October is right around the corner. We’ve made it. Training camp, preseason, and the regular season tipoff are rapidly approaching dates on the calendar. It may be unlikely that anything is set to happen on the trade front at this time, but here are seven potential swaps that promote change of scenery for players who, for one reason or another, just don’t seem to fit on their respective clubs – and could potentially be more useful and happier in different environments.
Michael Carter-Williams for Ben McLemore
Both players have fallen out of favor in their current homes entering the final years of their respective rookie deals. Dave Joerger didn’t show much interest in playing unproven young players in Memphis, so McLemore could continue to see a ho-hum 20 minutes per game if he remains in Sacramento behind Arron Afflalo – the projected starter at shooting guard. Meanwhile, MCW seems likely to lose his starting gig to Matt Dellavedova. The Bucks need more shooting, which they get with McLemore. The Kings need that shooting too, but they also need a point guard with some potential. I’ve never been an MCW fan, but still concede that he might be worth taking a shot on given Sacramento’s situation.
Michael Carter-Williams and Greg Monroe for Marcin Gortat and Trey Burke
I began writing this post with a few thoughts that would not go away: one, turn the Polish Gazelle into a Milwaukee Buck so he can run and frolic with the deer; two, find new homes for MCW and Monroe, whom the Bucks have likely dangled already. However, I had no idea these two dreams would merge (or that it would be this glorious). Hollinger’s Analysis on ESPN’s Trade Machine added four wins to the Wizards and subtracted six from the Bucks. I’m not sure I agree with those projections, but if the Wizards were actually interested in such a deal, this is as good as it gets for Milwaukee in terms of being able to shed two pieces that don’t fit in exchange for one that very well might (Gortat) as a screen-and-roll buddy and another that may or may not pan out (Burke) as an off-ball guard who can sink perimeter shots.
Brook Lopez for Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, 2017 first round pick, and 2018 second round pick
New Orleans has been in win-now mode for the last several seasons, and that’s unlikely to change. Kenneth Faried paired well with Anthony Davis for Team USA, but the Pelicans might be better off adding a center with some shooting touch who can handle the big bruisers inside. The Nets nab a second first round pick (to go along with Boston’s) for 2017 before the market dries up in what could be a deep and talented draft class in exchange for taking on Asik’s deal. Evans’ recurring knee injuries put a cloud of doubt around his status this season, but he could be part of the deal strictly for the purpose of matching outgoing salaries.
Nemanja Bjelica for Taj Gibson
Gibson has done lots of good in Chicago both on the court and off, but the Bulls have no shortage of depth and youth down low—plus they need more shooting in the worst way. Gibson and Tom Thibodeau go way back, and the Wolves already have several young players who they’ll have to pay or let go of this summer. By the same token, Bjelica could be a delightful fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the frontcourt since Minnesota needs to upgrade its shooting as well, but for some reason he just doesn’t strike me as a Thibeodau guy. Meanwhile, Bulls’ coach Fred Hoiberg might be fonder of the benefits that Bjelica brings to the table with his crisp passes and outside bombs.
Lou Williams for Tiago Splitter
Sweet Lou might not be perfect for coach Mike Budenholzer’s offensive system, which is probably part of why the Hawks let Williams leave in free agency last time his contract was up. However, Jarrett Jack is coming off an ACL tear, and he’s already in his mid-30’s. Atlanta didn’t do enough restocking of its point guard cupboard following the decision to move Jeff Teague and make way for Dennis Schröder. They could also use some firepower in the scoring department, a man who can get tough buckets off the bench when the offense is struggling.
Tiago Splitter is a center and former NBA champion who spent the majority of last season injured. Sound familiar, Lakers fans? Splitter might not return to the form we saw from him in San Antonio, but he’s a team-first big guy who will help sort out the logjam in the backcourt. Between young ball-handlers D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, there’s no need for Williams to do his best Allen Iverson impersonation in L.A. Splitter is also a superb passer at his position, which Luke Walton would likely love to add to the roster.
Rudy Gay for Kenneth Faried
Finding a finer fit for Kenneth Faried was also one of my plans entering this exercise, as he just doesn’t seem to belong in Colorado if Emmanuel Mudiay is a long-term piece at point guard for the Nuggets. Chatting with fellow TLM writer Quentin Haynes last week, he offered some insights that I found interesting:
“He feels like someone who would have value to a specific team. Such an odd fit because he’s a fine rebounder, but he’s not a defender or shooter, nor do I think he can be an adequate backup center. Needs to go somewhere with a ton of shooting on the perimeter.”
At 6-7 with a 7-0 wingspan, his reach isn’t much shorter than Trsitan Thompson’s, but Faried’s build is broader, and he’s not as wiry in terms of sliding his feet on the perimeter or leaping high and quick enough to be a top-notch rim protector. Unless the Warriors are trading Shaun Livingston and a couple cheap young players for Faried, I’m not sure there’s a team with enough shooting at the other four positions to allow “the Manimal” a prime starting role. The Kings don’t have enough shooting to make up for Faried’s flaws on offense, but Rudy Gay may walk away next summer (and doesn’t possess a knock-down jumper either).
The opportunity for Sacramento to pair someone like Faried (who busts his butt on a nightly basis) with DeMarcus Cousins would have to be tantalizing should Denver come calling about Gay, who would fit in well with Denver’s mountain range of versatile wings. This would give the Nuggets three players with the ability to rotate seamlessly between the 3 and 4 positions, the current two being Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari.
For Sacramento, Matt Barnes might be a better perimeter shooter and defender than Gay, Anthony Tolliver is a decent stretch-4, and Faried could nestle in nicely with Cousins, Barnes, and Afflalo to form a gritty group that coach Dave Joerger would undoubtedly weep about at the end of the year.
Nerlens Noel and Hollis Thompson for C.J. McCollum and Noah Vonleh
The former Lehigh star broke out big time in 2015-16, but the Blazers nabbed Evan Turner this offseason. There is only one basketball. Even if it’s off the bench, Turner may play 25-30 minutes, and we know Lillard will see 35-40. Both Lillard and Turner are willing and polished passers, so this could merely result in C.J. enjoying more time off the ball in a perfect role offensively. Nevertheless, the defensive side of the ball won’t look so great with two small guards alongside an alligator-armed Turner at the 3.
Given the makeup of this team, Portland may need a rim-protecting, rim-rolling, alley-oop catching center more than it needs an undersized splasher. Already armed with stretchy wings such as Allen Crabbe, Mo Harkless, and Al Faruq-Aminu, it might be wise for Portland to zag and trade in its status as an offensive juggernaut for the chance at building a defensively dominant squad with Lillard controlling the show. Maybe that’s too much to ask of Lillard: to be the lone ranger so to speak, but maybe it’s also too much to ask for three players to compensate for the defensive disadvantages that Dame-C.J. creates for Portland. Maybe the trail Portland is blazing doesn’t lead to the Promised Land. Maybe defense still wins championships.
For Philadelphia, I think it’s pretty obvious that McCollum would be a godsend. In fact, any Sixers fan reading this is probably licking their lips at the possibility of such an event, such added spacing for Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid. Of course, this may be my most unrealistic trade idea. The Blazers just signed McCollum to an extension, and there’s no indication that they’d be willing to settle considering that Philly possesses little leverage. Still, sometimes you have to take a risk if you want to succeed, and Noel might be worth the risk and potential backlash that could occur if McCollum were moved.
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