5 MOAR TRADES THAT SHOULD HAPPEN: DEADLINE DAY

[Merv]

I just traded away a whole bunch of RP so I figured I might as well get some back and kickstart a few ideas around the league. This is another installment of my woefully under-RP'd series where I propose fake trades...that should happen. One time I proposed a trade that turned the Knicks into a monster with Chauncey Billups...so no Knicks trades anymore. This is probably the hardest fake trades article I've written. The bad teams are REAL bad. I think it all sets up for an electric offseason because I think there will be a lot of people trying to improve.

Trade #1: Timberwolves/Heat
TWolves Trade:
Ben Gordon
Jeff Green
2022 MIN FRP
2023 MIN FRP
2024 MIN FRP

Heat Trade:
Klay Thompson

These Wolves picks probably aren't the most valuable so I figured Pankin needs to toss in an extra one to make it work from a value perspective. Pankin should be able to work around Klay's deficient rebounding with Giannis' stellar boarding and adds a great SG to the mix that will probably skew low turnover as less of a featured option in the Wolves attack. Scoops starts an inevitable rebuild by trading piece #1 for some interesting future picks that come once the lotto is officially flattened.

Trade #2: Hawks/Nets
Hawks Trade:
Russell Westbrook
Skal Labissiere
2023 ATL FRP

Nets Trade:
Kemba Walker
Von Wafer
Vlatko Cancar
Ivan Rabb

Fun swing for both teams here. I think Kemba will be a much better fit with the outside oriented Hawks and comes with multiple years under contract. The Hawks move an underperforming Russ on an expiring with the interesting Skal Lab to the Nets. Russ finally gets to thrive in a balanced offense with AD and Blake Griffin and addresses the mediocre rebounding of the Nets wings.

Trade #3: Spurs/Lakers
Spurs Trade:
Dahntay Jones
2024 SAS FRP

Lakers Trade:
CJ McCollum
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Andrew Harrison
Bobby Portis

Jordo trades another FRP because the dude definitely has a problem. In return, he gets a SG that pairs well with Jaylen and Tyus, plus some interesting expiring pieces that he'll have bird rights on. It's probably an overpay but he's the Xtractor for a reason! Also, CJ McCollum is still nice and is sadly buried by the also apparently nice Gordon Hayward.

Trade #4: Jazz/Heat
Jazz Trade:
Nene
Darren Collison
2024 UTA FRP
700 RP

Heat Trade:
Damian Lillard
Jodie Meeks

I think the Jazz need a PG to truly compete in the Western Conference playoff race and this gets them an explosive scorer and continues Scoops asset accumulation. Why so many Miami trades? No one else has much to trade that isn't strongly competing or aggressively tanking. Dame is on a cost controlled deal and is pretty close to Mudiay's turnovers with way more upside.

Trade #5: Grizzlies/Rockets
Grizzlies Trade:
Jusuf Nurkic
Kris Dunn
2020 VAN FRP

Rockets Trade:
Ryan Anderson

Grizzlies have the front court depth to move Nurkic and get away with it. Here they turn his giant contract into Ryan Anderson who will be a prolific scorer for the Grizz as a starter or super sub depending on the matchup providing Josh with great flexibility to attack certain mismatches. Nolan gets some upside in Kris Dunn (Is he even good?) and maybe Nurk continues to develop and lives up to his deal. I think long term, Ryan Anderson works with Vancouver but is also more tradeable than Nurk if he doesn't.

Bonus Magic Trade
Magic Trade:
Al Horford
2020 ORL FRP
2023 ORL FRP
2024 ORL FRP
450 RP

Pacers Trade:
Andre Drummond

Tong says no

[Matt]

I made a better offer than that for Drummond!

[Josh]

Tong should say no to that! Drummond >>>>

[Tyler]

Damn I missed this earlier, love these types of articles

[Nav]

275 RP