Mid-Season Trades
When you think of players being on the trading block this season (with the exception of Pau Gasol), the player we’re looking to see traded before free agency is Danny Granger. The Pacers are sold on Paul George being their superstar for the now and future coming up just one game shy of the NBA Finals last year. Indiana is in desperate need of a point guard who doesn’t turn the ball over and gets Roy Hibbert and David West in the right spots to excel late down the stretch of crucial games. Rajon Rondo has been rumored to be traded for Granger, but we just can’t see Boston giving up a franchise proven facilitator for Granger. The Pacers are very limited in options for acquiring a point guard, so we we’ll b seeing which teams will be thirsty before the February trade deadline goes down.
Shannon Brown is set to finally become a free agent again but we’re curious if he’ll give the Suns any indication he’s leaving in the off-season to a team ready to win right now. Phoenix drafted Ukrainia big-man, Alex Len with their first round pick to give help to build for the future with Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic, so Shannon leaving for a team with some draft picks and some expiring contracts could be likely.
With the Los Angeles Lakers, they’re obviously not going to trade Kobe Bryant or Steve Nash (no market due to age and health), but Pau Gasol could be parting ways after being in discussions the last 3 seasons. During the lockout season, Gasol was involved with the infamous Chris Paul trade that David Stern vetoed and has since lost all confidence on the floor. That is likely to still be the case until he leaves Los Angeles. If the Lakers start the season off really under .500 and Gasol gives them any indication he could be leaving, team could have a fire sale for their one time superstar in exchange for some young talent and/or future draft picks.
Since his exit of LA back in 2008, former all-star Elton Brand has become an afterthought of the league. Brand was seen before as arguably the league’s best forward, but his numbers have fell off drastically in recent years with Philadelphia, Dallas and now first year with the Atlanta. The market wasn’t necessarily strong for Brand in the off-season, but leading up to the last push for the playoffs, teams who need a 4th or 5th option at the 4-man will be looking into his season playing backup to Al Horford and Paul Millsap.
The last player we’re going to mention that deserves recognition is Rudy Gay. The once Memphis Grizzlies franchise player has been seen as a 2nd option player in recent years, which the Raptors could start their Wiggins-tank in advance trading Gay once their season is in shambles. At the age of 27, Rudy will be looking for one last big contract in his career this off-season and we’re not sure the Raptors will be ready to invest in him being a franchise player. He’s had career averages of 18 points a game and has all the talent in the world, but isn’t viewed upon as a leader (see Memphis). Rudy will be a great 2nd option (most likely 3rd on a team with a great point guard), which we could see the Raptors rebuilding again this summer in the draft.