The NBA trade deadline is right around the corner, and for the first time in a long time, there aren’t too many names being tossed around the rumor. Which means a bevy of trades could happen, because the ones that get completed are typically not leaked out to the public. Essentially, NBA trade deadline day circa 2015 could occur. Possibly. Maybe. Unlikely.
Here are a few teams that should make trades leading up to the 2017 NBA Trade deadline.
New York Knicks
The Knicks have been drama filled each week throughout the season staring multiple players, former players, management and ownership. It’s mayhem in the city that never sleeps and it’s time to reset for a team that look like it had a bright future coming into the season.
For starters, the Knicks should trade Carmelo Anthony. There are just two problems with moving him: Anthony needs to waive his no-trade clause and finding salaries that match-up with his $24.6M salary are a wholesome task. From reports, it looks like Anthony doesn’t want to be traded and his content being in New York, buts it’s just people in the front office such as Phil Jackson that want him gone. A trade is for sure possible, but with the trade deadline in a few days now and so much being required to make a deal work it might as well be deemed impossible now until the offseason.
Add onto that the recent rumblings about a possible Derrick Rose deal in the future, the Knicks could end up being a team that parts ways with some current players for future assets.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers broke up with Jahlil Okafor for a few days by sending him home, only to rekindle and get back together. The relationship between both sides has become weird with the emergence of Joel Embiid and him clearly becoming the face of the franchise, alongside Nerlens Noel, who at one point looked like he wanted nothing to do with Philly. Noel was supposed to be the odd man with the Okafor and Embiid pairing carrying the Sixers into the future.
Instead, Okafor has regressed in his sophomore year averaging 11.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 23 minutes per night. All of the aforementioned states are decreases from Okafor’s rookie season, showing that he’s really not needed with the front-court minutes primarily going to Embiid, Noel, Ersan Ilyasova and Dario Saric.
There were reports Philadelphia was on the verge of sending Okafor to Portland before talks fizzled and the Blazers instead acquired Jusuf Nurkic from Denver. Okafor was also linked to New Orleans, except, the deciding factor in a deal being done, according to reports was the inclusion of Buddy Hield.
Brooklyn Nets
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Nets have long wanted two first rounders for Brook Lopez. But the team has reportedly softened their stance for Lopez, also according to Marc Stein, and they are willing to take a first and second round pick for the big man. The price for Lopez, who’s averaging 20.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, might be a little high of an asking price. Maybe one first-rounder at best with a player attached along.
It isn’t exactly detailed which teams are interested in Lopez leading up the deadline, but Peter Vescey reports the Indiana Pacers are interested nine-year man, and typically around trade deadline time Lopez’s name is floated around. The Nets aren’t going anywhere anytime soon with the Boston Celtics owning their first-round picks for the next few years. Lopez has been healthy for the third straight season this and on the verge of hitting 30. This might be the right time for him to be dealt with his health and production at a steady rate.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets don’t need to make a trade as they’re currently holding the No. 8 spot out West. What they could do though is make a deal happen and not have the right of being the Warriors first opponent come playoff time.
Denver has already reportedly been linked to trades including sophomore guard Emmanuel Mudiay and veterans Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari. To make a deal for Mudiay would hopefully mean Denver would acquire another starting caliber guard in return. Mudiay hasn’t been the best this season and is current out with a back injury, and a trade might be tough with that and also management making a decision with the team in the playoff hunt.
It makes more sense to deal Gallinari or Chandler because both are starting caliber forwards and a decent package could be brought back in return, especially for Gallinari.
