Although this offseason may be the shortest in NBA history; with the draft only two weeks away, free agency set to begin shortly after that, and the start of next season only a month and a half away, there still promises to be several big moves in the trade and free agency market that may shift the balance of the league. Here is one trade target or free agent signing that each NBA team should make this offseason:
Atlanta Hawks
With Jeff Teague set to enter free agency, the Hawks will be in the market for a backup PG to Trae Young. The 26 year old Kris Dunn might be the perfect fit. Dunn can be brought in with a relatively cheap contract and can serve as a great defensive spark off the bench, as well as manage the ball-handling duties without Trae Young on the floor.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have established themselves as a perennial powerhouse in the Eastern Conference over the past few seasons, including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2020 Playoffs. The team’s biggest issue has been the lack of an elite inside presence, which was part of what allowed for Bam Adebayo to have the best series of his career in the Eastern Conference Finals, averaging 21.8 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. Rudy Gobert, the 2-time Defensive Player of the Year, would provide a way for Boston to neutralize any inside threat of opposing teams.
Proposed Trade:
Jazz receive: Gordon Hayward, Daniel Theis, No. 14 pick (via MEM)
Celtics receive: Rudy Gobert, Tony Bradley, Georges Niang
Brooklyn Nets
A trade involving Jrue Holiday to the Brooklyn has been rumored since the trade deadline in February, but this offseason might be the time for the Nets to pull the trigger. Holiday would form a “Big 3” with the return of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving that would surely establish the Nets as a contender and possible favorite to compete for a title.
Proposed trade:
Nets receive: Jrue Holiday
Pelicans receive: Caris Levert, Spencer Dinwiddie
Charlotte Hornets
While this signing may not tip the scale in terms of setting the Hornets up for playoff contention, Hassan Whiteside would give Charlotte a rebounding, rim-protecting big man that can pair nicely with Devonte’ Graham.
Chicago Bulls
This free agent signing has D.J. Augustin returning to Chicago, where he played in 2013-2014. Augustin would give the Bulls a ball-handler to pair with Zach Lavine in the backcourt. His veteran presence and ability to create can take some of the load off Lavine, as well as provide a mentor for Coby White.
Cleveland Cavaliers
With the Cavaliers far from contention and in a rebuild, they should look to move off of the “bad” contracts they possess and obtain draft picks or future assets. These two moves have Cleveland trading bad contract for bad contract with Oklahoma City, while obtaining two draft picks, and two young players from Phoenix.
Proposed trades:
Cleveland receives: Chris Paul, 2020 first round pick (via DEN)
Oklahoma City receives: Andre Drummond, Dante Exum, Kevin Porter Jr.
Cleveland receives: Kelly Oubre Jr., Cameron Johnson
Phoenix receives: Kevin Love
Dallas Mavericks
This trade provides Dallas with a secondary playmaker that can form a backcourt duo with Luka Doncic. Dennis Schroder is coming off of a career year where he averages 18.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds and was a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. This trade also gives the Mavericks an opportunity to pursue a major free agent next offseason, as Schroder will hit free agency following this season.
Proposed trade:
Dallas receives: Dennis Schroder
Oklahoma City receives: Delon Wright, Dorian Finney-Smith
Denver Nuggets
With the Nuggets coming off a trip to the Western Conference Finals, they seem to be one piece away from getting over the competitive hump. Bradley Beal would certainly push them into serious title contention with a “Big 3” of Beal, Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray.
Proposed trade:
Denver receives: Bradley Beal
Washington receives: Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr., Vlatko Cancar
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons trade goal should be to get rid Blake Griffin’s contract, although this trade has them trading for another bad contract in Al Horford, he can provide the young team with veteran leadership and they receive a young player as well as a first round draft pick.
Proposed trade:
Detroit receives: Al Horford, Zhaire Smith, 2021 first round pick
Philadelphia receives: Blake Griffin
Golden State Warriors
With several key players set to return from injury next season, the Warriors look poised to reestablish themselves as title contenders. Seemingly the only weakness for Golden State is a lack of inside presence. Dwight Howard is coming off an excellent season off the bench for the Lakers in which he averaged 7.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.
Houston Rockets
With Daryl Morey and Mike D’Antoni out of the Rockets organization it seems that the “small-ball” experiment may be over. Myles Turner would give Houston an inside presence, as well as a big man who can stretch the floor.
Proposed trade:
Houston receives: Myles Turner
Indiana receives: Eric Gordon, 2021 second round pick (via PHI)
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers biggest need this offseason is wing shooting, which they can get in a swap with Brooklyn for Joe Harris. The 2019 3-Point Shooting Contest winner averaged 14.5 points last season shooting 48.6% from the field and 42.4% from beyond the arc. His elite shooting is something that the Pacers could utilize, especially with the emergence of TJ Warren in the bubble.
Proposed trade:
Indiana receives: Joe Harris
Brooklyn receives: Myles Turner
Los Angeles Clippers
With the Clippers coming off a disappointing end to the 2019-2020 season, they have many important decisions to make this offseason. One of the issues that can be addressed is the point guard position. Goran Dragic would give Los Angeles a primary ball-handler and shot-creator to pair with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are looking to repeat as champions and one aspect of the game that they at times seemed to lack during their postseason run was shooting on the perimeter. Danilo Gallinari would give Los Angeles that shooting, as he is coming off a year where he averaged 18.9 points shooting 40.5% on an average of 7.1 three pointers a game.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies young core of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks, and Brandon Clarke looks like they can go far, and with the aging Jonas Valanciunas on the books, they can make a swap with Brooklyn for Taurean Prince to increase their wing depth.
Proposed trade:
Memphis receives: Taurean Prince
Brooklyn receives: Jonas Valanciunas
Miami Heat
This blockbuster trade would cement Miami as a title favorite for several seasons, while it is a steep price to pay. The Heat should be willing to make this trade for the 2-time MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year. A powerhouse formed with Giannis and Jimmy Butler would surely make the Heat a favorite to win the Finals.
Proposed trade:
Miami receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee receives: Bam Adebayo, Kelly Olynyk, Andre Iguodala, 2020 first round pick
Milwaukee Bucks
If the Bucks hope to retain Giannis Antetokounmpo, they need to create a more promising roster around him. One piece to this puzzle should be outside shooting, which is a role than can be filled perfectly by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who averaged a career high 15.1 points shooting 37.2% from 3 point range.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves were fortunate to receive the No. 1 pick in this years upcoming draft, but their best option may be to trade down in the draft. This trade moves Minnesota down two spots to No. 3, still giving them an opportunity to draft one of the top players in this years class, but also adding a young player to their roster that gives them wing depth.
Proposed trade:
Minnesota receives: 2020 No. 3 pick
Charlotte receives: 2020 No. 1 pick, Miles Bridges
New Orleans Pelicans
With Derrick Favors set to hit free agency, the Pelicans will be in the market for a big man that can fill in while Zion Williamson and Jaxson Hayes grow into their roles. Mason Plumlee provides a quality inside presence who can also pass the ball.
New York Knicks
The Knicks should look for an outside shooter this offseason and one of the premiere targets is Davis Bertans. He had a career year last season with the Washington Wizards averaging 15.4 points on 43.4% shooting from the field and 42.4% from three point range. Davis was one of the best three point shooters in the league this past season and could be part of New York’s rebuild.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The 2019-2020 season couldn’t have gone any better for the Thunder, they far exceeded expectations and set themselves up for an interesting offseason. With the 76ers potentially looking to shake things up, Oklahoma City should attempt to trade for Ben Simmons. Being able to pair Simmons with Shai-Gilgeous Alexander would create arguably the best defensive backcourt in the league.
Proposed trade:
Oklahoma City receives: Ben Simmons, Zhaire Smith
Philadelphia receives: Chris Paul, 2020 first round pick (via DEN), 2021 first round pick
Orlando Magic
The Magic have an excess of frontcourt players with Nikola Vucevic, Mo Bamba, and Jonathan Isaac all getting important minutes Orlando should look to free up their roster. Aaron Gordon is the odd man out in this scenario, where he is traded to Phoenix and the Magic get a young win player with plenty of potential in return.
Proposed trade:
Orlando receives: Kelly Oubre Jr.
Phoenix receives: Aaron Gordon, 2020 second round pick
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid has been unable to get them past the second round of the playoffs and it seems like it might be time to break it up. This trade has Philadelphia sending Simmons to New Orleans in return for a trade centered around Lonzo Ball and the Pelicans lottery draft pick.
Proposed trade:
Philadelphia receives: Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, JJ Redick, 2020 first round pick
New Orleans receives: Ben Simmons
Phoenix Suns
The Suns were 20th last season in opponents points per game allowed, averaging 113.4 points per game. Phoenix lacks an elite defender that can guard multiple positions, which they can get in free agent Jerami Grant. In the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, Grant proved his worth as a premiere defender.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been seemingly one or two pieces away from contending for a title for the past few seasons. With their elite scoring backcourt and quality frontcourt duo of Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins set to return fully from injury next season, the only hole in their roster is on the wing. T.J. Warren proved to the whole league in the bubble that he can score the ball and he may be the answer for the Blazers.
Proposed trade:
Portland receives: T.J. Warren, T.J. McConnell
Indiana receives: Trevor Ariza, 2020 first round pick
Sacramento Kings
A trade centered around Buddy Hield, who the Kings may be forced to trade if they hope to keep Bogdan Bogdanovic, for Gordon Hayward would give the Kings a more dynamic offense with Hayward’s ability to create off the dribble. This trade would give Sacramento the ability to retain Bogdanovic and provide offensive versatility alongside Bogdanovic and De’Aaron Fox.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio missed the playoffs last season for the first time in 22 years and look to be moving towards a rebuild. A potential trade that swaps DeMar DeRozan for a younger Aaron Gordon. This trade would allow Gordon to continue to develop under one of the greatest coaches of all time and pushes the Spurs towards a younger roster.
Proposed trade:
San Antonio receives: Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba
Orlando receives: DeMar DeRozan, 2020 second round pick
Toronto Raptors
One of the Raptors main priorities this offseason should be resigning Fred VanVleet. He has proved to be one of the elite point guards in the league that can handle the ball, create for his teammates, and defend on the perimeter.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz have a dynamic duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, their lack of a true power forward has led them to use a smaller player at the position. Kevin Love can fill that hole for Utah as a player that can rebound the ball and stretch the floor.
Proposed trade:
Utah receives: Kevin Love
Cleveland receives: Mike Conley, 2021 second round pick (via GSW)
Washington Wizards
The Wizards had one of the worst defenses in NBA history last season, they had a defensive rating of 116.16, the worst in the league, and gave up an average of 119.1 points per game. An important offseason move for Washington should be obtaining any defensive talent they can get, and Aron Baynes fits the bill. He can supply an inside presence and serve as rim protector.
All stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference, and ESPN.com.
