What each Western Conference contender needs to address ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline.
The second half the season is underway and it figures to be stout competition up at the top of the NBA’s Western Conference. During the midseason doldrums of the NBA season, the trade deadline and the buyout market provide contenders one last opportunity to add to their roster for a strong playoff push.
Whether it be a superstar or an end-of-the-rotation player just filling in productive minutes, sometimes mid-season moves like these are just what a team needs to get them over the top (ex. Rasheed Wallace to the Pistons in 2004, Pau Gasol to the Lakers in 2008).
I believe there are six or seven teams in the West who have a decent shot to make the conference finals or even the NBA Finals. Each of these teams is not perfect, it might need some final roster adjustments in preparation for the grueling summer NBA playoffs.
Let’s look at some of these contending teams and examine what they need.