ESPN.com: NBA Tuesday, September 22, 2020 Seven big trades we want to see for NBA contenders By NBA Insiders ESPN Multiple contenders, including the LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers, have been eliminated already in the 2020 NBA playoffs. Also gone are several teams with high hopes for next season such as the Brooklyn Nets, who will be bringing back Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and are in need of a third star. We asked our NBA insiders to propose trades to get this year's eliminated playoff teams closer to their goal of an NBA title. Here are seven trades involving seven All-Stars that 11 teams should consider this offseason. A third big star for Brooklyn Brooklyn Nets get: Bradley Beal Washington Wizards get: Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, No. 19 pick in 2020, 2021 second-round pick (via Atlanta) Mike Schmitz: Adding one of the NBA's most effortless scorers would give Nets GM Sean Marks a third star to go with Durant and Irving, making Brooklyn an immediate contender. Although committing over $100 million to Beal, Irving and Durant next season would surely make it difficult to build a sturdy supporting cast, coach Steve Nash would have three of the best offensive players in the NBA for potentially the next three seasons. This trade would allow Beal the opportunity to prove that his elite bucket-getting can translate to winning at the highest level. For the Wizards, this would provide a much-needed young rim protector in the 22-year-old Allen, a versatile shot creator in LeVert and the highly skilled Dinwiddie, who ranked 21st in ESPN's Offensive Real Plus-Minus this season. Allen and Dinwiddie could potentially leave in free agency after next season, but the 26-year-old LeVert is a legitimate young building block who has improved every season when healthy and is already locked in through 2023. Although there are question marks about the top of the 2020 draft, there are quality rotation players to be had with the 19th pick, and the 2021 second-rounder the Hawks own figures to land somewhere in the 30s in what should be a loaded draft class. Mike Schmitz is an NBA draft expert and a contributor to DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and international teams. Sweet Lou to Milwaukee Milwaukee Bucks get: Lou Williams LA Clippers get: T.J. McConnell, T.J. Leaf, No. 24 pick in 2020 (from Milwaukee via Indiana) Indiana Pacers get: Ersan Ilyasova, 2022 second-round pick, 2025 second-round pick Bobby Marks: How do the Bucks appease Giannis Antetokounmpo? The MVP has already been meeting with Bucks brass to make sure they are willing to improve the team and invest enough to grab an elusive NBA title. Antetokounmpo can become a free agent and leave Milwaukee in 2021, so the Bucks have plenty of incentive to make big moves now. One such move would be to acquire a high-scoring playmaker in Williams, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year. In this case, the trade would cost Milwaukee two valuable assets: the expiring contract of Ilyasova and the 24th pick in the draft. Ilyasova would be rerouted to the Pacers, with the Clippers receiving point guard McConnell, forward Leaf and the Pacers' 2020 first-round pick (currently in the hands of the Bucks from their trade of Malcolm Brogdon to Indiana). McConnell would give LA a pass-first point guard, while the Indiana first-rounder would replace the pick the Clippers sent to New York in the Marcus Morris Sr. trade. The Pacers would get back the two second-round picks they sent to Milwaukee as part of the Brogdon trade along with veteran bench depth in Ilyasova. To make the trade work, the non-guaranteed contracts of Ilyasova ($7.0 million) and McConnell ($3.5 million) would become guaranteed. Bucks and Pelicans swap All-Star guards, shooters Milwaukee Bucks get: Jrue Holiday, JJ Redick New Orleans Pelicans get: Khris Middleton, George Hill André Snellings: This trade would amount to two teams looking to fit together better. The Bucks need their secondary scorer to be a lead ball handler, and that is not Middleton's strength. Holiday could replace Middleton's scoring and much of Eric Bledsoe's ballhandling while providing elite perimeter defense. Milwaukee also needs to maximize the threat of the 3 ball in its lineup around Antetokounmpo, and Redick still provides that at age 36 as a high-volume 3-point shooter who makes more than 40% of his 3s year after year. The Pelicans are in danger of losing Holiday, as he can become a free agent in 2021. At age 30, the former All-Star doesn't fit especially well with the Pelicans' timeline -- which is based on the development of 20-year-old Zion Williamson -- but he would mesh well with the immediate championship goals of the Bucks, who could offer him a long-term extension to fulfill the desire of Antetokounmpo that Milwaukee invest in its roster. Replacing Holiday with Middleton would allow the Pelicans to take better advantage of the playmaking of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram. Hill, who led the NBA in 3-point percentage this season, would replace Redick, an important consideration given the Pelicans' desire to put shooting around Zion. Hill would also replace Holiday as New Orleans' combo guard. Bucks get more shooting Milwaukee Bucks get: Nemanja Bjelica, 2020 second-round pick Sacramento Kings get: Robin Lopez, D.J. Wilson, 2020 first-round pick (via Indiana) Kevin Pelton: My focus for the Bucks would be better shooting along with more flexibility in the frontcourt. Dealing for Bjelica would accomplish both goals. He is a career 39% 3-point shooter, meaning small lineups with Bjelica next to Antetokounmpo would provide Antetokounmpo plenty of room to drive. Though Bjelica isn't as capable of switching on defense as Marvin Williams, who retired after Milwaukee's playoff run, he is far more versatile defensively than the Lopez brothers -- both of whom require the Bucks to play a drop defense. As a result, I'd be willing to give up the only first-round pick Milwaukee can trade before 2024. Getting back a second-round pick would help the Bucks add a cheap rookie to fill out their 2020-21 roster. From Sacramento's standpoint, the logic is simple: New general manager Monte McNair gets an extra first-round pick to begin retooling the Kings' roster to his liking, while dealing Bjelica clears more minutes for 2018 No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III at power forward. Robin Lopez has a player option he might decline rather than be included in this deal. In that case, Milwaukee could guarantee Ilyasova's 2020-21 salary and use him instead of Lopez and Wilson.
OKC deals CP3 to a contender Version 1: Milwaukee Bucks get: Chris Paul Oklahoma City Thunder get: Eric Bledsoe, Ersan Ilyasova, Robin Lopez and DJ Wilson Version 2: Philadelphia 76ers get: Chris Paul Oklahoma City Thunder get: Buddy Hield, Mike Scott, Norvel Pelle Sacramento Kings get: Al Horford, Oklahoma City's 2020 first-round pick (from Philly) Tim Bontemps: Oklahoma City's decision to part ways with coach Billy Donovan signaled the Thunder's intent moving forward. A deep 2021 draft class makes this an opportune time for OKC to take a step back and begin building around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Still, despite how good Paul was this season, his contract -- he is owed $41 million in 2020-21 and has a $44 million player option the following season -- makes it difficult to find trading partners for him. There are, however, two teams that make perfect sense: the Bucks, who need to win to keep Antetokounmpo; and the 76ers, who flamed out of the playoffs and clearly are still short of the championship level they hoped to reach. With Paul, Milwaukee's late-game offense would go from stagnant to potent, and he would be a massive upgrade at that end over Bledsoe. The Thunder, meanwhile, would save well over $30 million during the next two years and could still flip Bledsoe -- one of the league's best defensive guards, though also clearly not suited to be the lead guard of a championship offense -- elsewhere later. Philadelphia, on the other hand, would solve its roster issues and get a massive upgrade over Shake Milton in its starting lineup. For Sacramento, getting Horford -- who was good as a center with Philadelphia last season -- would give emerging guard De'Aaron Fox an excellent pick-and-roll partner, while also adding a first-round pick. And while that second deal would see Oklahoma City take on a much bigger long-term commitment in Hield, getting the former University of Oklahoma star while moving Paul's contract might be too good an opportunity for the Thunder to pass up. Blockbuster: Griffin for Westbrook Houston Rockets get: Blake Griffin Detroit Pistons get: Russell Westbrook Bontemps: This deal is unlikely. It's hard to see Houston turning around and moving Westbrook, and Griffin is coming off knee surgery. Still, it's a deal that would make sense for both sides. If Griffin is healthy -- a big if, to be sure -- he is a better fit for the Rockets. Griffin could play as a small-ball center, and he would be a terrific pick-and-roll partner with James Harden. On top of that, Griffin has developed his jump shot to the point where he shot 36% on seven 3-point attempts per game in the 2018-19 season -- Westbrook has never been nearly that good a shooter -- and has one less year on his deal. Westbrook, on the other hand, is someone who is most effective when he has the ball in his hands, and he wouldn't have to share it in Detroit. Assuming they re-sign center Christian Wood, the Pistons would be able to run out lineups with at least a decent shooter at every other position -- which would give Westbrook the best chance to succeed. While Westbrook isn't the picture of health these days, he is a far surer bet than Griffin to be available over the next couple of seasons, giving Detroit a better chance of being competitive than it would have by standing pat. https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/29919334/seven-big-trades-want-see-nba-contenders
That Brooklyn-Wiz trade makes zero sense for the Nets. It's not like Beal has really played much winning basketball in his career, so I have no idea why Brooklyn would gut their depth entirely to have an imbalanced, top heavy roster.
So the Rockets trade a healthy Westbrook for an injured Blake Griffin? The Rockets wouldn't even consider that deal unless Kennard was included. The Rockets would at least give pause to: Griffin/Tucker/Covington/Kennard/Harden...
If Griffin was healthy and if this wouldn't piss off Harden, I'd do that trade. But neither of those are true so.... nah.
Cp3 to the Bucks makes sense for both teams and is probably the only one with any chance of happening. Bucks get the closer/shooting/guard play they are clearly lacking and the Thunder saves a ton of money and get off CP3's contract. I know CP3 was amazing this year, but I can't imagine he has much trade value with 2 year and 85+ million left on his contract at age 35. But I wouldn't be surprise if the Bucks throw in a 1st to complete the trade.
CP3's contract is no longer ri-gawddamn-diculous. After next season, it becomes extremely tradeable (as it's expiring) and if you don't end up trading him, that 40+ mill comes off the books anyway. Imagine the PnR game of CP3 and Giannis or the PnP game of CP3 and Brook Lopez. It's lob city 2.0 but with a DeAndre Jordan that can shoot. People say CP3's contract is really bad, but it does only have 2 years left on it. If the Bucks win a title while CP3 is there, Giannis will stay for sure and the Bucks have a whole lotta cap space with CP3 coming off the books. And if the Bucks did win, I bet CP3 would sign for close to the vet min to stay with prime Giannis.
It'll be interesting to see what the Bucks can give up as they don't own their 2020 and 2022 1sts. They do, however, have Indy's 2020 1st from the Brogdon S&T and their 2021 pick. Salaries for 2020-2021 excluding Giannis: Middleton $33 Bledsoe $27.5 Lopez $12.7 Hill $9.5 Ilyasova $7 With CP3 making $40 million next season Milwaukee could ship Middleton, filler, and a draft pick or two to OKC. That would give the Bucks the flexibility to run a 3-guard lineup similar to what OKC did this year with Bledsoe/CP3/Hill and Giannis in the middle. They could try to keep Middleton out of the trade and ship off Bledsoe, Ilyasova, fillers and 2 1sts to have a crazy foursome of CP3/Middleton/Giannis/Lopez.
Cp3 to philly is more likely imo. The trade just makes too much sense for all 3 teams involved and okc gets better return than giving him to Milwaukee If ur Okc Philadelphia 76ers get: Chris Paul Oklahoma City Thunder get: Buddy Hield, Mike Scott, Norvel Pelle Sacramento Kings get: Al Horford, Oklahoma City's 2020 first-round pick (from Philly) this is a better trade than getting Bledsoe and scraps. Hield is a higher ceiling player who if needed to be traded again in a year would be able to with some value
[ Oh I definitely agree that OKC would choose this trade 100x over the Bucks trade... Sixers would also definitely do this trade imo... I just don't believe the Kings would trade Hield for Horford and a late 1st round pick. Buddy is a very good player and one of the best shooters in the league. He is on a great contract 4 yr 94 million with decreasing salary every year! Surely such a player, skill and contract would be worth more than just Horford ( a negative/neutral value ) and a late first rounder. Of course the Kings are a terrible organization so who knows what they would actually do or wouldn't do.
Honestly I would love Blake on a one-year, ring-chase deal like Boogie did. But the idea of giving Russ up for him is laughable.
If there wasn't a good return for OKC, would they really move CP3's contract just to move it? I don't think they're going to be title contenders before CP3's contract is up anyway. If I was OKC, I'd stand pat with CP3 and see if another really good player wants to come play with him. If not, when CP3's contract is up in 2 years, you'll be drafting either really well, really high or both, which is really appealing to some players.
thanks OP for the article. if I'm OKC, i sit pat and wait until CP becomes an expiring. it'll force CP to go talk up good teams, asking to build a monster trade and steal on that next team for OKC like he did w/ the Rockets.