I'll start by saying that none of these trades are rumored. Don't read this and think that they will happen or even be considered. These are simply bold, blockbuster trades that would change the NBA landscape and are fun to think about. Plus, I'd consider these moves if I were a GM and felt led to change it up. Let's take a look:
5 Bold, Blockbuster NBA Trades
NOTE: These trades don't list the full details of the entire transaction, just the core pieces. In nearly every deal below, players, trade exceptions, and even picks would have to be thrown in for value and salary purposes.
Trade 1: New York Deals #4
Minnesota Receives: No. 4 Pick
New York Receives: Ricky Rubio and Nikola Pekovic
While Minny may have to take on Jose Calderon to make this work, the key for them would be landing the #4 pick in the draft. Remember, they also possess the #1 pick, so this would give them a potential trio of Towns (or Okafor), Mudiay (or Russell), and Wiggins to build around. They also have young talent in LaVine, Bennett, Muhammed, etc. This team would suddenly possess the most young talent in the NBA. Parting with Rubio and Pekovic also gives them a lot more cap space so they can make a run at a young stud in free agency such as Leonard, Jordan, or Monroe.
For New York, this trade would accelerate their rebuild by giving them two players that can make an impact immediately. And these moves wouldn't keep them from attacking free agency with vigor either. This comes down to if they want to take time to develop the player taken at #4, or if they truly want players to help them win right now.
Trade 2: LA Lands a Stud
Los Angeles Receives: Derrick Rose
Chicago Receives: No. 2 Pick, Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight, Nick Young
Phoenix Receives: Joakim Noah, Jordan Clarkson
Why would Chicago do this? For me, they can't base their entire future on the health of Derrick Rose. Despite the immense talent in Chicago, they haven't taken advantage because their "best player" has been injured during the playoffs or beforehand hurting team chemistry (like this season). Also, Noah has become a liability on offense at times, which killed them against Cleveland a couple weeks ago. By dealing those two, they can land Okafor in the draft to replace Noah, Bledsoe or Knight (in a sign-and-trade) to replace Rose, and they add a wing scorer in Young to fill in for Dunleavy who is a free agent (or be a 6th man off the bench). These moves make them younger and much more dangerous offensively. These moves would be in addition to locking up Butler long-term this offseason, and they would still possess pick #22. Who knows, by dealing Rose they could even ask for more.
For LA this move is easy. Pairing Rose with Kobe is too enticing to pass up. This would make them instant contenders, and it would give free agents even more reason to sign with LA this offseason. Why wouldn't Love want to go play close to home alongside Rose and Kobe? Or why wouldn't Marc Gasol want to go play in a place that turned his brother into a champion and play with those two? This also ensures them a superstar when Kobe retires in a year. The only downside is that Julius Randle may also have to be involved in this deal in some capacity.
This decision for Phoenix is all about playing style. After repeatedly failing to earn a playoff spot playing with two point guards, are they finally ready to move on from that strategy and play legitimately? Noah would vastly improve their defense, give them a veteran leader that still plays at a high level, and provide them with the best big man they've had in years. Clarkson is also a very intriguing player that has been actually solid for LA, and would allow them to still have another good point guard alongside whoever they choose to keep (Bledsoe or Knight). Final details could include another piece also.
Trade 3: OKC Officially Becomes Durant's Team
Oklahoma City Receives: Victor Oladipo, Reggie Jackson, Channing Frye
Orlando Receives: Russell Westbrook
Detroit Receives: Elfrid Payton
Over the last few years, the best I ever saw OKC play was in the 2013-14 season when Westbrook was injured. At that point, the team was Durant's and he truly flourished for the first time in his career (en route to his only MVP season). In my opinion, Westbrook holds Durant and the team back. He's a ballhog, scoring first point guard. Those guys don't win championships. The last time a team with a true score-first point guard won a championship was in the 80's with Isaiah Thomas. Plus I think Durant is on pace to leave next season unless something changes. This move brings back Reggie Jackson in a sign-and-trade (who was the point guard when Westbrook was injured that season) and gives Durant a rising star sidekick in Oladipo (whom I love). Frye also stretches the floor as a shooting big. If they re-sign Kanter this offseason, this is a team that can win a championship very soon.
Orlando has said recently they want to speed up their recovery to relevancy. Westbrook would do that. This deal would allow them to get a superstar, keep their pick at #5, and pair him with Vucevic who is an emerging stud. Orlando was a contender many years ago with a star and a team built around him (Howard), so they can do that again with Westbrook.
This is fairly simple for Detroit as they are surely going to lose Reggie Jackson in free agency. By agreeing to a sign-and-trade, they can replace him with Payton, who could turn out to be a star after a strong rookie campaign. Better get something than nothing.
Trade 4: Each Team gets a Redo
Charlotte Receives: Joe Johnson, Mason Plumlee
Brooklyn Receives: Lance Stephenson, Marvin Williams, Gerald Henderson, Noah Vonleh
Brooklyn has said publically they would love to deal their big money players (Deron, Joe, Brook), but they haven't found a suitor. Charlotte signed Lance Stephenson after a career year in Indy, but it was a disaster and they are looking to trade him. So this works for both teams.
Brooklyn gets a number of contributors here, including two younger players with upside in Vonleh and Stephenson. They shed the massive salary of Joe Johnson in the process, and can start looking at the future.
Charlotte importantly gets a shooter in this deal, something they desperately need. Plumlee gives them another power forward inside to split time with Zeller. Both players would help Charlotte improve immediately, potentially enough to get into the playoffs.
Trade 5: Denver Gets a Star Again
Denver Receives: No. 20 Pick, DeMar DeRozan
Toronto Receives: No. 7 Pick, Wilson Chandler, Randy Foye
Denver continues to idle in the same position year after year. By acquiring DeRozan, they finally land a true scorer on the perimeter and a star to go to in crunch time. This also unclutters their roster a bit. A lineup of Lawson, DeRozan, Gallinari, Faried, and Nurkic is actually very formidable. In the deal, they may or may not get the 20th pick in return, which means they could still pick in the first round despite parting with #7.
As we saw in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, Toronto doesn't have enough as constructed to be a true contender. Losing DeRozan hurts, but they can land a stud at #7 that can likely contribute quickly. Chandler and Foye will both help instantly as well. This also gives the Raptors a lot more depth, and it may free up money now and in the future to spend on free agents. This deal becomes even better if they figure out how to make the deal happen without trading their pick at #20.
By: The Sports Guys
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