Although we’ve already witnessed quite a
few trades in the 2013-2014 NBA season, the action should ramp up even
more at the Feb. 20 deadline,right after the All-Star break.
few trades in the 2013-2014 NBA season, the action should ramp up even
more at the Feb. 20 deadline,right after the All-Star break.
With very little knowledge about
which teams are buyers and which teams are sellers, mutually beneficial deals
should be available for teams that want to make a move.
which teams are buyers and which teams are sellers, mutually beneficial deals
should be available for teams that want to make a move.
In particular, teams with expiring
contracts that are looking to make the playoffs may be ready to cash in on
those deals and bring on a player to help make a final push. For teams that are
in “tank” mode, selling off players for any future asset makes sense.
contracts that are looking to make the playoffs may be ready to cash in on
those deals and bring on a player to help make a final push. For teams that are
in “tank” mode, selling off players for any future asset makes sense.
With that in mind, here’s a look at
five of the most likely teams to make a trade before Feb. 20.
five of the most likely teams to make a trade before Feb. 20.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
As a team with a sub-.500 record, the Charlotte Bobcats
don’t have the traditional profile of a “buyer” at the deadline.
don’t have the traditional profile of a “buyer” at the deadline.
Given the shaky state of the Eastern
Conference and the unexpected performance of Charlotte’s defense under
first-year head coach Steve Clifford, though, the Bobcats could be looking to
add some offensive firepower to make a playoff push.
Conference and the unexpected performance of Charlotte’s defense under
first-year head coach Steve Clifford, though, the Bobcats could be looking to
add some offensive firepower to make a playoff push.
Charlotte is currently 27th in
offensive efficiency but sixth in defensive efficiency. Finding a scorer or two
shouldn’t be all that difficult, as the team has all of its future draft picks
beyond this year to deal.
offensive efficiency but sixth in defensive efficiency. Finding a scorer or two
shouldn’t be all that difficult, as the team has all of its future draft picks
beyond this year to deal.
Aside from the picks, the Bobcats can
offer a trading partner plenty of cap relief with Ben Gordon’s expiring deal
worth $13.2 million.
offer a trading partner plenty of cap relief with Ben Gordon’s expiring deal
worth $13.2 million.
According to Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com, many around the league have pegged the
Bobcats as a buyer at the deadline.
Bobcats as a buyer at the deadline.
Whether they are willing to give up
future cap space or draft picks for a playoff appearance is yet to be seen, but
this summer’s signing of Al Jefferson would indicate that
Charlotte might be ready to have some real success as soon as possible.
future cap space or draft picks for a playoff appearance is yet to be seen, but
this summer’s signing of Al Jefferson would indicate that
Charlotte might be ready to have some real success as soon as possible.
And with the recent emergence of Jefferson, the Bobcats might find some key pieces to fit in with him in an unexpected playoff bound team like the Bobcats.
The Bobcats are currently clinging on the last spot in the East with a 22-29 record, thanks to a strong performance by Big Al.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
The Philadelphia 76ers are quite clearly
playing for lottery balls at this point, so it would make sense that veteran
center Spencer Hawes and swingman Evan Turner would be available at the
deadline. ESPN’s Marc Stein has a thought with what the asking
price for either player may be.
playing for lottery balls at this point, so it would make sense that veteran
center Spencer Hawes and swingman Evan Turner would be available at the
deadline. ESPN’s Marc Stein has a thought with what the asking
price for either player may be.
Stein’s said that getting a first-round pick for
Hawes or Turner is going to be difficult, but it’s not a completely
unattainable goal. Hawes could be nothing more than a rental for an acquiring
team due to his unrestricted status in free agency, but 7-foot centers who
shoot 41 percent from behind the arc don’t come around all that often.
Hawes or Turner is going to be difficult, but it’s not a completely
unattainable goal. Hawes could be nothing more than a rental for an acquiring
team due to his unrestricted status in free agency, but 7-foot centers who
shoot 41 percent from behind the arc don’t come around all that often.
Hawes fills a very specific
niche, which should make him the more attractive acquisition.
niche, which should make him the more attractive acquisition.
That being said, any team that
trades for Turner will have the ability to match any offer he receives in
restricted free agency. That might not seem like a huge deal, but at least any
team giving up a first-round pick will know it can keep him on the roster going
forward.
trades for Turner will have the ability to match any offer he receives in
restricted free agency. That might not seem like a huge deal, but at least any
team giving up a first-round pick will know it can keep him on the roster going
forward.
Whether any team really wants
to acquire Turner is another question entirely. Further, there’s a strong
possibility Philadelphia won’t offer Turner a qualifying offer this offseason,
which would make him unrestricted and available to sign wherever he pleases.
Teams may be better off waiting the Sixers out.
to acquire Turner is another question entirely. Further, there’s a strong
possibility Philadelphia won’t offer Turner a qualifying offer this offseason,
which would make him unrestricted and available to sign wherever he pleases.
Teams may be better off waiting the Sixers out.
We’ll see if Philadelphia
lowers the asking price, but perhaps the Sixers can at least acquire the option
to swap picks with a team down the line as a secondary option.
lowers the asking price, but perhaps the Sixers can at least acquire the option
to swap picks with a team down the line as a secondary option.
The Sixers are in the 12th spot in the East with a dismal 15-36 record and most likely to miss the Playoffs.
PHOENIX SUNS
The Phoenix Suns should be another buyer, even if getting
Eric Bledsoe back in the lineup will almost certainly be the biggest
acquisition.
Eric Bledsoe back in the lineup will almost certainly be the biggest
acquisition.
It seems like
the Suns are plenty capable of doing damage in the postseason at full strength,
but there are holes to fill, particularly in the frontcourt. Suns GM Ryan
McDonough has also gone on record about possibly wanting to make a move.
the Suns are plenty capable of doing damage in the postseason at full strength,
but there are holes to fill, particularly in the frontcourt. Suns GM Ryan
McDonough has also gone on record about possibly wanting to make a move.
The Suns are surprisingly sixth in the West with a 30-20 record.
Luckily, the Suns have one of the very best trade chips in
the league thanks to Emeka Okafor’s expiring deal worth $14.4 million.
the league thanks to Emeka Okafor’s expiring deal worth $14.4 million.
The thing about Okafor’s deal is that
any team that acquires it will only have to pay 20 percent of his remaining
salary, as insurance will cover the rest due to Okafor’s neck injury.
any team that acquires it will only have to pay 20 percent of his remaining
salary, as insurance will cover the rest due to Okafor’s neck injury.
By moving Okafor, the Suns have the
chance to turn zero contribution into something substantial. So long as general
manager Ryan McDonough can convince ownership that whomever he’s acquiring will
be worth the passed-up salary savings, the Suns should be able to find someone
out there who fits the bill.
chance to turn zero contribution into something substantial. So long as general
manager Ryan McDonough can convince ownership that whomever he’s acquiring will
be worth the passed-up salary savings, the Suns should be able to find someone
out there who fits the bill.
Whether it’s a
big piece like Pau
Gasol or something
smaller, expect the Suns to buy at the deadline.
big piece like Pau
Gasol or something
smaller, expect the Suns to buy at the deadline.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are in need of a trade. General
manager Joe Dumars is in the final year of his contract, and his team is
currently on the outside of the playoff picture in the ugly Eastern Conference.
manager Joe Dumars is in the final year of his contract, and his team is
currently on the outside of the playoff picture in the ugly Eastern Conference.
They are 21-29 but they still have a big chance of making it the the Playoffs because they are in the 9th place behind Charlotte.
With Greg Monroe likely demanding a
max offer in restricted free agency this offseason, Dumars may need to take
advantage of a few assets and possibly make the playoffs in order to keep his
job.
max offer in restricted free agency this offseason, Dumars may need to take
advantage of a few assets and possibly make the playoffs in order to keep his
job.
Would the
Pistons actually consider moving Monroe to add shooting on the wing and a
better fit next to Josh Smith and Andre
Drummond? According to ESPN’s Marc Stein,
maybe not yet.
Pistons actually consider moving Monroe to add shooting on the wing and a
better fit next to Josh Smith and Andre
Drummond? According to ESPN’s Marc Stein,
maybe not yet.
Even if a Monroe deal isn’t in the cards, the Pistons
still have other means to acquire the badly needed wing help. Rodney Stuckey
and Charlie Villanueva are both on expiring deals worth $8.5 million, which
could bring back an established player.
still have other means to acquire the badly needed wing help. Rodney Stuckey
and Charlie Villanueva are both on expiring deals worth $8.5 million, which
could bring back an established player.
Unless the Pistons can finish as one
of the league’s worst eight teams, their 2014 first-round pick is headed to the
Charlotte Bobcats. Right now, they are hovering right in the middle of that
point and the playoffs.
of the league’s worst eight teams, their 2014 first-round pick is headed to the
Charlotte Bobcats. Right now, they are hovering right in the middle of that
point and the playoffs.
Given Dumars’ and Monroe’s contract
situation, it would be a surprise if the Pistons didn’t buy at the deadline,
even if it were just for a minor piece.
situation, it would be a surprise if the Pistons didn’t buy at the deadline,
even if it were just for a minor piece.
But the Pistons fired coach Maurice Cheeks on Sunday after less than a year as coach, with the Pistons languishing well below .500 despite offseason moves aimed at putting the struggling franchise back in contention.
A person with knowledge of Detroit’s plans said assistant John Loyer will take over as interim coach. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced an interim coach yet.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Sacramento Kings likely already made this year’s
biggest trade by acquiring Rudy Gay from the Toronto Raptors, but the work here
is far from done.
biggest trade by acquiring Rudy Gay from the Toronto Raptors, but the work here
is far from done.
It’s a little hard to define
Sacramento’s role going into the deadline, as the team could be a buyer and a
seller simultaneously. With no cap space coming this offseason, Sacramento may
look to make another big acquisition at the deadline instead while also
swapping out bad fits for good ones.
Sacramento’s role going into the deadline, as the team could be a buyer and a
seller simultaneously. With no cap space coming this offseason, Sacramento may
look to make another big acquisition at the deadline instead while also
swapping out bad fits for good ones.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the
Kings try to dump Jason Thompson, Carl Landry or Marcus Thornton. They have
plenty of room to upgrade on the wing and in the frontcourt, and none of those
players may be seen as viable solutions, especially considering their contract
lengths and sizes.
Kings try to dump Jason Thompson, Carl Landry or Marcus Thornton. They have
plenty of room to upgrade on the wing and in the frontcourt, and none of those
players may be seen as viable solutions, especially considering their contract
lengths and sizes.
The Kings have certainly been active
over the last few months, and it would be a surprise if that didn’t hold true
at the deadline
over the last few months, and it would be a surprise if that didn’t hold true
at the deadline
— with reports from BleacherReport.com
