The NBA Trade Deadline is nearly here. NBA teams have until 3 p.m. Thursday to make their moves, and the teams have cranked up their efforts with the All-Star game now over. While there are many trade rumors floating around, ESPN Insider (paid) has put together the 10 trades that they would like to see happen before the deadline. You can check out the details for each trade below.
Full disclosure, none of these deals are very likely to happen. Most are the type of crazy blockbuster on possible in NBA 2K.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics & New York Knicks
Cavs Get: Carmelo Anthony
Celtics Get: Kevin Love & Lance Thomas
Knicks Get: Jae Crowder, Nets' 1st Round Pick & David Lee
This is a true blockbuster. The Cavs end up with Melo, making for an intriguing pairing. The Celtics get Kevin Love, who they've been linked to for quite awhile. The Nets' first rounder is unprotected, meaning New York could end up pairing Kristaps Porzingis with Ben Simmons next year.
2. Toronto Raptors & Atlanta Hawks
Raptors Get: Al Horford & Kent Bazemore
Hawks Get: James Johnson, Lucas Nogueria, Patrick Patterson & 1st Round Pick
The Raptors move here is simple; adding Horford might be the piece that gives them a chance to make the NBA Finals. This would be a mini-reset for the Hawks, and that first round pick would be the lesser of either the Nuggets or Knicks.
3. Houston Rockets & Boston Celtics
Rockets Get: Isaiah Thomas, Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, David Lee & Nets' 1st Round Pick
Celtics Get: James Harden, Dwight Howard, Marcus Thorton & Jason Terry
This deal is nearly a swap of the two teams. It'd be one of the biggest blockbusters in NBA history, as the Rockets would be putting the reset button completely with this deal. That Nets' first round pick is crazy valuable, but the Celtics would walk away with Dwight Howard and James Harden in this deal.
4. New York Knicks & Los Angeles Lakers
Lakers Get: Carmelo Anthony
Knicks Get: D'Angelo Russell & Roy Hibbert
Melo would need to waive his no-trade clause, but it might work for the Lakers. Russell is talented, despite the team's decision to keep him on the bench.
5. Los Angeles Clippers & Atlanta Hawks
Clippers Get: Paul Millsap & Mike Scott
Hawks Get: Blake Griffin
This is pretty much a straight up Griffin for Millsap deal. Millsap is underrated and might be a better fit for LA than Griffin. The Hawks would get a young star that they don't really have at the moment.
6. New York Knicks & Dallas Mavericks
Knicks Get: Carmelo Anthony
Mavs Get: Chandler Parsons, Raymond Felton, Dwight Powell & Draft Picks
Yet another trade involving Melo. Parsons would fit well in New York and the Knicks need draft picks. The Knicks would also gain some cap space and the Mavs would help their playoff hopes.
7. Brooklyn Nets & Toronto Raptors
Nets Get: Patrick Patterson, Delon Wright, 1st Round Pick
Raptors Get: Thaddeus Young
Young would provide the Raptors with the upgrade at power forward they need. Both Patterson and Wright are former first rounders who could get some playing time in Brooklyn. The first rounder would (hopefully) help the Nets in their rebuild.
8. Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets & Minnesota Timberwoles
Hawks Get: Dwight Howard & Ricky Rubio
Rockets Get: Al Horford, Jeff Teague & Kyle Korver
Timberwovles Get: Patrick Beverley, KJ McDaniels & Donatas Moteijunas
Another true blockbuster deal. Howard could actually fit well in Atlanta, as would Rubio. The Rockets completely push the reset button with this deal, taking some of the Hawks' best players. The T-Wolves move on from Rubio and get a few quality players in return.
9. Utah Jazz & New Orleans Pelicans
Jazz Get: Jrue Holiday & Norris Cole
Pelicans Get: Trey Burke, Alec Burks & 2nd Round Pick
The Jazz need a point guard and Holiday makes sense as an addition. He also doesn't really block Dante Exum, because the two could find a way to play together. Burke has played better this year, while Burks could be a possible replacement for Tyreke Evans in time.
10. Phoenix Suns & Detroit Pistons
Suns Get: Brandon Jennings
Pistons Get: Markieff Morris & Jon Leuer
This deal reunites the Morris twins in Detroit. The Pistons would hope that Markieff finds his near All-Star level form by re-joining his brother. Jennings' contract expires, and there's a good chance he wouldn't re-sign with the team, but it gets the Suns out of Morris' contract.
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