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Seven big NBA trades we want to see
Our NBA experts give seven trades that could work, including 12 teams, multiple All-Stars and valuable first-round picks.
Which deals should teams pursue heading into Thursday's 2020 NBA trade deadline? Is there a move out there that could strengthen a contender with a key player?
Trade season has been relatively quiet -- with only a few teams making mostly minor moves -- but that could change this week. As ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote Monday, "Things always perk up this week."
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Our NBA experts give seven trades that could work, including 12 teams, multiple All-Stars and valuable first-round draft picks.
MORE: NBA trade talk and what might happen before the deadline
The Wolves get their point guard
Minnesota Timberwolves get: D'Angelo Russell, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson
Golden State Warriors get: Andrew Wiggins, Indiana's lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick, Minnesota's 2020 first-round pick and Minnesota's 2020 second-round pick
Milwaukee Bucks get: Robert Covington
Bobby Marks: There are a lot of moving parts here.
Let's start with the Timberwolves, who acquire their point guard of the future in Russell (under contract through 2022-23). The price is rich, but remember that this draft is looking average, at best, and the Wolves are not going to fill the void at point guard in free agency.
If there is any hesitancy, it would come from the Warriors, who list Russell as a prized trade asset. They simply could wait until next season and evaluate how Russell fits alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. However, the return value of two first-round picks and a high-value second-rounder is too hard to turn down. Of course, Wiggins is the wild card based on his contract and inconsistency.
The Bucks get one of the deadline's most coveted players in Covington. The versatile defender gives head coach Mike Budenholzer plenty of options and comes at a minimal cost.
Rockets add 3-and-D help
Houston Rockets get: Covington and Alex Len
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Jabari Parker, Damian Jones and Brooklyn's lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick
Atlanta Hawks get: Clint Capela and Nene Hilario
Kevin Pelton: If the Rockets and Hawks are serious about a Capela trade, as our Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday, this kind of three-team construction makes sense.
It yields Houston a quality 3-and-D wing on a strong contract and a center capable of sopping up minutes, while also taking the Rockets far enough out of the tax to shop the buyout market. Meanwhile, Atlanta gets its pick-and-roll partner for Trae Young, one who fits better and has a better contract than the other centers potentially available (Steven Adams and Andre Drummond).
The big question is appropriate draft compensation. Would Brooklyn's first-round pick be enough for the Timberwolves to make a deal but not too much for the Hawks to give up? I think it's in the right ballpark.
Bonus trade: I'd also encourage the Rockets to offer the Detroit Pistons their remaining second-round picks (the better of Houston's and Philadelphia's in 2021 and the Rockets' own pick in 2023) and one of their minimum-salary players for Christian Wood, who would help fill the void left by Capela's departure and could be re-signed using early Bird rights as a free agent this summer.
Boston goes big
Boston Celtics get: Capela
Houston Rockets get: Covington and Daniel Theis
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Vincent Poirier, Romeo Langford, Nene and Memphis' 2020 first round pick
Tim Bontemps: Everybody wins here.
Let's start with Houston. Not only does this return a mobile center in Theis plus a solid 3-and-D wing in Covington, it would get Houston completely out of the luxury tax. Both Covington and Theis remain on reasonable contracts next season, too.
Boston gets Capela without having to give up any of its impact perimeter players. Capela is young and on a very good contract. Plus, Boston will gain two open roster spots to use in the buyout market.
And Minnesota comes away with a solid first-rounder as well as Langford, who was the No. 14 pick in last June's draft. It seems unlikely Minnesota will be able to get a better haul than that for Covington.
Nuggets get CP3
Denver Nuggets get: Chris Paul
Oklahoma City Thunder get: Gary Harris, Will Barton and Juan Hernangomez
André Snellings: This is what it looks like if Denver goes all-in for a championship push.
Paul is one of the best floor generals in the league, ranking third among point guards in real plus-minus (RPM), and would allow the Nuggets to move Jamal Murray to an off-ball scorer role. The Nuggets run a lot of on-ball picks with Nikola Jokic (he is 13th with 827 direct picks set, according to Second Spectrum), and Paul is excellent at using screens.
The Thunder have two young lead guards ready to lead the team in Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but OKC is in the NBA's bottom five in 3-pointers made (10.6 per game). Harris and Barton would add shooting and scoring and would help the Thunder's playoff drive this season while remaining young enough, at ages 25 and 29, respectively, to be major contributors when OKC is ready to contend.
The contender challenge trade
LA Clippers get: Joel Embiid and Atlanta's 2020 second-round pick
Philadelphia 76ers get: Paul George
Andrew Han: Are the Clippers concerned about Nikola Jokic? Anthony Davis? Rim protection? The most dominant big man in the league would solve a lot of those problems. Granted, there are injury and longevity concerns for Embiid, but the Clippers are already entrenched in an injury-management protocol for Kawhi Leonard that the young center can join. The swap of star wing to star center shortens a crunchtime rotation to Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, Montrezl Harrell, Leonard and Embiid, with Lou Williams in the scorer's slot.
For the Sixers, the question of whether Embiid and Ben Simmons can play at maximum efficiency next to each other persists. Al Horford has struggled this season playing next to another big. While it could sort out on its own, the introduction of PG-13 immediately balances the lineup. (Simmons, Josh Richardson, George, Tobias Harris and Horford would be the projected starters.) Philly gets a premier, two-way wing who can shoot, create shots and take the burden off of Simmons' shoulders while complementing the young point guard's game in a way that will always be imperfect for Embiid.
Los Angeles will end up with a favorable second-round pick for its troubles, primarily because it isn't a move the Clippers have to make. They sit second in the Western Conference with little to no practices and a roster that hasn't been healthy. Meanwhile, the Sixers are inconsistent in the East and are in danger of not having home-court advantage in the first round -- a dire outcome for a team that felt it was a Leonard shot away from playing for a championship.
A Lakers upgrade
New York Knicks get: Avery Bradley, DeMarcus Cousins and Kyle Kuzma
Los Angeles Lakers get: Marcus Morris
Pelton: I think Morris should be atop the Lakers' list of targets this week. While they certainly could use a playmaking upgrade, I don't think any of the realistic options (headlined by Derrick Rose) work well playing off the ball next to LeBron James. Additionally, the Lakers might be able to sign Darren Collison as a free agent after Wojnarowski reported last month that the veteran point guard is planning to return to the NBA. Collison retired last summer, but he hopes to sign with either the Lakers or Clippers.
Because the Lakers can't trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope -- or JaVale McGee -- without their agreement (owing to the fact that they were re-signed to what could be one-year deals, if they decline 2020-21 player options), the Lakers probably would either have to trade 4-for-1 (including Quinn Cook and one of their minimum-salary players) or send out starting shooting guard Bradley to match salary for Morris. Given the possibility of filling those open roster spots in the buyout market, I still think giving up Bradley is palatable in order to get a more complete player capable of finishing games for the Lakers -- especially given the likelihood they could re-sign Morris this summer.
Conversely, despite indications that the Knicks might want to bring Morris back on a new deal, they'd be better off trading him now. Morris is shooting a career-high 44% from 3-point range this season, and he'll be 31 by the start of the 2020-21 season, so it's unlikely his value will be this high at next year's trade deadline. With a favorable contract that pays him just $3.6 million next year ahead of an extension or restricted free agency, I think Kuzma is a better return than the Clippers' first-round pick, unless New York could deal Maurice Harkless for additional value.
Clippers add another piece
New York Knicks get: Harkless, Clippers' 2020 first-round pick and Detroit's 2021 second-round pick
LA Clippers get: Morris
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Derrick Walton Jr., Clippers' 2020 second-round pick
Marks: On paper, this is a steep price for the Clippers to acquire Morris -- multiple picks, a rotation player and a luxury tax bill. But the Clippers are in win-now mode, and Morris gives them a helpful scoring option. It also opens up a roster spot to pursue Collison in free agency, and the Clippers could sign Morris for up to $18 million in the offseason when he becomes a free agent.
For the Knicks, acquiring two good draft picks helps make up for a summer of missed opportunities. And because the Clippers are sending out $11 million in salary and taking back $15 million, Minnesota is recruited as a third team, receiving a nice consolation in draft compensation.
Trade season has been relatively quiet -- with only a few teams making mostly minor moves -- but that could change this week. As ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote Monday, "Things always perk up this week."
ADVERTISEMENT
Our NBA experts give seven trades that could work, including 12 teams, multiple All-Stars and valuable first-round draft picks.
MORE: NBA trade talk and what might happen before the deadline
The Wolves get their point guard
Minnesota Timberwolves get: D'Angelo Russell, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson
Golden State Warriors get: Andrew Wiggins, Indiana's lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick, Minnesota's 2020 first-round pick and Minnesota's 2020 second-round pick
Milwaukee Bucks get: Robert Covington
Bobby Marks: There are a lot of moving parts here.
Let's start with the Timberwolves, who acquire their point guard of the future in Russell (under contract through 2022-23). The price is rich, but remember that this draft is looking average, at best, and the Wolves are not going to fill the void at point guard in free agency.
If there is any hesitancy, it would come from the Warriors, who list Russell as a prized trade asset. They simply could wait until next season and evaluate how Russell fits alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. However, the return value of two first-round picks and a high-value second-rounder is too hard to turn down. Of course, Wiggins is the wild card based on his contract and inconsistency.
The Bucks get one of the deadline's most coveted players in Covington. The versatile defender gives head coach Mike Budenholzer plenty of options and comes at a minimal cost.
Rockets add 3-and-D help
Houston Rockets get: Covington and Alex Len
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Jabari Parker, Damian Jones and Brooklyn's lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick
Atlanta Hawks get: Clint Capela and Nene Hilario
Kevin Pelton: If the Rockets and Hawks are serious about a Capela trade, as our Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday, this kind of three-team construction makes sense.
It yields Houston a quality 3-and-D wing on a strong contract and a center capable of sopping up minutes, while also taking the Rockets far enough out of the tax to shop the buyout market. Meanwhile, Atlanta gets its pick-and-roll partner for Trae Young, one who fits better and has a better contract than the other centers potentially available (Steven Adams and Andre Drummond).
The big question is appropriate draft compensation. Would Brooklyn's first-round pick be enough for the Timberwolves to make a deal but not too much for the Hawks to give up? I think it's in the right ballpark.
Bonus trade: I'd also encourage the Rockets to offer the Detroit Pistons their remaining second-round picks (the better of Houston's and Philadelphia's in 2021 and the Rockets' own pick in 2023) and one of their minimum-salary players for Christian Wood, who would help fill the void left by Capela's departure and could be re-signed using early Bird rights as a free agent this summer.
Boston goes big
Boston Celtics get: Capela
Houston Rockets get: Covington and Daniel Theis
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Vincent Poirier, Romeo Langford, Nene and Memphis' 2020 first round pick
Tim Bontemps: Everybody wins here.
Let's start with Houston. Not only does this return a mobile center in Theis plus a solid 3-and-D wing in Covington, it would get Houston completely out of the luxury tax. Both Covington and Theis remain on reasonable contracts next season, too.
Boston gets Capela without having to give up any of its impact perimeter players. Capela is young and on a very good contract. Plus, Boston will gain two open roster spots to use in the buyout market.
And Minnesota comes away with a solid first-rounder as well as Langford, who was the No. 14 pick in last June's draft. It seems unlikely Minnesota will be able to get a better haul than that for Covington.
Nuggets get CP3
Denver Nuggets get: Chris Paul
Oklahoma City Thunder get: Gary Harris, Will Barton and Juan Hernangomez
André Snellings: This is what it looks like if Denver goes all-in for a championship push.
Paul is one of the best floor generals in the league, ranking third among point guards in real plus-minus (RPM), and would allow the Nuggets to move Jamal Murray to an off-ball scorer role. The Nuggets run a lot of on-ball picks with Nikola Jokic (he is 13th with 827 direct picks set, according to Second Spectrum), and Paul is excellent at using screens.
The Thunder have two young lead guards ready to lead the team in Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but OKC is in the NBA's bottom five in 3-pointers made (10.6 per game). Harris and Barton would add shooting and scoring and would help the Thunder's playoff drive this season while remaining young enough, at ages 25 and 29, respectively, to be major contributors when OKC is ready to contend.
The contender challenge trade
LA Clippers get: Joel Embiid and Atlanta's 2020 second-round pick
Philadelphia 76ers get: Paul George
Andrew Han: Are the Clippers concerned about Nikola Jokic? Anthony Davis? Rim protection? The most dominant big man in the league would solve a lot of those problems. Granted, there are injury and longevity concerns for Embiid, but the Clippers are already entrenched in an injury-management protocol for Kawhi Leonard that the young center can join. The swap of star wing to star center shortens a crunchtime rotation to Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, Montrezl Harrell, Leonard and Embiid, with Lou Williams in the scorer's slot.
For the Sixers, the question of whether Embiid and Ben Simmons can play at maximum efficiency next to each other persists. Al Horford has struggled this season playing next to another big. While it could sort out on its own, the introduction of PG-13 immediately balances the lineup. (Simmons, Josh Richardson, George, Tobias Harris and Horford would be the projected starters.) Philly gets a premier, two-way wing who can shoot, create shots and take the burden off of Simmons' shoulders while complementing the young point guard's game in a way that will always be imperfect for Embiid.
Los Angeles will end up with a favorable second-round pick for its troubles, primarily because it isn't a move the Clippers have to make. They sit second in the Western Conference with little to no practices and a roster that hasn't been healthy. Meanwhile, the Sixers are inconsistent in the East and are in danger of not having home-court advantage in the first round -- a dire outcome for a team that felt it was a Leonard shot away from playing for a championship.
A Lakers upgrade
New York Knicks get: Avery Bradley, DeMarcus Cousins and Kyle Kuzma
Los Angeles Lakers get: Marcus Morris
Pelton: I think Morris should be atop the Lakers' list of targets this week. While they certainly could use a playmaking upgrade, I don't think any of the realistic options (headlined by Derrick Rose) work well playing off the ball next to LeBron James. Additionally, the Lakers might be able to sign Darren Collison as a free agent after Wojnarowski reported last month that the veteran point guard is planning to return to the NBA. Collison retired last summer, but he hopes to sign with either the Lakers or Clippers.
Because the Lakers can't trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope -- or JaVale McGee -- without their agreement (owing to the fact that they were re-signed to what could be one-year deals, if they decline 2020-21 player options), the Lakers probably would either have to trade 4-for-1 (including Quinn Cook and one of their minimum-salary players) or send out starting shooting guard Bradley to match salary for Morris. Given the possibility of filling those open roster spots in the buyout market, I still think giving up Bradley is palatable in order to get a more complete player capable of finishing games for the Lakers -- especially given the likelihood they could re-sign Morris this summer.
Conversely, despite indications that the Knicks might want to bring Morris back on a new deal, they'd be better off trading him now. Morris is shooting a career-high 44% from 3-point range this season, and he'll be 31 by the start of the 2020-21 season, so it's unlikely his value will be this high at next year's trade deadline. With a favorable contract that pays him just $3.6 million next year ahead of an extension or restricted free agency, I think Kuzma is a better return than the Clippers' first-round pick, unless New York could deal Maurice Harkless for additional value.
Clippers add another piece
New York Knicks get: Harkless, Clippers' 2020 first-round pick and Detroit's 2021 second-round pick
LA Clippers get: Morris
Minnesota Timberwolves get: Derrick Walton Jr., Clippers' 2020 second-round pick
Marks: On paper, this is a steep price for the Clippers to acquire Morris -- multiple picks, a rotation player and a luxury tax bill. But the Clippers are in win-now mode, and Morris gives them a helpful scoring option. It also opens up a roster spot to pursue Collison in free agency, and the Clippers could sign Morris for up to $18 million in the offseason when he becomes a free agent.
For the Knicks, acquiring two good draft picks helps make up for a summer of missed opportunities. And because the Clippers are sending out $11 million in salary and taking back $15 million, Minnesota is recruited as a third team, receiving a nice consolation in draft compensation.
6 of these wild trades we've heard/speculated/made up ourselves, but BPG for Embiid is waaaaaay out there.
dude would take some ridiculously terrible fadeaways sometimes like he thought he was Kobe. He was destined for that role player role with the Warriors though. Him trying to be a franchise player was not fun to watch.
