NBA Trade Rumors: Glaring Weaknesses and Quick Trade Fixes For All 30 Teams
At this point in the 2010-2011 NBA season, you are who you are. Teams are over 50 games deep into the season and the weaknesses of each squad have been identified.
There is two weeks to go before the February 24th trade deadline and teams can still tinker with their rosters.
Half the league will be buyers while the other half will be looking to unload bad contracts in exchange for draft picks.
Let's take a look at what the best game plan for the trade deadline is for every team in the league.
30. Cleveland Cavs
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Can they just trade their whole team?
The Cavs need to trade Antawn Jamison and get a draft pick or two in return.
Mo Williams, Daniel Gibson and Jamario Moon are other potential candidates to be dealt. The Cavs are a train wreck and getting younger for next season has to be the top priority.
29. Sacramento Kings
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The Kings season took a disastrous turn this weekend when DeMarcus Cousins allegedly got into an altercation with teammate Donte Green.
Cousins wanted the ball on the final possession of a three-point loss to the Thunder and Green, who was inbounding the ball, ended up going to Tyreke Evans.
This is why teams were afraid to draft Cousins last June.
Making a trade isn't going to save this season. The Kings would be best served to stand pat and go through the bumps and bruises of being an extremely young team in the NBA.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
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A message to G.M. David Kahn: Stop trying to acquire every point guard in the NBA!
The latest rumor this week had Steve Nash being shipped to Minnesota so he could mentor a guy that isn't even in the NBA yet in Ricky Rubio.
Don't forget about Johnny Flynn and Sebastian Telfair.
The madness that is the T-Wolves G.M. has got to be disheartening for fans.
27. Toronto Raptors
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The Raptors could revive the franchise a bit by making a splash at the trade deadline.
How about trading for O.J. Mayo?
He still has a lot of untapped potential and is in desperate need of a fresh start. It appears that the Grizzles are done with Mayo after his 10-game suspension for a banned substance.
Mayo would be the man in Toronto and could infuse a breath of fresh air into a stale franchise.
26. Washington Wizards
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All John Wall all the time.
He is the future of the franchise and allowing him to be in complete control of a team going nowhere is a good idea.
The other goal should be to ship Rashard Lewis and his monstrous contract out of Washington.
If the Wizards could find a team that needs a shooter for the playoffs, they have to jump on it.
How insane is the NBA when a 13-points per game scorer can make $19.5 million a season?
25. New Jersey Nets
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Are they still in the race for Carmelo Anthony?
Publicly they have claimed to not be interested in pulling the trigger.
But the franchise is desperate for a star and 'Melo fits the description. Don't be surprised if the Nets shock the world and end up landing him.
The Nets have the best package to offer the Nuggets and if they can convince 'Melo to sign an extension, then it's a done deal.
24. Detroit Pistons
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Help out a franchise legend.
The way the Pistons have handled the Richard Hamilton situation this season is an insult to one of the players that brought a title to the Pistons.
He has played in two games over the last month as he waits to be dealt.
There are plenty of teams that would love a playoff-tested sharpshooter.
Make the trade already.
23. Milwaukee Bucks
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Who in the Bucks front office thought it would be a good idea to give Corey Maggette almost $10 million a year?
He is a ball hog and is hurting the progress of Chris Douglas-Roberts.
It's doubtful that a team would want him, but trading Maggette for even a second-round pick would help the long term outlook of this franchise.
22. Los Angeles Clippers
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It's been an exciting season for the Clippers. Blake Griffin has fired up the half-asleep fan base and rejuvenated Baron Davis.
With the emergence of Griffin, the team no longer needs Chris Kaman. But there is no question that there are teams placing calls to the Clippers front office asking about the seven-footer.
There are plenty of teams that would love to add a center averaging 10.5 points and seven rebounds a night.
21. Golden State Warriors
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The latest rumor in Golden State is their affection for the Nuggets' Nene. The Warriors front office has reportedly called the Nuggets about their 6'11" power forward/center.
He is a versatile big man that would fit in the Warriors high-powered offense.
Nene is averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season for the Nuggets.
20. Charlotte Bobcats
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Should they give up on D.J. Augustin?
That's the big question as the trade deadline inches closer.
He has shot 10-of-38 over the last four games and may be losing his starting spot to Shaun Livingston.
The second-year PG has averaged 14 points and six assists this season, but head coach Paul Silas doesn't have much confidence in him.
He alluded to as much after Saturday's comeback win against the Hawks.
19. Indiana Pacers
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Watch out for the suddenly red-hot Pacers.
Since taking over for Jim O'Brien, the Pacers have ripped off seven wins in eight games under interim coach Frank Vogel.
With much of the franchise in the last year of their contract, the previously-slumping Pacers looked to be sellers.
Now the Pacers are eyeing the postseason and should be looking to add a scorer to help Danny Granger out.
The emergence of Paul George will be interesting to watch down the stretch.
18. Houston Rockets
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G.M. Daryl Morey is never afraid to pull the trigger on a big deal and expect the Rockets to be very active at the headline.
The two big names will be Carmelo Anthony and Aaron Brooks.
Can the Rockets put together a enticing package for the Nuggets to make the move? The Rockets are a sleeper in the 'Melo sweepstakes because they are one of the few teams that has the assets to acquire him.
Brooks has worn out his welcome in Houston and will be prime trade bait. Will he be included in a package for 'Melo?
17. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Sixers have quietly built quite a talented roster and the progress of Evan Turner is slow because of it.
The team needs to look into trading either Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holliday or Lou Williams.
All three could yield a great big man (Kaman?) and a draft pick as well. Turner will get more minutes and the 76ers will be a dangerous team come playoff time.
16. Phoenix Suns
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Is the end of the Steve Nash era getting close?
Nash's agent Bill Duffy is prepared:
"Logic dictates that it would be prudent for the Suns to start looking at their long-term future in the summer, so we would expect that they may entertain moving him during the summer"
Wow.
Will the Suns wait till the summer or will they move him to a contender this year?
15. New York Knicks
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What's the final outcome going to be?
The 'Melo saga is beginning to be a distraction for the Knicks. Hearing a “we want ‘Melo” chant has got to annoy the team and especially the players involved in the rumors.
The Nuggets want two of the three following players: Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields and Danilo Gallinari.
The Knicks are not willing to do it and it’s turned into a who will blink first kind of deal. The whole world knows ‘Melo wants to go to New York and it is just a matter of time.
14. Memphis Grizzles
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Getting rid of O.J. Mayo is the top priority.
His act is getting old and they can still land an above average player in return.
Mayo has missed the last 10 games because of his suspension and the Grizz went 8-2 in his absence.
They don’t need him and can score a player that will improve them right away. Believe it or not, the Grizzles are looking like they are playoff bound.
13. Portland Trail Blazers
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This team is going nowhere and would be wise to trade Andre Miller to a contender. The injury history of this franchise is very sad and Brandon Roy and Greg Oden are the latest victims.
The two injuries have put handcuffs on this franchise. The Blazers have very little flexibility right now.
12. Utah Jazz
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We will never know what exactly happened with Jerry Sloan and Deron Williams—but the damage is done and Tyrone Corbin is now the man in charge.
Not many rumors surround the Jazz roster as they seemed destined to be a first round flame-out.
11. Denver Nuggets
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Is ‘Melo’s latest comment legit?
Last week Anthony told reporters that he would now consider signing the extension that has been on the table since June.
Or was he sending a subliminal message to the Knicks to hurry up and make the trade?
This is just the latest in the never-ending saga that clouds this franchise.
10. New Orleans Hornets
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Considering the tricky financial situation that the Hornets currently find themselves in, the team is likely to stand pat with what they have.
Chris Paul will have to put the team on his back just like he did back in ’07.
9. Atlanta Hawks
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Jamal Crawford is the main trade bait for the Hawks.
His 15.4 points and 3.5 assists per game is intriguing to plenty of different teams. What if the Hawks acquired Chris Kaman in return?
That would be a much improved Hawks team.
8. Orlando Magic
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The Magic already made one blockbuster trade and are unlikely to make another. The Dwight Howard rumors are just beginning but he isn’t going anywhere this season.
The Magic are stuck with the current crop of players and are left hoping that Gilbert Arenas continues to get better as he shakes off the rust of barely playing in the last three seasons.
Last week Arenas played some of his best ball of the season in his new role of coming off the bench.
Progress is being made.
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
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Jeff Green isn't the best fit on this team, but it's doubtful the Thunder would ship out a guy that is currently averaging 15 points a game.
The Thunder have one of the brightest futures in the entire league and it would be ill advised to shake things up too much.
6. Chicago Bulls
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This team is good to go.
Getting Joakim Noah back is the only addition they need to make. Derrick Rose is playing like he wants to win the MVP and Carlos Boozer is his usually 20-and-10 self.
The Bulls are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
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Please don’t read into the ‘Melo rumors.
It was put out there by ‘Melo’s agent in an attempt to scare the Knicks.
The two-time defending champions don’t need to make any moves. Ron Artest is still an important part of the team, as is Andrew Bynum.
This is the team that will be going to war in April.
4. Dallas Mavericks
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Could Mark Cuban pull off a ‘Melo blockbuster?
You never know—but it's highly unlikely.
Tyson Chandler or Brendan Haywood leaving town has a much better chance of happening. Improving the frontcourt is the top priority at the deadline.
3. Miami Heat
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The Heat are not going to make any moves.
It’s taking them half a season to figure out how to play with each other and bringing in a new face will just impede the progress of the Heat.
2. Boston Celtics
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Just like the Bulls, getting their big man back is the only addition they need. Kendrick Perkins is getting more minutes by the game and the Celtics are beginning to roll.
Perkins is the only guy in the NBA who can guard Dwight Howard one-on-one, and that is really going to come in handy when the playoffs arrive.
1. San Antonio Spurs
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The Spurs rarely make moves in the middle of a season, but this year may be different.
Are Tony Parker's days as a Spur numbered?
It’s hard to believe he has been in the NBA for nine seasons, but the 28-year-old PG has logged 722 games in his career and has lost a step.
It will be interesting to see if the Spurs go all in with Gary Neal and pull the trigger—or if they wait till the summer to explore their options.
The Spurs may have the best record in the league, but trading Parker could yield some big-time players.
