We have passed the Christmas holiday and the league had a couple of bad games on their biggest days. A few blowouts in the first couple of games didn’t help the slate of games. The Golden State Warriors upsetting the Houston Rockets added some intrigue. So as this writer tried to watch games with my kids running about, I realized how great the NBA is right now. We are also dealing with some teams that are struggling and could use a boost. Kevin Love trade rumors are swirling about. However, there are some other All-Star caliber players rotting away on teams that will not contend this year or for the next couple of seasons. These are the trades we should look out for.
Kevin Love Trade Rumors and more from around the NBA
Kevin Love to the Portland Trailblazers
The Portland Trailblazers have had some struggles this year. They are currently sitting in the eighth position in the Western Conference. The issues stem from an injury-plagued team to some trades that have failed for this team. Kent Bazemore hasn’t helped out the way they thought when he was acquired for Evan Turner. If CJ McCollum or Damian Lillard has an off night, the team doesn’t have enough to keep them afloat. However, Kevin Love is the player the Blazers need to help in a crowded Western Conference.
The Cleaveland Cavaliers are bad. With a very young core, they are in the asset-collecting business. That happened this week when the Cavaliers sent Jordan Clarkson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for injury-prone Dante Exum. The Cavaliers received two 2nd round picks in return. Kevin Love would require a significant package to get a deal done. Hassan Whiteside with two future first-rounders and two second-round picks should help this get done. Whitesides’s contract is up after this season.
Andre Drummond to the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have been playing some great basketball this year. The Kyrie Irving saga brought this team down. However, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum getting to run this offense they are looking like that playoff team from the 2017-18 season. They dismantled the Toronto Raptors on Christmas and look to be contenders this year. Andre Drummond would be the down-low presence that could help elevate the Celtics.
Gordon Hayward has shown glimpses of his former self this season. He is still missing games for other injury issues, but they appear to be minor. If the Detroit Pistons are wanting to reload with Blake Griffin and other pieces, this trade would help both sides. The Pistons would send Drummond and Luke Kennard to the Celtics for Hayward and the 2020 Memphis Grizzlies pick that is owned by the Celtics. Hayward has a player option after this season.
Russell Westbrook to the Miami Heat
The surprising team this year has been the Miami Heat. Everyone thought they would be in the mix for the playoffs, but they are currently sitting in third in the East. Rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn have surpassed everyone’s expectations already.
Ryen Russillo of The Ringer suggested that the Rockets would field calls for Russell Westbrook. “Is Daryl Morey actively calling people saying I gotta dump Westbrook? Of course, he wouldn’t do it that way. But there are people who believe that Westbrook is available and that Daryl knows I gotta figure something out here and it’s about that contract more than somebody watching Westbrook,” said Russillo.
That is a hefty contract to move anywhere. The Miami Heat had interest when he was still a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets could get out of salary cap purgatory with a couple of smaller contracts from the Heat and unload Westbrook. Westbrook has been inefficient while on the court with James Harden so far.
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