After witnessing the dominance of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 NBA playoffs, several teams will aim to engage in an arms race and reload their weapons ahead of the 2020-21 season. The league has already seen a bevy of surprising relocations and asset trades in recent seasons and fans should expect this upcoming offseason to be no different.
Here are the five best surprise NBA trades that should happen soon.
5. Magic Trade Nikola Vucevic to Kings
Orlando Magic acquire Buddy Hield, Richaun Holmes and the No. 12 pick in the 2020 draft from the Sacramento Kings for Nikola Vucevic and the No. 15 pick.
Sacramento Kings shooting guard Buddy Hield has already voiced his frustrations with the organization in recent memory due to his diminished role with the team. Despite his situation, the former Oklahoma Sooner remains to be one of the deadliest knockdown shooters in the league today, fresh off of winning the NBA Three-Point Contest in 2020. He will get a much-needed change in scenery in this deal while also bringing along Kings big man Richaun Holmes to Orlando.
The sixth-year veteran is still very much a serviceable asset after tallying career-best numbers of 12.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in the 2019-20 season. The exchange of picks will allow the Magic to move three spots up from their original position in the draft, due to them having to ship away All-Star big man Nikola Vucevic. With Marvin Bagley III’s rather slow development, the Kings will finally have a reliable presence in the paint that can create and score points for them on his own.
4. Derrick Rose to the Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers acquire Derrick Rose from the Detroit Pistons for Danny Green, Quinn Cook and the No. 28 pick in the 2020 draft.
Even the newly crowned champion Los Angeles Lakers will have to find ways to get better ahead of their impending title defense next season. The Purple and Gold will finally have a capable third star at the helm, playing behind the All-NBA duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Although coming off a quiet season, playing alongside two great players will ultimately help Derrick Rose find his groove and get his confidence back on a championship-caliber team.
They will have to part ways with veteran swingman Danny Green who wasn’t his usual self and struggled mightily all throughout the Lakers’ most recent playoff run. Point guard Quinn Cook also failed to see relevant action ever since coming to the Lakers last season. The Lakers can also freely deal away their 28th pick in the upcoming draft who will most likely be a rookie who will just be stuck on the tail end of their stacked roster.
3. Ricky Rubio to the Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers acquire Ricky Rubio from the Phoenix Suns for Patrick Beverley and Reggie Jackson.
While their hallway rivals recently lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy, the Los Angeles Clippers were sent home and received scrutiny for underperforming in the 2020 NBA playoffs. Their lack of chemistry amidst the oozing amount of talent on their roster ultimately set them up to fail and come up short of the high expectations for their campaign.
This trade will land them a reliable and consistent playmaker that Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has been longing for to have. Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio is coming off a career-high 13.1 point average along with 8.9 assists per game in his ninth season in the league. In exchange for the 30-year-old cager, the Clippers will have to send two members of their bench mob to the Phoenix Suns.
The pesky Patrick Beverley is coming off a meager performance in the 2019-20 season after recording 7.9 points and 3.6 assists per game through 51 games played for the team. On the other hand, Reggie Jackson can also provide the Suns a boost on offense outside of main man Devin Booker with his contributions of 9.5 points and 3.2 assists per game.
While the Clippers will get someone who is willing to distribute the ball across the floor, the Suns will receive valuable assets that can help speed up their rebuilding efforts in the coming seasons.
2. Heat sign-and-trade for Danilo Gallinari
Miami Heat acquires Danilo Gallinari from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Jae Crowder, Solomon Hill, and a 2022 first-round pick (sign-and-trade).
The Miami Heat squad is still fresh from a Finals appearance in 2020 where they were seen as underdogs against the elite Los Angeles Lakers. The Heat can pair Jimmy Butler with another borderline All-Star-caliber player in Danilo Gallinari. He has previously stated that he is prioritizing a shot at a title rather than sign a contract in a non-playoff team at this point in his career. Thunder point guard Chris Paul will most likely leave the team in the offseason via trade, which makes their roster weaker compared to before.
Gallinari’s ability to stretch the floor can eventually open up more opportunities for center Bam Adebayo to wreck havoc in the paint. In exchange for the Italian swingman, the Heat will have to deal a couple of tenured veterans in Jae Crowder who tallied 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game along with Solomon Hill who had a limited role ever since he first arrived in South Beach back in February of 2020. A first-round pick in 2022 serves as a cherry on top for the Thunder to help them with their rebuilding cause.
1. J.J. Redick to the Mavs
Dallas Mavericks acquire J.J. Redick and the No. 13 pick in the 2020 draft from the New Orleans Pelicans for Maxi Kleber, the No. 18 pick, and a pair of second-round picks.
Veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick had no business to deal with in New Orleans after agreeing to play for the Pelicans in the 2019-20 season. Despite the influx of young talents on the roster, the Pelicans still found ways to disappoint as they came up short on snagging the eight seed in the Orlando bubble, which led to their untimely exit.
A contributor like Redick should be on a playoff team instead, like the Dallas Mavericks. The Luka Doncic–led team stood their ground against the loaded Clippers squad despite losing Kristaps Porzingis to a knee injury in the first-round series.
Even after a short appearance in the playoffs last season, the Mavs certainly have a bright future to look forward to. However, they will still need a couple of reliable role players to fill in their roster, which calls for a veteran like Redick. In exchange, the Mavericks will have to let go of forward Maxi Kleber who averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in his third season in the league.
The trade will also see the Mavs move up five spots up in the 2020 NBA Draft, which will still allow them to acquire a promising rookie with the 13th pick while the Pelicans settle for the 18th pick instead.
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