The trade deadline is in less than 24 hours, and trade rumors are flying all over the place. Which teams will try to add one or two missing pieces to the puzzle? Who will try to unload expensive deals? Will certain players be granted their trade requests? After much analysis and speculation, all of these questions will be answered by 3:00 pm ET tomorrow afternoon.
The hottest name on the market is Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic, who has informed his current team that he plans to sign elsewhere once he becomes an unrestricted free agent this upcoming July. The New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat, who have a combined winning percentage of .284 (while Phoenix’s is .537), are apparently at the top of Dragic’s wish list. He has been unhappy with his changed role as part of the three-headed point guard monster in the desert, alongside Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. It’s clear that Dragic wants to be the dominant ball handler for a big market franchise. Even with the recent news that Dragic has told the Suns about his plans to depart, some analysts have suggested that the Suns should still hold on to him and convince him to stay in the summer, but I disagree; the Suns should definitely trade Dragic by tomorrow’s deadline. The Celtics, Kings, and Rockets seem interested even though they aren’t at the top of Dragic’s wish list. It will be interesting to see how much these three teams will be willing to give Phoenix in a potential deal, considering there is always the risk that Dragic leaves after just a half-year rental. Goran Dragic’s status should be closely monitored by all NBA fans in the coming hours.
Players who request trades are usually all-stars at the very least, but not in the cases of Reggie Jackson and Enes Kanter. Both young players have asked to be traded from Oklahoma City and Utah, respectfully. I am a huge fan of Reggie Jackson, and I feel like Thunder GM Sam Presti will be receiving a significant number of calls in the next few hours regarding Jackson. He’s a young scoring point guard who can fit the needs of either a contender or rebuilding team, which is why I think interest in him will be so widespread across the NBA. One team that has a strong possibility to land Jackson is the Brooklyn Nets. He could be part of the return package for Brook Lopez, as part of a trade that made a lot of noise last month and seemed very likely at one point. So far, the Thunder and Nuggets have been the two teams to express the most interest in Brooklyn’s big man, which is another storyline to keep an eye out for in the next day. Some other trade partners that would make sense to acquire Jackson are the Clippers, Wizards, and Rockets, who are all in need of point guard depth. As for Enes Kanter, who becomes a restricted free agent this summer, it appears less likely that he will be dealt. Utah’s asking price is apparently much higher than what teams are willing to give. Two clubs who should be interested in Kanter are the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Boston’s GM Danny Ainge seems as if he wants to add some talent this time, contrary to recent trades when he shipped away the likes of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rajon Rondo. For the Bucks, center Larry Sanders is no longer part of the roster after reports that he was no longer motivated to play basketball, followed by an eventual buyout. That leaves a gap at center for a young team in the midst of one of the best turnaround seasons of all time. Keep in mind that Reggie Jackson is just 24 years old and Enes Kanter is even younger at 22, so don’t be surprised if teams take a gamble on these players with the hope that they develop and improve even more.
Up in the Mile-High City, the lottery-bound Nuggets could swing a few deals in order to obtain assets for the future. Both Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler can serve as the missing pieces for playoff teams, similar to how former-Nugget Timofey Mozgov has helped the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Trail Blazers remain very interested in both players, and I think either one would be a perfect fit; a reserve like Afflalo or Chandler could turn Portland into one of the favorites in the Western Conference. Another swingman on the trading block is Charlotte’s Lance Stephenson. He has been a complete disaster for the Hornets after signing a 3 year, $27 million contract in the offseason. Stephenson can be a headache, but he can also be a very productive player if surrounded by the proper environment, as evident by his successful season last year in Indiana. Stephenson has said it would be a blessing to return to his hometown in Brooklyn, but are the Nets willing to take a chance on him? Charlotte desperately wants to move him, but interest throughout the league has been limited.
There are a few more players to look out for. Center Miles Plumlee is on the block for Phoenix and could be an underrated pickup for a playoff team in need of frontcourt depth. The Raptors, who lack a quality backup center for Jonas Valanciunas, seem to be an ideal fit. Additionally, the Pistons have brought up the possibility of sending Brandon Jennings (who is out for the season with a ruptured achilles) and expiring contracts to Brooklyn in exchange for Joe Johnson and the rest of his enormous contract.
Despite all of these rumors, it is possible that most teams stay put or make minimal moves. On the other hand, there is also the chance that just one day can change the entire landscape of the NBA; it all depends on how active the general managers are. For the sake of entertainment and change, let the trades begin!
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