One of the craziest summers in league history has come to a conclusion, but that doesn’t mean the wheeling and dealing is done quite yet. Three specific NBA trades could really shake the league up even more. Preseason teams begin action in nearly two weeks, and front offices are still figuring out whether or not there are more changes to be made.
Three NBA Trade Ideas
Kevin Love to the Portland Trail Blazers
Trade: Cleveland Cavaliers send Kevin Love to Portland Trail Blazers for Hassan Whiteside, Nassir Little.
It’s easy to forget that Love is still a premier NBA player. Although limited to 22 games last season, Love averaged 17 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game. The league, however, still knows he can do this on a daily basis. Love has also shown his willingness to lessen his role in order to win, making him an excellent complement to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Whiteside is an interesting fit in Portland. With Jusuf Nurkic out for another few months, Whiteside becomes the team’s de-facto starter. Although he should fill the hole decently, the Trail Blazers would be better suited with an experienced star like Love on a roster that just made the Western Conference Finals.
Cleveland would get an expiring contract in Whiteside, and a sweetener in Little. The Tar Heel has the potential to be one of the 2019 NBA draft’s biggest steals. He was a star in high school but had limited playtime at North Carolina. Under the proper tutelage, Little can develop into a superb NBA player.
This trade allows the Trail Blazers to contend for a championship and for the Cavaliers to prepare for the future.
Bradley Beal to the Denver Nuggets
Trade: Washington Wizards send Bradley Beal to Denver Nuggets for Gary Harris, Michael Porter, Jarred Vanderbilt, and picks.
Beal is an NBA superstar. His 25-5-5 averages of last season qualify him as one. The Nuggets remain a rising power in the West, and acquiring a player like Beal would push them over the hump. A big three of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Beal would provide for one of the best offensive teams in the league, paired with strong contributors like Paul Millsap, Mason Plumlee, Will Barton, and Jerami Grant.
The Wizards would be getting a strong haul for a player that seems destined to leave. Harris is a young and growing guard who has promise to be an elite “three-and-d” player. Porter was a former first-round pick, preparing to make his NBA debut this season amidst much potential. Vanderbilt is another young forward with potential who could blossom for a team lacking frontcourt depth.
If it’s Beal’s desire to seek greener pastures, then this deal looks like a win-win for both sides.
D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves
Trade: Golden State Warriors send D’Angelo Russell and Omari Spellman to Minnesota Timberwolves for Robert Covington, Gorgui Dieng, and picks.
The Warriors have seemingly acquired Russell with the intention of using him until mid-season as a Klay Thompson replacement, then making him available for trade. The Timberwolves, with young superstar Karl-Anthony Towns, have long been a rumored destination for Russell.
In this trade, the Warriors would acquire an elite defensive presence in Covington. Paired with Thompson and Draymond Green, the trio would form one of the league’s better defensive teams. Not to mention Covington is an excellent shooter from long distance, something the Warriors always appreciate. Secondly, Dieng would be a welcomed addition for a season for frontcourt depth. He would add to a constant revolving door between himself, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Kevon Looney, allowing the contending Warriors to always have a decent big-man presence.
The Timberwolves get a borderline elite rising star in Russell, finally giving Towns the star pairing he deserves. It’s a foregone conclusion that Andrew Wiggins isn’t getting any better anytime soon, so Russell should be the one to elevate Towns. Spellman is added in for cap space reasons, but he’s a developing big man with an outside shot.
The Warriors become a little more flexible with their cap space and remain serious title threats, while the Timberwolves get the second star they’ve been searching for.
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