The 2019-20 NBA season is expected to return late next month at Walt Disney World in Orlando following a four-plus month hiatus. It’s going to be a short window for teams as a champion is crowned.
As a result of the delay, the coming offseason is going to be even shorter. That’s expected to last less than two months after the season concludes in October.
This means trades will be fast and furious around the NBA, especially given the financial complexities that come with the ongoing global pandemic.
From a basketball perspective, we can expect multiple blockbuster trades. Here’s a look at five that we would absolutely love to see.
Philadelphia 76ers trade Ben Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers for C.J. McCollum
Depending on how the remainder of the campaign plays out in Orlando, the Sixers might very well be in for an offseason of change. Head coach Brett Brown is firmly on the hot seat. Simmons has not expanded his shooting range from outside the key. Joel Embiid’s health concerns are constantly lurking. Could Philadelphia look to break up this star duo? It’s possible.
On the other hand, it appears that Portland is going nowhere fast. The backcourt combo of McCollum and Damian Lillard has not got the team over the hump. It’s in this that moving McCollum and a 2021 first-round pick to Philadelphia for Simmons would make sense.
The Sixers nab the shooter they have been missing to team up with Embiid and Tobias Harris. They also grab a valuable first-round pick in a 2021 NBA Draft that’s going to be much more impressive than this year. Meanwhile, Portland teams Lillard up with another star whose game contrasts his in a big way.
Golden State Warriors trade Draymond Green to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner
There’s been some reports out of the Bay Area that Golden State might very well look to trade Green. It would not necessarily be a popular decision among Warriors fans, but it makes sense. The Dubs added an impressive forward in that of Eric Paschall in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft. He is seemingly the future at the four position in San Francisco.
If the Warriors were to move Green and his bloated contract, he would create a nice amount of interest. Despite some struggles this season, the three-time champ remains a great all-around player.
In this deal, the Pacers add another big to go with All-Star center Domantas Sabonis. Green’s passing ability would be huge for both Sabonis and Victor Oladipo. In turn, Golden State picks up a center of the future to pair with Marquese Chriss while adding T.J. McConnell to improve its bench and gaining a first-round pick in 2021 from Indiana.
Washington Wizards trade Bradley Beal to the Brooklyn Nets for Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen
This would be the blockbuster to end all blockbusters. As has been noted multiple times in the past, Washington has no intention of trading its All-Star guard. Beal, 26, finished up the abbreviated 2019-20 season averaging 30.5 points on 46% shooting. He’s among the best two-guards in the Association.
Still, a new regime in D.C. might want to blow this thing completely up. Being able to add two core pieces in LeVert and Dinwiddie while picking up a stud young center in Allen could be too much for Washington to pass up. It also acquires a first-rounder from Brooklyn.
In turn, the Nets find that third star to team up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. General manager Sean Marks and Co. are already having internal discussions about this possibility. The above-mentioned package may very well get it done.
Boston Celtics trade Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart to the Utah Jazz for Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles
Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has in the past pushed back against trading either Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. This included potential deals for superstars like Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. Why would Ainge change his tune right now?
It’s rather simple. Boston lacks a true defensive big. It attempted to replace Al Horford with Enes Kanter, but that failed miserably. If Boston is going to take that next step, someone of Gobert’s ability makes the most sense. A trio of Tatum, Gobert and Kemba Walker would be too hard to pass up.
As for the Jazz, the backdrop is a contentious relationship between Gobert and Donovan Mitchell after the two contracted COVID-19. They might not be able to coexist moving forward. Adding Brown to replace Gobert as Mitchell’s running mate would make a lot of sense.
Chicago Bulls trade Zach LaVine to the Denver Nuggets for Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr.
The way Chicago’s roster is constructed, it seems highly unlikely that LaVine has a long-term future with the team. Last year’s lottery pick Coby White figures more as a traditional two-guard moving forward. That forced LaVine to play small forward.
If the Bulls do decide to move on from LaVine, adding a stud youngster in Michael Porter Jr. makes a lot of sense. He could team up with Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. to form an elite trio in the frontcourt.
For the Nuggets, this would be about going all in. Jamaal Murray is among the best young point guards in the NBA. Nikola Jokic is the single most-skilled center in the Association. Being able to acquire someone of LaVine’s ilk would make this team a top-end title contender moving forward.
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