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

Bojan is So Gone

It’s no secret that the Rockets like to shoot 3s, as they are currently chucking the long ball up nearly 40 times a game, currently averaging 39.9 a game.

While D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense had the Rockets run out to a great start (33-12), they have gone 5-5 over their last 10, and could look to bolster their depth to position themselves in a more favorable spot come playoff time.

The Nets, on the other hand, hold the NBA’s worst record at 9-44, and have recently suffered a host of injuries over the past couple of weeks to guys like Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, and Quincy Acy. With all due respect to the aforementioned players, it wouldn’t be a deathblow to really many other teams (if any) if those guys weren’t playing; but it’s forced Atkinson to rely more heavily on the stopgap veterans upper management signed this season. The result? A 9-44 record, and not much hope for the future.

I’ll save you the narrative on how the Celtics robbed the Nets of their hopes and dreams, but the Nets do have interesting prospects in guys like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (who has spent some time at the 4 recently), Caris LeVert, and Isaiah Whitehead.

Oh and the Nets have the ever consistent* offensive force in Brook Lopez; who, by the way, many teams are interested in (again), but teams aren’t too interested in giving up two first rounders for the big man. He’ll probably stay in Brooklyn unless they get blown away with an offer.

One guy that the Nets should consider moving is Bojan Bogdanovic, who is averaging career highs in nearly every statistical category: 14.4 PPG (compared to a career 11.2 average), 3.5 TRPG (compared to 3.1), and 1.7 APG (compared to 1.2) on a 52.3 eFG%. Not bad for a guy who’s only played for Brooklyn for his (short but) entire NBA career.

Oh, did I mention he’s shooting a blistering 47.5% from the corner 3 spot?

D’Antoni’s offense is focused on driving guards and kicking out to shooters. Why not add a guy who would just have to (presumably) stand in the corner and shoot open 3s?

Before I go on, here’s the potential trade:

Hamilton was signed to a largely unnoticed contract of 2 years, $6 mil to be a stretch 5…. and has rewarded the Nets with a  29.9 3PT%. Wait, what?

While Hamilton hasn’t panned out in Brooklyn, I think he would do a lot better shooting uncontested looks with the Beard passing to him; and there are few cheaper options that offer the upside Hamilton does.

The Rockets get rid of Brewer’s contract (that he hasn’t really been given an opportunity to prove), since he’s only averaging 15.4 MPG, and has fallen out of D’Antoni’s rotation in favor of second-year man Sam Dekker.

Brooklyn on the other hand adds another veteran presence, and a guy that’s only a few years removed from a 51-point explosion against….. (you guessed it!) the Houston Rockets.

If Brewer doesn’t like his new digs, he’s a free agent in two years(?)