Fresh NBA Trade Scenarios To Think About Ahead Of The New Year
The NBA trade deadline is set for February 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. ET. meaning that teams have just about seven weeks to decide what they are going to do.
As of right now though, the trade market seems to be idle simply because there are no “sellers” this season… Well, at least as of right now!
The talent gap across the NBA has shrunk tremendously and from the top spot in either conference to the bottom spot, you could still make a real playoff case for all 30 teams in this league.
Now, obviously teams like the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets have a better chance of making the playoffs than a team like the Detroit Pistons or Houston Rockets, but there are no off-days in this league anymore and every team is still considering all of their options in terms of adding talent ahead of the trade deadline.
With that said, many around the league are not only watching the Los Angeles Lakers and what they could possibly do in regards to trading All-Star guard Russell Westbrook, but many teams are fixated on the Eastern Conference with teams like the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls struggling.
Could the Raptors and Bulls both look to “sell” assets ahead of the trade deadline, taking a step back to build for the future? What about the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference given their struggles, specifically with former second overall pick James Wiseman?
These are both key questions floating around the league right now and while there will be some clarity on who will do what in the coming weeks, nobody seems to have any idea what this trade deadline will end up looking like, as all it takes is for one domino to fall before the NBA trade market gets flooded!
Here are some new, hypothetical trade scenarios to consider and ponder as the trade deadline continues to inch closer and closer.
Kyle Kuzma Heads To “The Big Apple”
New York Knicks Receive: F Kyle Kuzma
Washington Wizards Receive: F Obi Toppin, F Cam Reddish, MIL 2025 1st Round Pick (Top-4 Protected)
Adding Kristaps Porzingis at the trade deadline last season and then bringing in both Monte Morris and Will Barton this past offseason, the Washington Wizards expected themselves to be in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
As of right now, they are 12-20 and sitting outside of the playoff picture, a spot they have been in frequently in recent years. The Wizards will likely look to add talent around Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the trade deadline, but they face a big decision in regards to Kyle Kuzma, as there are reports stating that Kuzma is likely to become a free agent after this season rather than picking up his $13 million player option for next season.
Losing Kumza for absolutely nothing would be devastating for the Wizards, as he is a player that would be in “high demand” should he hit the trade block ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
The New York Knicks have a long history of working with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Kuzma’s current representation, and Leon Rose was one of the best at CAA for years before joining the Knicks’ front-office.
There is very likely a strong connection already formed between Kuzma’s representation and the Knicks’ front-office, which is why New York should be considered a heavy favorite to land the 27-year-old either via trade or in free agency next offseason, that is assuming Kuzma was to opt out of his contract.
The Knicks are red-hot right now and their chances of making the playoffs seem fairly high. However, if they truly want to take that next step as an organization and better their future in terms of being a contender in the Eastern Conference, they need secondary playmakers and scorers like Kyle Kuzma.
Pairing him with the likes of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle instantly fills a gap the Knicks have on offense and while they would be sacrificing a chunk of their future in Obi Toppin and a first-round pick, Kuzma would be an instant upgrade over Toppin in the team’s rotations.
Not to mention, this pick the Knicks would be giving up is not their own first-round pick in 2025 and Cam Reddish is a player the team is looking to move anyways.
For Washington, Reddish and Toppin are two young assets that they could instantly plug-and-play in their rotations and having both of them gives the Wizards a chance to explore other trade opportunities to add talent around Beal and Porzingis.
Chicago Begins Their Rebuild (Scenario #1)
Toronto Raptors Receive: F DeMar DeRozan, C Tony Bradley, CHI 2026 2nd Round Pick (Top-40 Protected)
Chicago Bulls Receive: F O.G. Anunoby, F Thaddeus Young, C Precious Achiuwa, TOR 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-4 Protected)
All eyes are on the Chicago Bulls right now, as they are currently evaluating all of their options as a front-office.
Will the Bulls decide to begin building for the future again, trading the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and/or Nikola Vucevic, or will they give it one last go and look to add talent however they can? Lonzo Ball being out with his knee issue has really hit the Bulls hard and now, they are at a crossroads as an organization.
The Bulls face a monumental decision ahead of the trade deadline this season and if they decide to be the league’s biggest “sellers,” the Toronto Raptors, another team that many are watching closely, could very much be the first team on the phone with the Bulls.
Masai Ujiri is never shy about going out and adding big names to his Raptors’ rosters and if the Bulls are going to blow things up, why not inquire about DeMar DeRozan and see what Chicago would want for him?
DeRozan is a fan-favorite in Toronto after spending the first nine seasons of his career there and perhaps the biggest hole the Raptors have right now as an organization is that they do not have a clear-cut No. 1 option on their roster.
Well, DeMar DeRozan is certainly that type of player and while he is 33-years-old, DeRozan is the type of player that can instantly turn things around for the Raptors and make them a real championship threat, much like how Kawhi Leonard delivered the Raptors their first championship in 2019.
Going after DeRozan though would come at a hefty price, as there are likely no scenarios in which the Raptors can pursue the All-Star without giving up O.G. Anunoby. Perhaps the Bulls would want Gary Trent Jr. included with Anunoby in a trade request for DeRozan as well!
In this scenario though, the Bulls would end up with Anunoby, as well as a young, athletic center in Precious Achiuwa to ultimately replace Nikola Vucevic. Thaddeus Young would head back to Chicago too where he spent two seasons not too long ago, but Young’s contract is only partially-guaranteed for $1 million next season, giving Chicago cap flexibility.
Replacing DeRozan with an immediate first-round draft pick, a young, former first-round center and an emerging, former first-round wing should be exactly what the Bulls want in a trade, that is if they look to blow things up.
Chicago Begins Their Rebuild (Scenario #2)
Atlanta Hawks Receive: G Zach LaVine, PHX 2023 2nd Round Pick, CHI 2026 2nd Round Pick
Phoenix Suns Receive: F John Collins, G Justin Holiday, C Tony Bradley
Chicago Bulls Receive: G/F AJ Griffin, F Cameron Johnson, F Jae Crowder, F Dario Saric, ATL 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-4 Protected), PHX 2024 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)
Hey, what do you know, another Chicago Bulls rebuild scenario!
Instead of focusing on DeMar DeRozan and what the trade market could look like for him, focusing on Zach LaVine is where the real action begins because almost every team in the league would show interest in trading for the two-time All-Star.
LaVine recently signed a five-year, $215 million deal this past offseason, but there seems to be some kind of disconnect between Zach LaVine and the Bulls right now, especially given his struggles on the floor.
The Atlanta Hawks showed a level of interest in LaVine this past offseason before making their move for Dejounte Murray and while it is hard to envision Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine all fitting in together given that they are all guards, this trio could instantly create one of the most explosive scoring trios in the league.
It is not secret that the Hawks are wanting to move John Collins if they can get an instant upgrade offensively and LaVine would certainly be this upgrade for them, especially given that they can play small with him at the small forward position, moving De’Andre Hunter to the power forward position in the process.
Collins has received interest from quite a few Western Conference teams, one of which is the Phoenix Suns. Looking to prove that they can make it back to the NBA Finals, the Suns seem to be pressed to make some kind of move to upgrade their roster, especially with veteran Jae Crowder continuing to sit out.
Chicago should have no problem taking back two first-round picks, AJ Griffin, Cameron Johnson and cap flexibility for Zach LaVine and Phoenix shouldn’t really have a problem giving up Cameron Johnson and a first-round pick for John Collins.
The key here is whether or not the Hawks would truly want to target Zach LaVine and if they would be willing to part ways with not only Collins, but Griffin as well, who is a young and promising looking rookie, to make this trade happen.
Warriors Move James Wiseman
Charlotte Hornets Receive: C James Wiseman
Golden State Warriors Receive: F P.J. Washington, C Mark Williams
The Golden State Warriors have been trying their hardest to develop James Wiseman, but he just has not looked like a key player that can help them win at the highest-level immediately.
Wiseman is a work-in-progress and while he certainly has a ton of potential to turn into a great player, the Warriors do not necessarily have time to wait around. Their bench unit has struggled this season, Stephen Curry now has a left shoulder injury and the Warriors find themselves outside of the playoff picture in the Western Conference over 30 games into the season.
Obviously this team has a chance to contend for a title if they are fully healthy heading into the playoffs, but Golden State’s struggles are concerning right now and moving Wiseman could instantly give them a key talent to help them improve both their bench and defensive intensity.
P.J. Washington is the perfect player for the Warriors to target given his length and ability to play out on the perimeter offensively as a stretch power forward. Not to mention, Washington is a very underrated defender in his own right.
The Charlotte Hornets are still rebuilding and this season is going to continue to be tough for them from a talent perspective. Building for the future is the best thing this franchise can do and pairing Wiseman, the second pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, with LaMelo Ball, the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft could instantly create a terrific “one-two punch” this team can utilize for years to come.
With P.J. Washington set to hit restricted free agency this upcoming offseason though, the Warriors may not be willing to move Wiseman for yet another player they would have to pay to keep around.
Boston Adds To Championship Depth
Boston Celtics Receive: F Jarred Vanderbilt
Utah Jazz Receive: G Payton Pritchard, BOS 2025 1st Round Pick (Top-10 Protected)
Having Joe Mazzulla step up as the head coach in wake of all the drama that surrounded Ime Udoka this offseason, the Boston Celtics have not lost a step and in fact, they are one of the league’s best offensive teams this season after being one of the league’s best defensive teams a season ago.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to prove why they are likely the best two-way duo in the NBA and what has made the Celtics a championship contender once again is their depth.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has done an excellent job adding secondary pieces like Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon to this team, which is why he will likely stay aggressive and try to add on to his team’s depth ahead of the trade deadline.
Boston has draft picks to play around with and more importantly, they have trade exceptions that can be utilized to go “all-in” for a championship.
Packaging Payton Pritchard, a young guard that is now behind both White and Brogdon in the team’s rotations, and a future first-round pick for Jarred Vanderbilt would be a dream come true for the Celtics for two reasons.
The first is because Vanderbilt's contract would be absorbed using their $5.8 million exception and the second is due to the fact that the one thing Boston is lacking right now is rebounding depth.
The Celtics are a great shooting team, they are once again a great defensive team, but they rank just 18th in the league in rebounding. Jarred Vanderbilt has proven to be an avid rebounder on both ends of the floor and he would be the perfect secondary player for this team to have behind the likes of Al Horford and Robert Williams in the frontcourt.
Not to mention, he still has one more year left on his contract after this season.
Who knows what the Utah Jazz have planned ahead of the trade deadline, but executive Danny Ainge was always fond of Payton Pritchard when he was in charge of Boston’s front-office and gathering future draft picks seems to be something the Jazz are interested in doing after dealing Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason.
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