What Trades need to be made? And where too?

The NBA trade deadline is just a week from today and it could seem that there are some big names being dangled to entice the contenders to try to make a move to put themselves over the top. Who are these names? And what could we see happen?

Reggie Jackson

This explosive back up point guard has been on the block for almost the entire year but we have not a single trade rumor involving him. What gives? Even when the Thunder entered talks about bringing in Brooke Lopez Reggie's name was no where to be found in the talks. Well I think it is clear the Thunder are looking at Reggie one of two ways. They either believe they can match any offer sheet he receives in the off season as a restricted free agent or that they can't get his value back in return. This could be Jackson's fault, he is having a down year compared to last season when it looked like his game to an entirely new level. Reggie Jackson critics say it is because he has been 'pouting' on the bench, especially since the bringing in of Dion Waiters. His value to the Thunder is a starting point guard and they seem to not be bumping off of that price range. They clearly are wanting value in return for Jackson so what teams could look at bringing in the troubled Thunder guard? Teams that make sense are teams like the Kings, Lakers and New York. 

If I was a Thunder fan I would be praying for the Kings. They walk into the room with cap room to sign Jackson long term and viable option of trading Darren Collision with a pick back to the Thunder. It is clear the Kings are in need of a point guard and signing Collison this off season  didn't work out. Collison did show though in LA with the Clippers that he can be a terrifying backup. He would slip right into Reggie's old role and be a long term solution. Plus, the Thunder would get a pick in the top 15. We all know how much the Thunder front office loves picks. 

Brooke Lopez

This guy I swear has had been rumored to be going to every single team in the NBA at one point. making 16 million dollars this year plus a 17 million dollar player option next season Lopez could be seen as one of the hardest players to move just because of his insane salary number. He however has shown that when healthy, which is rare, he is dominant on both ends. His offensive post game is almost artsy to watch and he can plug up the paint on the defensive end. Where does he fit though? teams looking for a big man are almost everyone in the league. He was apparently almost traded to OKC at one point but I think that would of been a terrible trade for the Thunder but thats a conversation for another day. 

Lopez looks to me like a match made in heaven for... no one. I mean really... no one. Lopez's insane salary and injury problems can just make you cringe if rumor catches word he's going to your team. If I was going to put trade him though lets send him the Lakers. And I'm not kidding, Lakers are in a rebuilding model and are one of the few teams that could take him monster contract the next two years and see if he pans out. They have nothing really to offer except a bunch of expiring deals, which cap space wouldn't be seen as a problem by the Nets. He would be a gamble for Laker nation but he could be the next big Laker big man to have a team built around.  

Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins. Man. Thunder fans have just been hating on this guy begging for him to be traded... well you might get your wish. Perkins is making 8 million dollars a year on a expiring deal. Which is the key to all this. Rebuilding teams love those expiring deals. Well Kendrick Perkins could help a team unload some dollars and speed up their process. Teams interested in Thunder Center is pretty low however. There is one team that however could take him. 

Denver. Hear me out though. This summer the Nuggets made a move to get swing man Aaron Afflalo. The Denver Nuggets however have only regressed this season and look to be rebuilding now. Moving Afflalo for future draft picks could be a sound move for the rebuilding Nuggets. The Thunder would lose their minds to land a defensive first swing man who can shoot the corner 3. They would have to send Andre Roberson with him but the Thunder would finally have their starting 2 guard.  

Derron Williams

The Nets are having a fire sale if you can't tell. Next up on the list in the former best point guard in the league. Now he is the backup point guard to Jarrett Jack. Derron Williams still though should have a few good years under his belt and could really propel a paper over the top. Teams looking for a point guard are the same list that Reggie Jackson is looking at but unlike Jackson going to a long term planned team. Williams is only expected to produce for a couple of years and maybe lead them to a championship. Who are these teams?

Send him to Houston. The Rockets are what seems like a good point guard away from winning a championship. Well Derron Williams should be able to fill that role and moving Patrick Beverly would be a cheap option for the Nets. Beverly is in his last year of his deal and that would essentially free up the money for the Nets. Derron Williams next to James Harden, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza and Josh Smith would honestly be terrifying.







Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson might be the single most hard to understand man on this list. The guy has attitude issues and apparently a locker room cancer. Did the Hornets really think when they brought in the troubled Stephenson as the face of their franchise that he wouldn't struggle? It isn't even a full year into this newly formed relationship and the team is already looking at moving in a new direction. I think that Stephenson is super talented and is one of the most complete swing men in the league. The guy when he wants too, which is rare since being in Charlotte, can shut down just about anyone on the defensive end. He has is a great ball handler in the pick and roll game and has shown great ability with passing to the big men. I mean he led the NBA in triple doubles last year, the guy has skill. With concerns on where Stephenson could land the question is less about who needs a guard but more about who could actually make him straighten up.

That list is short. Real. Short. You need a strong locker room with proven stars. You need a role that he would fit well in and you need to be a contender. Well I got you two names. Thunder. Clippers. Both teams in the west that would be in love with Stephenson's skill set, maybe not his antics.

As we discussed earlier the Thunder need a starting 2 guard that can first play defense well and shoot the 3. Check and check. You need someone who can run the pick and roll and utilize the backup front court of Collison and McGary. Check. Finally they need someone who can change a game with out taking shots. Check. Now, the Thunder would never gamble on anyone like Stephenson but as far as who he is as a player there really isn't much of a better fit.

The Clippers have been known to take gambles on low moral character guys before like Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford. Before arriving in LA both were seen as locker room issues but since have been nothing but hard working championship chasing angels. Lance Stephenson from a basketball stand point doesn't make AS much sense as OKC. I however kind of water at the mouth of thinking having him run a pick and roll with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. The combination of him and Chris Paul on the defensive end would be terrifying for opposing ball handlers. Obviously something would need to be done about rotation with Reddick but nothing is out of the question for the Clippers.



Now obviously none of these may happen or some of these aren't even being talked about. I'm just talking about best case scenario for the team and the player. Wouldn't the NBA playoffs be a lot scarier if these happened though?