NBA - 5 more players who could be traded before 21 Feb
There’s something about deadlines which makes GMs across the league run helter skelter and go on a fire sale. Once the deadline passes, they are left wondering if that one big fat contract they had moved in exchange for a performing one could have made all the difference in the world. This also brings out the fans in droves, simulating fantasy scenarios where their franchise saviour arrives via a timely trade. Here are five players who could be moved before the trade deadline of 21st February passes:
Bargnani expressed his displeasure at losing earlier in the season, and the remark was taken out of context and he was said to have called the Raptors the worst team in the NBA. While the controversy over that has mellowed, the next Dirk in the making (poor man’s) can always find suitors for his versatile services. But he has three years and $32.25 million on his contract. That’s a hefty amount, one which teams will be reluctant to swing for. Bargnani hasn’t justified his high salary just yet and there aren’t high hopes that a change in scenery will result in a dramatic improvement either. Trade rumours for Bargnani have revolved around Pau Gasol, Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks and Wilson Chandler of the Denver Nuggets. It doesn’t help his cause that when he was injured and out of the lineup, the Raptors managed a five-game winning streak back in December. It would be great if Bargnani would be moved to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have been playing well without Derrick Rose, but having a stretch big man who can light it up can really make a difference. Also, Tom Thibodeau’s defensive scheme is adept at masking the inadequacies of weak links.
We’re talking about players being traded, and this right here is a franchise which itself may pack its bags and move to Seattle. The Sacramento Kings may be looking to move the temperamental forward come trade deadline. The Kings also have other pieces which can tempt teams in Marcus Thornton, Jason Thompson and Chuck Hayes. The Bobcats are looking to improve their frontline. Bobcats’ president of basketball operations Rod Higgins has said that owner Michael Jordan has given them “the green light to go out and make this team better… I don’t think there’s any limits to what we’d try to do.’’ This would be an ideal trade for the Bobcats, to get a player who failed to be a franchise player, but can become one with a change of scenery. Cousins was linked to the Celtics but nothing came out of it. The Sacramento Bee reported that Cousins won’t be traded to the Celtics. But analysts believe that they are just testing the waters. The thing is that Cousins is on a rookie contract of $3.8 million, and to trade him they would have to package him with a higher contract of John Salmons or Marcus Thornton.
This sharpshooter is one of the fittest players in the NBA. There are few teams which wouldn’t swing for him. Logically, Redick would be pleased at moving to a team which will actually make the playoffs. But his family have been bringing signs to the Orlando Arena which say “Keep JJ”. The Boston Celtics have expressed an interest for him. After the loss of Ray Allen last year, the Celtics will be glad to shore up with a shooter of Redick’s caliber. In his seventh season, JJ Redick is averaging career-bests in field-goal shooting (44.8 percent) as well as per-game scoring (14.6 points), assists (4.5), and minutes played (31). He is earning $6.19 million in 2012/13, and comes at a bargain. `You have to prepare for different scenarios, you really do,’’ Redick said. “It’s just human nature so that you’re not as shocked or as emotional if something happens. Things happen quickly in this league. I’ve seen it happen to a lot of former teammates and you just never know.”
No way would I want the Clippers to trade away Eric Bledsoe. The fact is that Mini LeBron is good enough to start at point guard for many teams in the NBA, but he’s coming behind Chris Paul. Earlier, the trade for Paul and the Clippers broke down when the Clippers wouldn’t include Bledsoe to the Hornets. And with good reason. Have you seen his chasedown blocks? Luckily Bledsoe knows he’s blessed to be on a winning team, and have two amazing mentors in Chris Paul and Chuncey Billups. “We were talking one day, and I was like, ‘You know, I’ve learned a lot from you Chris.’ And Chris was like, ‘Man, I’m learning a lot from you.’ It felt good to have one of the best point guards tell me that,” said Bledsoe. The man has his priorities straight.
But a trade to the Hawks which would bring Josh Smith to the Clippers, that would be unreal. Talk about living above the rim. And imagine that frontline being fed by Chris Paul. Lob City 2.0! But Bledsoe is way too valuable to give away unless the returns are assured. The Clippers are on a roll right now and having Bledsoe come off the bench behind Chris Paul gives them a great cushion. They have also experimented with putting Bledsoe and Paul on the court at the same time. Normally such a small backcourt will spell trouble for the defense, but Paul being the defender he is and Bledsoe being so athletic, they put an unreal amount of pressure on the ballhandlers of the opposition. Both of them are among the best in forcing turnovers and that fuels their fast break.
Rodrigue Beaubois is averaging 11.1 minutes per game this season, a 10-minute drop from last year. He was once seen as a top gunner coming off the bench. But his potential never materialized. There’s a chance that the Mavericks and Celtics could swap their bench guards, and Barbosa and Beaubois being traded for each other would give each team a fresh spark plug. There are plenty of other teams who could use a perimeter scorer like Beaubois. The Bulls have been riding Nate Robinson for a long while, and maybe they ought to look this way for more offensive spark.
Here’s a look at 5 other players who could be traded before the deadline-
https://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/01/22/nba-5-players-who-could-be-traded-before-21-feb/