Everyone loves good trade ideas. We get to speculate about who won, who got robbed, and how the new players will affect their new teams. However, this NBA season has been unusually quiet on the trading front. Due to so many teams with new rosters needing time to gel, GMs have been hesitant to break up their squads. As we pass the quarter mark of the season though, it is becoming clearer who the contenders and pretenders are. In this article, we analyze some possible trade Ideas for NBA contenders and sellers.
The Bucks Go All-In:
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Robert Covington
Minnesota Timberwolves receive: Ersan Ilyasova, Pat Connaughton, future 2nd round draft pick
Even though the Milwaukee Bucks have started off so well this year, don’t be shocked to see them attempt to upgrade their roster via trade. Obviously they want to win the championship this year, but possibly an even more important objective is to convince Giannis Antetokounmpoto to sign long term. They need to prove to Giannis that they will do whatever it takes to win.
Being aggressive in the trade market is one way to do that. In Covington, they would be receiving the prototypical three-and-D wing. Ro-Co would fit seamlessly into the Bucks lineup and would provide much-needed depth at SF. He is a long, versatile and switchy defender, which becomes even more valuable come playoff time. The only worry is that his three-point percentage is down a little this year at 35% (his career-high is 39%). Maybe a change of scenery and those wide-open looks that Giannis can produce with ease for his teammates can help him find his deep stroke.
On the other side, the T-Wolves can gain some financial flexibility, while still not totally mailing it in this season. It is clear that they will not win a championship this year, but they are not looking to actively tank either. Ilyasova and Connaughton are both capable players who can play alongside KAT and Wiggins and give them some shooting. With second-round picks becoming more and more valuable in the NBA lately, the T-Wolves would feel happy with their haul here. Although, if any team is willing to give up a first-rounder for Covington, they would absolutely prefer that.
The Mavericks become Sneaky Contenders:
Dallas Mavericks receive: Marcus Morris, future 2nd round draft pick
New York Knicks receive: Courtney Lee, 2020 1st round draft pick
The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the most pleasant surprises so far this season. They are currently third in the Western Conference sitting at an impressive 18-8. Luka Doncic is playing at an MVP level. They have a legit second star in Kristaps Porzingis, a championship-winning coach in Rick Carlisle, and an above-average supporting cast. Is it well past time that we consider them true championship contenders? I think it is.
Mark Cuban is always aggressive, and with this move, he could shore up their biggest hole on the roster at SF. Dorian Finney-Smith is filling in admirably but is better suited for a role off the bench. Enter Marcus Morris, who is having a career year. He is averaging a career-high 18.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 3.5 fights per game. (I definitely made this up, but feels about right). The real reason the Mavs want him though, is that he is shooting a scorching 47.3% from deep. The three-pointer is king in today’s NBA. Morris would bring enough toughness, defense, and shooting to really help the Mavs make some noise in the playoffs this year.
The Knicks; where to start. Well, there isn’t much to say other than that they are tanking (once again). Everyone on their roster besides RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and maybe Kevin Knox should be available via trade. They need picks more than players right now, and would be happy to ship out Morris for the Maverick’s first-rounder. It may end up being a pretty late first-round pick, but still better than letting Morris walk for nothing as a free agent this off-season.
The Blazers Replace Rodney Hood
Portland Trail Blazers: Alec Burks
Golden State Warriors receive: 2020 2nd round draft pick
Oh, how times have changed. The Warriors are now sellers only a quarter of the way through the season. The Blazers, on the other hand, are still trying to compete this year. They have struggled out of the gate, but they are notorious for getting hot late in the season and into the playoffs.
However, they recently just lost Rodney Hood for the year to a ruptured Achilles tendon. Hood had been a key cog in the Blazer’s rotation this year. He was playing 29 minutes per game, only behind Dame Lillard and CJ McCollum in that category before he was injured. The signing of Carmelo Anthony has helped, but they could still benefit from picking up another guard capable of filling in for Hood.
Enter Alec Burks. The veteran guard is having a great year with the Warriors, serving as a spark off the bench. With a career-high 15.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3 APG, and a solid 36% shooting from three, Burks could help out a lot of teams.
The Warriors already have their sights set on next season. Even though Burks has been one of their best players this year, they would be smart to flip him for a draft pick. One reason is that Burks has played so well this year that he has probably priced himself out of the Warriors long term plans. He has earned himself a pretty decent contract in free agency next year, and the Warriors most likely won’t have that kind of money to spend.
The Heat Get a Little Crazy:
Miami Heat receive: Blake Griffin, future 2nd round draft pick
Detroit Pistons receive: Goran Dragic, Kelly Olynyk, Derrick Jones Jr., 2020 1st round draft pick
Hear me out. Let me preface this trade idea by saying I actually don’t think that it would be a smart move for the Heat. However, Pat Riley is always an extremely aggressive executive, so don’t be shocked if he makes a big move this season.
The Heat have been great so far, but some feel that they might not be a legit contender since they are depending on so many young, unproven players. Riley may feel a little nervous trusting young guys like Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Bam Adebayo in the playoffs. So he goes out and gets a veteran, proven star to pair with Jimmy Butler.
Personally, I think it would be a mistake. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and the Heat definitely ain’t broke. They should ride it out and allow their young core to gain valuable experience this season. It could pay off big time long term. Having a playoff-tested, young core around Jimmy Butler sounds much more appealing than having to deal with Griffin’s huge contract. Blake is no doubt a great talent, but with his injury concerns, he is not worth the risk.
A few other names to look out for on the trading block:
- Chris Paul
- JJ Reddick
- Danilo Gallinari
- Aaron Gordon
- Any Knicks player (besides Barrett, Mitch-Rob and Knox)
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