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While the organized chaos of the shortened NBA season has been a delight for fans, it’s testing the stress levels of front offices that are trying to figure out if and how their rosters can fit together. With games seemingly every night and practices replaced by plane trips, it’s been tough for coaches and general managers to decipher what needs to be done to help their teams.
With a stacked 2012 draft and a loaded free agency class to follow, the NBA landscape could change drastically in the next year, starting with the upcoming trade deadline. Here are five players to keep an eye on at the trade deadline, either because they could be traded or, in some cases, should be.
Utah Jazz forwards Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson
As a bonus, let’s feature both Jazz veteran big men in one group, as there doesn’t seem to be enough room for both of them, especially with young bigs Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors vying for playing time.
Their worth is a little more difficult to gauge. Neither is good enough to be the cornerstone of a contender and it’s unclear whether you can win a championship with Millsap or Jefferson as your second-best player.
Both are comparable in numbers, with Jefferson averaging 18 and a half points and just over nine rebounds per game this season, and Millsap putting up a shade under 17 points and nine and a half boards per game.
Either player could be that piece to put a contender over the top, similar to what Rasheed Wallace did in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, but it doesn’t seem any of the major contenders are willing to mess with what they have — or they don’t have enough to offer — to land either big man.
New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon
While a team should never expect to get equal value in return for a superstar like Chris Paul, it is becoming increasingly clearer that the Hornets got shafted. While they’re already openly shopping center Chris Kaman, who they received in the swap with the Los Angeles Clippers, the 2012 first-round pick they received that originally belonged to the Minnesota Timberwolves isn’t the gem it once was, with the T-Wolves playing better than expected.
Most importantly, the centerpiece of the deal with Gordon is that he has played in just two games this season, as he is battling a knee injury. He has expressed little interest in remaining with the Hornets after this season, declining a contract extension, making him a restricted free agent this offseason.
If he’s planning to leave after the season, New Orleans should work to make a deal near the deadline if they want to get something in return — and if I were the Indiana Pacers, I’d offer a package around Danny Granger to bring the former Hoosier back home.
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash
While Nash has stuck to his principles and hasn’t asked to get out of the horrible situation in Phoenix, a “Free Steve Nash” campaign has popped up on various social networking sites in hopes of prying the future Hall of Famer loose.
If the Suns put Nash on the market to let him chase a ring, the Portland Trailblazers would be smart to give them a call and see if they’d be happy with Raymond Felton, Nicolas Batum and a couple of first-round picks.
A lineup of Nash, Wesley Matthews, Gerald Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marcus Camby would certainly do some damage in the playoffs this season.
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire
There has been no word of the Knicks actively shopping for Stoudemire, but they should be. While he played well upon his initial rival in Gotham, Stoudemire’s production dropped significantly once Carmelo Anthony came to town.
After giving up so much for ‘Melo, the Knicks couldn’t possibly turn around and trade him. In addition, after using their amnesty clause on Chauncey Billups this offseason, they have no insurance on Stoudemire’s contract, which has three years at $18 million per year after this season.
Perhaps the Philadelphia 76ers would be interested in Stoudemire, as they lack a first option on offense. Trading Stoudemire while getting promising young forward Evan Turner, efficient point guard Lou Williams and rookie center Nikola Vucevic would patch up a lot of New York’s holes.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard
While there’s little doubt Howard — the Magic’s franchise leader in points, blocks and rebounds — will leave Disney World, the big question is where and how. There are very few suitors who have enough to offer in exchange for one of the five best players in the NBA.
It appeared the New Jersey Nets were the leaders in the clubhouse for a while, but an injury to Brook Lopez squandered their chances. If Howard is going to be traded, the only place that seems logical is to the Los Angeles.
If the Lakers can pull off the trade with just Andrew Bynum, they could conceivably flip Pau Gasol for some much-needed help at point guard and bench scoring.
Bangor Daily News