Nearly a month in to the NBA season and some teams who were supposed to be really good are (Miami,
Chicago, OKC), some teams who were supposed to be good aren’t (Boston, New York) and some teams who weren’t supposed to make much noise (Philly, Indiana, the entire Northwest Division) have made a lot of noise so far. In short, everything has not gone to script. Having said that, let’s have some fun with ESPN’s Trade Machine.
Here are five trades that cold help teams that are struggling and need a change, looking to make a leap to the next level or looking to make one more run for a title. Our first trade tackles need for a change and looking to make one more run at a title.
Paul Pierce & Avery Bradley for Carmelo Anthony
We already know Danny Ainge is putting out feelers for any of the Big 3. Paul Pierce in a Knicks jersey certainly wouldn’t feel right but would Carmelo Anthony locked up for three more years after this season be enough to trade Pierce? Rondo, Melo and a ton of cap space are nice building blocks for life post Pierce, KG and Ray Allen. New York would get a guy who can match Melo’s production and run the point forward. Pierce would also play better with Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler than Anthony currently does. Would either team do it? It’s tough to say. Could either team’s fanbase stomach a Celtics-Knicks trade? Probably not.
Danny Granger & Dahntay Jones for Monta Ellis & Ekpe Udoh
The Granger and Ellis rumor has been out there and it’s not the first time. I think it makes more sense now than ever. The Pacers have been a very pleasant surprise so far but they lack a guy they can go to in the clutch. I think Danny Granger would like to be that guy, but he isn’t. Enter Monta Ellis. He’s what Bill Simmons would call an irrational confidence guy. Granger would be an upgrade over the Dorell Wright/Brandon Rush combo they have starting at small forward. Rush would either move to shooting guard or they could start rookie Klay Thompson. Either way, Golden State starts to look like more of a regular roster.
Anderson Varejao for Nicolas Batum, Luke Babbit and Elliot Williams
Byron Scott has already said they’d have to get a very good player back for Anderson Varejao to be traded. Nicolas Batum would be a nice piece for Kyrie Irving to lob alley-oops to or feed corner threes. The Blazers get some extra size to go with LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and whatever they get out of Greg Oden. Portland has Gerald Wallace and would like resign him, which would make Batum expendable. This trade would allow Cleveland to keep building around Irving and give Portland a frontline good enough to deal with anyone in the league.
Here’s something I noticed watching the San Antonio Spurs the other day. With Manu Ginobili out they’ve been running end of game plays for Gary Neal and Danny Green. It’s worked mostly because Pop is a genius at drawing up plays to get guys free. Tony Parker has been playing outside his mind in the last 10-14 days and they’re still not drawing up plays for him. When he does, he shoots step back 3’s over guys like Dwight Howard. Nash would be the perfect guy to run Pop’s end of game plays and when they’re drawn up for Ginobili he’s the perfect guy to hit a last second shot when the D collapses on Manu. If I’m a Spurs fan (full disclosure I am), I’m OK going to battle in the playoffs with Manu, Tim Duncan and Steve Nash even at their elevated ages. It also gives the Spurs an additional $11 million coming off the books this summer. Tony Parker would be better than any player the Suns are going to get for a Steve Nash rental. He’s an exciting player in his prime that will still fill some seats. Maybe someone throws a draft pick in somewhere, but this trade would give the Suns a younger, top 10 point guard to build around and give the Spurs a better point guard to make a final title run or two with.
Richard Jefferson & Danny Green for Stephen Jackson
Speaking of the Spurs, despite Richard Jefferson’s early hot shooting, let’s assume the Spurs aren’t pleased with their starting small forward. Stephen Jackson doesn’t appeared pleased with Milwaukee and Milwaukee doesn’t appear pleased with him. The dollar figures add up and Richard Jefferson isn’t a guy that would give Scott Skiles any headaches because of his attitude. Greg Popovich still speaks highly of Jackson and it’s hard to believe a locker room as strong as the Spurs’ could be affected by Jackson. There’s still the issue of Jackson wanting that extension though.
