As we pass the All Star Weekend in the NBA, its times for teams to focus in and attempt to make one final push toward either playoff positioning or simply the opportunity to get to the league’s second season.
Several teams are struggling and rumored to be looking at different options when it comes to roster overhaul. We’ll discuss some of the teams potentially looking at implementing some changes and break down their alternative solutions based on the state of the league and potential trade partners.
New York Knicks
After a strong 2012-2013 campaign, the Knicks have taken major steps backwards this season. This club could be too dysfunctional to remain in tact beyond this year and making the playoffs could actually be unrealistic given how poor they have looked at times.
Still, they are only 3.5 games back of the 8th seed in the East and they have one of the league best scorers. Their troubles on the interior have doomed their defense from day one, with Amare Stoudemire being their go to center at this point thanks to Tyson Chandler’s dissolving into the abyss.
It’s unlikely that they have the pieces to locate a formidable center capable of coming in and helping them right now. Brandon Davies, Jason Maxiell and Cole Aldrich are names that could enhance that area of their roster.
But the Knicks have a better chance to do something right now if they can go out and get another guard/shooter to play alongside Anthony. They are rumored to be in the market for a point guard, with Jeff Teague of Atlanta being the name thrown around the most recently.
They could also target Eric Gordon, the New Orleans shooting guard who has had a nice bounce back season after having dealt with injury shortened campaigns in the previous two years.
Gordon would cost quite a bit given his upside and youth, and so they should also take a look at Kyle Lowry. Lowry is a no nonsense pit bull at the forefront of any defense. He is both athletic and quick enough to push the ball in transition and he would provide a veteran presence to log minutes at the point.
New York likely isn’t going anywhere, but the Raymond Felton era is likely over in NYC and this team needs to at least attempt to enhance its roster going into next season. It might call for moving Anthony, but I don’t see New York’s management team seriously considering that given the fans’ desire for a winner right now.
San Antonio Spurs
The recent news regarding Tony Parker is both mysterious and potentially indicative of how old this Spurs team is in general. Still, they are only four games back of Oklahoma City and in prime position to make a deep playoff run.
The length of that run will depend on Parker’s health. He proved in the playoffs last season that he is a bona fide MVP candidate and the essential trigger man of this team now that Tim Duncan is so advanced in age.
It’s likely that the Spurs will sit back and do nothing given the fact they have both Cory Joseph and Patty Mills on their roster. Both guys are legitimate NBA players and should combine to be effective enough in the midst of Parker’s absence.
But you do have to wonder if they feel the need to shore up this roster elsewhere. Jeff Ayres has been a major project at the center position and Tiago Splitter has been dealing with shin contusion which could limit him down the stretch of this season.
Some of the interior options listed above could work out well for San Antonio as they probably do not have the pieces to land a guy like Kosta Koufas from Memphis. Festus Ezeli is another interesting name, but I’m not sure Golden State would really wish to part with him given what he can do for their already stacked offensive club.
Portland Trailblazers
Speaking of teams looking to make a run, Portland has cooled off a bit from its incredible play in the first half of the year, but they are still sitting in the five spot out West. They are technically tied for third, however, with both Houston and the Clippers. Beating out either and or both of those clubs might just require them to add another rotation member.
Robin Lopez has struggled at times when matched against elite Western Conference competition, and Meyers Leonard is a bit too young to count on for an extended playoff run at this moment.
I’d personally like to see them use Thomas Robinson a bit more and go small depending on match-up, but many feel as if the true answer for them is to find another center option to provide depth.
It’s probably their most likely course of action given the depth they have at 1-4. Omer Asik has been a name tossed around by many. The fact that Portland could offer a piece such as Wesley Mathews to compensate for moving Asik would undoubtedly tempt Houston, but I just don’t see them wanting to move Asik to another Western Conference competitor.
I’m not sure that Detroit is interested in moving Andre Drummond right now, but it would be an interesting possibility given their own internal need for guard play. The Brandon Jennings experiment has not worked out thus far and grabbing a guy like Mathews could go a long way in the rebuilding process.
Also, don’t rule out the potential for Dallas to get involved on this front. They have two centers whom could both be appealing to the Trailblazers in different ways. DeJuan Blair and Samuel Dalembert could each give this team a spark down low and they could come with a price tag that is cheaper than what a guy like Asik could cost.
Memphis Grizzlies
After several strong seasons, Memphis currently finds itself one game outside of the Western Conference playoff picture. Getting back to the second season will require some maneuvering in the trade market, however, as this team has the pieces to make some interesting moves.
Tayshaun Prince and Nick Calathes have provided quality production for this team and Mike Conley returned to the lineup Tuesday against New York to offer a major spark. Calathes is the kind of combo guard who will contribute for as long as he is offered opportunities, particularly on the offensive end.
But, with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph manning the low block area, Kosta Koufas and Ed Davis remain potential trade targets for other teams. Parting with Koufas could prove extremely difficult, but Davis is the sort of player with enough upside to force teams to take a closer look.
Additionally, given the production of Mike Miller at the small forward spot, they could move Prince and Davis together and possibly bring in another asset. Grabbing a true shooting guard to play alongside Conley would minimize Calathes’ minutes, but it would make this lineup in total far more formidable.
Leandro Barbosa is currently residing on the Suns’ bench, and he would come at a very cheap price. Barbosa’s overall effectiveness has declined significantly in recent seasons, but his offense-first mindset could mesh well with Conley in transition opportunities and provide this team an up tempo alternative off the bench.
Moving Prince for Barbosa could work for the Grizzlies as they would be able to move the roughly $15M remaining on Prince’s contract while bringing on a cheap alternative. The Sun could be interested in a piece like Prince as he has the veteran hand that could enable them to shake things up in the playoffs should they get there.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are a major discussion topic when it comes to trade potential and why not? They are miraculously 29-24 and sitting in position for the third spot in the East playoffs thanks to the fact that they are in a terrible division.
Most teams in such position would;t think about changing what has worked so far this year. But, given the fact that Kyle Lowry is in the last year of a 4 year, $23.5M contract, it could be like that they do indeed move him as he is a coveted asset for a variety of contenders.
A strong playoff push with Lowry running the show is something that could send him to a massive payday as he plays the most important of positions. Additionally, the Raptors wouldn’t be totally uncomfortable in going with Greivis Vasquez at the point as he has been a serviceable asset thus far in his career.
The Raptors have four small forwards and not nearly enough size down low. A package that includes Lowry and Austin Daye could bring in a reasonable enough haul.
I highly doubt the Rockets would go for just those two guys if they were to move Asik, nor do I believe the Raptors have the financial ability or courage to deal with Asik’s $15M cap number in 2014-2015 and then attempt to resign him at some point prior to the 2014 season starting.
Still, the Rockets could use a bona fide point guard in attempting to make a serious push this year. If they want to beat Oklahoma City, adding a guy like Lowry could go a long way toward that happening. However, the idea that they could pay Lowry given the fact that Jeremy Lin is set to earn nearly $15M in 2014 makes it an unlikely scenario from a financial perspective.
Phoenix, however, does come to mind as a potential target if Lowry is indeed moved. The Suns don’t have a legitimate point guard and the presence of Lowry long term could make Goran Dragic even more effective and versatile.
Phoenix could offer young center Alex Len and Channing Frye, although I’m not entirely positive that haul would be worth it for toronto to move Lowry. The problem with the Suns is that they lack pieces right now, but if they want to try and bring Lowry on board (and they can convince Toronto that they have little hope of signing him), anything is possible.
