NBA Trade Deadline 2018: Best-Case Trade Scenarios for Every Team

Adam Fromal@fromal09X.com LogoNational NBA Featured ColumnistFebruary 7, 2018

NBA Trade Deadline 2018: Best-Case Trade Scenarios for Every Team

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    Breaking news: All 30 NBA organizations won't handle the 2018 NBA trade deadline perfectly. 

    Tyreke Evans and Lou Williams can only be traded to one team, if they're moved at all. The Utah Jazz might get a first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Rodney Hood, which is perfect for the Salt Lake City residents. But that isn't a flawless fit in the Sooner State. 

    Some of these ideal moves are mutually exclusive transactions and ideas—an inevitability in a league that features so many different teams competing for conflicting goals. But that doesn't stop us from trying to identify the perfect route for each franchise to travel down before the Feb. 8 deadline is behind us. 

    We aren't coming up with exact trade proposals for the whole league, as that level of specificity would be impossible when the preferred course of action is often a more intangible class of moves. Some organizations are trying to slough off pieces. Others have multiple targets. Others still might need to avoid making certain ill-advised moves. 

    But if all 30 teams use these suggestions as blueprints, they'll be set up for success in their varying deadline endeavors. 

Atlanta Hawks: Incoming First-Round Picks

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    The Atlanta Hawks can stop operating under the pretense that they're attempting to remain competitive. Though this team has the requisite talent to test opponents on any given night and has suffered myriad close losses, it should move toward unabashed tanking at the deadline. 

    John Collins is the only unquestionable keeper, though Taurean Prince could be viewed as an untouchable depth piece. But everyone else, including one-way point guard Dennis Schroder and aging big man Dewayne Dedmon, should be made available for the right price. 

    In reality, the Hawks likely aren't trading any starters other than Kent Bazemore, who may not be available unless a contending team is willing to match salaries with a shorter-term deal and attach a first-round pick for good measure. But they can still ship off Ersan Ilyasova, Marco Belinelli and Luke Babbitt to playoff squads, ideally trying to package them together and work their way into top-30-selection territory. 

    Perhaps someone with a completed core would be willing to sell a slot well outside of the teens. The Golden State Warriors and their back-end first-rounder would seem to be a nice fit for Ilyasova or Belinelli, as just one of many examples. 

Boston Celtics: Cheap Acquisition of Tyreke Evans

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    The Boston Celtics are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, but their lack of offensive acumen keeps them from being considered the unequivocal "best" squad. They sit No. 4 in net rating (5.0) throughout the NBA and trail the Toronto Raptors (7.0) in the Association's weaker half, but that's a direct byproduct of their suffocating defense. Home in on offensive rating, and they fall down to No. 17—all the way outside the league's top half. 

    Kyrie Irving is a shot-creating menace, and the Celtics have plenty of complementary pieces. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are strong secondary scorers, while Al Horford remains a do-everything big capable of knocking down his own buckets or setting up teammates with easy feeds. 

    Boston does not, however, have a second player who can reliably get buckets off the bounce. That's the appeal of landing Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams, both of whom have proved proficient operating as solo sources of offensive firepower for the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers, respectively. 

    Of the Celtics' six double-digit scorers, Irving is the only one requiring an assist on fewer than half of his buckets. Evans is at 32.8 percent assisted in Memphis. Williams stands at 41.4 percent

    If they can give up their own first-round pick for either guard (while retaining the loftier selections owed to them by multiple teams in the next few years), they should pull the trigger without hesitation and become even more legitimate contenders. 

Brooklyn Nets: Add Another Pick

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    The Brooklyn Nets have done a masterful job of rebuilding with limited assets. General manager Sean Marks has consistently gotten creative, absorbing undesirable salaries to acquire players who the rebuilding bottom-feeders wouldn't otherwise be able to obtain. 

    We saw it with D'Angelo Russell, as the Nets also took on Timofey Mozgov's albatross contract. They took a chance on Allen Crabbe after he proved to be too expensive for the Portland Trail Blazers. And beyond that, Brooklyn has been willing to give players such as Jahlil Okafor and, more recently, Rashad Vaughn second chances. 

    It should continue down that path at the deadline. 

    The Nets shouldn't hesitate to make their cap space available to another team looking to slough off an unwanted salary, so long as that player comes attached with a draft-day selection or an additional young talent. As ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted after reporting the details of the Vaughn trade, "For Brooklyn, the key was turning Zeller into a second-round pick. Nets still trying to replenish stash of picks. Vaughn's contract simply made the deal work."

    Granted, those swaps don't always materialize. And in that situation, the Nets should be looking to sell non-essential pieces such as Joe Harris for early second-rounders. Just keep rebuilding the selection of draft-day assets for the time being. 

Charlotte Hornets: Someone Wants Nicolas Batum

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    Nicolas Batum is still on the early end of the five-year, $120 million contract he signed with the Charlotte Hornets in July 2016, and the remaining expenditures don't look palatable:

    • 2017-18: $22,434,783
    • 2018-19: $24,000,000
    • 2019-20: $25,565,217
    • 2020-21: $27,130,434 (player option)

    Turning Kemba Walker into a haul of draft picks and young prospects (something like Emmanuel Mudiay, salary filler and two first-round selections from the Denver Nuggets) isn't as mandatory as finding a new home for the French swingman. Clearing his contracts from the books paves the way to a bona fide rebuild in which the Hornets can actually pursue complementary talents for their should-be All-Star. 

    Now they just have to get lucky. 

    Finding a landing spot for the 29-year-old swingman isn't an easy proposition, even though he's starting to find his shooting stroke and play better in recent weeks. They have to hope a team like the Portland Trail Blazers wants to (re)acquire him, since Rip City is one of the organizations that A) can be viewed as a buyer, B) has a need for someone like Batum and C) has the financial assets necessary to match salaries. 

    If the Blazers come calling with Maurice Harkless, Ed Davis (expiring) and Noah Vonleh (expiring), along with a second-round throw-in, the Hornets should jump at the opportunity to undo an old move and clear Batum's payouts from the ledgers. 

Chicago Bulls: Someone Wants Robin Lopez

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    With Nikola Mirotic already shipped off to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Chicago Bulls don't have many veterans who they should be shopping around. Perhaps they could be convinced to trade Justin Holiday or Bobby Portis, but those aren't essential moves. 

    Only Robin Lopez qualifies as such, considering the direction of the team and the big man's nearly 30 years on planet Earth. If someone wants to take on the last two seasons of his four-year, $54 million contract, the Bulls should help him pack his bags and vacate the Windy City. 

    That isn't meant as an insult to Lopez's skills. He's been a passionate member of the downtrodden Bulls, constantly exerting every ounce of energy he possesses on both ends of the floor. He just isn't a fit for the Chicago timeline, and he could potentially bring back some future assets. 

    "In fact, with league sources indicating that talks centered on Robin Lopez have intensified and also that the Bulls and Thunder have discussed at least Tony Allen's expiring contract, management will be busy between now and Thursday's trade deadline," K.C. Johnson reported for the Chicago Tribune

    Deals involving Tony Allen or Jerian Grant would be nice, but neither would offer the same possibility of a noteworthy return presented by a certain Stanford product. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Star Comes Aboard Without the Nets Pick Involved

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    Will the Cleveland Cavaliers trade their biggest asset? The Brooklyn Nets' unprotected 2018 first-round pick is a tantalizing commodity they could dangle in front of a rebuilding squad's nose, but it also might be too much to give up when LeBron James could jet this offseason and plunge Northeast Ohio into a rebuild of its own. 

    "I keep hearing the Cavs absolutely won't trade the Brooklyn draft pick. That's not true. I've heard from top league sources the Cavs will do it—but not for a short-term answer such as DeAndre Jordan. That's because Jordan can become a free agent at the end of the season.

    "The Cavs would trade the pick for a younger player who is under team control for a few years. But they are willing to deal their own first-round pick in 2018 for the right short-term fix."

    This is the correct mentality. Giving up that Brooklyn pick for DeAndre Jordan or Marc Gasol would be a short-sighted disaster. Ditto for Tyreke Evans, Lou Williams or any other notable but aging players on the trade block. 

    However, Clevelandwhich has lost 13 of its last 19 games and owns a minus-0.4 net ratingdesperately needs help. And if it can cobble together a convincing package comprised of some combination of Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson and future draft picks other than the Nets first-rounder for one of the aforementioned players, that's when their ideal trade deadline becomes reality. 

Dallas Mavericks: First-Rounder Incoming

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    The Dallas Mavericks should make everyone other than Dennis Smith Jr., Harrison Barnes and Dirk Nowitzki available as they hunt for an additional first-rounder. 

    If another team comes calling about Devin Harris, J.J. Barea or Yogi Ferrell, Dallas should pull the trigger without hesitation. After all, the veteran guards lack the necessary upside or correct timelines to mesh with a Smith-led rebuild.

    If a team inquires about Wesley Matthews? While the shooting guard is a hard-worker averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting 38.3 percent from downtown, but he's a 31-year-old wing on the wrong end of an Achilles injury. He's expendable as well. 

    What if someone wants to give Nerlens Noel a chance? What if they fall in love with Dwight Powell and think he could be a difference-maker on their roster? 

    All of these situations are ideal for Dallas, which should have an attachment to few members of its current roster. The Mavericks have refused to fully commit to a tear-it-down process for years, instead trying to finagle deals with veterans and give head coach Rick Carlisle enough marginal talent that he can work his magic and keep the team in the hunt for the Western Conference's No. 8 seed. 

    Now, the time has come to take a step backward before eventually making the coveted leap forward. 

Denver Nuggets: Point Guard Time

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    Since a one-game absence during a Jan. 17 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Jamal Murray has exploded. Over his last nine outings, he averaged 22.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 53.0 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from downtown and a clean 100 percent at the charity stripe (on 3.3 tries per appearance). 

    But he still isn't a natural point guard. No one on Denver's roster qualifies as such while also being deserving of handling major minutes.

    Murray is a score-first flamethrower, while Emmanuel Mudiay hasn't shown nearly enough development to justify a key rotation spot. Jameer Nelson was gone before the start of the season, which leaves the Nuggets trying to replicate a traditional 1's distributing responsibilities through unorthodox avenues. Nikola Jokic and Will Barton are the top two assist men in the Mile High City, dishing out 5.5 and 4.1 dimes per contest, respectively. 

    Fortunately, the Nuggets could solve this issue in a number of ways at the deadline, especially since they don't need to keep using multiple first-round picks in every draft and could stand to consolidate some of their excessive frontcourt pieces. Malik Beasley and Juancho Hernangomez should be attractive to sellers, given their youth and upside. 

    Maybe the Nuggets can pull off a blockbuster for Kemba Walker. More realistically, they can target George Hill and find a way to ensure their distributing acumen doesn't disappear when Jokic needs a breather.

Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson Becomes a Shooter

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    Even after pulling off an out-of-nowhere blockbuster for Blake Griffin, the Detroit Pistons shouldn't be done perusing the trade market. If anything, they should be actively trying to acquire more shooters after dealing away Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley and effectively losing so much of the spacing that surrounded Andre Drummond on a regular basis. 

    Following the Griffin deal, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported, "Word in NBA circles is the Pistons have ramped up efforts to move out Stanley Johnson, with an eye for Utah's Rodney Hood. It remains unclear if the Jazz engages in a deal built around Johnson, but the Pistons are being aggressive."

    However, Hood isn't a perfect fit. 

    Both Drummond and Griffin are bigs who thrive with the ball in their hands, so they should ideally be complemented by a spot-up marksman rather than a player who needs to operate off the bounce. Only 32.3 and 70.6 percent of the Utah Jazz 2-guard's twos and threes, respectively, have been assisted, and he sits in just the 56.6th percentile for points per spot-up possession. 

    But he'd still be an upgrade over Stanley Johnson, who, despite his defensive value, is shooting only 27.4 percent on 3.6 long-range attempts per game. Any shooter would be, given the current dearth of established floor-spacing in the Motor City and the ideal roster construction around the new twin-tower pairing. 

    Whether the Pistons are targeting a bigger name such as Hood or a smaller one like Marco Belinelli, they need to find someone who can knock down triples with some semblance of consistency. 

Golden State Warriors: Grab a Random Veteran

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    Should the Golden State Warriors feel confident in their title chances right now? Probably, but they don't have the same air of invincibility this go-round.

    Even with four All-Stars in the starting lineup and a deep cast of useful veterans and intriguing youngsters, they haven't been able to run away from the field. Not only do they have a meager one-game lead over the Houston Rockets in the quest for the Western Conference's No. 1 seed heading into Wednesday, but their net rating (9.6) doesn't blow the Rockets (8.0) or Toronto Raptors (7.0) out of the water. 

    The Dubs could easily sit back and continue to win games. Their roster is loaded with talent, and it doesn't require any wholesale changes. 

    But if Golden State is feeling intent on adding even more talent, it could shop around its 2018 first-rounder, which is sure to land nearer to No. 30 than No. 20 in a presumably loaded prospect pageant. Maybe that's enough to land Marco Belinelli and/or Ersan Ilyasova from the Atlanta Hawks. Perhaps it could get them access to J.J. Barea or Devin Harris from the Dallas Mavericks. The Sacramento Kings might think about making Vince Carter available for that price. 

    Specific options are futile here, since the Warriors don't have any distinct needs. But if they're seeking talent in general, choices do exist for the right price. 

Houston Rockets: Buyer for Ryan Anderson

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    As ESPN Houston's Kelly Iko reported, the Houston Rockets are "quietly gauging" whether any teams are willing to take on the remainder of Ryan Anderson's four-year, $80 million contract. And even though they're right on the Golden State Warriors' tails and could be viewed as buyers heading into the deadline, shipping off the starting power forward would still be their ideal outcome. 

    Don't be fooled by Anderson's individual numbers. He's averaging 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from downtown—stats that might convince you he still possesses the gravity necessary to positively impact Houston's wealth of sharpshooting talents. 

    Except the Rockets are worse with him on the floor. Far worse, in fact. 

    When Anderson plays, Houston outscores the opposition by 4.9 points per 100 possessions. When he takes a seat alongside head coach Mike D'Antoni, that net rating skyrockets to 12.2 (the team's second-highest off-court mark, behind only Markel Brown's 12.8). As such, getting his contract off the books would be a positive for a team that's better without him, even if doing so may require packaging a second-round pick and a non-rotation youngster as temptation. 

    The Rockets don't need to fill in any holes. They do, however, need to engage in some addition by subtraction.

Indiana Pacers: Make an Upside Play

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    Though the Indiana Pacers are 30-25 with a current spot in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, they shouldn't fancy themselves buyers. They're exceeding expectations behind a breakout season from Victor Oladipo, who should be viewed as a veritable lock for Most Improved Player, and are outplaying some of their underlying metrics. 

    For example, Pythagorean Wins—which are based solely on margin of victory and strength of scheduleindicate they've won one more game than they should have. Only the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards have faced easier slates of opponents. 

    Instead of trying to acquire veterans and make a push toward the top of the East, Indiana should instead continue playing the long game. Go after a young contributor who's fallen out of favor with his current organization and is need of a scenery change. 

    Though plenty of examples exist throughout the league, the best option may be calling the Orlando Magic and inquiring about Mario Hezonja. If the Pacers can get him for little more than matching salary and a second-round pick (similar to what the Brooklyn Nets just did with Tyler Zeller, landing Rashad Vaughn and a second-round selection), they'd increase the upside of the squad for a relatively meager cost. 

    The best-case scenario is that Hezonja builds upon his recent momentum and breaks out in a new location. The worst-case scenario involves the Pacers wasting a second-round pick—something that happens all too often even when teams use the selections on incoming rookies.

Los Angeles Clippers: Another Team Falls in Love with DeAndre Jordan

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    We're looking at you, Cleveland Cavaliers. 

    If the Los Angeles Clippers want to continue offloading key pieces following their surprise trade of Blake Griffin, they'll surely find a buyer. The Milwaukee Bucks presumably would be willing to give up Thon Maker and a first-round pick. The Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors could come calling, too. Ditto for plenty of other teams. 

    But the Clippers should hope the Cavs get truly desperate and put the Brooklyn Nets' first-rounder on the table. That's the best asset to which LAC has realistic access, even though their incumbent center can become an unrestricted free agent this summer and seek a new landing spot on his own terms (ideally without locked doors and Twitter drama this time around). 

    The Clippers are currently floating between the two extremes of contention and unabashed rebuilding, which puts them in a dangerous place. Mediocrity is NBA purgatory, making it tough to acquire marquee free agents or top-notch draft picks and dooming organizations to unwanted stagnation. 

    Committing is necessary, and nothing would make the Clippers pull the trigger quite like a shot at one of the top picks in the star-studded 2018 NBA draft. 

Los Angeles Lakers: No Multiyear Contracts Back

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    The Los Angeles Lakers have carefully carved out future cap space throughout Magic Johnson's brief tenure, including a trade of Timofey Mozgov and D'Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets that did away with a high-upside player for cap-sheet purposes. Now, they can't backslide at the 2018 deadline. 

    Los Angeles has a number of players other squads should covet. Julius Randle is an attractive commodity for teams in need of a relentless power forward with skill on both ends. Jordan Clarkson is a scoring machine who could become a useful bench piece for a contending squad. Brook Lopez could be acquired on the cheap. Given the emergence of Kyle Kuzma, Larry Nance Jr. might even be available for the right price. 

    First-round picks coming back are fine. Ditto for second-round selections. The Purple and Gold presumably would love to get their collective hands on more high-ceiling plays in exchange for expendable commodities.

    But they should under no circumstances accept any long-term money back in return. Doing so would negate so much of the previous work, making it harder for them to embark upon legitimate pursuits of marquee free agents in need of max salaries such as LeBron James and Paul George. And we aren't just talking about the 2018 class, either, since the 2019 market should be brimming over with star power. 

    The Lakers have to continue exhibiting patience, even if that means lesser returns and accepting another year of this prolonged rebuild. 

Memphis Grizzlies: 1st-Rounder for Tyreke Evans

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    This one is simple. 

    The Memphis Grizzlies brought Tyreke Evans aboard on a one-year deal that doesn't contain Bird rights, which drastically reduces his appeal on the trade market. All interested suitors must view him as little more than a half-season rental, understanding that he can help them make a playoff push and a run at a championship before perhaps departing in unrestricted free agency. 

    Even still, he'll be a coveted piece. 

    Before the Grizzlies shut Evans down to keep him healthy before the deadline, he was averaging 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 39.2 percent from beyond the rainbow and 79.9 percent at the stripe. Not only was he maintaining consistent defensive play, but the addition of a threatening perimeter jumper opened the door for the rest of his offense and made him—by a sizable margin—the most valuable player on Beale Street. 

    Someone should want him, and someone should be willing to give up a first-round pick (albeit a heavily protected one) for his shot-creating services. The Toronto Raptors could use a leader for their bench mob. The Miami Heat need an infusion of offense. The same is true of the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers. The list goes on. 

    If Memphis can't squeeze a healthy return out of its shockingly effective offseason acquisition, it'll have failed this deadline. 

Miami Heat: What Up, Lou Williams?

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    The Miami Heat aren't nearly as good as their record indicates, considering they've been outscored by 1.3 points per 100 possessions on the season. That net rating is closer to the New York Knicks (minus-1.7) than any other team in the Association. 

    The primary culprit? They're scoring at a putrid rate, producing a 103.0 offensive rating that beats only the marks of the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings—not exactly a list of world-beating squads with whom you want to be associated during the 2017-18 campaign. 

    Assuming they want to capitalize on their good fortune and continue pursuing a playoff berth, they need an infusion of offense. Especially with Dion Waiters done for the season and Goran Dragic, despite his questionable All-Star selection, struggling to finish plays effectively around the basket, they could use a shot-creating guard capable of serving as a one-man offensive show. 

    Hello, Lou Williams. 

    Given their wealth of defensive pieces and the coaching brilliance of Erik Spoelstra, the Heat could morph into a legitimate playoff threat with Williams' high-scoring habits in the fold. The only problem? They'd have to get creative and possibly work with a third organization to get the Los Angeles Clippers the pieces they'd need, considering they already owe this year's first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns (protected for only the top seven selections). 

Milwaukee Bucks: Point Guard Depth

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    DeAndre Jordan and Marc Gasol remain excellent fits for the Milwaukee Bucks, but their priorities shifted just days before the deadline. 

    Step 1: Acquiring Tyler Zeller from the Brooklyn Nets, as ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski reported. The big man may not be a glamorous name or high-upside play, but he's averaging a steady 15.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per 36 minutes while shooting 54.6 percent from the field. 

    Step 2: Injuries, injuries, injuries. Malcolm Brogdon was already ruled out for over a month with a partially torn quadriceps tendon. That point guard shortage was compounded by Matthew Dellavedova going down with a Grade 3 ankle sprain that will sideline him for three to four weeks, per ESPN.com's Chris Haynes

    Milwaukee can't possibly play Eric Bledsoe for 48 minutes per game, and it doesn't have any realistic backup options. Xavier Munford, Jason Terry and Sterling Brown can shoulder ball-handling responsibilities for brief spells, but the Bucks would be better served going after a cheap acquisition on the trade market. 

    J.J. Barea should be the first name that comes to mind, given his ability to shoulder scoring loads for the Dallas Mavericks and his cost-controlled nature through the 2018-19 campaign. So long as the Mavericks aren't asking for the sun and moon, the two sides should be able to come to a reasonable agreement.  

Minnesota Timberwolves: Someone Believes in Shabazz Muhammad

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    Shabazz Muhammad has been terrible in 2017-18. 

    He's averaging just 3.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.2 steals and 0.1 blocks while shooting 38.5 percent from the field, knocking down 21.1 percent of his triples and basically refusing to play league-average defense. The advanced metrics are even worse. NBA Math's total points added has him ranked No. 482 and adding distinctly negative value, while ESPN.com's real plus/minus gives him the league's worst score. 

    The Minnesota Timberwolves reasonably could be viewed as buyers at the deadline. They could use depth across the board, if only to dissuade head coach Tom Thibodeau from running his starters into the ground before embarking upon a playoff run. 

    But finding a taker for Muhammad would still be a better scenario. They have no reason to expect anything valuable in return, so getting even a second-round pick would be a massive victory. 

    "Out of the rotation and clearly out of Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Tom Thibodeau's plans, guard Shabazz Muhammad has requested to the franchise that it move or waive him before Thursday's NBA trade deadline," Wojnarowski reported

    Waiving doesn't help the 'Wolves. Moving him should. 

New Orleans Pelicans: Don't Mortgage the Future

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    The New Orleans Pelicans now owe their 2018 first-rounder to the Chicago Bulls (protected for the top five selections) thanks to the trade for Nikola Mirotic. That was a savvy acquisition with minimal risk, and it should keep NOLA competitive even after DeMarcus Cousins' season-ending injury. 

    But doubling down would be a mistake. 

    The Pelicans still don't know that Boogie will be back in 2018-19, since he could find a new team as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. They're also working with limited assets and a thin rotation for the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign. 

    Trading away more picks and the few youngsters on the roster could backfire spectacularly, making the Pelicans a low-end playoff team in this season's Western Conference and dooming them throughout the foreseeable future. The long view has to remain in sight, since New Orleans can't afford to mortgage its upcoming endeavors, lose Cousins and then upset Anthony Davis to the extent that he requests a trade to a more competitive organization. 

    Perhaps more so than any other ostensible buyer, the Pelicans need to hold tight at the deadline. 

New York Knicks: Sellers, Not Buyers

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    You could understand how the New York Knicks might be tempted into viewing themselves as buyers. The organization hasn't made the playoffs since losing in the 2013 Eastern Conference semifinals, and it got a fleeting taste of success early in the current season before falling back down the standings. 

    But the Knicks currently don't have the necessary pieces to be viewed as legitimate playoff contenders, especially now that an ACL tear has curtailed Kristaps Porzingis' development as an unquestioned alpha dog. So rather than make an ill-advised run at playing beyond 82 games, New York should instead opt for patience as it develops Frank Ntilikina and the other youngsters who will eventually surround the injured Latvian noodle when he regains health in the future.

    Beyond that, New York should be shopping around any and all non-essential pieces. 

    Given Courtney Lee's three-and-D abilities, he should be able to net something close to a first-round pick (if he can't land one all on his lonesome). Kyle O'Quin and  Enes Kanter should be appealing to someone. Michael Beasley could be a splashy acquisition for a playoff contender in need of an offensive jolt. 

    The Knicks don't have one ideal trade. They do, however, have one ideal mentality. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Land a Defensive Wing

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    With Andre Roberson on the floor, the Oklahoma City Thunder allowed a stingy 96.4 points per 100 possessions. When he's on the bench, whether injured or catching his breath in the midst of a contest, the defensive rating skyrockets to 108.3—by far the largest on/off differential among regular rotation members. 

    Let's provide some perspective, though. 

    That 96.4 defensive rating would easily topple the Boston Celtics' league-leading season-long mark of 99.9. Meanwhile, the rating without Roberson would be superior only to those from the Atlanta Hawks (108.4), Orlando Magic (109.0), Cleveland Cavaliers (109.4), Sacramento Kings (109.7) and Phoenix Suns (109.9).

    The Thunder can't just sit tight or attempt to make up for Roberson's season-ending injury with more offensive firepower. They need to land another defensive stopper capable of replicating some of his efforts, even if no one player can match the wing impact of this would-be Defensive Player of the Year contender. 

    Tony Allen would be one likely cheap option from the Chicago Bulls after he changed hands in the Nikola Mirotic deal. Courtney Lee would be a more expensive target, though he'd be similarly effective against smaller wings while forcing Paul George to take on some bigger foes. 

    The options are out there. OKC just has to be willing to pay the price and avoid the temptation of pursuing more offensive weapons in favor of an actual need. 

Orlando Magic: A Fire-Sale That Doesn't Involve Aaron Gordon

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    Take it away, Michael Scotto of Michael Scotto of The Athletic:

    "The new regime of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond has left no stone unturned with the deadline approaching, including quietly gauging the trade market on Aaron Gordon, league sources told The Athletic. Gordon is eligible for restricted free agency this summer, so Orlando could simply be doing due diligence."

    Dear Orlando: Do not trade Gordon. Do not move him under any circumstances, even if you're concerned about how high his price tag could rise in restricted free agency this summer. It isn't worth it, and you'd be setting back your never-ending rebuild even further. 

    Everyone else other than Jonathan Isaac should be available, however.

    If teams want Nikola Vucevic, the Magic should appease them. If they come calling about Elfrid Payton or Evan Fournier, Orlando should gladly accept first-round picks in return. But if they go after Gordon, they should be laughed off the phone before the Magic make a subsequent call to the power forward himself and assure him he won't be moved. 

    Fire-sales are fine, especially because Orlando is showing precious few signs of moving away from the Eastern Conference basement. But tearing it down completely would be a bad decision when it involves moving a foundational piece. 

Philadelphia 76ers: Hello, Shot-Creating Guard

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    The Philadelphia 76ers don't have much trouble on defense, but they can run out of steam as a scoring unit. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons can only do so much of the heavy lifting, and the other feasible offensive contributors (J.J. Redick, Dario Saric and Robert Covington) are complementary players who typically require set-up feeds. 

    So, what's the best cure for an offense that can deal with long spurts of stagnation and turnover issues stemming from players trying to do too much? How do you compensate for Simmons' lack of jump-shooting ability as an off-the-bounce creator during a season in which Jerryd Bayless can't carve out a consistent role? 

    You go after a shot-making guard. 

    Tyreke Evans fits the billing after his first-half breakout with the Memphis Grizzlies. So too does Lou Williams, who's now averaging a whopping 23.3 points and 5.3 assists for the Los Angeles Clippers while slashing a mind-numbing 43.9/38.0/90.0 on major usage figures. 

    Either man would be a tremendous addition to the Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls, sparking the scoring unit while maintaining efficiency. Evans isn't quite as deadly a point-producer, but he's a vastly superior defender to his counterpart on the trade block (who might also be closing in on an extension with his current squad, per ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski). 

    They aren't the same players. Not even close. 

    But Philadelphia could surely use either.

Phoenix Suns: Goodbye, Veterans

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    Michael Gonzales/Getty Images

    To be clear, this is significantly less likely after Greg Monroe departed the desert. The Phoenix Suns no longer have nearly as much depth in the frontcourt, which led Scott Bordow of AZCentral.com to the following conclusion: 

    "The timing of the buyout is odd in that the NBA trading deadline is Feb. 8. Clearly, the Suns didn't feel they could get anything in return for Monroe in a trade.

    "The buyout also likely means the Suns do not expect to trade veteran center Tyson Chandler before the trading deadline. If Phoenix thought it could trade Chandler, it likely wouldn't have bought out Monroe's deal."

    But don't give up yet. 

    If another team offers the Suns a noteworthy draft pick for Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley, they should still make the deal and figure out the rotation later. This is not a season in which they're going to climb out of the bottom portion of the Western Conference standings, and they should be far more interested in finding future assets who can pair with Devin Booker and Josh Jackson down the road. 

    What if the Milwaukee Bucks or Cleveland Cavaliers get desperate and fling a first-rounder in Milwaukee's direction? The Monroe buyout shouldn't have any bearing, then. 

    Even if Chandler is immovable, Phoenix should still be shopping Dudley and Troy Daniels before the deadline. 

Portland Trail Blazers: Getting DeAndre Jordan Doesn't Break Bank

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    The Portland Trail Blazers can't be satisfied with what they've gotten from Jusuf Nurkic.

    After last season's post-trade breakout, the big man has struggled to replicate the endeavors from his initial foray into Rip City. Per-game averages of 14.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists seem strong, but they mask his backsliding as a distributor and defender. They also don't account for his turnovers and inefficiency as a mid-range shooter and spacing option. 

    But Portland can't charge toward a center upgrade with reckless abandon.

    Rather than break the bank in a pursuit of DeAndre Jordan, it should instead attempt to package together Maurice Harkless, Ed Davis, Noah Vonleh and a protected first-round pick for the big man. Failing that, it could make a play for Marc Gasol, though his athleticism deficit makes him less appealing alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

    That proposed package is by no means inflexible. Los Angeles would likely turn its collective nose up at the inclusion of Evan Turner, who's still on the books for a few more years at an unpalatable price. But it may prefer Nurkic to Ed Davis, even given the former's upcoming venture into restricted free agency. 

    Either way, the Blazers could use a rim-protecting interior force behind their star guards, especially now that Lillard has learned how to navigate pick-and-roll defense and prevent some dribble penetration. The tools are present for Portland to build an elite defense while still featuring its patented high-scoring backcourt.  

Sacramento Kings: Undo Mistakes

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    Layne Murdoch/Getty Images

    As Jason Jones wrote for the Sacramento Bee, trading George Hill isn't necessarily vital:

    "The Kings really have no reason to move Hill, unless the deal is favorable. So as the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches, Hill is still a King. The Kings are not opposed to making a deal, but it has to make sense as part of the grand plan to maintain financial flexibility for the future, while also being in the position to collect draft picks and young talent...

    "Hill hasn’t caused problems in the locker room, even though he’s coming off the bench. He’s formed great relationships with young players like Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Aaron Fox. And the Kings front office really likes having Hill around."

    But if the right deal emerges? If the Cleveland Cavaliers or Denver Nuggets are willing to send a first-round pick in their direction and assume the future expenditures in the name of winning now?

    That's when the Sacramento Kings should look past their desire to keep Hill in the locker room and recognize that it was a mistake to sign him to a three-year, $57 million contract. And fortunately for this downtrodden organization, it's a mistake that can be undone. 

    The 31-year-old point guard may not be able to prevent Sacramento from losing too many games and sinking back toward the bottom of the Western Conference, but he's only so far removed from last year's breakout season with the Utah Jazz. Plus, he's shooting a career-best 45.3 percent from beyond the arc, leading the league in accuracy while heaving three deep attempts per game. 

    Someone should still want that skill set and be willing to pay—maybe not a premium, but a significant price nonetheless. 

San Antonio Spurs: Gregg Popovich Gets a New Toy

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    The San Antonio Spurs almost never make deadline deals, and the ones in which they do engage are generally non-consequential acquisitions. Expecting this franchise to land a star before Thursday's timer runs out would be foolish, just based on history. 

    But if this notably flawed team—a description that rings especially true without Kawhi Leonard healthy and on the floor—does want to get active, they should be looking to take a high-upside flier. Head coach Gregg Popovich has made a habit out of maximizing the talents of players given up on by other organizations, and that shouldn't change any time in the foreseeable future. 

    Willy Hernangomez would've been an ideal target before the New York Knicks came to terms with the Charlotte Hornets, as reported by Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania. Mario Hezonja could be another intriguing option, and the same is true of plenty more ostensible busts buried on other franchises' benches.

    Ultimately, coming up with the ideal plan for San Antonio is a piece of cake. 

    The Spurs rarely misfire. They never make short-sighted decisions. They turn castoffs into hidden gems. 

    If they pull the trigger on a rare deadline trade, it'll probably be the right move regardless of who's coming to join the incumbents in the Alamo City. 

Toronto Raptors: Trust the Process

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    The Toronto Raptors could be tempted into upgrading at center, trying to move on from Jonas Valanciunas if it means acquiring Marc Gasol or DeAndre Jordan. They could go after another scoring punch to spell Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan by landing Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams. 

    And yet, they should do nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada.

    If you're still thinking of this team as just another iteration of the old Raptors outfits that thrived in the regular season and flopped when games began to matter, please join us in 2018. This squad has far more of an egalitarian feel, as it no longer relies on nearly as many isolation possessions and can count on the bench for consistent production. 

    Not only does Toronto boast a 7.0 net rating that trails only the Houston Rockets (8.0) and Golden State Warriors (9.6), but that's a substantial jump from last year's mark of 4.9. And that isn't the best news. The 2017-18 Raptors bench is outscoring opponents by 6.9 points per 100 possessions (second only to the Rockets' 7.1), and the second-stringers are playing more minutes than every other reserve unit aside from the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings. 

    DeRozan and Lowry remain the leaders of this team, but they aren't the reasons Toronto should hold tight at the deadline. That mentality stems from the improved play of Delon Wright, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl and everyone else who begins games on the pine. 

Utah Jazz: A New Home for Rodney Hood

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    Thanks to the emergence of Donovan Mitchell as the Utah Jazz's No. 1 scorer, they no longer need Rodney Hood. In fact, they've actually been 8.4 points per 100 possessions better with him off the floor in 2017-18, since his ball-commandeering skill set doesn't make him a strong fit with this roster construction. 

    Naturally, they should move him. And they're getting plenty of interest, per Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune:

    "With the NBA's trade deadline looming Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons are all showing interest in acquiring Utah Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.

    "League sources say the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic have also shown at least a passing interest in Hood, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer."

    It isn't hard to see why.

    Hood might not be a strong fit for Utah's system, but he's still averaging 16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from deep and 86.5 percent from the stripe.

    Someone in the three-point-crazed NBA will want the deep-shooting ability that comes with precious few turnovers, even if they have to compensate for his defensive porosity.

    The Jazz just have to find that special someone that wants Hood and is willing to offer a first-round selection. The Oklahoma City Thunder, maybe

Washington Wizards: Turn Down Kelly Oubre Jr. Offers

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    If the Washington Wizards want to trade draft picks and Marcin Gortat for an upgrade at center, fine. Do your thing. If they covet another point guard to help while John Wall is recovering from his knee surgery, they should feel free to do so. 

    But these moves aren't necessary, and they won't elevate Washington's ceiling high enough to compete with the Eastern Conference's top teams. And as such, they should protect Kelly Oubre Jr. at all costs.

    He's the one piece with the youth and upside necessary to push this organization further up the Eastern Conference food chain in future years, especially while he's a cost-controlled asset with a malleable game. That changes this coming offseason when he's up for an extension, but we don't yet know how high that price might rise. 

    Washington can survive Wall's absence, thanks to the inspired play of Bradley Beal and the steady hand of second-year point guard Tomas Satoransky. It cannot, however, make a jump into true contention with the pieces at its disposal, and dealing Oubre in an ill-fated attempt to change that would be a short-sighted move with long-term ramifications. 

    Nevertheless, the Wiz are apparently thinking about doing so, as ESPN.com's Zach Lowe explained:

    "The Wizards have investigated the market for Jordan without gaining any traction, sources say. A package of Marcin Gortat, Jason Smith (perhaps heading to a third team), Kelly Oubre and a first-round pick has long been my favorite realistic Jordan package. Oubre is up for an extension after this season. Washington will have trouble paying Oubre, Bradley Beal, John Wall and Otto Porter."

    Please, Washington. Don't do it. 

    So long as Oubre is still available to sign an extension this offseason, continuing to imbue this roster with enduring upside, this trade deadline will be a success. 

            

    Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.

    Unless otherwise indicated, all stats from Basketball Reference, NBA.com, NBA Math or ESPN.com and are current heading into games on Feb. 6.

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