with. Nash is close, but he didn’t truly blossom till going to Phoenix.
The Mavs have recently emerged as a possible landing spot for ‘Melo and owner Mark Cuban would pull the trigger:
"Yeah, in a heartbeat. Because then it's up to me to try to convince them to stay. If everybody wants to give off a great player, we're always going to try to be opportunistic.”
I wonder who he is talking about…
5. Los Angeles Lakers (34-15)
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What will happen with Ron Artest?
The recent waffling of Ron-Ron is just reinforcing “Ron being Ron.” The unique personality begins to wear thin when the production on the court begins to slip.
Artest is no longer the lock down defender he once was, and he seems almost afraid to shoot the ball.
It’s up to Derrick Fisher and Kobe to either talk some sense into him or make sure he gets traded.
The Lakers need the '07 version of Artest, and he just isn't there anymore. Can the Lakers find a decent replacement?
4. Miami Heat (34-14)
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Are Joel Anthony and Zydrunas Ilgauskas going to get key playoff minutes?
If the season ended today, the duo two would be playing prominent roles in the postseason.
Don't think the Heat can win a title with that recipe.
3. Chicago Bulls (34-14)
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Can the Bulls keep up the defensive intensity?
The Bulls lead the NBA in opponents' field-goal percentage (.424) and are third in points allowed, but can they keep it up in the playoffs?
Is the aging Kurt Thomas able to be a postseason factor? Or how about the young Taj Gibson?
The Bulls are hot right now...but there is still a loooong way to go.
2. Boston Celtics (37-11)
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Can Kendrick Perkins repeat his season of a year ago?
The Celts roster is set, and there will be no deadline deals in Boston.
Their biggest issue is the ACL of Kendrick Perkins. If he is fully healed come playoff time, then the Celtics are favored to reach another title.
If not…well, it’s just not happening.
1. San Antonio Spurs (40-8)
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No trade rumors surrounding this team but a looming question remains….
Can they keep up the pace?
The Spurs are usually the team that keeps their foot off the pedal in the regular season in preparation for a deep run in the playoffs.
This year they have gone pedal-to-the-metal right away en route to the best record in the NBA.
The big question still remains…can one of the oldest teams in the league keep up the pace in the Western Conference?
