NBA Trade Speculation: 5 Teams That Need Another Star
The NBA rumor mill continues to churn, with certain teams being more proactive than others.
As of late, there have been an unprecedented number of superstars who made an appearance on the trading block.
While any team would welcome the presence of a star talent, there are franchises that are more in need of such acquisitions than others. Star-caliber athletes have the ability to completely transform an organization and its direction, providing stability in unstable situations.
Each NBA team would believe itself to have a discernible direction, but that doesn't mean it's the right one. There are plenty of franchises who would benefit from a change of course.
Obtaining a heralded player is a great way to start.
So whether it's acquiring a replacement superstar or merely adding another one, this year's trade market presents a number of teams with the opportunity to satisfy their need of landing a superstar-caliber athlete.
Orlando Magic
1 of 5Dwight Howard may be open to staying with the Orlando Magic, but such a notion will only become a reality if the team acquires another big name to play alongside the star center.
Jameer Nelson and Glen "Big Baby" Davis may be more than competent supporting role players, but they are only a start. Each of the teams on Howard's wish list have a big name for him to pair up with—Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and Deron Williams in New Jersey.
The Magic need another superstar on the roster if they are to convince their franchise player to stay. Given the team's limited number of assets, though, this will prove to be quite difficult.
Monta Ellis and Josh Smith would be great options, but who does Orlando use to acquire them?
If the Magic are to acquire another star, Otis Smith is going to have to get creatively creative, especially considering Howard remains adamant about being traded.
Yes, the Magic are a team in need of obtaining another prolific athlete. Whether or not that can prove feasible is a different story.
Dallas Mavericks
2 of 5The Dallas Mavericks aren't instilling confidence in their ability to defend their NBA title, and it is clear they could benefit from the addition of a superstar that isn't past his prime.
What cannot be stressed enough is the fact that outside of Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki, no one on the Mavs as emerged as a lethal offensive threat. Vince Carter and Jason Kidd are playing their age, and the usually versatile Lamar Odom and Shawn Marion are struggling severely.
The Mavericks let numerous key pieces from their championship run walk away this past offseason, and are not as deep a team as a result. While Mark Cuban and company had Dwight Howard in mind when they let Caron Butler, J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler go, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Nowitzki needs help.
Dallas has shown flashes of the team from last season, but they have been few and far between. Nowitzki does not have the consistent supporting cast he did last season, and regardless of whether or not the team gets their act together, they are not going to repeat as defending champions.
The fact that Dallas can make a run for Howard next summer is great, but in all likelihood, it isn't going to get that far. Consequently, the Mavs must assemble a trade package that entices the Orlando Magic, or obtain a superstar elsewhere.
Washington Wizards
3 of 5No one had the Washington Wizards pegged as a championship contender this season, but few could have predicted the team would be winless eight games deep into the season.
John Wall and company are struggling in every facet of the game, especially on defense where they are allowing nearly 98 points per contest.
A large part of the Wizards' awful start can be attributed to the lukewarm performance of Wall, yet there are many other factors involved as well. Rashard Lewis is making waves, Nick Young isn't as automatic a scorer and Andray Blatche is the keeper of all that is inconsistent.
Chris Singleton has been quite a surprise for Washington, but there has been little to celebrate outside of his performance. While many hoped that Wall would get off to a better start, do not discount the fact that he is being forced to do too much.
Wall is more than suitable to lead the Wizards, but he cannot do everything for them. His focus is split, as he is being forced to shoulder the production burden on both ends of the floor.
Washington needs another heralded star to help spread the floor as well as prevent them from falling into basketball oblivion.
Minnesota Timberwolves
4 of 5Kevin Love has officially crossed the threshold into superstardom, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are poised to offer him a maximum contract extension as a result.
Will he sign it? That may largely depend on whether the team acquires another substantial piece or not.
Minnesota has already shown that they can hang with the toughest of teams and break down the most impenetrable of defenses. That being said, the Timberwolves are young and inexperienced, and are in need of one more proven piece to complete their puzzle.
Michael Beasley has helped Minnesota the most while on the bench. His presence on the court slows the tempo down as he likes to isolate his opponent, and his production is anything but guaranteed thanks to his volatile nature.
While the sky may be the limit for Ricky Rubio and Derrick Williams, they are not yet ready to step up as the Timberwolves' number two.
Brighter days may be on the horizon for Minnesota, or they may not be. The Timberwolves are forward-heavy and unproven, rendering their future status a question mark. An additional star would give the team a brighter outlook as well as a much better chance at retaining Love long term.
New Jersey Nets
5 of 5If the New Jersey Nets want Deron Williams to make a long-term commitment, they need to acquire another superstar.
New Jersey is known to have a strong interest in Dwight Howard, but the uncertainty regarding his situation means the Nets need to have a feasible Plan B.
Brook Lopez's injury has negatively impacted the Nets performance thus far, but even with him on the court alongside MarShon Brooks, Anthony Morrow and Kris Humphries, New Jersey simply doesn't have the core that appeals to Williams' championship aspirations.
Williams has struggled to carry the Nets this season, and while some of his misfortunes can be attributed to Lopez's absence, the reality of it all is that he cannot lead this team into the promised land alone.
Howard would be a welcome addition to New Jersey's roster, but the Nets cannot have tunnel vision when it comes to landing another star talent; just like Williams will do this summer, New Jersey needs to keep its options open.
Being linked to names like Josh Smith and DeMarcus Cousins simply isn't enough. A second superstar isn't merely an interesting avenue for the Nets to explore, but rather a necessary course of action.
