The Cleveland Cavaliers still have every intention of trading Dion Waiters, but at this point, they’re waiting for the right deal. The Atlanta Hawks aren’t exactly in a desperate need for a shooting guard, but it could never hurt to have depth at the position. Not to mention, Waiters could be regarded as someone who will fill the position for years to come.
The Boston Celtics have found themselves in all sorts of trade rumors for months. However, one trade that hasn’t been considered is bringing Zach Randolph into the fold. I understand that acquiring Randolph doesn’t exactly fit the plan that the Celtics are trying to put together. At the same time, they’re in desperate need of a legitimate scoring threat around the basket.
Asik going to the Brooklyn Nets is probably something that should have happened months ago. Not only did the Houston Rockets lose out on his worth by not trading him immediately, but also the Nets could have used the presence of a big man after Brook Lopez went down. Asik is getting closer to practicing, which means he should be in fine shape as the deadline looms.
Jared Dudley isn’t seeing much playing time these days with the Los Angeles Clippers, which is why there’s a good chance he will get traded in a few weeks. Dudley would be the perfect fit for an inexperienced team looking to make a run at a postseason berth. The Charlotte Bobcats certainly fit that description.
Rumors about Carmelo Anthony getting traded continue to circulate, with the Chicago Bulls being the favorite to land him. It certainly would be unfortunate for the New York Knicks to lose him. However, the Bulls do have the right pieces to make an enticing offer. Not to mention, their rank of 30th in the league in scoring is something that must be improved.
Let’s be honest, the Cavaliers are a mess. One trade isn’t going to help them climb out of the giant hole the organization finds itself in. However, acquiring Evan Turner in a trade certainly would give the team a step in the right direction.
The Orlando Magic reportedly wants a first-round draft pick for point guard Jameer Nelson. Even though the asking price is a little steep, the Dallas Mavericks are the type of team that might just pull the trigger. Dirk Nowitzki isn’t getting any younger. In fact, the entire team is loaded with aging veterans. The time to strike is now, which is why the organization must throw a very talented point guard into the mix and see what could happen.
The Knicks are an embarrassment this season, which is why it shouldn’t be a surprise if some players get dealt prior to the deadline. One player in particular that could get moved is J.R. Smith. At this rate, some new scenery could do the guard some good, while the Denver Nuggets need an asset to get them over the hump and into the playoff discussion.
Chalk the Detroit Pistons up as another team that is loaded with disappointment after a loud offseason. Even though center Larry Sanders is having a down season for a bad Milwaukee Bucks team, he’s proven to be a defensive threat with some upside on offense. Not to mention, his style of play would fit right in with Detroit.
The Bulls are prepared to unload as many players as possible in order to go into rebuild build with a quick turnaround. Count Kirk Hinrich as one of those players expected to get traded at the deadline. The Golden State Warriors have shown plenty of interest in Hinrich as someone who could provide quality depth for the team as they make their postseason run.
There’s a good chance Ryan Anderson will play again this season, at least that’s his belief. Prior to his injury, there was plenty of talk about how the New Orleans Pelicans were interested in trading him. Depending on what happens with his injury, there are several teams that would like to have him on their roster. One team in particular that could use his services is the Rockets. Another outside threat would make Houston that much more dangerous, while they could also use some help around the basket. Above anything else, Anderson is a guy who puts up points in a hurry, which is something the Rockets welcome.
The Indiana Pacers are the best defensive team in a league, which is a big reason why they hold the top seed in the Eastern Conference. There really isn’t a lot they plan to do at the trade deadline, but that isn’t to say they wouldn’t like to make at least one addition. The Pacers could certainly use a player that knocks down shots from the outside, which is exactly what Anthony Morrow can accomplish off the bench.
The Clippers could use someone who can control the middle defensively, which is exactly what Chicago’s Nazr Mohammed does. He’s just one more person that the Bulls will feel is expendable, and that’s good news for Los Angeles can definitely use his services.
Kevin Love has hinted that he would like to join forces with the Los Angeles Lakers once he becomes a free agent. Don’t be surprised if fate unites the two sides sooner than expected. Even though the Lakers are all but out of it this season, there’s no reason why they can’t look ahead to next year.
Eric Gordon has consistently found himself in trade rumors for the past several weeks. It’s almost certain that he will get dealt at some point prior to the deadline, but it’s just a matter of which team will acquire him. The Memphis Grizzlies are just outside the top eight in the Western Conference, and the addition of Gordon could be exactly what the team needs to elevate.
The Miami Heat doesn’t really need any new personnel nor do they really have any pieces they can trade. With that being said, the Heat always try to add at least one asset at the deadline in order to ensure success in the playoffs. A name that has been commonly linked to Miami is Avery Bradley. The point guard would provide a spark at the point guard position and could even take over for Mario Chalmers as the starter.
The Bucks will almost certainly be sellers and not buyers at the trade deadline. With that being said, there’s been some rumors circulating that Milwaukee might take a chance on acquiring DeMar DeRozan as they continue to think about next season and the years beyond. I can’t imagine the Toronto Raptors will part ways with DeRozan considering where they stand in the Eastern Conference. However, stranger things have happened.
Gary Neal wants out of Milwaukee and the Minnesota Timberwolves could use an outside shooter with experience. The Bucks have every intention of dealing the guard and the Timberwolves want to make some movies at the deadline as well.
It’s hard to imagine the Pacers trading Danny Granger, but it looks like that’s a good possibility. Even though the Pelicans aren’t going to accomplish much this season, there’s no reason why they can’t build for next year. Granger would be an outstanding piece to help New Orleans find their way.
It might sound crazy that the Celtics would even consider dealing Rajon Rondo to their division rival. However, the Knicks are the only team that has put forth legitimate consideration to land the point guard. Many believe Boston won’t pull the trigger on dealing Rondo, but who knows what could happen if New York makes a solid offer.
David Lee is a legitimate offensive threat who doesn’t provide much quality on defense, but that shouldn’t stop the Oklahoma City Thunder from wanting to add him to their roster. Talk about the making of a blockbuster trade. The Thunder want to improve offense, while the Warriors need to bolster their defense. It’s a win-win, for the right price that is. If Oklahoma City wants to secure that NBA Finals berth, they need to trade for Lee.
The Magic are bad, maybe not as bad as the Bucks, but they’re still horrendous. That doesn’t mean they can’t continue the rebuilding process at the trade deadline. Orlando acquired Tobias Harris from Milwaukee last season in what was a flat out steal. To get Ersan Ilyasova from the Bucks this time around would be straight criminal, but well worth it for the Magic.
Rumors continue to surround the possibility of Greg Monroe getting dealt. There are still several teams interested in him with the Philadelphia 76ers being one of them, even if that interest continues to fade. Giving the 76ers some quality depth is key for the team to flourish next season, which is why acquiring Monroe isn’t a bad idea.
A trade that very well could happen sooner rather than later is Pau Gasol going to the Phoenix Suns. The biggest question right now for Phoenix is if Gasol is healthy, rightfully so. However, there’s still a very good chance the trade will go down because the Suns want the addition of a big man with the freedom to add free agents in the near future.
One more player from Chicago that could get traded is Joakim Noah. The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly shown interest in the center in recent weeks. There’s no question the Trail Blazers could use another talented big man in the middle, which is exactly what Noah would provide for them.
Along with Asik, Andre Miller is another name that has been mentioned that past couple of months to be trade bait. The Sacramento Kings have already made it known that they would like to acquire Miller anyway possible. It certainly makes sense, as the team really has nothing to lose at this point in the game.
The San Antonio Spurs are doing just fine in the standings, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be looking for ways to upgrade at the deadline. One player in particular who wouldn’t cost much and would make a huge difference is sharpshooter Mike Dunleavy. The small forward isn’t going to put up a lot of points, but he will consistently hit double-digits while converting shots from beyond the arc. For a team that already does this well as it is, Dunleavy would fit right in as a member of the aerial assault.
It seems many teams are interested in Arron Afflalo, but it’s unknown if the Magic will deal the guard at the deadline. Regardless, that shouldn’t prevent the Raptors from trying to upgrade as they continue to make noise in the Eastern Conference. Afflalo would be an outstanding asset for the up and comer, but it might cost Toronto big in order to make the deal happen.
The Utah Jazz are in last place in the Western Conference with very little hope in sight. There is room to improve all over the roster, but if there’s one area in particular it’s the forward position. Josh Smith hasn’t been anywhere near what the Pistons expected from him, which means a trade could happen. The biggest issue for Utah is the money, but if they could find a way around that Smith might just do the team some good.
The Washington Wizards are making some noise for the first time in a long time. The only way to sustain the success is by making some moves at the deadline. It’s no secret the organization is very interested in Taj Gibson, which shouldn’t be a surprise because he could be just the right piece to give Washington an edge. Don’t be surpassed to see a trade for him go down in the next few weeks.
