There really are a lot of teams that should be buyers based on star players being in win now mode but a lot of them are asset poor when it comes to making a deal. It feels like there are more underperforming teams this year than ever before but that also means the playoff picture is a lot more open than in most years.
Suns- We have already talked about them quite a bit. They should be buyer and have the contracts and picks to make something happen if they want.
Warriors- They may be buyers but they may also feel like if they just get Wiggins and Curry healthy they are just fine with Divicenzo and some of their younger guys figuring some things out. Adding a stretch big like Olynyk could make a lot of sense for them though. They definitely have a few young pieces that interest me but I'm not sure they are willing move them.
Blazers- With Lillard at his current age and Jerami Grant being a pending free agent I think they will feel pressure to try and add some quality depth. They owe a future pick to Chicago with years of protections so they can't trade an outright 1st. With that being the case I don't see how they make any type of move besides possibly Josh Hart for a bigger wing. I don't see any type of deal with them that makes sense because I can't imagine they make Sharpe available but if they did I would be willing to pay big time.
Clippers- They may be the one team that may have some interest in Conley if he goes on a hot stretch. They are in 100% win now mode and may view a steady vet like Conley as a big upgrade over Reggie Jackson. With John Wall as the backup they are also in a good position to keep Conley around 24 minutes a game which should keep him fresh. Something built around Reggie Jackson and Robert Covington for Conley makes sense. We would want some type of asset coming though and ideally it would be pick swap this year. The clippers get the worst of the thunder and clippers pick so maybe we get the option of swapping the nets or philly pick for whatever pick the clippers get. I would also have some interest in BJ Boston and Moussa Diabate if the pick swap was a no go. Then you just waive Jackson who will be a free agent. Covington on the other hand could be one of those guys that you can rehab value out of.
Chicago- There own pick is top 4 protected to the magic so they have no incentive to tank. They have a bunch of vets that are more so win now pieces. They have a couple young guys in Patrick Williams and Ayo but they are contributing and should be viewed as part of the future. Right now the one trade piece of interest is the Portland 1st rd pick which is lottery protected for the next 6 years. I could see them having a lot of interest Vanderbilt and his contract is really easy to matchup. We have already talked about Lonzo for Conley a little bit on this board as well but we would definitely need some kind of asset coming back in that situation.
Toronto- The raptors are struggling big time and I'm not sure what the problem is. I think a guy like Olynyk would be a good fit with them because of his shooting and passing. They also have longer defensive players to offset his poor defense. I think overall he would be a pretty big upgrade over Boucher who would have to be the contract coming back. I feel like Boucher is a lesser player than Olynyk at this point and he has one more year on his contract than Olynyk. I'm having a hard time bridging that value gap because I doubt Masai would be willing to give up a lottery protected 1st.
Who else do you view as possible buyers going into the trade deadline?
Suns- We have already talked about them quite a bit. They should be buyer and have the contracts and picks to make something happen if they want.
Warriors- They may be buyers but they may also feel like if they just get Wiggins and Curry healthy they are just fine with Divicenzo and some of their younger guys figuring some things out. Adding a stretch big like Olynyk could make a lot of sense for them though. They definitely have a few young pieces that interest me but I'm not sure they are willing move them.
Blazers- With Lillard at his current age and Jerami Grant being a pending free agent I think they will feel pressure to try and add some quality depth. They owe a future pick to Chicago with years of protections so they can't trade an outright 1st. With that being the case I don't see how they make any type of move besides possibly Josh Hart for a bigger wing. I don't see any type of deal with them that makes sense because I can't imagine they make Sharpe available but if they did I would be willing to pay big time.
Clippers- They may be the one team that may have some interest in Conley if he goes on a hot stretch. They are in 100% win now mode and may view a steady vet like Conley as a big upgrade over Reggie Jackson. With John Wall as the backup they are also in a good position to keep Conley around 24 minutes a game which should keep him fresh. Something built around Reggie Jackson and Robert Covington for Conley makes sense. We would want some type of asset coming though and ideally it would be pick swap this year. The clippers get the worst of the thunder and clippers pick so maybe we get the option of swapping the nets or philly pick for whatever pick the clippers get. I would also have some interest in BJ Boston and Moussa Diabate if the pick swap was a no go. Then you just waive Jackson who will be a free agent. Covington on the other hand could be one of those guys that you can rehab value out of.
Chicago- There own pick is top 4 protected to the magic so they have no incentive to tank. They have a bunch of vets that are more so win now pieces. They have a couple young guys in Patrick Williams and Ayo but they are contributing and should be viewed as part of the future. Right now the one trade piece of interest is the Portland 1st rd pick which is lottery protected for the next 6 years. I could see them having a lot of interest Vanderbilt and his contract is really easy to matchup. We have already talked about Lonzo for Conley a little bit on this board as well but we would definitely need some kind of asset coming back in that situation.
Toronto- The raptors are struggling big time and I'm not sure what the problem is. I think a guy like Olynyk would be a good fit with them because of his shooting and passing. They also have longer defensive players to offset his poor defense. I think overall he would be a pretty big upgrade over Boucher who would have to be the contract coming back. I feel like Boucher is a lesser player than Olynyk at this point and he has one more year on his contract than Olynyk. I'm having a hard time bridging that value gap because I doubt Masai would be willing to give up a lottery protected 1st.
Who else do you view as possible buyers going into the trade deadline?
