The NBA Draft is right around the corner. Every NBA team is working out prospects to see if they fit the style of play they are looking for. Disgruntled players want out of their current city and there are a handful of teams looking to rebuild. Expect plenty of trades come draft day. The 2015 NBA Draft starts Thursday, June 25th, 2015. Lets see who could be moved on draft day.
Trade #1
Sacramento Kings acquire two Celtics 2015 first-round picks (16th and 28th overall), and Celtics 2015 second-round pick (33rd overall).
#16 Kings select: PG Jerian Grant, Notre Dame
#28 Kings select: PF Christian Wood, UNLV
#33 Kings select: PF Cliff Alexander, Kansas
Boston Celtics receive 2015 first round draft pick (6th overall).
#6 Celtics select: C Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
Why this makes sense for the Kings:
The Kings are slowly putting together young talent to put together a contending team. With the #6 pick in the draft, the Kings can add more talent. If the Kings trade back they can add depth to a team that lacks a bench. The three prospects listed above would team up with Darren Collison, Ben McLemore, Rudy Gay, Nik Stauskas, and DeMarcus Cousins. I believe the best prospect outside the top 4 is Cauley-Stein. Cauley Stein and Cousins are two pure centers who need to be the five. Jerian Grant gives them a reliable backup point guard who can compete for the starting job. Christian Wood gives them a three point shooting big man and Cliff Alexander adds size down low. With the depth in this draft class, the Kings can wait to find talent.
Why this makes sense for the Celtics:
The Boston Celtics are in a prime position to make a big move at the NBA Draft. They are loaded with picks in this draft with plenty in the future. Willie Cauley-Stein has been on Danny Ainge’s radar for a while and there is a 0% chance he falls to #16. Cauley-Stein is the best defensive prospect in the draft and the Celtics took last years in Marcus Smart. Cauley-Stein is a rebounding machine and a rim protector, the two things the Celtics are looking for. Since they have so many picks in the future, they can risk trading away multiple picks to move up in the draft. The Celtics are a few moves away from contending and Cauley-Stein would speed up the process.
Trade #2
The Denver Nuggets acquire Kings 2016 1st-round pick, PG Darren Collison, SG Nik Stauskas.
The Sacramento Kings receive PG Ty Lawson
Why this makes sense for the Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets can’t rebuild unless Lawson is gone. The first round pick is the best part of this deal. The Nuggets have the potential to have two lottery picks in next years draft because since the Western Conference is so good, there is no guarantee the Kings make the playoffs next season. Darren Collison is a clear downgrade from Ty Lawson, but Collison averaged more points per game then Lawson last season. He played less games due to injury, but Collison has no durability issues in his past seasons. Stauskas is a three point shooting prospect who has some potential but it isn’t in Sacramento. Lawson’s time in Denver are over.
Why this makes sense for the Kings
The Sacramento Kings have been one of the most irrelevant teams in the NBA in recent years. NBA Champion coach George Karl is now in charge. George Karl would be reunited with Ty Lawson who he coached successfully in Denver. Lawson averaged between 15-17 points per game throughout his career and his assist numbers have risen every season. The Kings are looking for a star point guard and the Nuggets are looking to trade a star point guard. Ty Lawson-Ben McLemore-Rudy Gay-DeMarcus Cousins is a solid group of core players. The Kings need to make disgruntled center DeMarcus Cousins happy and Lawson could do the trick. If the Kings don’t trade DeMarcus, they need to find a way to acquire another star.
Trade #3
Denver Nuggets acquire a Celtics 2016 1st-round pick, Celtics 2015 2nd-round pick (45th overall), PF Jared Sullinger, and SF Gerald Wallace.
Boston Celtics receive PF Kenneth Faried.
Why this makes sense for the Nuggets
This trade gives the Denver Nuggets another first round pick in next seasons draft. The pick most likely won’t be in the lottery, but the Celtics are still a few seasons away from being a top team in the Eastern Conference. The Nuggets would have three potential top 20 picks next year. That is how to rebuild. Jared Sullinger is a strong rebounding power forward with a three point shot. He was dealing with weight issues, but ended the season on a high note after he cut down on his weight. Sullinger is most effective at the four with a strong rebounder at the 5. The Nuggets have Jusuf Nurkik at center who can rebound. Sullinger would be finally play in his normal position. He is young and could be Nurkic’s paint partner for years to come. Gerald Wallace is involved for financial reasons. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Why this makes sense for the Celtics
Kenneth Faried is the quick power forward the Celtics are looking for this offseason. Faried is a ravenous rebounder who has been a force on the offensive glass throughout his career leading to second chance points. He is strong on the defensive end and plays bigger then his size. The Celtics struggled to rebound last season and it killed them against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. Faried would help the rebounding issues. The Celtics would need to find a center to get the most out of Faried. Faried plays his best in a fast system. He works best with players coaches which why he was successful in college and on Team USA. Brad Stevens is a players coach that puts his players in the position to win. I see Faried and Stevens as a match made in heaven. Looking to upgrade at power forward makes Jared Sullinger expendable. Sullinger has upside still even though he has to deal with weight issues. The Celtics need to find a new home for Gerald Wallace which is a nice expiring contract to rebuilding teams.
Trade #4 (Sign and trade)
Los Angeles Clippers acquire SF Terrence Ross, C Jonas Valanciunas
Toronto Raptors receive C DeAndre Jordan
Why this makes sense for the Raptors
Toronto already has Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan who have cemented themselves as NBA stars. They are looking for one more piece. That one more piece needs to be a big man and DeAndre Jordan is another NBA star who is a big man. Jordan averaged 11.5 points and 15 rebounds per game last season. 15 rebounds per game was the best rebounding rate in the NBA. He was a force on defense averaging 2.2 blocks per game. The Raptors had an efficient offense last season but a shaky defense. The offense would still be there with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Jordan would tighten up the defense and the Raptors become immediate contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Why this makes sense for the Clippers
It seems DeAndre Jordan is on his way out of Los Angeles. The Clippers will have to do a sign and trade and the Raptors are in a prime position to acquire a third star. The Clippers would receive a young winger who is an athletic freak. Ross took a step back last season because he was under a lot of pressure to score after DeMar DeRozan went down. He gives the Clippers an athletic third scoring option which they are missing. Valanciunas is an up and coming NBA center. He is not as good as DeAndre Jordan but he averaged 12 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Teams will foul the Clippers less because Valanciunas shoots 78% from the foul line. His numbers have improved every season and is poised for a breakout year next season. Both Ross and Valanciunas are cheaper combined then Jordan. This gives the Clippers more money to spend on other free agents.
Trade #5
Portland Trail Blazers acquire New York Knicks 2015 1st-round draft pick (4th overall)
New York Knicks receive Damian Lillard
#4 Trail Blazers select: PG Emmanuel Mudiay, China
Why this makes sense for the Trail Blazers
If LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopez walk, the Trail Blazers are going to be terrible next season. If the team is terrible next season, Damian Lillard will leave and sign with another team. If Lillard considers walking, the Trail Blazers need to find a way to trade him. The New York Knicks have an early draft pick with star potential throughout the top 4. Emmanuel Mudiay is projected to go fourth overall and he is a nice building block to a rebuilding team. He is a pass first point guard who makes everyone around him better. He flies up and down the court and has been compared to John Wall. Going to China and hurting his ankle is hurting his draft stock. If he stayed at SMU he could be the potential #1 pick. A jump shot would turn Mudiay into a star.
Why this makes sense for the Knicks
The Knicks are desperate to win. Last season was an embarrassment and receiving the fourth pick instead of the second made the bad season worse. Since they don’t have a top 2 pick I believe #4 is for sale. The Knicks already have Carmelo Anthony and looking for other stars to play around him. Damian Lillard is a star point guard who is a fantastic all-around basketball player. This gives the Knicks an experienced point guard moving them one step closer in the rebuilding process. The Knicks have the money to sign another productive free agent. Phil Jackson and the Knicks are sick of losing.
If all trades happened, this is what each team would acquire:
Nuggets acquire
Kings 2016 1st-round pick, Celtics 2016 1st-round pick, Celtics 2015 2nd-round pick, PG Darren Collison, SG Nik Stauskas, PF Jared Sullinger, and SF Gerald Wallace.
Celtics acquire
C Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, and PF Kenneth Faried
Kings acquire
Two Celtics 2015 first-round picks (16th and 28th overall), Celtics 2015 second-round pick (33rd overall), and PG Ty Lawson
Raptors acquire
C DeAndre Jordan
Clippers acquire
SF Terrence Ross and C Jonas Valanciunas
Portland Trail Blazers acquire
New York Knicks 2015 1st-round pick
New York Knicks acquire
PG Damian Lillard
Every team wins!
