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10 NBA Trades That Make Way Too Much Sense

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By @courtzierk

10 NBA Trades That Make Way Too Much Sense

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics
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Some trades make you sit back and scratch your head, wondering what the involved GM’s could have been thinking. Others make perfect sense and make all the teams involved better as a result. Here are 10 trades that I think make perfect sense, and immediately make everyone better.

10. Suns get Mitch McGary and Perry Jones, Thunder get Gerald Green

Oklahoma City Thunder v Phoenix Suns
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10. Suns get Mitch McGary and Perry Jones, Thunder get Gerald Green

Oklahoma City Thunder v Phoenix Suns
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It certainly seems like Green will be the odd man out in Phoenix and the Suns would be wise to get some value in return for him before he leaves in free agency after the year. The Suns would get two young prospects for their frontcourt, and the Thunder finally get some more bench scoring from Green.

9. Timberwolves get Jonas Jerebko, Pistons get Chase Budinger

Detroit Pistons v Minnesota Timberwolves
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9. Timberwolves get Jonas Jerebko, Pistons get Chase Budinger

Detroit Pistons v Minnesota Timberwolves
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The Pistons need someone who can shoot the rock to help fill that void until Jodie Meeks gets back. Budinger definitely fills that void, and the Timberwolves are extremely deep at the SF spot so they can absorb the loss. The Timberwolves get a nice utility player back in Jerebko, but also get some cap relief when his salary comes off the books after this season.

8. Bucks get Donatas Motiejunas, Rockets get Khris Middleton

Milwaukee Bucks v Houston Rockets
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8. Bucks get Donatas Motiejunas, Rockets get Khris Middleton

Milwaukee Bucks v Houston Rockets
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The Rockets desperately need someone who can shoot the ball. They might be the worst shooting team in the league right now. Khris Middleton is exactly that person. He can flat out shoot. The Bucks get back a player who fits into their mold of acquiring players with incredible upside in Motiejunas. He also gives them some additional scoring from the PF position because I’m not convinced Ilyasova is the answer.

7. Pacers get Andrea Bargnani, Iman Shumpert and Draft Picks, Knicks get Roy Hibbert

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - Game Two
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7. Pacers get Andrea Bargnani, Iman Shumpert and Draft Picks, Knicks get Roy Hibbert

Indiana Pacers v New York Knicks - Game Two
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The Knicks are in desperate need of a rim protector. Well, the Knicks are in desperate need of anyone that can play defense, period. Hibbert may be insanely inconsistent offensively, but he is an elite defender. The Pacers would get a player in the the likeness of Paul George back in Shumpert, minus the scoring of course, and Bargnani gives them million in cap space when he comes off the books this season.

6. 76ers get Norris Cole and James Ennis and a draft pick, Heat get Michael Carter-Williams

Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers
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6. 76ers get Norris Cole and James Ennis and a draft pick, Heat get Michael Carter-Williams

Miami Heat v Philadelphia 76ers
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The 76ers have made no secret about the fact that they are shopping MCW. The Heat are still looking for their point guard of the future. This might be a match made in heaven. The Heat get an immediate upgrade over anything they have on their roster, including Shabazz Napier. The 76ers continue to their strategy of stockpiling young talent and also get a draft pick out of it. Cole is a serviceable replacement for MCW, and will be much cheaper in t

5. Timberwolves get Iman Shumpert, Shane Larkin and Draft Picks, Knicks get Ricky Rubio

New York Knicks v Minnesota Timberwolves
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5. Timberwolves get Iman Shumpert, Shane Larkin and Draft Picks, Knicks get Ricky Rubio

New York Knicks v Minnesota Timberwolves
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Rubio wants a max contract, and there is really no chance that he gets it in Minnesota. The Knicks would get a point guard who would fit nicely into the triangle offense. The Timberwolves get significantly better defensively by adding Shumpert and get a nice young point guard in Larkin.

4. Celtics get Andrea Bargnani, Tim Hardaway Jr. and a draft pick, Knicks get Rajon Rondo

Boston Celetics v New York Knicks
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4. Celtics get Andrea Bargnani, Tim Hardaway Jr. and a draft pick, Knicks get Rajon Rondo

Boston Celetics v New York Knicks
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It is pretty clear the Celtics are prepared to move on from Rondo, even if they won’t say it. They drafted their point guard of the future in Marcus Smart and they just picked up Will Bynum in a trade from Detroit. The Knicks are still searching for their long term solution at point guard and Rondo would be a perfect fit. The Celtics also get some cap relief and a nice young player in Hardaway.

3. Grizzlies get Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson and Draft Picks, Pelicans get Marc Gasol

New Orleans Pelicans v Memphis Grizzlies
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3. Grizzlies get Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson and Draft Picks, Pelicans get Marc Gasol

New Orleans Pelicans v Memphis Grizzlies
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Don’t get me wrong, I think the Grizzlies lose in this deal, but at least they get something in return for Gasol, whose departure in free agency after this season seems imminent. I like how Anderson would fit on this team, and Asik would certainly get the minutes he needs to prove whether or not he can be a quality big. Gasol paired with Anthony Davis would immediately create the best frontcourt in the league.

2. Bulls get Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers get Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo, Nuggets get Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Brendan Haywood

Cleveland Cavaliers v Chicago Bulls
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2. Bulls get Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers get Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo, Nuggets get Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Brendan Haywood

Cleveland Cavaliers v Chicago Bulls
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The Bulls get a more offensive oriented shooting guard and a solid big man to bolster their already deep frontcourt. The Cavs get the rim protector they need and a solid replacement for Waiters in Afflalo. And the Nuggets get a rising shooting guard in Butler, a rookie with incredible upside in Mirotic, and a very attractive contract in Haywood.

1. Nuggets get O.J. Mayo, Brendan Haywood and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks get Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, Cavaliers get Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo

MILWAUKEE BUCKS V. CHICAGO BULLS
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1. Nuggets get O.J. Mayo, Brendan Haywood and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks get Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters, Cavaliers get Timofey Mozgov and Arron Afflalo

MILWAUKEE BUCKS V. CHICAGO BULLS
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I love this deal for all involved parties. The Nuggets get a potential star in Antetokounmpo along with a serviceable shooting guard and Haywood’s contract. The Bucks get better by adding Thompson to their thin frontcourt along with a budding star in Waiters. And the Cavs get their rim protector in Mozgov and a replacement for the exiting Waiters in Afflalo.

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