With the Feb.7 NBA Trade Deadline just right around the corner, the possibility of a trade giving a team that needed edge to push past the competition lingers. In recent years, we have seen big names like Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins, and Isaiah Thomas moved around at the last minute midseason. The 2018-19 NBA season hasn’t been short of surprises by any means, and now isn’t the time to expect them to stop.
As teams begin to focus on the playoffs and get ready to make their title run, just about all bets are off the table for a team that feels they are piece away. With so many teams this season that believe they have a legitimate shot to win it all, the league could be in store for an action-packed trade deadline. Here are five blockbuster trades that could shake up the outcome of the 2018-19 season:
5. Kevin Love to the Philadelphia 76ers
Out of all the star players in the league surrounded by trade rumors, Kevin Love remains the player who is most likely to be dealt. Despite having only played four games this season due to injury, Love is a highly coveted player by multiple teams around the league. The last remaining Cavalier of Cleveland’s big three that beat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 2016, Love signed a massive extension with the Cavaliers this past offseason. The team had plans to maintain their ability to contend for a playoff spot, but those plans quickly changed.
Even though he is still weeks away from a return to the court, if Philadelphia sought to add the five-time All-Star to their roster, it would ultimately be with the intention of cruising through the playoffs and onto the NBA Finals.
The Sixers already have a loaded lineup featuring Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, J.J. Reddick, and Wilson Chandler. Swapping out Chandler with Kevin Love would give them a monstrous starting five, easily good for best in the Eastern Conference.
Kevin Love’s skill set makes sense for Philly’s personnel, also. His ability to stretch out the floor gives players like Simmons and Butler a little more room to attack the basket. Love has always been a smart offensive player, as well, and would have plenty of opportunity to find cuts that put him in position to score. He may not be the most versatile defender, but he would still be a step up from the rest of the Sixers’ roster.
A move for Kevin Love would likely have to include former first overall pick Markelle Fultz. Fultz has been away from the team but could come back from injury this season. The inclusion of Fultz would curb the need to include a multitude of draft compensation, but Cleveland could still seek to acquire a first round pick. A deal along the lines of Fultz, Chandler, Mike Muscala, and a pick in exchange for Love and Channing Frye could be a mutually beneficial trade for both sides. Love cannot be moved until Jan. 24, giving the Sixers a 15-day window to explore making this happen.
4. Bradley Beal to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are in dire need of another star. In LeBron James absence as he deals with a groin injury, the Lakers, led by their young players, have gone 5-8. With a record of 25-22 on the season, they have already fallen out of the playoff picture and are seated ninth in the West. Even if James is able to return soon, which may not be the case, the damage could already be done. The Lakers run the risk of sitting in the backend of playoff seeding and taking on a difficult first round matchup, or even missing the playoffs altogether.
As of right now, Bradley Beal is not available, and the Washington Wizards have no intention to trade him. However, a lot can change very quickly in the NBA. That rings especially true for how the Wizards’ season is playing out. They are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference. Despite being two games out of the eighth seed, between now and the trade deadline they play the Pistons, Warriors, Spurs, Pacers, and Bucks twice. If they look like they are headed for a nosedive and early end to the season, then Beal could become available for the right price.
Luckily for the Lakers, they are more equipped to match that price than any other contender in the league. Trading away Beal would signal some desire to rebuild and bring back young talent in return. Los Angeles could use a package involving Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to trade their way into putting another star next to LeBron James.
The on-court fit is obvious. Beal is an elite shooter and has developed an ability to be deadly with the ball in his hands over time. Since taking over as the captain of the ship following John Wall’s injury, Beal is averaging 29.8 points, 6.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 3’s, and 2.4 steals. As a defender, Beal is often underrated and forgotten about, but he is capable of guarding some of the best perimeter players in the league. For Los Angeles, it would be a no-brainer to pursue an NBA trade deadline deal for Beal. The only thing left to be seen is when, or if, Washington is ready to pull the plug.
3. Otto Porter Jr. to the Houston Rockets
Another Washington Wizard who could be on the go if that first domino ever falls is Otto Porter Jr. The interest in Porter around the league has been muffled by his current contract. Currently making just over $26 million this season, he is under contract for one more season, with a player option in 2020-21. Most teams have little desire to swallow that kind of money, especially on a player of Porter’s caliber. For the Houston Rockets, though, he could be the missing piece.
After finishing the season last year with the first ranked offense and sixth ranked defense in the league, their defense has plummeted. Among the league, Houston has the 26th best defensive rating currently. With Chris Paul injured, P.J. Tucker has been the only active player who is an elite defender at his position for the majority of their games.
Players like Gerald Green and James Ennis have soaked up the majority of the minutes at the small forward position. While Green brings a lot to the table offensively, neither player is well suited to guard opposing forwards. During the NBA Playoffs, the Rockets can expect this to be exposed by other teams, as they will have to guard names like Kevin Durant, Paul George, and LeBron James.
A trade for Otto Porter Jr. would give Houston a little added size out on the wing to help guard these players without sacrificing much on offense. The 25-year-old Porter has a little extra height and length on both Green and Ennis and is used to guarding opposing team’s forwards. Of players averaging at least 20 minutes a game, Porter ranks 10th among small forwards in defensive-real-plus-minus.
Otto Porter Jr. would fit well in Houston’s offense, as well. On the season, he is averaging 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 3’s, and 1.5 steals per game. Starting the season in a slump, those numbers are down for his last two seasons, which saw him score more and shoot over 40 percent from deep in back to back years. If he could find a return to his former self in a new situation, he would undoubtedly make an impact in Houston.
For the Rockets to get a deal done, it would take moving multiple players. A deal where Houston sent out Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss, James Ennis, and Nene Hilario for a return of Porter, Jeff Green, and Thomas Bryant would be a perfect fit financially, without gutting either team’s roster. Washington would likely seek at least two first round draft picks in the deal, which the Rockets could do if they felt this move got their roster where it needed to be.
4. Vucevic to the Celtics
The Orlando Magic started this season unsarcastically hot but have cooled off since. After finding their way into playoff seeding early on, the Magic are now at 11th in the East with a 20-27 record. They have yet to make any moves hinting at a fire sale, but with the playoffs seemingly out of reach, that may be in their best interest.
Nikola Vucevic, much of the reason they bolted out of the gate this season, has been playing incredibly. Unfortunately for the Magic, he is also set to enter free agency this summer. If Orlando decided they didn’t want to risk him walking, they would have to act fast and make a trade happen. Any trade providing the Magic with a young, starting caliber point guard should be their number one priority.
Luckily for the Celtics, not only could they fill that need for Orlando by sending out Terry Rozier- they could also benefit from brining in Vucevic. Boston is likely to part ways with the young Rozier this summer, assuming Kyrie Irving sticks around and re-signs. For them, it is an exchange of expiring contracts, and Boston would be much better off with Vucevic.
The lack of a dominant presence at the rim isn’t a new problem for the Boston Celtics. Al Horford is an incredible player who is one of the better passing and shooting big men. He even finds a way to impact the team’s defense. However, due to his size, he isn’t able to be a dominant stopper at the rim or elite rebounder. The Celtics are ranked 16th in the league in rebounds per game and 27th in points allowed in the paint.
So far this season, Nikola Vucevic is averaging 20.5 points, 12 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game. Of all centers in the league, Vucevic ranks 10th in rebound percentage. He isn’t the most elite shot blocker, but still adds a defensive presence down low. If the Celtics decided to add a big man to their roster, Vucevic could become a very serious sixth man for Boston.
A trade would likely have to send out Rozier, Aron Baynes, and Guerschon Yabusele and would see a return from Orlando of Vucevic and Jerian Grant. Boston could likely go all in to make this happen without having to give up any picks or young talent outside of Terry, making this an easy choice if Vucevic becomes available.
5. Marc Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers
Few players in the league have seen their name tossed around in trade rumors more than Marc Gasol lately. After looking like they had a shot to return to the postseason, the Memphis Grizzlies slowly slid back down the Western Conference standings. Currently in 14th with a 19-27 record, it is looking like Memphis is ready to call it a wrap and Marc Gasol is looking to go somewhere he can compete. Hungry to pair another star alongside LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers could be that team.
Marc Gasol could be the perfect big man to play alongside James. One of the best passing bigs, having him and LeBron on the court together could be a symphony of high IQ basketball and passes to cutters in the lane. Even at 34 years of age, Gasol is showing he still has a defensive impact on the game, as well. His numbers may be a bit down in some areas, but he is still putting up solid numbers on the season, with 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals. He is even shooting 35.5 percent from the field and draining 1.4 3’s a game, which would currently make him the fifth best efficiency from deep on the Lakers roster.
The key to this trade making sense is in that Memphis would likely be willing to take back less than what other starts would require. A trade for Gasol could cost the Lakers as little as Lonzo Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and a draft pick. With the possibility of him walking away for nothing, a small market like Memphis knows they are better off trading him and getting something in return. Retaining young players like Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma would allow the Lakers to still have trade pieces to chase a trade for someone like Anthony Davis in the offseason.
Even though Gasol has a player option and could enter free agency this summer, desire to play for a contender could allow the Lakers to negotiate in their favor. If they are able to use their cap space to sign another star, there is the possibility that Gasol would be willing to take less in order to make a run at a title.
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