Making up NBA Trades Is Fun
Chad Ford does it. BSG does it. Why can't I?
All of these passed the smell test, er, RealGM's Trade Checker, so let's have some fun shaking up the NBA before the playoff run.
Orlando trades Carlos Arroyo, Pat Garrity, and JJ Redick to Philadelphia for Andre Miller.
Why Orlando should do it: Miller would be an established point guard to come in and distribute to Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo Turkoglu. His lack of shooting range doesn't matter much with Lewis and Turkoglu playing a ton of minutes.
Why Philadelphia should do it: Arroyo and Garrity's deals come off the books at the end of the year. It can't hurt to take a flyer on Redick, who would replace the already-shipped-out Kyle Korver as their three-point shooter (their roster currently is shooting 31% from deep). Miller's under contract for one more year at $10 million. Redick has two more years of team options at under $5 million combined. That's almost $8 million off the books for Ed Stefanski to play with next year. Louis Williams also gets to take the reins full-time.
Charlotte trades Matt Carroll, Othella Harrington, and Sean May to Seattle for Kurt Thomas.
Why Charlotte should do it: Carroll is replaceable as the guy who subs for Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace. Kurt Thomas would give them a veteran banger who can play very good defense, which may be enough to get them into the playoffs (while they are 13th, they are three games out of the eighth spot in the East at this moment).
Why Seattle should do it: They're simply replacing a guy who won't be back with two other guys who won't be back, but they would have Sean May for a couple years. If he can come back healthy, he should provide some low-post scoring behind Chris Wilcox and Nick Collison.
Los Angeles Clippers trade Elton Brand to Chicago for Kirk Hinrich, Joe Smith, and Joakim Noah.
Why Los Angeles should do it: Hinrich will give them a young, established point guard (and makes Sam Cassell expendable), Noah gives them a talented big man who would complement Chris Kaman down the line, and Joe Smith makes the money work out while having an expiring contract. Hinrich also provides some outside shooting to a team that desperately needs it and enables Shaun Livingston to come back from his devastating knee injury slowly.
Why Chicago should do it: Brand would provide them with a low-post scorer and some more size to go with Ben Wallace when he is healthy. Parting with Hinrich means Chris Duhon takes over at the point (and can be brought back for the mid-level exception, at most) and they can still re-sign Luol Deng and Ben Gordon to give them three serious offensive options. Noah is expendable with Brand in the fold and Tyrus Thomas still on the roster.
Los Angeles Clippers trade Sam Cassell to Cleveland for Drew Gooden and a first-round pick.
Why Los Angeles should do it: Getting a serious part for Sam Cassell instead of simply buying him out is a big bonus. Getting Gooden would enable Noah (see above) to develop off the bench over the remainder of this season and all of next year. Gooden would also provide shooting range out to 18 feet to keep things open for Kaman in the low post. A starting five of Hinrich, Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette, Drew Gooden, and Kaman is pretty good.
Why Cleveland should do it: Sam Cassell would give the Cavs a legitimate point guard with no large contract hovering over their heads for the future (Mike Bibby, Andre Miller), not to mention getting out from under Gooden's contract for next year. This would also require the Cavs to move Anderson Varejao into the starting lineup, which isn't much of a difference. Cassell would make the Cavaliers serious contenders in the East.
Cleveland trades Ira Newble to Atlanta for Zaza Pachulia.
Why Cleveland should do it: Pachulia fills the hole left by sending out Gooden and promoting Varejao to the starting lineup, fitting in at power forward and center for 20 minutes per night.
Why Atlanta should do it: Sending Pachulia out removes four million from the Hawks' cap for next season, which can't hurt with both Josh Smith and Josh Childress eligible for extensions next year. Oh, and he's expendable.