6 NBA Teams Who Need to Make a Trade at the Deadline
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
New York Knicks
I can’t believe we’re finally at the point where we can confidently say this, but the New York Knicks are awesome. Jalen Brunson is morphing into a better player than we imagined, OG Anunoby is proving to be the perfect addition, and Tom Thibodeau belongs in the Coach of the Year discussion with how well he is maximizing the talent of his role players. We’ve heard for years that the Knicks are waiting for their superstar, but they have an opportunity now to add to this team and see what happens. They could use an upgrade at the center position, but no glaring upgrades are available on the market. I’d like them to pair Anunoby with an offensive-minded wing, and I think Bojan Bogdanovic would be the ideal fit. He’d give Thibs lineup flexibility and an added three-point shooter that any team with deep aspirations can’t get enough of.
Philadelphia 76ers
Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers ought to be ashamed of themselves if they let this trade deadline pass them by without making a move to improve this roster, while Joel Embiid is putting together one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen from a big man. Although it’s possible he may not meet the number of games to qualify for the MVP, it’s evident that being healthy in the playoffs is his top priority, so Morey needs to get his act together. They have their superstar in Embiid, Tyrese Maxey can be a formidable second option, and they have decent role players. Still, they could use a third option with Tobias Harris not good against a team like the Boston Celtics. It’s essential that Morey also doesn’t mess with Maxey and Embiid's chemistry, but imagine if he were to give Utah every pick they own for the next five years to land Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson? That would make the 76ers favorites to come out of the East, as long as Embiid’s production doesn’t dip.
Chicago Bulls
What are the Chicago Bulls trying to accomplish? They aren’t going anywhere meaningful in the postseason, so any false hope they have about stealing the eight-seed in the East will be quickly dissolved when the Celtics sweep them effortlessly. While their value may not be immense, guys like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic will net the Bulls enough picks to move ahead with a rebuild. The NBA is a better product when the Bulls are good, so for the game's sake, the Bulls need to blow this thing up and rebuild the right way.
Los Angeles Lakers
We have to face the reality that the Lakers are the Lakers, so they’ll never punt on a season when the playoffs are within reach. This team is complete garbage outside of LeBron James, giving everything he has left in his 39-year-old body. Still, I don’t know how to feel about the relationship between Darvin Ham and Anthony Davis. Ham benched Davis in the fourth quarter as the Lakers attempted a comeback. AD is having a fantastic year, but besides him and LeBron, this team has nothing. The pundits and analysts need to stop convincing themselves that guys like Max Christie and Austin Reaves can bring the Lakers a star in a trade. If the Lakers were wise, they would trade LeBron for a king’s ransom at the deadline. It will never happen in a million years, but when the Jazz knock the Lakers out of the play-in tournament, they will wish they had.
Dallas MavericksIf it weren’t for Joel Embiid putting up ridiculous numbers and the Mavericks being only slightly above average, Luka Doncic would be getting a lot more attention for what he’s putting together this season. It’s truly remarkable. However, this Mavericks team just isn’t good enough to truly compete in the loaded Western Conference this year. Dallas did have a nice offseason as they added some key role players like Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. while hitting big on their draft with Dereck Lively II, but still, they just don’t have enough horses to get to that upper tier in the West. They definitely could use a versatile forward, so I’d like to see them explore buying low on Andrew Wiggins or getting someone like PJ Washington to complement Lively in the paint. Just like with the 76ers and Embiid, the Mavs are getting too great of a season from Doncic to just waste by standing pat.
If it weren’t for Joel Embiid putting up ridiculous numbers and the Mavericks being only slightly above average, Luka Doncic would be getting much more attention for what he’s doing this season. It’s truly remarkable. However, the Mavericks aren’t good enough to compete in the loaded Western Conference. Dallas had an excellent offseason, adding some key role players like Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. while hitting big on their draft with Dereck Lively II. Still, they don’t have enough to get into that upper tier in the West. They could use a versatile forward, so expect them to buy low on Andrew Wiggins or get someone like PJ Washington to complement Lively in the paint. Like the 76ers and Embiid, the Mavs are getting too great of a season from Doncic to waste by standing pat.
Golden State Warriors
If there was hope heading into the season, there is none now. The Golden State Warriors dynasty is over. It will be hard for the organization to part with Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, but if the value is there, the Warriors must take it. Bob Myers and the Warriors parted ways so the organization wouldn’t get attached to their aging legends. They need to ensure they maximize their value while they have some left. Additionally, Andrew Wiggins needs to be gone, as it’s not working anymore for him in Golden State. Jonathan Kuminga wants a change of scenery, and you could probably fetch a decent return for him. Who knows what Chris Paul could fetch on the open market? If the Warriors stand pat, they are just delaying the inevitable, so rip the bandaid off now and hope to put another contender around Steph Curry soon.
New York Knicks
I can’t believe we’re finally at the point where we can confidently say this, but the New York Knicks are awesome. Jalen Brunson is morphing into a better player than we imagined, OG Anunoby is proving to be the perfect addition, and Tom Thibodeau belongs in the Coach of the Year discussion with how well he is maximizing the talent of his role players. We’ve heard for years that the Knicks are waiting for their superstar, but they have an opportunity now to add to this team and see what happens. They could use an upgrade at the center position, but no glaring upgrades are available on the market. I’d like them to pair Anunoby with an offensive-minded wing, and I think Bojan Bogdanovic would be the ideal fit. He’d give Thibs lineup flexibility and an added three-point shooter that any team with deep aspirations can’t get enough of.
Philadelphia 76ers
Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers ought to be ashamed of themselves if they let this trade deadline pass them by without making a move to improve this roster, while Joel Embiid is putting together one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen from a big man. Although it’s possible he may not meet the number of games to qualify for the MVP, it’s evident that being healthy in the playoffs is his top priority, so Morey needs to get his act together. They have their superstar in Embiid, Tyrese Maxey can be a formidable second option, and they have decent role players. Still, they could use a third option with Tobias Harris not good against a team like the Boston Celtics. It’s essential that Morey also doesn’t mess with Maxey and Embiid's chemistry, but imagine if he were to give Utah every pick they own for the next five years to land Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson? That would make the 76ers favorites to come out of the East, as long as Embiid’s production doesn’t dip.
