As the clock counts down, teams are scurrying to either tack on the last few pieces to a possible-championship puzzle or ship off whomever doesn’t fit future plans.
Tomorrow is the moment of truth.
For the teams still vying for a playoff spot, one big, momentous move could catapult them into a top-eight spot.
Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? At the end of the day, you’re either a buyer or a seller. The major buyers include the Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Bobcats.
As far as the sellers go, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics are the obvious teams shopping their players. Mitch Kupchak and Danny Ainge might as well sit out on the front lawn in undershirts and scratch themselves as rival general managers browse their rosters. At this point, anyone but Kobe Bryant is available for the Lakers. Rajon Rondo was supposed to be the cornerstone for Brad Stevens and Ainge to build around, but he might be trading in his Celtic green soon. Teams like the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings are staring at Rondo and panting because he could be the final piece to “the puzzle.”
At 3 p.m. tomorrow teams will either take a breath to keep swimming or tie themselves to anvils and prepare for next season.
Here are the top 10 players most likely to be traded before tomorrow’s deadline:
10. Iman Shumpert SG New York Knicks
Shumpert has played well for the Knicks. In fact, he’s one of two young assets they have to offer. Both Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr have excelled under favorable contracts. Unfortunately for Shumpert, he’s become expendable since Hardaway Jr has emerged. Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, all of whom need scoring off the bench, could be possible suitors for the 23-year-old Shumpert.
9. Raymond Felton PG New York Knicks
Knicks need a point guard. Raymond Felton has not been the pre-Carmelo Anthony-trade version of himself. Before Anthony took over Madison Square Garden, Felton and Amar’e Stoudemire were doing their best rendition of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Felton averaged 17 points and nine assists before he was shipped off to the Denver Nuggets. This year Felton is putting up about 1o points and six assists in about 32 minutes a game. Felton and Shumpert would likely be packaged together, and the rumblings are that the Los Angeles Clippers’ Darren Collison has replaced Kyle Lowry and Jeff Teague on New York’s list of priorities.
8. Kyle Lowry PG Toronto Raptors
It’s hard not to give the Raptors credit for trying, but they just didn’t get it right. Lowry will be a free agent after this year, and the Raptors know they won’t be able to afford him. His player efficiency rating is hovering above 20, and at 27 years old, Lowry is still one of the best point guards in the league. He just hasn’t had a whole lot of options in Toronto. Demar DeRozan is an All-Star, but the Raptors need more to compete against the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. If they don’t trade Lowry before tomorrow, he’ll probably walk in the off-season.
7. Brandon Bass PF Boston Celtics
Bass has outperformed the man the Orlando Magic traded him for, Glen Davis, but now Bass’ time is coming to an end in Boston. He’s due just less than $7 million next year, but he’s more than just a salary dump. He’s shooting 48 percent from the field in about 27 minutes a game. Bass has established himself as a hustle player with a great work ethic, who crashes the boards with precision. He could be a valuable asset to the Brooklyn Nets, who just traded its key rebounder, Reggie Evans, or the Houston Rockets. Bass could easily be one those guys who pushes a team over the hump on the road to the playoffs.
6. Isaiah Thomas PG Sacramento Kings
Thomas has actually played very well. It was supposed to be Jimmer Fredette’ s team, but Thomas just out-played him. Dropping 20 points and six assists a game tends to be a quality you want in your starting point guard. Unfortunately for the Kings, Thomas is a free agent and will probably demand more than the $900 thousand he earned this year. That money, my friends, is supposed to go to Rudy Gay in the off-season. With Demarcus Cousins’ salary bumping up to $13.7 million next year, the Kings will have to cut corners anyway they can, and that could be at Thomas’ expense.
5. Pau Gasol PF/C Los Angeles Lakers
It has to be hard for Kupchak, and especially Kobe Bryant, but the Lakers are no longer looking down at the rest of the NBA. With an aging Bryant, the Lakers are going to need more than Gasol and his $19 million if they want to make one more title run before the “Black Mamba” rides off into the sunset. Bryant and Steve Nash will be the only players under contract for L.A. after this year, and with Kevin Love on the horizon, Gasol returning after this season wasn’t likely. Phoenix and Charlotte have been tied to Gasol for a couple weeks now. It makes more sense for Phoenix because its roster is in better shape than Charlotte’s. Either way, I don’t see how L.A. lets Gasol go for nothing.
4. Aaron Afflalo SG Orlando Magic
Afflalo is another one who has out-performed expectations. He’s shooting 42 percent from deep this year and pours in 19 points on a nightly basis. He’s been a bright spot for the Magic, but a thorn at the same time. Orlando is trying to climb the draft lottery. Everyone realizes that. So Afflalo’s stellar play makes him a prime candidate to be dealt. He can provide some much needed three-point shooting off the bench for a title contender. The Oklahoma City Thunder could be very interested in his services.
3. Emeka Okafor C Phoenix Suns
Anyone who calls the Suns about Okafor is looking to unload some cash. The former second-overall pick is making $14.4 million this year, and he hasn’t even played a game for the Suns. Okafor’s sole value lies in the fact that a team can bring him on board just to ship him out as soon as the season is over. I think it’s a foregone conclusion that Okafor is out of Phoenix by tomorrow.
2. Luol Deng SF Cleveland Cavaliers
What were the Cavaliers expecting? They knew they wouldn’t make a deep run in the playoffs, or make the playoffs at all for that matter. Sure, Deng is an upgrade over Bynum — locker room wise. Though I can’t believe they thought there was a chance Deng would re-sign after this season. He’s spent his entire career in Chicago and did a heck of a job for Tom Thibodeau. Deng was gong to hold the Bulls’ wallet for ransom this summer. If Cleveland doesn’t ship him out before the deadline, it will be an awful mistake. The man who brought Deng into town, Chris Grant, is no longer the general manager for the Cavs. I think Deng follows suit and hits the exit door soon as well.
1. Jordan Hill C Los Angeles Lakers
Hill has really out-played his expectations since joining the Lakers in 2011. He’s 26 and can either be a dependable starting center or an energetic, game-changing back-up. Since Brook Lopez was lost for the season, the Nets have flat out ached at the center position. They’re in need of a shot blocker, and Hill can surely do that. Plus, Brooklyn just sent Evans away, so it needs someone to clean the glass now more than ever. Hill makes a lot of sense for the Nets. He’ll be a free agent after this year, and could be affordable later on if he enjoys his time with Deron Williams, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Additionally Hill has also attracted interest from New Orleans and Charlotte, who would also be looking to bolster their front court depth.
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