With the February 7 NBA trade deadline fast approaching, I decided to take a look at five star players who could be a part of a blockbuster trade.
1. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards:
Bradley Beal is an All-Star caliber shooting guard who is currently averaging 24.9 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per-game. At only 25 years old, Beal still has room to grow and could easily be the piece to take a contending team to the next level. The Wizards are currently 10th place in the East, and their star point guard John Wall is out with a season-ending heel surgery. This would be the perfect time for Washington to start tanking, as they would be able to get a top ten pick in the upcoming draft and trade Beal for more young pieces. Owing to these circumstances, I think that Beal’s time in Washington is likely coming to an end.
Possible trade destinations: Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans
2. Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic:
Nikola Vucevic has had a breakout season for the Magic and is a potential All-Star. The center is averaging 20.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per-game. The Magic are currently 11th place in the East and are undoubtedly in rebuild mode. Vucevic’s breakout season gives the Magic a rare chance to cash in on a star and bolster their rebuilding process. Vucevic is 28 years old and on an expiring contract. The Magic are unlikely to resign him, so this is likely as high as his trade value will ever be. Getting rid of Vucevic will also free up more playing time for rookie Mo Bamba and sophomore Jonathan Isaac. Overall, trading Vucevic makes the most sense for the Magic.
Possible trade destinations: LA Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, LA Clippers
3. Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat:
Hassan Whiteside is one of the most physically dominant players in the NBA today. At 7′ 0″ tall and 265 pounds, Whiteside is a force on rebounds and a great rim protector. This former All-Defensive 2nd Team center is currently averaging 12.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per-game. However, Whiteside has been feuding with Miami’s coaching staff and organization for a long time, and it seems that now is the perfect time to send Whiteside away on a trade. Despite his solid stats, Whiteside only averages 25.8 minutes per-game and is often found on the bench in late game situations in favor of 21 year old center Bam Adebayo. With the Heat stuck in mediocrity, it’s time to trade Whiteside away to allow Adebayo to develop and to acquire younger pieces to start a new chapter of Heat basketball.
Possible trade destinations: LA Lakers, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings
4. CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers:
Shooting guard CJ McCollum has become fan-favorite in Portland and has averaged over 20 points per-game for three seasons straight. While McCollum is averaging 20.6 points per-game this season, his assists, 3-point shooting percentage, and minutes per-game are all lower than past years. Portland is currently 4th place in the West, but they aren’t likely to progress very far in the playoffs, so it might be time to take the team in a different direction. Portland already has a ball-dominant guard in Damian Lillard, so trading McCollum for a forward makes the most sense. While the Lillard-McCollum combo has entertained NBA fans for years, it makes the most sense for the Trail Blazers to trade McCollum before the deadline.
Possible trade destinations: Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors, LA Clippers
5. Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies
With a record of 19-27, the Grizzlies are one of the worst teams in the NBA and in total rebuild mode. At 33 years old, Gasol doesn’t fit with the Grizzlies long-term plan and he would be better served spending his last few high-level years of his career with a contending team. Gasol is currently averaging 15.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per-game. With this level of production, Gasol could easily take any team to the next level. This is the perfect situation for Memphis to trade away their long-time star and give their rebuilding efforts a major boost.
Possible trade destinations: Charlotte Hornets, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings