Teams to watch at the Trade Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is 2 weeks away and as we get closer there will be a lot of rumors. These are some teams to watch.

Knicks

It had been tough sledding for a few weeks for the Knicks before their 54 point win over the Nets. Over the prior 11 games, the Knicks ranked 25th in offense, 28th in defense and 27th in net rating, going 2-9 in those games. It has been a struggle. I don’t think they will make a panic move, it is much more likely the package of Guerschon Yabusele and Pacome Dadiet to make a minor upgrade to the roster. However, if this continues over the next 2 weeks, a deal is not impossible with Karl-Anthony Towns as the name that has been brought up the most. I don’t think they trade KAT but I would not rule it out. It is hard to find teams for Towns, who is trading for that contract? The Hornets, Grizzlies and Magic are teams that have been floated but those don’t make a ton of sense. Why would the Knicks want Ja Morant, the Magic would be crazy to trade one of Suggs, Bane or Franz Wagner plus more for KAT and what are the Hornets offering New York to make this year’s team better? I do have one crazy trade idea but I’ll save that. I just don’t see a Towns deal happening by February 5th.

Grizzlies

The funniest outcome of the deadline is a Ja Morant for Karl-Anthony Towns swap. I think the question for that deal is does Zach Edey need to be included? Towns for Morant straight up is not a legal trade and New York would need another center. Towns is also a more valuable asset than Morant is but I am not sure I would include Edey in that deal if I was Memphis. Although Edey’s constant injuries make it a bit easier to do. Anyways, the question for Memphis is, who will be the sucker who trades for Ja Morant? The Bucks are the leading candidate but I am not sure they are even that desperate. It also does not seem like the Grizzlies have reached the point with Morant that the Hawks reached with Trae Young, where they would be willing to take anything for the player in a salary dump. I think Morant lasts in Memphis beyond February 5th but maybe the Kings decide to get bold and make an offer because you never know when it comes to the Sacramento Kings.

Warriors

That Mike Dunleavy quote about Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand was crazy. “I’m aware of that. In terms of demands, when you make a demand there needs to be demand,” Dunleavy said when asked about it on Tuesday. He is not wrong, I don’t think that Kuminga’s value has ever been lower. They could do a salary dump sending Kuminga, Buddy Hield and Al Horford to the Wizards for Khris Middleton. The CJ McCollum thing in Atlanta has not gone well, would they trade him for Kumiga and Hield? The Jimmy Butler torn ACL throws a wrench in whatever plans Golden State has. They are no longer a team that can compete to win a playoff series in the Western Conference. Butler had been very good this season and his injury kills any chance they had at turning this around. Which really stinks because this sport is more fun when Stephen Curry’s team is relevant.

Bucks

Let’s assume Giannis is not traded by the deadline and the Bucks operate as is. They want to be buyers and add to this roster. They can package Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis together, which can get them most players in the NBA. In order to get Zach LaVine , a name that is interesting to me, and his $47 million contract all Milwaukee would need to do is add Kevin Porter Jr.’s $5 million. Here is a wild fake trade, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan and Doug McDermott for Kuzma, Portis, Porter Jr. and a future pick swap. Milwaukee gets 2 guys who can help their offense, which they badly need around Giannis and while it is not a lot, Sacramento gets something for Monk and DeRozan. Jerami Grant is another name that has been floated around. That is fine, he is a solid player who would be an upgrade to their team but he is not a needle mover. Really any deal the Bucks make is out of desperation and does not change the fact that a Giannis trade is likely coming this summer. In the end, they’ll probably end up with Ja Morant.

Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks would like to trade Anthony Davis. You will never get rid of the stench of the Luka trade but moving Davis will have it be less in your face, especially with Cooper Flagg on the roster. This hand injury does not help their cause and it likely means that Davis will remain on the roster past the deadline. That does not make it impossible. The Hawks were a team that was talked about for Davis, that would be a mistake by Atlanta, in my opinion. The Raptors are another option but is moving two of Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl, the best move for the Raptors right now? I just don’t understand why anyone would want to trade for Davis right now, his injury history and age make it tough to eat that contract. Daniel Gafford is another name being floated around, the Indiana Pacers are a team to keep an eye on there.

Cavaliers

I don’t think that Cleveland is going to be ultra aggressive over the coming days and weeks but I do think that there could be a salary dump. Cleveland is currently $22 million over the 2nd apron, they are not getting under that but they can work to get under it for next season. Lonzo Ball has a $10 million team option that will be declined but they’ll still be $7 million over for next season. De’Andre Hunter has not had a great season and could be a guy that Cleveland moves. The Lakers make sense as a destination, Cleveland could take Gabe Vincent and Maxi Kleber and find a third team to take Dalton Knecht (the Jazz and Nets were two teams that jumped out at me in that regard) and clear out the money for next season. This season has been disappointing for Cleveland and being in the 2nd apron next season seems reckless to me.