The NBA trade deadline is approaching fast and teams want to make the finishing moves to make their rosters competitive. By making shrewd moves and even blockbuster deals, NBA contenders can shape up their season in the coming weeks.
With stars looking towards new teams, there are 7 major deals they are likely to happen if teams play their cards right. Without further ado, here are the 7 deals that could happen this season before the NBA trade deadline.
7. Lonzo Ball To Chicago Bulls
Trade Package: Wendell Carter, Tomas Satoransky, a future first-round pick for Lonzo Ball
The Chicago Bulls are very fond of Lonzo Ball. Ball has not reached the All-Star hopes that the Pelicans have dreamed about, but he is a good all-around player. Lonzo is a great defender, rebounder, and can be a nice franchise piece for the young Bulls. Alongside Coby White and Lauri Markkanen, Lonzo is a great young piece for Chicago.
The Pelicans have a better point guard in Eric Bledsoe right now and probably could use a change by moving Ball. Lonzo is a willing passer, but he is only averaging 13.7 PPG and 4.7 APG this season which means they might make him expendable to ensure a playoff push.
6. DeMar DeRozan To Denver Nuggets
Trade Package: Gary Harris, Will Barton, a future first-round pick for DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.8 PPG this season as the #1 option for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs aren’t any good again and DeRozan should be moved for the sake of his own career and the benefit of the Spurs rebuild.
The Nuggets have an MVP caliber player in Nikola Jokic and an All-Star in Jamal Murray, so upgrading their shooting guard position with DeRozan puts them among the 4 best teams in the West. The Spurs can rebuild with Barton and Harris who are capable starters and a valuable first-round pick.
5. Kyle Lowry To Los Angeles Clippers
Trade Package: Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Marcus Morris for Kyle Lowry
The Clippers are a great team again during the regular season but they desperately need a point guard upgrade. Patrick Beverley is only an irritant and can’t be much of a scorer or playmaker, while Lou Williams is aging and only has so much left in the tank going forward. Kyle Lowry is an NBA champion who won his title playing alongside Kawhi Leonard in Toronto.
The Raptors can move on from Lowry, who will most likely leave for free in Free Agency, and get some pieces to keep them competitive. The Clippers need a leader and capable point guard, and Kyle Lowry could place them at level playing field with the Lakers.
4. Hassan Whiteside To Los Angeles Lakers
Trade Package: Quinn Cook, Kostas Antetokounmpo for Hassan Whiteside
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost Anthony Davis for the next few weeks due to injury. While they shouldn’t care too much about the regular season, they should try to acquire rebounding stalwart Hassan Whiteside. Much has been made about Whiteside’s inconsistent play, but he has plenty of size to help the Lakers.
Whiteside can backup Marc Gasol and make up for Davis’s minutes while he’s out of action. Whiteside won’t be much of a loss for Sacramento and he is better suited to an NBA contender like the Lakers.
3. Blake Griffin To Dallas Mavericks
Buyout
Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons are officially parting ways. Griffin is averaging a career-low 12.3 PPG and has looked completely awful with Detroit this season. We all know what a healthy Griffin can do, and he is best suited to playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas.
Griffin can play a third wheel role while Luka helps him revive his career, and Porzingis can take most of the pressure in the paint. With Griffin playing a sidekick role to a dynamic duo in Dallas, the Mavericks will have what it takes to make a playoff push led by an MVP player in Doncic and a great coach in Rick Carlisle.
2. Bradley Beal To Miami Heat
Trade Package: Andre Iguodala, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kelly Olynyk, Kendrick Nunn for Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal is simply wasting his talent playing for the lowly Washington Wizards. The Wizards won’t be making the playoffs this season with the way they have looked, and moving Beal before it’s too late should be the next plan. The Wizards can capitalize on the game’s best scorer right now.
Herro and Robinson would be a heck of a haul for Washington, who can rebuild with Nunn replacing Westbrook in the lineup in the future as well. The Heat desperately need a third star to make the NBA Finals again, and a trio of Butler, Adebayo, and Beal would most probably be enough to place them in the Eastern Conference Finals.
1. Andre Drummond To Brooklyn Nets
Buyout
The Brooklyn Nets have everything to win a chip, except a big man who plays defense. DeAndre Jordan is a capable defensive player, but he has gone older and needs a lot of help to anchor the defense. If Brooklyn acquire the game’s best rebounder in Andre Drummond, they will almost certainly make the NBA Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are shutting Drummond out, so Brooklyn can swoop in when Drummond gets bought out. A lineup of Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Joe Harris, Kevin Durant, and Andre Drummond might be the most ridiculously talented lineup in NBA history and they might win it all.
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