Which West teams should make a deadline day move?
With the NBA's trade deadline less than 24 hours away, here's a look at the Western Conference teams who should be looking to swing a deal.
Related: Which East teams should make a move?
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers are in a peculiar place. On one hand, they're a star-laden team on pace for 54 wins and very much perennial title contenders. On the other hand, they've still yet to make the conference finals, and, with controversy surrounding Blake Griffin, might be approaching the end of their rope with this Griffin-Paul-Jordan core.
Trading Josh Smith means the Clips are woefully thin in the frontcourt while Griffin remains sidelined, and while the Western Conference may seem virtually decided already between the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, a team with as much talent as L.A. can always be a couple of bounces and breaks from The Finals. They should do something to add another impact forward, and try to take advantage of what might be their last chance at glory with this group.
Memphis Grizzlies
Speaking of teams at the end of the proverbial rope ...
The Grizzlies might be nine games over .500 and fifth in the West standings, but they have a negative point differential, are 6-15 against teams who currently own winning records, and are without Marc Gasol for the remainder of the season. Memphis is no longer anything close to a legitimate contender.
While the Clippers should be looking to maximize what's left of their window, Memphis should be looking toward the future, particularly with Mike Conley (and Jeff Green) set for free agency. The Grizzlies would be wise to see what kind of returns they can get for veterans like Conley, Green, and even Zach Randolph.
Houston Rockets
Last May, the Rockets were preparing for the Western Conference finals after an epic comeback against the Clippers, led by the MVP runner-up and a rejuvenated Dwight Howard. Nine months, a coaching change, and another Josh Smith trade later, Houston finds itself outside the playoff picture, with Howard's Houston future seemingly in limbo.
If the Rockets are confident in Howard's summer departure - or simply believe they'll be better off without him - they need to move him now for pieces (or a piece) that can grow with James Harden moving forward, regardless of their chances this spring.
Utah Jazz
The seventh-place Portland Trail Blazers are playing with house money at this point as unlikely playoff hopefuls, but the eighth-seeded Jazz are in a different position. After years of building a surplus of young talent, along with an outstanding second half last season, the Jazz were supposed to take the next step this year - especially considering the surprising ineptitude across the lower tiers of the West.
It wouldn't quite be disastrous if the Jazz fail to make the postseason a fourth straight time, but it would be a monumental enough disappointment that they should at least consider using some of their boatload of assets to make an immediate upgrade.