he NBA trade deadline is now just 17 days away. It's the last chance for teams to either improve their tanking strategy or to move off this list all together. And it's the final arbiter, if you will, to show a team's true colors. What will each team's front office do the next few weeks? Here's our weekly look at where the 10 worst teams in the NBA stand in their quest for the No. 1 pick in the draft based on the latest intel. 1. Milwaukee Bucks | Status: Tanking | Record: 8-39 (0-4 past week) The Bucks are clearly in the driver's seat for that 25 percent chance of winning the lottery. The status quo, at this point, will do. But it won't stop them from exploring deals around the league that will return assets. Veterans such as Larry Sanders (who has been a nightmare since signing an extension this past summer) and Ersan Ilyasova will be the primary bait. If they can get the Bucks another first-rounder or another young player to take a look at, they're interested. (Last week: 1 ) 2. Orlando Magic | Status: Tanking | Record: 13-36 (1-3) The Magic look to be the team with the best shot of catching the Bucks. But at this point, a four-game gap is a pretty large one to overcome. Still, the Magic will be looking for ways to shop a few veterans in an attempt to pick up more young assets. Arron Afflalo will garner the most interest, but Jameer Nelson and Glen Davis are also available. Nelson's partially guaranteed deal (only $2 million) next season makes him a particularly interesting chip. (Last week: 2 ) 3. Philadelphia 76ers | Status: Tanking | Record: 15-33 (1-3) No one came into the season with a stronger determination to tank than Sixers GM Sam Hinkie. His team has played better than he expected and the Sixers appear to be active in finding trade partners. Thaddeus Young has drawn significant interest, but the Sixers would prefer to deal Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes. Both should be moveable, though I doubt either player gets the Sixers what they really want -- another pick in the 10-15 range. (Last week: 3 ) 4. Boston Celtics | Status: ??? | Record: 16-33 (1-2) The Celtics have been sending mixed signals to teams all season. Now that Rajon Rondo is back, Boston has been pretty vocal that the intention is to build around him. Of course, that's exactly what I'd say if I were shopping him. Danny Ainge doesn't like selling in fire sales, he likes buying in them. If the Celtics get a great offer for Rondo -- he's going to have to start playing more like he did on Sunday versus the Magic (19 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds) -- I believe he will be traded. If they can't get a great offer for him, anything and everything else is on the table -- Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, young guys such as Kelly Olynyk, even their lottery pick. But as always Ainge is going to drive a hard bargain. (Last week: 4 ) 5. Los Angeles Lakers | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (0-2) The Lakers appear to be resigned to the idea that the lottery is the way for them to go right now. Yes, Kobe Bryant will be returning at some point, but they don't have to really help him. After several false alarms it appears that Pau Gasol is back on the table again. The Lakers' asking price is going down as they realize that removing Gasol alone might help them win a higher pick. Steve Nash is obviously available as well, but there aren't a lot of teams lining up to take on the last year and $9.7 million of his deal. (Last week: 5 ) 6. Sacramento Kings | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 15-32 (0-4) The Kings are trying to make a late push for the playoffs, but the addition of Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams combined with great play from Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins hasn't really moved the needle in the W-L column. Cousins' injury, in particular, has hurt. Nevertheless, I'm told the Kings are looking to buy good players, not sell them. But the Kings don't have a lot of assets that people covet at the moment. Marcus Thornton, Jason Thompson, Jimmer Fredette and Carl Landry would all be available for teams making a run at the playoffs, but no one is beating down the doors for those guys. (Last week: 7 ) 7. Cleveland Cavaliers | Status: Trying | Record: 16-31 (0-3) We use the word "trying" loosely. In this case, the owner is trying to win. So are the GM and coach. The players? Ehhhhh. As I wrote about on Thursday, Kyrie Irving, despite his public denials, is frustrated and has told people privately he wants out if the Cavs don't get things turned around. A report out of the New York stated that Luol Deng was frustrated (denied later by Deng), and that Dion Waiters was kicked out of practice (denied by Waiters). That's just the tip of the iceberg. If GM Chris Grant can't find a piece or two to put this team over the top this season, he's likely gone and wholesale changes in Cleveland will follow this summer. (Last week: 8 ) 8. Utah Jazz | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (1-2) The Jazz are likely to stand pat unless someone comes along and makes them a great offer for Marvin Williams or Richard Jefferson in the next few weeks. They are looking at a lot of cap space next summer, a good lottery pick and five to seven young players on their roster that they are happy with. (Last week: 6 ) 9. Detroit Pistons | Status: Trying | Record: 19-27 (2-0) The Pistons played better this week, beating both the Magic and Sixers. But that's not saying much. The team knows that changes need to happen. While the dream would be to find a home for Josh Smith, he's virtually untradable given the huge contract the Pistons signed him to this summer. Greg Monroe is much easier to trade, but given the talent, the Pistons need a lot in return -- preferably a sweet-shooting swingman who allows them to move Smith over to the 4. (Last week: 9 ) 10. New Orleans Pelicans | Status: Tanking? | Record: 20-26 (2-1) The Pelicans were supposed to be tanking, but they hit a soft spot on their schedule against a bunch of struggling teams in the East (wins over the Pistons, Magic, Cavs and Bulls). The team needs to move up about four to five spots on this board to keep from having to send their first-round pick to the Sixers. Their only hope to do that is to move a few players (Eric Gordon is available) and hope a team such as the Kings keeps trying to improve, that Kobe puts a few W's in the Lakers' column and the Jazz keep playing .500 ball the rest of the way. (Last week: 10 ) KEY Tanking: The team's front office has deliberately weakened the team in an attempt to lose as many games as possible. Tank-building: The space that lies somewhere between the ideas of tanking and rebuilding. Rebuilding: The team's front office didn't go out of its way to sign or trade for quality players this summer, but it was less an attempt to lose games than it was an opportunity to give young players already on the roster a chance to prove themselves. Trying: The team's front office went out of its way over the summer to s
So many possibilities I'd be happy with one of: Afflalo/Davis Waiters/Varajeo Turner/Hawes Rondo EG C'mon. Morey
This is why I still think Assik will be shipped, there are simply too many options for it not to happen.
A tanking team would not want to take on Asik's contract, and won't give up 1st round draft picks that Morey is hungry for.
I think his focus here is to pinpoint how teams are going into the trade deadline to set themselves up for the draft this Summer, and what he's thinking their goals are in making deals at the deadline. Are they focused on getting better or getting worse... that is the real question this article is posing, and its a pretty interesting one at that when you look at teams like Boston, Cleveland, Sacramento, etc. I dont know that any of these teams are destined to make more moves than anyone else, its just that their moves all factor in how they are going to position themselves for the draft.
What teams have to offer. 1. Milwaukee Bucks | Status: Tanking | Record: 8-39 (0-4 past week) Ersan Ilyasova 2. Orlando Magic | Status: Tanking | Record: 13-36 (1-3) Jameer Nelson, Aaron Afflalo, Glen Davis 3. Philadelphia 76ers | Status: Tanking | Record: 15-33 (1-3) Spence Hawes, Evan Turner 4. Boston Celtics | Status: ??? | Record: 16-33 (1-2) Rajon Rondo, Draft Picks 5. Los Angeles Lakers | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (0-2) Pau Gasol 6. Sacramento Kings | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 15-32 (0-4) Derrick Williams, Carl Landry, Isaiah Thomas 7. Cleveland Cavaliers | Status: Trying | Record: 16-31 (0-3) Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters 8. Utah Jazz | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (1-2) Enes Kanter, Brandon Rush 9. Detroit Pistons | Status: Trying | Record: 19-27 (2-0) Greg Monroe 10. New Orleans Pelicans | Status: Tanking? | Record: 20-26 (2-1) Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon
What teams have to offer. 1. Milwaukee Bucks | Status: Tanking | Record: 8-39 (0-4 past week) Ersan Ilyasova 2. Orlando Magic | Status: Tanking | Record: 13-36 (1-3) Jameer Nelson, Aaron Afflalo, Glen Davis 3. Philadelphia 76ers | Status: Tanking | Record: 15-33 (1-3) Spence Hawes, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young 4. Boston Celtics | Status: ??? | Record: 16-33 (1-2) Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Draft Picks 5. Los Angeles Lakers | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (0-2) Pau Gasol 6. Sacramento Kings | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 15-32 (0-4) Derrick Williams, Carl Landry, Isaiah Thomas 7. Cleveland Cavaliers | Status: Trying | Record: 16-31 (0-3) Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters 8. Utah Jazz | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-31 (1-2) Enes Kanter, Brandon Rush 9. Detroit Pistons | Status: Trying | Record: 19-27 (2-0) Greg Monroe 10. New Orleans Pelicans | Status: Tanking? | Record: 20-26 (2-1) Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon
In the past Morey has preyed on weak front offices to make moves (Sacramento, Toronto, New York, etc..). Philly doesn't fit that mold. Cleveland and New York fit that mold and are both struggling and wanting to make a move.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Talking to league insiders, I'm hearing these names are being mentioned in trade talks within league circles (a lot of talk right now) ...</p>— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredZwerling/statuses/430458838509039616">February 3, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A. Afflalo, T. Ariza, C. Singleton, G. Davis, R. Evans, P. Gasol, T. Gibson, C. Landry, G. Monroe, A. Rivers, T. Sefolosha and G. Vasquez.</p>— Jared Zwerling (@JaredZwerling) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaredZwerling/statuses/430458856838152193">February 3, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
