NBA Trade Rumors: 8 trades that we need to see happen at the deadline.
NBA trade season is here and we’re already beginning to see a number of big names in the rumor mill. Whether any of those big names actually end up being traded remains to be seen, but we could be on the verge of another active trade deadline in the NBA again.
There are many playoff contenders and trade sellers that will be active over the course of the next few weeks and it could open the door for some big deals. Maybe not on the same magnitude as what we saw in January when James Harden was traded, but even in a season unlike any other, the trade deadline could be memorable.
From Victor Oladipo to John Collins, we explore eight trades that we want to see happen at the NBA Trade Deadline this season.
Victor Oladipo to the Heat
Victor Oladipo will finally make his way to the Miami Heat. I hope this is a sentence we are able to write at the NBA Trade Deadline, but nonetheless, this is a move that I believe many want to see take place over the course of the next few weeks.
I know the Houston Rockets will be willing to move Oladipo for the right price. They’d be foolish not to. You have to assume that the Rockets will be looking for future picks in exchange for Oladipo. Miami doesn’t have that at their disposal but what they do have is a couple of talented players that could work as pseudo draft picks.
A couple of those players that the Heat could include are Precious Achiuwa and Kendrick Nunn. Those two players would be the central part of this deal and would return P.J. Tucker and Oladipo to the Heat.
You’d have to throw in a couple of other players to make the money work, but that’s something that Miami shouldn’t worry about as long as they get to valuable rotation players that could help take this thing to the next level.
Zach LaVine to New York
The New York Knicks have been reportedly monitoring the Zach LaVine situation for what feels like the past two seasons, hoping that the Chicago Bulls would be willing to trade him at some point. Could that be at the NBA Trade Deadline this year?
If so, the Knicks should be all over that possibility. Even though LaVine has one year remaining on his contract after this season, the fact that the Bulls continue to struggle and can’t seem to find an identity could open the possibility that LaVine will leave in free agency once he gets an opportunity to.
To avoid losing him for nothing, it would be wise for the Bulls to see what they can get for him on the open market. The Knicks could send Obi Toppin (the team’s top 10 pick from the 2020 NBA Draft), which would be essentially a first-round pick, and an additional future first-round pick, and a player like Frank Ntilikina to make it all work.
Chicago likely has other deals that they need to make at the NBA Trade Deadline but getting essentially two first-round picks for LaVine, who could be on his way out anyway, wouldn’t be the worst return.
Kyle Lowry to the Clippers
Despite how good the LA Clippers look on any given night, I can’t help but think that this team still might be a player away from being a true contender that could knock off the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference.
One potential addition that the team could possibly make at the NBA Trade Deadline is Kyle Lowry. Lowry is in the final year of his contract with the Toronto Raptors and there’s no guarantee that he’s going to want to re-sign with the team during the offseason. If Toronto wants to try to get something in return for this star guard, there’s a chance that they could move him at the deadline.
The Clippers don’t have much to offer in terms of a trade, but they could throw-in a few players that should help the Raptors stay afloat as a playoff team in the Eastern Conference while also giving them flexibility for the future.
J.J. Redick to Philly
J.J. Redick to the Philadelphia 76ers makes a lot of sense, even though he may want to be in Brooklyn or New York. I am not sure the Knicks will be willing to throw in a first-round pick for Redick and Brooklyn is simply all out of assets at this point.
That’s where Daryl Morey in the Philadelphia 76ers could swoop in and bring Redick back to where he originally belongs. The team never should’ve let him go a couple of seasons ago and it would be great for him to come back and potentially win a title this season in Philadelphia.
The Sixers have been one of the most consistent teams in the Eastern Conference and will be one of the few teams that many believe can beat the Brooklyn Nets in a seven-game series. Adding all the rotation experience that they can get at the trade deadline will be essential for this team heading into the postseason.
Aaron Gordon to Golden State
I know management has already said that Andrew Wiggins will not be traded at the NBA Trade Deadline, or at least made it seem that way; you can never predict what will happen in the NBA.
The Golden State Warriors are truly a playoff team but could use an added bonus or shove in the right direction heading into the playoff push. One potential fit is Aaron Gordon. His athleticism and versatile ability would be a great fit for Golden State and what they like to do on both ends of the floor.
The Warriors would send Andrew Wiggins to Orlando where he could grow with that team’s young core, while Golden State would absorb Gordon as they attempt to put together another run to the NBA Finals. Gordon might not be a player that dramatically shifts the ceiling for this team but certainly one that would both benefit from playing with this organization and with Stephen Curry and one that would help the team at the same time.
Lonzo Ball to Chicago
Lonzo Ball could end up being the biggest name that is moved at the NBA Trade Deadline and there are many teams that should be interested in acquiring the talented (still) young guard. One potential landing spot that I love is the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls could throw a future first-round pick and a salary filler such as Thaddeus Young to give New Orleans some financial flexibility, which they’ll need when they begin to extend some of their young stars.
New Orleans would be happy to get a first-round pick for Lonzo, who they likely won’t end up re-signing any way during the offseason. This is more about getting something before losing a player for nothing during the offseason for Chicago.
Buddy Hield to Dallas
Buddy Hield is already one of the better shooters in the NBA and would be an even better one playing next to Luka Doncic. This is the deal that I might like the most of any that could take place in the weeks leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline.
With the rise of Tyrese Haliburton, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Sacramento Kings move on from Hield (who at times has provided more questions than answers for this team). A backcourt combination of Hield and Doncic could be one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the league.
Even though they’d leave something to be desired on the defensive end, it’s certainly one that could help jumpstart the Dallas Mavericks. They desperately need a wake-up call and this could be the move that gets it done.
John Collins to the Spurs
The Atlanta Hawks haven’t been as good as many expected them to be after all the additions that they made during the offseason and the San Antonio Spurs have been a bit better than expected. Perhaps there’s a trade between these two teams that would help them?
If so, perhaps it’s one that involves essentially swapping DeMar DeRozan and John Collins. The Hawks likely aren’t going to give Collins the max extension that he’s going to command on the open market and the Spurs probably will let DeMar DeRozan walk in free agency.
San Antonio would get another young, exciting piece in John Collins (who I would love to see work with Gregg Popovich) and the Hawks would get a win-now player (and perhaps rental) in DeMar DeRozan to help them with the playoff push.