5 Craziest NBA Trade Machine Trades That Work

By Dan McLoone

5 Craziest NBA Trade Machine Trades That Work

Steph Curry Steve Kerr — With the NBA trade deadline slowly creeping closer, many NBA teams have started to search for trade partners. Some teams are looking for that one extra piece to launch their championship run, while others are looking to jettison unwanted contracts and clear cap space. ESPN's NBA Trade Machine helped to find five trades that work based on salary matching, but will never actually happen.

5. Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder — One of the hefty contracts that the Celtics had to take on when they traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to the Brooklyn Nets was that of Gerald Wallace, who still has two years left on his deal. Feasibly, the Celtics could send Wallace, rookie James Young, and two other high-priced veterans in Jeff Green and Brandon Bass to the Thunder for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. It would be a steal for the Celtics, but the Thunder would never bite.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans

4. Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans

4. Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans

4. Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans — This trade would be more palatable to the Thunder front office, as they would only have to give up the expiring contract of Kendrick Perkins to net Steph Curry from the Warriors. If they also sent Nick Collison and the now-redundant Jeremy Lamb to New Orleans, they could take on the contract of Anthony Davis. A starting five of Curry, Westbrook, Durant, Serge Ibaka and Davis would be formidable, but there is no way that it will ever materialize.

3. Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks

3. Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks

3. Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks

3. Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks — This one is a bit more complicated, as Brooklyn gives up their four highest paid players in Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett. In return, they would bring back Marc Gasol and Mike Conley from the Grizzlies, John Wall and Bradley Beal from the Wizards, and Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki from the Mavericks. By giving up four old starters on bad contracts, the Nets could get some much-needed young depth.

2. Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers

2. Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers

2. Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers

2. Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers — Any trade with the 76ers involved in a salary dump seems plausible, but not if it means acquiring retiring and injured guard Steve Nash from the Lakers in exchange for the three young centerpieces of their rebuilding effort. As if swapping Nash for Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams wasn't enough, the Lakers also have the contracts to bring in Steph Curry and Anthony Davis at the expense of only Jeremy Lin and Nick Young.

1. New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans

1. New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans

1. New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans

1. New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans — If Phil Jackson could pull this one off, it would be highway robbery. The Knicks would give up Carmelo Anthony and Jose Calderon to the Pelicans, but would get Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Anthony Davis. The rest of the trade has Amar'e Stoudemire going to the Warriors for both of the Splash Brothers and Andre Iguodala, and Andrea Bargnani going to the Pistons for Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and D.J. Augustin.

For all things Thunder and much more, follow Dan McLoone on Twitter @CoachMcLoone or add him to your network on Google+.

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