Chad Ford's Insider article With the NBA All-Star Game behind us and the trade deadline on Thursday, this may be the last chance for tanking teams to do double duty -- damage your chances of winning more basketball games and pick up a future asset or two along the way. Of course these teams all have one asset that just about every team in the league would covet -- their 2014 lottery pick. But would any of them trade it away? After asking around we could find only a couple of teams -- the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats -- who appear both capable and willing to do it. 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. 1. Milwaukee Bucks | Status: Tanking | Record: 9-43 (0-2 past week) It sounds like it's going to be a pretty quiet trade deadline for the Bucks. The most likely players to go are Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour, but neither will have an impact on the team's night-to-night performance and the Bucks would not likely get a great asset for either. Caron Butler has generated significant interest from other teams, but the Bucks are reluctant to let go of the local product. If they make a bigger move, Ersan Ilyasova will likely be the guy to move, though I'm told that right now there isn't anything major cooking for him. (Last week: 1 ) 2. Philadelphia 76ers | Status: Tanking | Record: 15-39 (0-2) The Sixers are as active as any team in the league right now, according to multiple NBA sources. The Bobcats have shown serious interest in Evan Turner, and as long as the Sixers get back a first-round pick for him, that deal is among the most plausible we've heard. Spencer Hawes is the other name that Philly could part with, but he too will require a first-round pick. Thaddeus Young is also conceivably available, but the Sixers want significantly more for him and that has been scaring off other teams. (Last week: 2 ) 3. Orlando Magic | Status: Tanking | Record: 16-38 (0-1) The Magic will trade Arron Afflalo, but they won't be giving him away. Multiple GMs who have had conversations with the Magic say the team wants a lot for Afflalo -- as in multiple first-round picks or young players. Jameer Nelson and Glen Davis can be had for much less. Several of their young players are available as well. Rookie Victor Oladipo may be the only untouchable player on this squad right now. (Last week: 3 ) 4. Boston Celtics | Status: ??? | Record: 19-35 (1-1) No one can figure out exactly what GM Danny Ainge is trying to do right now. The two names most attached to the Celtics trade talk are Jeff Green and Brandon Bass, with Kris Humphries also being a possibility. It sounds less and less likely, however, that the Celtics will make a bigger move by the deadline. While Ainge can be unpredictable and may certainly alter his stance if a great offer comes in by Thursday, it looks like Rajon Rondo appears to be safely staying in Boston unless the Celtics can get multiple first-round picks for him. While Rondo certainly has value around the league, the price appears a bit too high at the moment. (Last week: 4 ) 5. Los Angeles Lakers | Status: Tanking | Record: 18-35 (0-2) The Lakers are a tough team to figure. Several GMs say that the Lakers appear willing to discuss anything -- short of dealing Kobe Bryant -- but their biggest problem may be finding buyers. Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman may have the most trade value to a veteran team, but neither player is causing rival GMs to beat down the door and the Lakers likely won't get back much in return for either big man. (Last week: 5 ) 6. Sacramento Kings | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 18-35 (1-1) The Kings continue to be as active as any team in the league. They're the first team on this list to be looking to acquire, instead of dump, talented players. Their front office knows that they need defensive help and are willing to offer anyone outside the core of DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas to get it. Marcus Thornton, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry and Jimmer Fredette are the bait, though it's doubtful the Kings can pick up another major acquisition unless they are willing to throw rookie Ben McLemore into a deal. (Last week: 6 ) 7. Cleveland Cavaliers | Status: Trying | Record: 20-33 (2-0) The Cavs have a testy owner and an interim GM running the ship. There is still a belief among ownership that this team can turn it around and make the playoffs; they've been 4-0 since firing GM Chris Grant. If they go for a playoff push, Dion Waiters and potentially their No. 1 pick in this year's draft will be the trade bait to secure another veteran to help make a run. Veteran Jarrett Jack is also available and, according to a report by ESPN.com's Marc Stein and ESPNNewYork.com's Ohm Youngmisuk, a Jack-for-Jason Terry swap is a possibility. However, sources say that interim GM David Griffin is exploring another path as well. With Luol Deng miserable in Cleveland, it might be time for the Cavs to trade him, move back into the hunt for the No. 1 pick and rebuild this roster over the summer. If the Cavs get a good offer for Deng, it may make much more sense for the long-term health of the franchise. (Last week: 7 ) 8. Utah Jazz | Status: Rebuilding | Record: 19-33 (2-0) Jazz fans are abuzz about the possibility of trading Gordon Hayward, who was unable to come to a contract extension with the team this summer. That's pretty unlikely, according to sources, as the Jazz really want to keep their young core together and know they can match any offer Hayward gets this offseason. If anyone gets traded, it will likely be Marvin Williams, who has been absolutely terrific in February while averaging 16.3 PPG and shooting 45 percent from deep. (Last week: 8 ) 9. Detroit Pistons | Status: Trying | Record: 22-30 (1-1) The Pistons' two best trade assets right now are Greg Monroe and Rodney Stuckey. Multiple GMs report, however, that the Pistons haven't been receptive to moving Monroe despite the fact the team doesn't want to break the bank for him this summer and needs to move Josh Smith (who is virtually untradeable) to the power forward spot. Stuckey is more available, though teams primarily have interest in him in conjunction with Monroe. (Last week: 9 ) 10. Charlotte Bobcats | Status: Trying | Record: 23-30 (1-1) The Bobcats and Pistons are in a back-and-forth battle for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and like Detroit, Charlotte is trying to figure out a way to secure its spot with one last move. The Bobcats have been offering Ben Gordon and one of their first-round picks (they have both their own and Detroit's) to get a player to help put them over the hump. (Last week: N/A ) 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 strengthen the roster in an attempt to make the playoffs. The team just isn't very good.
Man we should get on this guy. Sure his D might be suspect but Morrow's one of the best shooters in the league, we need guys like that because a lot of people on the squad can create or make plays for open shooters (DH, Harden, Lin and Parsons). A bench of Lin/Morrow/Garcia/DMo/Asik would totally wreck shop.
