NBA Trade Speculation: Potential Scenarios Involving Major Trade Targets
Due to this goddamn lockout, NBA fans are forced into mere speculation as opposed to educated articles about real trade discussions. Rumors are running thin as teams cannot conduct business while the work stoppage continues.
But don't worry, baby birds, I'm here to feed you.
I've been working tirelessly with ESPN Trade Machine and have come up with 10 trades involving big-name players that actually make sense.
All proposed trades are based on the following assumptions:
1) The new Collective Bargaining Agreement will be relatively similar to the most recent CBA.
2) Restricted Free Agency will still exist.
3) There will actually be a 2011-2012 season.
With those basic guidelines in place, let's get to it.
Magic-Lakers
1 of 10Magic get: Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom
Lakers get: Dwight Howard, Brandon Bass, Gilbert Arenas
The Lakers need an image makeover after self-destructing last May, and reeling in the league's best center would certainly do the trick.
The Big Three frontcourt of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom was seen as the biggest advantage in basketball as recently as April. But a lackluster effort from Gasol and the pure thuggetry (not a word, I know) exhibited by Bynum disgusted Laker fans and former stars alike.
Although they would give up the league's best big man (by far), Orlando receives the second most promising center, the most skilled 7-footer on the planet and the NBA's top sixth man.
The Lakers get their superstar of the future and a quality power forward in Bass. They would have to absorb Gilbert's god-awful contract, but I think it would be worth it.
It always sucks giving up proven contributors, but when you can bring in the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year, you have to do it.
(Sidenote: My friend Geoff, a diehard Lakers fan, turned down this trade. But I attribute that to his undeniable man-crush on Lamar Odom.)
Magic-Bulls
2 of 10Magic get: Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Ronnie Brewer, 2012 1st round pick, Charlotte’s 2012 1st round pick (lottery protected in 2012, top-12 protected in 2013, top-10 protected in 2014, top-8 protected in 2015, unprotected in 2016)
Bulls get: Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas, Ryan Anderson
Should they be forced to trade Howard, I think this would be an excellent haul for Orlando. Noah and Boozer are their frontcourt of the future and Deng is a major upgrade at small forward.
Chicago's already stifling defense just gets scary with Dwight in the mix. Anderson is an excellent stretch power forward and an underrated rebounder.
Once again, swallowing Arenas' contract hurts, but it will be worth it to acquire Howard.
After all, a Derrick Rose/Dwight Howard combo is just terrifying.
Magic-Mavericks
3 of 10Magic get: Tyson Chandler (via sign-and-trade), Shawn Marion, 2012 1st round pick, 2014 1st round pick
Mavericks get: Dwight Howard
This one gets a little tricky, as the free agent Chandler would have to agree to be signed and dealt to Orlando. If he declined, then this falls apart.
Assuming he agrees, Orlando would receive the NBA's second-best defensive center, an elite defender in Marion, and two draft picks.
Of course, the Mavericks will be title contenders, so the picks are certainly late first rounders. But combined with their own picks, the Magic can either draft three rookies or use the picks as trade bait.
Dallas pairs a young superstar with the aging Dirk Nowitzki and would undoubtedly compete for a championship throughout the foreseeable future.
Magic-Hawks
4 of 10Magic get: Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia, 2012 1st round pick, 2012 2nd round pick, 2014 1st round pick
Hawks get: Dwight Howard
This trade wouldn't exactly be ideal for Orlando, but it provides an opportunity to add quality young talent.
When motivated, Smith is one of the league's most effective defenders. Pachulia, with his massive head, can also be an intimidating presence in the paint.
The three draft picks, along with the ones they already own, could give Orlando a very promising future.
For Atlanta, a Dwight Howard/Al Horford frontcourt would put fear into the hearts of opponents. Add Joe Johnson and young Jeff Teague on the perimeter, and the Hawks would definitely contend for a title.
Hornets-Celtics
5 of 10Hornets get: Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green (restricted FA, Celtics extended $5.9 million qualifying offer)
Celtics get: Chris Paul
Chris Paul's impending free agency is hanging over the Hornets' heads and they would be wise to deal him before he leaves them in shambles.
He wants to contend for a title, and the harsh truth is that it just ain't happening in New Orleans.
Rondo is the best young point guard they could realistically bring in (Paul for Russell Westbrook won't work) and Green is a quality small forward with plenty of potential.
For Boston, a core of Paul/Pierce/Garnett/Allen would immediately put them back on track with Miami and Chicago in the East.
Hornets-Mavericks
6 of 10Hornets get: Jason Kidd, Rodrique Beaubois, Shawn Marion, 2012 1st round pick, 2014 1st round pick
Mavericks get: Chris Paul
In this deal New Orleans gets immediate help from veterans Kidd and Marion, as well as a potentially great point guard in Beaubois.
The two first-round picks also ensure that some young talent will be arriving soon.
Dallas receives the best point guard in the game, and he would surely work wonders with Nowitzki.
A Paul/Jason Terry/Caron Butler/Nowitzki/Tyson Chandler crunch time line-up is downright frightening.
Hornets-Magic
7 of 10Hornets get: Jameer Nelson, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, 2012 1st round pick
Magic get: Chris Paul
Nelson would provide New Orleans with a solid replacement point guard, and Bass and Anderson would fit in nicely if David West and Carl Landry leave via free agency.
For Orlando, the acquisition of Paul ensures that Howard stays in town. With the world's best point guard and center, the Magic would wreak havoc on the league for at least 5-8 years.
Hornets-Spurs
8 of 10Hornets get: Tony Parker, Matt Bonner
Spurs get: Chris Paul
When discussing the league's best point guards, Tony Parker is often left out of the conversation.
This is probably because he's been so damn consistent that we always know what we're getting from him: 17 points and 6 assists per game, a ridiculous field goal percentage, and at least a couple stories of him sleeping with teammates' girlfriends.
Nothing more, nothing less.
But despite his relatively low amount of exposure, Parker is one of the best at his position. If forced to deal Paul, the Hornets could do a lot worse than Parker as a replacement.
Despite his odd cock-and-fire stroke, Bonner is one of the NBA's best three-point shooters and would provide New Orleans with a legitimate outside threat.
The Spurs of course get the league's best PG.
Warriors-Timberwolves
9 of 10Warriors get: Darko Milicic, Anthony Randolph, Wes Johnson, 2013 1st round pick, 1st round pick from Utah (lottery protected in 2012, top-12 protected in 2013)
Timberwolves get: Monta Ellis ($11 million, 3 years)
Monta Ellis has plenty of haters and for fairly understandable reasons: he's a high-volume shooter, a trigger-happy combo guard in a system that inflates offensive numbers.
But the simple truth is that only a small handful of players are capable of averaging 25-30 points every night, and Ellis is one of them.
Unfortunately, he is essentially the same player as Stephen Curry, and the Warriors clearly view Curry as the future of their franchise. The drafting of shooting guard Klay Thompson only furthered the notion that they must trade Ellis to progress.
The human punchline Milicic would provide some stability in the paint, while Randolph and Johnson are both promising prospects on the wing. Add the two first-round picks, and Golden State places themselves in a good position going forward.
For Minnesota, a Ricky Rubio/Monta Ellis/Derrick Williams/Kevin Love/Brad Miller starting five would immediately contend for the playoffs. `
Suns-Knicks
10 of 10Suns get: Toney Douglas, Bill Walker, Chauncey Billups, Landry Fields, 2013 1st round pick
Knicks get: Steve Nash, Hakim Warrick
I realize that this deal doesn't make a ton of sense, but I had to get Nash on New York somehow.
It's killing me to watch him waste away the twilight of his career in Phoenix.
The world would just be a better place if he could be in NYC, in Mike D'Antoni's defense-be-damned system, throwing alley-oops to Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
For Phoenix, they get the league's most tenacious on-ball defender (Douglas), a more than capable point guard in Billups, and a first round pick. Plus they get two small forwards, which they clearly would love.
This won't happen, but let a man dream.
