NBA Trade Rumors: 5 NBA Teams That Should Consider Making a Trade Before Deadline
It's already December, and the 2014-15 NBA season is more than one month complete. By now, most teams can pretty much indicate their teams needs and just about how good they are, or aren't.
Here are five teams who should make a trade before this year's deadline.
1. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks are bad, really bad. Despite having Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and an entirely new managerial staff, the Knicks are just 4-14. It's obviously not all Anthony's fault, but the Knicks haven't won much of anything with him. Trading away Anthony, Iman Shumpert, JR Smith or Stoudemire could be the first piece of rebuilding for the Knicks. Why keep so many talented players when you have no chance at winning in the postseason anyway? Rebuilding, getting draft picks and saving money for the future may be the best option for the Knicks going forward.
2. Chicago Bulls
It's time to stop depending on Derrick Rose's health. Rose has played just 58 regular season games since the 2011-12 NBA season. To make matters worse, Taj Gibson is hurt. With Joakim Noah currently leading the Chicago Bulls in assists with 61, 20 more than Rose, it's time to start making moves for the post-Rose era. Could the Bulls make a deal with the Knicks for Jose Calderon or even the Los Angeles Lakers for Jeremy Lin? At this point, the Bulls should explore all options for the future. With a reliable point guard who can stay healthy, the Bulls would be a much bigger threat in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
3. Boston Celtics
Trade rumors have been swirling around point guard Rajon Rondo over the last year and a half. With the 28-year-old point guard back and healthy, his trade value won't get any higher than it is right now. Rondo is averaging 10.5 assists per game this season, but the Boston Celtics are just 4-10, good enough for third place in the Atlantic division. The Celtics aren't going anywhere any time soon, so getting huge value in return for a top-tier point guard would be very rewarding. If the Celtics can trade away Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, they can certainly trade away Rondo.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves
Without Kevin Love on the team, the Minnesota Timberwolves have gone from below average to really bad. The Timberwolves are just 4-11 this season, and the future doesn't look bright. Spain-born point guard Ricky Rubio is out for at least another month with an ankle injury, but Mo Williams has been filling in. The Timberwolves need to find a temporary replacement for Rubio, or think about trading him away and getting some defensive help. The Timberwolves rank 31st overall in team defense this season.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have so many issues that it's tough to focus on just one. Kobe Bryant leads the league in scoring, but it's coming at a cost because of his huge contract and so many missed shots. Carlos Boozer and the Lakers defensive unit rank dead last in points allowed this season. Adding a forward like Stoudemire or Serge Ibaka could help the Lakers front court. Not only should the Lakers add defensive players, but they may want to trade away some players like Jordan Hill to relieve salary cap space.
The NBA trade deadline is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, at 3 p.m. EST.
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