Your NBA Trade Deadline team-by-team trade needs guide
Here's what all 30 NBA teams need, and what they don't, with the NBA trade deadline fast approaching.
By
Matt Moore
•
16 min read
With the NBA deadline fast approaching (Thursday, 3 p.m. ET), we decided to give you a quick and dirty guide to what each team needs to help their goals, both short and long term if they do in fact pursue trades or available free agents.
ATLANTA HAWKS
COULD USE: A traditional big to use down low as a rim protector. Pero Antic is well liked and well-used in Atlanta, but not an athletic defender down low. They could use one to throw out in certain matchups, particularly if they wind up going against Timofey Mozgov or (a healthy) Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol in a playoff series.
They might have interest in Ray Allen, but they don't need him. Kyle Korver, Mike Scott, Kent Bazemore... they have shooters. Allen's a luxury, not a necessity.
DON'T NEED: Point guard, power forward, small forward. But more than anything, they don't need to mess with this team. They have a near-perfect balance of chemistry, play, and minutes. Adding significant contributors is trying to fix something that is clearly not broken.
BOSTON CELTICS
NEED: Bigs and wings, particularly on the defensive end. They need a rim protector like they need oxygen. Their two bigs, Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger, are earthbound scorers. They need someone to provide protection inside. (This is problematic as there are almost no defensive centers available as rim protection. It's the most valuable commodity.)
Point guard has been mentioned, despite Marcus Smart's position and the fact the kid is (shockingly) shooting 35 percent from deep. There have been Ty Lawson murmurings, which would make sense; Smart can operate as a combo guard easily.
DON'T NEED: Youth or draft picks. Ainge owns enough draft picks to cover the Earth with his army of 19 year-old athletic wings. He's got so many he almost has to make a deal to send some out because there are only so many roster spots. If the Celtics deal at the deadline, they're a buyer, not a seller.
NEED: Cap space, draft picks, youth and a fresh start. The Nets are one of the most active teams in rumors, despite their (presumably) (obvious) leaking that they are not going to do anything at the deadline. Either the Nets are lying or every other team that's talking with them is lying.
Either way, they need to get Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, or some combination of any/all three out the door in order to clear cap space and they desperately need a pick just to fill some roster with younger talent. They need change and hope.
If they decide to stick with this roster and make a run (for some asinine reason), they need athleticism and speed. Lance Stephenson supplies positional versatility and athleticism, if you can get past everything else he comes with.
DON'T NEED: Anyone over the age of 28, additional salary, anything involving the word "branding."
Efficient wing scoring, particularly a guard who can create his own shot. Stephenson has struggled in that capacity and clashed with the locker room, but conceptually, he's what they're in search of. Arron Afflalo has been rumored and he's pretty much perfect. A post-up shooting guard who can run and defend is ideal. They'd be fine if Gerald Henderson was more efficient, honestly.
The elephant in the room is that they need a more efficient scoring point guard, but they've thrown their lot in with Kemba Walker and that contract post-extension is basically unmovable.
They also need rim protection. It's complicated, because Cody Zeller has been great the past two months and Bismack Biyombo looks very solid at times. But there's an outstanding issue that their starting power forward, Marvin Williams, and their starting center, Al Jefferson, have a 105.8 points allowed per possession mark, which is the equivalent of the blood elevators from "The Shining."
DON'T NEED: Young talent. They're set with a few young guys (Zeller, Noah Vonleh, Walker). They're after veterans at this point. They don't need post scoring, Al Jefferson has them set there, and they don't need a stretch four.
CHICAGO BULLS
COULD USE: A psychiatrist to tell Thibs it's not his fault and he doesn't have to play everyone 45 minutes per game. A shaman to make them all healthy. But also, they could use a more reliable perimeter scoring weapon. Jimmy Butler was an All-Star, but that was based mostly on the first two months of the season. He fell off a cliff in January. His four games in February were promising, but they could still use a scorer who can create on his own. Either Arron Afflalo or Wilson Chandler would be pretty good options there. Tony Snell has come on strong, and he and Butler are more than enough for the Bulls to make a run. But if there's an area of improvement, it's offensively on the wing.
They could use the clearing of their frontcourt. Taj Gibson needs more minutes. Nikola Mirotic needs more minutes. But both are unlikely to get time with Pau Gasol playing as much as he is. Having too many good players at a position isn't a real problem, but it does create complications.
DON'T NEED: Anyone over 6-8. Young guys won't get time on this team, and they have a good pipeline developing. They're set at point guard, with Hinrich and Brooks behind Rose, no matter Hinrich's offensive deficiencies.
COULD USE: A backup point guard wouldn't hurt. A backup power forward would help, if he was a veteran who could defend. They mostly need veteran defenders who still have some spring in their step. Another rim protector off the bench could be productive. They're pretty well set, though.
DON'T NEED: Anyone who likes to shoot, go isolation, or a small forward. Any more drama. They're pretty well set there.
COULD USE: Bench depth of any kind. Another point guard to go along with Devin Harris, a shooting guard who can ride Space Mountain (as opposed to Jub Jub Barea), any sort of functional wing, a backup center in the worst way. They just don't have much to trade. They would have to get really bold with moving Chandler Parsons or Monta Ellis, and they seem pretty attached to both.
Or they could trade Dirk Nowitzki...HAHAHAHAH. Oh, good times.
DON'T NEED: Starting offense. You can have too much of a good thing and the Mavericks are perilously close to such a situation.
COULD USE: A COMPLETE AND TOTAL ROSTER RECONFIGURATION. AN EXORCISM. THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND RETCON EVER PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER.
Everything is for sale, at various prices. Everything doesn't have to go, it's not a fire... sale, but it is definitely a "best offer" situation. It's more like a yard sale. They'll wind up throwing away half this stuff if no one else wants it.
DON'T NEED: A young European center with a mean streak, or any more small forwards.
NEED: Consistent scoring threats on the wing who can create their own shots, or a stretch four. Point guard help would go a long way here. They need a go-to guy offensively, mainly. Wing defense wouldn't hurt (does it ever?). They're set in the frontcourt for the most part, at least down low, but a long-term solution at power forward given Greg monroe's situation is the elephant in the room.
More than anything they need a guy to build around.
DON'T NEED: Rim protection or spot-up wings. Everything else is pretty fluid, however, which is why you're seeing Brandon Jennings pop up in talks despite a hot run after Josh Smith was waived and despite his injury.
COULD USE: More cap room to re-sign Draymond Green this summer by trading David Lee. Bench augmentation would be helpful but is going to be hard to find; they're already pretty good. A backup rim protector would come in awful handy given Andrew Bogut's injury issues.
DON'T NEED: Much of anything. They're pretty well set.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
COULD USE: The unspoken element in the room is that they need a point guard upgrade. James Harden has the ball in his hands a ton and does a great job facilitating. But Patrick Beverley isn't the guy you want running an offense when Harden is on the bench. Having Beverley to come off the bench and act as a defensive specialist and closer would be huge, but they could honestly use a point guard who can score on his own.
Hence the interest in Goran Dragic. With Deron Williams, Ty Lawson, and other big names at point guard available, you can bet Houston will at least make exploratory calls.
They can move Terrence Jones very easily considering how well Donatas Motiejunas is playing, and Jones' upside is tremendous. It wouldn't kill them to have another pure shooter to come off the bench at either the two or three spots.
DON'T NEED: Shooting guard, power forward, or center, obviously.
NEED: Anyone that can score. Really, seriously, anybody with an offensive pulse.
Indiana's got a few conundrums. Roy Hibbert has popped up in rumors a few times over the past few months, and you get the sense if they could make a homerun type offer, the kind that the Nuggets are reportedly looking for for Ty Lawson, that the Pacers would nibble at the bait at least. Then there's the David West situation, where the Pacers have to establish whether he'll have enough left in the tank to make a run next year if Paul George returns healthy. He and Hibbert also both have player options for this summer and if they think they'll lose one or both, it might be better to get return on them both now.
DON'T NEED: Any more injury concerns, to do anything brash, or to add defenders.
COULD USE: Bench help of any kind. To invent the flux capacitor, integrate it with a DeLorean, reach 88 miles an hour, and stop themselves from signing Spencer Hawes. To convince the rest of the league to buy into Matt Barnes' shooting as sustainable this season.
A second rim protector off the bench would be good, too. A wing defender would make a big difference.
DON'T NEED: Much in the way of top-six offense or athleticism. They're pretty good on the wings offensively, but any trade talks start and end with Jamal Crawford. They don't need anyone else that was good back in 2009. They're well stocked at that hallowed position.
NEED: Yes.
DON'T NEED: Anything that's going to help them win enough games to lose their pick (top-five protected against trade to Phoenix). They also are overstocked at power forward, though they should sell high on Ed Davis.
They also do not need anyone else with a stupid nickname.
COULD USE: Avoiding the Spurs in the playoffs. That's it.
DON'T NEED: Anything. This team is the best Grizzlies team that has ever been and has a legitimate chance at a title, maybe the best it will ever have. It has the right minutes balance, they are three deep at every position, and positional flexibility. They need to not mess with this team in any way shape or form. Don't mess with it. Don't even breathe on it.
Even adding Ray Allen would be too risky, given the delicate balance they've constructed.
NEED: Youth and athleticism. Miami put together a veteran squad then watched them fall apart physically. Luol Deng has been good for them but may really have more value on the open market. They badly need an upgrade at point guard. They don't have to blow the team up, they just need to shake it violently.
The fans would freak, but trading Hassan Whiteside right now would be a phenomenal "selling high" move and would net them a big return.
More than anything, they need a future direction, but that's not something they can address at the deadline.
DON'T NEED: Veterans, wings, or stretch fours. They need to avoid injury concerns.
NEED: A center, since Larry Sanders is likely never going to play a game for them again. They need rim protection, especially in the playoffs, and Zaza Pachulia can't play enough minutes. John Henson is there, but is better as a four. But they also could use a post scoring presence.
Short-term, long-term, they're pretty set, despite a lack of depth. They make it work and will get Jabari Parker back next year (and Kendall Marshall as well, I suppose).
DON'T NEED: Guards. They have 11 of them and they're all playing out of their minds this season.
COULD USE: A few more picks if they can get anything for Nikola Pekovic or Kevin Martin. A crunch wing defender would give them a few better looks and help them in a key area.
DON'T NEED: Anyone over the age of 25.
COULD USE: Wing depth wouldn't hurt. Quincy Pondexter has been great for them, but it still gets dicey after that. Backup point guard since they foolishly let Nate Wolters go. The whole bench is a mess, and it may be a situation where Ryan Anderson may have more value in getting multiple benefits back over his intrinsic value.
Eric Gordon has been better lately, but if there are any bites on the line, the Pelicans should tug on the line pretty hard. Clearing cap space while possibly getting an asset back would be big.
DON'T NEED: Aliens from another planet sent to destroy everything in their way. Anthony Davis does fine there. They're also not hurting for ball-dominant guards.
NEED: To shut down Melo down and keep losing as much as possible. Not trading anyone is the best way to accomplish that goal. They're right where they need to be.
DON'T NEED: To make any rash moves, send out any picks or young players, or to keep hoping a free agent will come in and save them.
NEED: Oh, man, this one's tricky. OK, they could use another scoring weapon, someone to carry them when Westbrook and Durant sit. But the bench is really the trick here. Reggie Jackson seems to have more value as a trade asset than as a player in this rotation, and they need a bench post scoring weapon.
They need to get healthy, is what they need.
DON'T NEED: Well, point guard, small forward, power forward and center they're pretty set at.
NEED: Shooters. They're pitifully short on shooters, and wing playmakers. They have too many players in weird situations. Is Andrew Nicholson too good to trade or the perfect "sell moderately high" guy? Does Tobias Harris have more value as a trade asset than on his presumably long-term new deal this summer? Are the young players like Moe Harkless and Kyle O'Quinn moveable?
Like a lot of teams on this list, they need rim protection.
DON'T NEED: Point guard, shooting guard, low-post scoring. Young talent won't do much for them at this point. They could use some legit veteran contributors around them, without sacrificing the long-term view.
NEED: Ha. That's funny. Good one.
DON'T NEED: Veterans, anyone with any money beyond this season, or second-rounders. Though Sam Hinkie will probably trade for another one because he apparently has a deal where he can trade them in like Skee-Ball tickets.
NEED: Well after their meeting with Goran Dragic turned into flames and wreckage, they need to trade their starting point guard, which is never fun. With Dragic informing the Suns he won't return next season as a free agent, and then leaking that information, the Suns are between a rock and a hard place.
They have to deal Dragic to get something back for him, but by leaking which teams he wants to go to and that he's not coming back, they have no leverage. They have to deal him, but they can't get good return. So they either take a poor return (seriously, the Lakers and Knicks have nothing to give and the Heat have very little), or they let him go for nothing. Good times!
Beyond the Dragic disaster, they need defensive help down low since Miles Plumlee fell off and to move Gerald Green while his trade value is high.
DON'T NEED: To have to trade their starting point guard to the Lakers or Knicks, but it looks like that might happen. They also don't need any more point guards or wings.
BADLY WANT: Wilson Chandler or Arron Afflalo, depending on who you talk to.
KIND OF WANT: Wilson Chandler or Arron Afflalo, if they can't get the other one, depending on who you talk to.
ALSO NEED: A veteran bench big, any wing help they can come up with.
DON'T NEED: Any starters. They're good there, even with Nicolas Batum. They don't need to give up Batum in any deal, they should be able to add wing help without giving up Batum even with his struggles this year.
They don't need a point guard or much in the way of scoring.
NEED: A high-production point guard to distribute and run an up-tempo offense. Defensive consistency on the wing. A veteran power forward to play next to Cousins and add toughness. And they could use some veteran leadership.
DON'T NEED: Any headcases, any gunners, or any young guys. They need capable players at this point.
NEED: OK, now you're just asking me to troll you.
DON'T NEED: To go through their annual ritual of leaking that they're "looking to make a move" only to do absolutely nothing of substance. Spare us this year, please.
COULD USE: Defensive wing help in the worst way. A bench rim protector. A small forward who can create his own shot reliably, and some veteran experience. They could use some tweaks, but they're fine standing pat.
DON'T NEED: Point guard or wing scoring help. They don't need to rock the boat too much unless they're convinced this team can't compete in a playoff series which it certainly appears as though it can.
NEED: To move Enes Kanter quietly and swiftly, to get good return on the big man. Kanter has noisily made it clear he wants out, and will still garner offers on the open market. They could use some stability on the bench at wing, and a little bit of veteran help that doesn't interfere with their growth too much would help as well.
Finding a suitor for Alec Burks could give them a sell-high situation to bring back good return.
DON'T NEED: Much. They're pretty on track and don't need picks or young players. They're stocked there.
NEED: Backcourt depth. They have good rotations in the front court but with Andre Miller falling out of his minutes, they get a little desperate, and Rasual Butler simply is not a sustainable long-term option without a parachute to go to. They would be better off with one good wing scorer to add to the rotation, even if it's not a heavy minutes guy and just an alternative to Butler.
DON'T NEED: Any starter caliber guys or veterans. They're good on all that. They also don't need any contracts that compromise their cap space in 2016 because, well... see there's this defending MVP who's from DC and...
