We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Do you think the Wizards will go after Tyreke Evans before the trade deadline or will it be Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle in a trade? — Gregory Younger
Bench strength is an annual issue in Washington, and obviously Randle and Clarkson would be two nice additions with bright futures. The problem is the Lakers only want expiring contracts in return to maximize their cap room for free agency. Clarkson is making more than $11.5MM this year and Randle is close to $4.15MM, leaving the Wizards unable to match salaries without sending back long-term contracts. Their most expensive expiring deals belong to Tim Frazier at $2MM and Mike Scott and Chris McCullough, each at $1,471,382. Evans is a much more realistic target at age 28 and with a $3.29MM contract. Memphis is going to want draft picks in return, so the Wizards will have to decide if Evans is worth parting with a future first-rounder.
What players could Detroit trade for that would best fit their needs, and what would they have to give up to get them? — Mark Holmes
The Pistons are in the market for help at forward, and the Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic could be an intriguing name to watch. Mirotic reportedly hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of Chicago after being hospitalized in a pre-season skirmish with teammate Bobby Portis, and he has expressed a willingness to waive his no-trade clause if it would get him to a contender. Detroit could use another outside shooter, and Mirotic continues to sizzle from 3-point range, connecting at 47% through 17 games. Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press suggested last month that Brooklyn’s DeMarre Carroll could be a trade option, but a knee injury he suffered last night may affect his availability between now and the February 8 deadline.
Does Portland need to make a trade deadline move to create a stronger playoff team? — Baylor The Great, via Twitter
The Trail Blazers are among several Western Conference teams that could use another piece or two, and at 20-18 they’re far from a lock to make the postseason. Salary cap concerns will affect any moves as Portland still has one of the league’s top payrolls at more than $122MM. The only way for the Blazers to make a significant deal is to break up their backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who are both signed to hefty deals through 2020/21 or to give up center Jusuf Nurkic, who will be negotiating an extension this summer. The Blazers could also decide to become sellers to get their cap situation under control.
Couldn’t the Wizards pull off trading Frazier, Scott, and McCullough then, plus maybe a late 1st or 2nd rounder for Randle??
I believe Randle would fit EXTREMELY well on that Wizards squad, and I think he could grow with their true core of Wall, Beal, Oubre, and Porter as a real asset for that franchise..Whether as a starter or coming off the bench, it would give the Wizards another big that can make plays scoring and passing, and he can work extremely well with Wall and Beal in the pick and roll..A line-up of Wall, Beal, Porter, Randle, and Gortat/Mahinmi would be incredibly balanced.. Or they could go smaller, and they could go with Wall, Beal, Porter, Morris, and Randle which would be an extremely tough and physical, athletic, and versatile, capable line-up…
Randle is extremely underrated in Los Angeles, which I never thought anyone so talented and with such a solid work ethic, could fly under the radar in L.A., BUT somehow Randle has just been incredibly underappreciated and very underutilized…
I, personally,cannot wait for Randle to get out of L.A., so he can show the NBA world what he really has to offer, a team that will appreciate him and his versatile skillset.
Scott and Frazier both play more than 15 minutes a game so while the money might work in that deal, the Wizards would then have to find more bench pieces. They’d be trading 3 bench players for 1 bench player, creating an even bigger hole in their roster, and would then have to work free agency/trade market for a vet on a minimum salary and send out more assets.
Dang I wish Mahinmi contract wasn’t for two more years or we would have the perfect numbers to match with Lakers to get Randle & Clarkson smh. Thanks a lot Ernie