With a month to go before the NBA’s March 25 trade deadline for 2020/21, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) supplies a very informative breakdown of what moves all 30 NBA clubs could be looking to make, plus which teams will be prioritizing the present over the future and vice versa.
Marks speculates that several interesting names could be available via trade this year, from valuable veteran forwards like P.J. Tucker, Thaddeus Young and Aaron Gordon to recent All-Star guards on big-money expiring deals like Victor Oladipo, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- There will be no Rising Stars Game between rookies and sophomore pros this season at the March 7 All-Star Game in Atlanta, but the NBA will still name players to rosters on Wednesday, March 3, according to a league announcement. 20 first- and second-year players will be announced in total — 10 from the U.S. and 10 from international countries.
- Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated takes a detailed look at the latest comeback attempt for free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas, who finally underwent a hip surgery last year to address an issue that had impacted his play since 2017. Beck contends that the 32-year-old, 5’9″ Thomas looked like his springier pre-injury self across two USA Basketball victories during a 2022 FIBA AmeriCup qualifier in San Juan, Puerto Rico last weekend. Thomas averaged 14 PPG and 2.5 APG during the contests.
- After being waived by the Rockets earlier this week, center DeMarcus Cousins has cleared waivers to become an unrestricted free agent, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). Houston apparently tried to trade Cousins, playing on a $1.62MM fully-guaranteed veteran’s minimum contract, to no avail.
Boogie to Brooklyn
I’m sure Harden will have no problem after Boogie called him out, right?
Im a nets fan and Please no
If Cousins doesn’t want to sign up for limited minutes, then there is no place for him in the league.
I think Oladipo is far more likely to be traded than DeRozan or Lowry. The Spurs are 6th in the West and the Raptors are 5th in the East. It would be really bad for fan morale to see either team in sell mode when they are solidly in the playoff hunt. It would be different if they fighting for a play in spot, but 5th and 6th seeds in the conference can and have won more than one playoff series in the past.
I guess if either were swapped for a similar player on a multi year deal with an intriguing prospect and/or draft pick attached would be okay. Although to be honest, there aren’t many contenders that have a package like that to offer.
Here’s one to consider though
Suns get
DeMar DeRozan
Spurs get
Dario Saric
Jae Crowder
Jalen Smith or Cam Johnson
Again not an ideal trade, but something along those lines would be the only way I would deal DeRozan if I were the Spurs. Same with Lowry and the Raptors.
I think you’re right about the Raptors and Spurs. They’re contending to a degree so I don’t see them Trading Lowry or DeRozan either.
Here’s another personal thought. Lowry and DeRozan are poor playoff performers for the money they make. Lowry did win a ring but it wasn’t because he made big shots in the fourth quarter. He is gritty and strong and will lay it all out on the floor and play tremendous defense. But I cringe when he shoots the 3 at times when the ball needs to be in someone else’s hand.
I liken Lowry more of a Marcus Smart type. You have to have him out there but you don’t want him shooting with the game on the line.
Cousin to Miami.
Then they trade Meyers Leonard, Andre Iguodala, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and a first (if they have one) or multiple seconds for Victor Oladipo and PJ Tucker.
Then with the open roster spot get Glen Robinson
1. Herro. Dragic. Vincent
2. Oladipo. Bradley
3. Butler. G. Robinson. Okpala
4. Tucker. Achiwura. Harkless
5. Adebayo. Cousins. Olynyk
Currently at 15-17 in the 10th seed on a 7-3 run. They turn their season around and finish as the 5th seed, and play the Pacers in the first round which they sweep. In the semi play the Sixers who they match up with really well and who knows…
They would have three really good perimeter scorers in Herro, Oladipo and Butler. Tucker is an excellent floor spacer and Bam obviously does his thing. Defensively Oladipo and Butler are both lock down wings and Bam is a beast in the paint. Tucker can guard most positions and Herro would be stuck guarding the corner or weakest player. All starters besides Tucker are good at moving the ball around and passing. Not to mention both Butler and Oladipo are very clutch.
Off the bench Dragic leads the second unit, Bradley is a great defender and plays his role, Robinson gives you some scoring, Achiwura gives you energy and physicality to help for Cousin lack of mobility. Cousin would provide good scoring and shooting to the second unit.
You’d also have Harkless and Olynyk to call on if needed.
Would smash the Pacers, against Philly Oladipo and Butler stop Simmons, Tucker does a good job on Harris and Bam vs Embiid. Would make a great series. Then most likely Nets or Bucks. Nets have a great 3 star headliner but Oladipo Butler Tucker Bam can hopefully contain them a little. They lack at centre where Bam can dominate and Cousins can too off the wood. Against the Bucks Giannis Middleton and Holiday vs Bam Butler and Oladipo that’s a great series too. I’d give the edge to Miami cause of the depth
The team that would be perfect for Cousins is the Bulls… Him and Carter jr. could play C while Carter jr. also plays PF allowing the Bulls to move Lauri in a trade for a true PG that would shift White to rotation where White could be the sixth man and used properly as a scoring guard…
I know insane…
Coby White as a scoring guard 6th man on the bulls means the bulls are a much much better team, they have to add a true PG for that too happen but I agree that’s what’s best for Coby the way the bulls are constructed with Zach as the centerpiece, I think the bulls should try and trade carter to a team like the Suns, deandre ayton is just outnumbered every game for the Suns down low and needs help in the boards, carter goes to the 4 for them and they don’t start 4 perimeter players plus ayton, I’m just not convinced carter is a starting center on a true contender unless he is lebrons teammate where anyone can start and they are contenders
Also try to trade Lauri for anything but if no trade I’d let him walk this offseason, can’t pay a guy who plays 30 games a year
Orlando is afraid to deal Aaron Gordon…
Funny all the guys acting like this is 2015 Boogie yet Houston couldn’t find anyone to take him in a trade! Guy is washed, please stop