NBA: 15 Eastern Conference Trades That Need To Happen Before The Deadline

The Cs Climb a Mile Higher

Side note: I’m going to try and come up with a clever name for all of these trades. So far I don’t think I’m doing that well. 

The Celtics are currently sitting as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings, partly because they have that caliber of a roster, and party because the Raptors have been struggling as of late. Regardless, the Cs are currently ranked 28th in TRB per game, 22nd in ORB per game, and 26th in DREB per game. The bottom line is they need rebounding help if they want to contend for a title. While the Cs have been linked to big names like Blake Griffin, Serge Ibaka, and Carmelo Anthony, I don’t think they need to aim space high. Instead, they should only look a mile high.

Enter: Kenneth Faried.

Denver has its own first-round pick for this year’s draft, in addition to two additional second-round picks from Memphis and OKC. They did send their own second-round pick to Houston, but their additional picks from Memphis and OKC make up for that ‘loss’.

Boston has three picks in the second-round in this year’s draft, so if Denver really wanted to they could nab one of those selections in this hypothetical deal. Otherwise, they’re not going to be getting any of the Nets’ picks, so they might as well try to capitalize on any opportunity to get future assets with Gallinari’s impending free agency after this season; and Darrell Arthur and Wilson Chandler’s players options in 2018. (Chandler has recently admitted he wants to get traded after losing his spot in the starting 5, so he could be gone long before 2018 rolls around).

Faried is currently averaging 9.9 PPG to go with 8.0 RPG, which is pretty impressive considering he’s only averaging 22.3 MPG, which is slightly lower than the average minutes he played in his rookie season (22.5). Faried would certainly be a starter in Beantown, so give him closer to starter’s minutes (30-36), and I’m sure he could average his projected 12.8 RPG with his per-36 stats.

Johnson, in contrast, is only averaging 20.1 MPG, despite being one of the mainstays in Stevens’ rotation. While he wouldn’t be a game-changer for a Nuggets squad that’s fighting to make playoffs, his expiring contract and getting Faried’s off the books would help create more minutes for guys like the recently-extended Darrell Arthur, and take a look at interesting prospects like Jarnell Stokes, Johnny O’Bryant, and Juan Hernangomez.

While this is more of a forward thinking move for Denver, and benefits Boston slightly more, I think it’s exactly the type of move both squads should be looking to do at this year’s trade deadline.

Side note: ESPN’s Trade Machine said this move increases Boston’s win total by 5, while decreasing Denver’s by 5.