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Tyrober 14 years ago.
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TyroberIf the Nets can’t get Dwight Howard, they should trade for Andrew Bynum.
There are four teams still playing basketball this season, which means that 26 teams have a lot of work to do. Some players on those 26 clubs are unhappy with their teams and some of those teams know they need to move a couple of their players to improve. With that in mind, here are a few trade ideas for general managers to mull over:
1. C Andrew Bynum and PG Ramon Sessions, Los Angeles Lakers for PG Deron Williamsand C Brook Lopez, Brooklyn Nets
If the Nets’ No. 1 plan of trading for Dwight Howard works, then by all means they should go that route. But if they can’t get Howard and Williams wants to go elsewhere, the Nets should try to swing a sign-and-trade. Bynum is a New Jersey native who would give the Nets a star to build around in their move to Brooklyn, and Sessions is more than a serviceable point guard.
For the Lakers, Williams would give them a top-flight point guard who is the equal of Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook, who the Lakers will undoubtedly encounter in future playoffs. Williams would be the star they need once Kobe Bryant begins to fade. The seven-foot Lopez has averaged 19 points a game over the past three seasons, and he can shoot from the perimeter, meaning Pau Gasol could play in the low post, which would likely increase his production. Gasol and Lopez, while fairly soft bigs who shoot better than they bang, would keep the Lakers’ current size advantage over most opponents.
2. SF Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers for SF Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies
The 76ers are looking to move Iguodala. They believe youngsters Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner won’t grow to reach their potential as long as Iguodala is there. They have offered him to the Grizzlies for Gay once before but were turned down. However, for the past two seasons, Memphis has been at its best when either Gay or power forward Zach Randolph is out. When both players are healthy, the Grizzlies seem to struggle with an identity crisis.
Howard Smith/US PresswireIguodala’s team-first attitude might fit Memphis better than Gay’s shoot-first phillosophy.When Gay is there, Memphis doesn’t always play inside-out, which limits the club’s effectiveness. When Gay isn’t there, the Grizzlies utilize their main strength of pounding the ball inside to Randolph and Marc Gasol, which makes them a better club. Trading Gay for Iguodala would eliminate this problem because Iguodala isn’t looking to score as often as Gay.
Also, with Iguodala, the Grizzlies would play inside-out consistently and Iguodala’s versatility and athleticism would fit with Memphis’ style. Since Gay, 25, is younger than the 28-year-old Iguodala, the Sixers could throw in Jodie Meeks via sign-and-trade to balance the trade. Meeks’ outside shooting ability also would help the Grizzlies’ anemic 3-point attack. And since Iguodala has one fewer season left on his contract than Gay, the trade also would help Memphis financially.
For Philadelphia, Gay would become the go-to scorer the Sixers desperately need. A perimeter trio of Holiday, Turner and Gay would be very strong and vault the Sixers to another level.
3. C Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers for PF Josh Smith and SF Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks
We know the Lakers will consider moving Gasol. With no cap room and no appealing pieces outside of Bryant, Bynum and Gasol, moving either Bynum or Gasol are their only ways to get the impact pieces they need to improve. Gasol has a lot left in the tank, and he could thrive as he did a few years ago as a club’s first or second option.
I’m not completely sold that Atlanta would do this considering Smith is just 26 and coming off his best season. But the Hawks need a major shakeup because they won’t go any farther than the second round (if that far) as currently constituted. And it’s well-documented that Smith would like a fresh start elsewhere. The 2012-13 season is the last in Smith’s contract, and Atlanta could run the risk of losing him for nothing. Gasol would give the Hawks a legitimate low-post scoring threat and allow Al Horford to move to his natural power forward position. Gasol, Horford and Joe Johnson complement one another and would be a strong, grounded trio for the Hawks. Plus, this deal frees them from the struggling Williams and the two years, $16 million left on his contract.
For the Lakers, this trade gives them the athleticism they lack and a versatile all-around player in Smith who can score without having plays run for him. Smith would be a terrific complement to Bryant and Bynum. Though Williams isn’t what you want from a former No. 2 pick, he is a solid player who would add to the Lakers’ depth.
4. C Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers for PF Luis Scola, PG Kyle Lowry and SF Chase Budinger,Houston Rockets
Scola dropped off this season but still had a fairly productive year, averaging 15.5 ppg and 6.4 rebounds. While he’s not the player Gasol is, Lowry would more than make up the slack by giving the Lakers a legitimate starting point guard. Lowry is tough-minded, great defensively and a solid distributor. He would solve one of the Lakers’s major problems, which is their ability to guard top-flight point guards. Budinger would sweeten the package with his athleticism and 3-point shooting at the small forward position.
For the Rockets, Gasol would finally give them the star player they’ve been dying for. Lowry, who has publicly stated his desire to be traded because of his dislike for Houston coach Kevin McHale, is expendable now that Goran Dragic has emerged. With Lowry gone, the Rockets can sign Dragic, and a one-two punch of Gasol and Dragic, with scorer Kevin Martinat the two-guard, could be pretty strong.
What I’m hearing
• The Charlotte Bobcats are taking their time with their coaching search and with good reason. The Bobcats understand their job will become much more desirable if they win Wednesday’s draft lottery. They’ve talked with several big names — Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan and Patrick Ewing (who, as Yahoo! reported today, has already been told he will not get the job), but they are also interested in assistant coaches like Golden State’s Michael Malone, Indiana’s Brian Shaw, who they will interview on Friday. Memphis’s Dave Joerger and the Lakers’ Quin Snyder, with whom they’ll talk June 4. The Bobcats also have interest in speaking with Stan Van Gundy, and reached out to him, but league sources say he is thinking about taking next season off.
• The Washington Wizards have not yet begun a coaching search in earnest because there’s still a chance that interim coach Randy Wittman will get the job. The Wizards’ front office was impressed with the job Wittman did, getting his club to finish 11-14 down the stretch, including six straight wins to end the season. Finances could also play a factor in the decision, sources said, as the Wizards might not want to spend big money on a coach with Wittman and his staff still under contract for next season.
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