NBA: 13 Western Conference Trades That Need To Happen Before The Deadline

Jan 21, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 123-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 123-98. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

Don’t Interrupt, Rude……-y

Yeah, that one wasn’t great, but that’s what I had said.

When Rudy Gay ruptured his Achilles, just about everyone thought the KANGZ’ playoffs hopes went down with him. I beg to differ.

9 out of the Kangz’ next 13 games are winnable. They do play Golden State, Washington, and the Spurs in that span, but also play teams like Brooklyn, the Lakers, and the Nuggets (3 times!!). While they could just as easily lose them, they are only 2 games out of 8th place; and Portland and Denver have been struggling recently.

If the Kings really want to make playoffs, they may have to do it at the expense of letting another team snatch up a top-10 SF. Yeah, that’s right! TOP. 10.

For all you Rudy Gay haters, he sports a career 48.6 eFG% for those of you that thinks he shoots too much. In fact, he was averaging a 50.2 eFG% before he went down.

Gay also was shooting a very nice 37.2% from 3; second best mark in his career (39.6% back in 2010-11 with Memphis.) Bottom line: he can ball efficiently, and while an Achilles tear is a scary injury for any basketball player, I think he’ll come back strong and motivated…. for the Clippers.

Why would the Clippers, who some still consider a championship-caliber team, trade away most of their production off the bench; and one of those players also happens to be Doc River’s son?

Well, honestly, I just have a gut feeling that Doc is tired and worn and is going to give in and tank. While it would without a doubt be the most unexpected move of the NBA season (unless LeBron trades himself), I just think that Paul coming back won’t do anything. I think they lose in the first round, and then lose 1-2 of Redick, Paul, and Griffin, some way, somehow.

Acquiring Gay is the first step in this direction, and won’t have anyone to compete with when he comes back next season barring a major FA acquisition by Doc and Co.

The KANGZ are smart for once and pick up two solid role players who are better than guys like Garrett Temple (solid but old) and Matt Barnes (may be in prison soon).

All in all, a win-win.