3 fun NBA trades that could happen before the deadline
February Christmas - also known as the NBA trade deadline - comes early this season. Historically occurring after All-Star weekend, the powers that be have instead scheduled this year's deadline for Feb. 8, prior to the midseason classic - and just one month from Monday.
Despite the compressed interval for trades, rumor and innuendo have been less rampant this time around. Some blame the amount of player movement last offseason, while others point to next summer's big-name free agents. Either way, here are three fun trade ideas that might make sense for those involved.
Nerlens Noel for Julius Randle
In some ways, this is an easy one. At the moment, neither Nerlens Noel nor Julius Randle figures into the long-term plans of the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Swapping them straight-up works financially too, although L.A. assumes more risk since Noel becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The difference is, he might actually play for the Lakers, instead of sitting on the bench for 21 of 39 games like he has in Dallas. Center Brook Lopez just returned from an ankle injury, but the rebuilding Lakers may find that Noel serves as a nice, younger defensive complement. Noel's contract situation could also benefit them in terms of creating even more cap space if they choose to make a big-splash signing (or more than one).
Randle, meanwhile, remains a piece the Lakers need to move, with Kyle Kuzma appearing to be ensconced at the four in L.A. for years to come. While the idea of pairing Randle next to Kristaps Porzingis is somewhat intoxicating, the New York Knicks just don't have the trade assets to pull it off. Randle is a Dallas native, and is enough of a stud to pique Mark Cuban's interest.
DeAndre Jordan for Tristan Thompson & Channing Frye
(Photo courtesy: ESPN Trade Machine)
The few big-name trade rumors that have flown around this season have generally involved Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan. Yet Gasol remains hard to move, even if the Memphis Grizzlies are prepared to part with him. A logical landing spot like the Boston Celtics is somewhat obstructed by the fact the C's would likely only part with so many draft and youthful assets, and none of them come close to clearing the requisite cap space. For other suitors such as the Toronto Raptors, it makes more sense to wait and see on Gasol.
This leaves fellow big man Jordan - and the Celtics could be in play for him as well, but making a trade work is even trickier. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers could swing a deal, though, and it could be successful on a few different levels. For starters, Jordan is an upgrade over Thompson for Cleveland, and acquiring him could send a message to LeBron James that the team is trying to stay atop the East (Jordan also says he talks to James confidant Chris Paul almost every day).
Jordan can also opt out of his contract after the season (which is why the aging, banged-up Clippers need to consider trading him). That benefits the Cavaliers if James bails and they're forced to commence a rebuild. Jordan's status will still make it difficult for L.A. to pry away one of Cleveland's two first-round picks, but the Clippers should try.
Besides Channing Frye's expiring contract, they'd get Thompson, a solid defender whose limited offensive game has taken a mostly optical hit this season with the play of Kevin Love and the addition of Jae Crowder. Thompson is still nearing a double-double per 36 minutes on close to 60 percent shooting. A deal with the Clippers would allow him to join the large Canadian diaspora in Los Angeles and be closer to girlfriend Khloe Kardashian's family empire.
DeMarcus Cousins for Bradley Beal
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
This one hasn't really come up in rumors, but there's a strikingly strong case to be made for it. As fascinating as the DeMarcus Cousins-Anthony Davis twin-tower experiment has been, the New Orleans Pelicans could still lose Cousins as a free agent this summer. The voodoo lineup of the two former Kentucky centers and two point guards (Jrue Holiday and the also Kentucky-schooled Rajon Rondo) isn't bad, but it raises a lot of questions.
More than one observer has noted that the Pelicans, hovering around .500, would be much better with a proven wing player. Shooters aren't in abundance on the roster, and dealing Cousins to the Wizards for Bradley Beal would be sensible - in fact, it would be like getting a better version of Buddy Hield, the centerpiece of the package they sent to the Sacramento Kings.
Of course, the Wizards assume all of the risk here. Cousins can flee via free agency in the offseason, and that's before you consider several NBA teams reportedly have a "No Boogie" rule given his penchant for cantankerousness. However, it's arguably time for the Wizards to take a risk - or at least take a bigger swing. Cousins remains close with fellow Wildcat teammate John Wall, and uniting them in Washington is the kind of move that could shake up the top half of the Eastern Conference.