As the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline approaches, trade rumors are picking up, as they always do at this time of the season. Here are some players that could be packing their bags and some destinations which would be ideal for both sides.
Montrezl Harrell - Dallas Mavericks
With superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis sidelined with ankle and calf injuries, respectively, for the foreseeable future, the Lakers could tumble down the Western Conference standings really fast. Montrezl Harrell has been rumored to be in trade talks, as the Lakers need a viable scorer to keep them afloat until their superstars return.
The Dallas Mavericks are in need of a dominant big man, who can consistently rebound and defend at a high level, while also producing on the offensive end. Montrezl Harrell is exactly that. Kristaps Porzingis has been very underwhelming this season, and is a defensive liability. Luka Doncic could use some support on the offensive end, which Harrell would give him, and his defense and energy would greatly help the team, as they are 14th in the league in points allowed. Although Luka and Montrezl have had their differences in the past (questionable trash-talking by Harrell to Doncic in the bubble), they have resolved them, and their playstyles would compliment each other well.
Jerami Grant - Memphis Grizzlies
Jerami Grant’s breakout season has been absolutely eye-popping, as he is averaging a career high in points and assists, as well as field goals attempted and made per game. The reason for this is the Piston’s lack of offensive talent. Grant has proved that he is a versatile scorer as he can score at all 3 levels. With no bright future in Detroit, teams could make a move for the 6’8 star, specifically, the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies have nearly all the tools to make them a serious threat in the Western Conference, except a reliable scorer. Grant provides exactly that, as his 35% three point shooting and 43% overall field goal shooting have shown that he can be an elite scorer. Combined with Ja Morant, Dillon Brooks, and Jonas Valanciunas, Jerami Grant could provide a huge spark needed for a team looking to squeeze into the playoffs. Grant’s defense could also make an already skilled defensive team an elite one, making them a contender for the future.
Victor Oladipo - Atlanta Hawks
Victor Oladipo has made it clear that he wants to be traded, and although he has always wanted to play for the Miami Heat, I think his style of play won’t fit there. Oladipo is similar to Jerami Grant, a great offensive player who is disciplined on the defensive side of the ball. Injuries are the only thing that has held Oladipo back the last 3 years, and he has shown that while he is playing, he can still be a threat, averaging 21.2 points and 1.2 steals per game.
The Atlanta Hawks could use Oladipo’s defensive intensity, as well as regulate Trae Young’s usage. Up to this point, it has been made clear that Trae Young is not a very good defender. Oladipo can help relieve some of the pressure on defense by guarding the opposing team’s top guard, allowing Young to spend more of his energy on offense. Combined with Capela, Oladipo could bring a skillset that could make Atlanta a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference.
Lonzo Ball - Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have had massive consistency issues this whole season, with extremely inconsistent play from their bench as well as their starting wings, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre. With star Klay Thompson returning to the team from injury next season, the Warriors have to plan for contention this year, as well as how the team would fit with the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. The Warriors clearly need to replace one of their starting wings, and with Kelly Oubre’s contract expiring at the end of this season, he looks like the player to deal.
Lonzo Ball is the perfect answer to the Warriors’ issues. He’s averaging career highs in points, FG%, and FT%, along with his great playmaking and defensive abilities. He’s a combo guard who can do it all, and is a much improved shooter, which was a massive question about his game that he has answered this season. The Warriors are dead last in the league in rebounds allowed per game, and are 21st in points allowed. Lonzo is a big guard who is great at defense and rebounding. His playmaking ability is much better than Kelly Oubre’s (who he would presumably replace), which would open up the offense a lot more by letting Steph Curry get more open looks off the ball. His shooting ability can’t be overlooked, either, as he is 38.5% from 3-point range this year, which would also help spread the floor, for guys like Draymond Green to find him. Lonzo running the floor with Steph and Klay on the wings next year would be extremely effective and fun to watch.
Kelly Oubre - New Orleans Pelicans
As stated before, the Warriors have been extremely inconsistent, and although Oubre has picked up his game significantly since his historically horrendous start, he hasn’t been the best fit on the team. He is a great wing defender who can rise over anybody at the rim, and has decent scoring abilities, which is the prototype wing player that many teams need, including the New Orleans Pelicans.
This would work well for both sides, as the Warriors could use Oubre and other assets to trade for Ball. After a slow start to the season, Oubre has picked it up lately, shooting 43% from 3 in the month of February. His defense has been very reliable, and his energy on both sides of the ball brings a lot to a team. The Pelicans, ranking 25th in the league in points allowed, desperately need to improve defensively, especially on the wings, and Oubre would do just that. He would also contribute well on the offensive side, as he would complement Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram very well, while matching the high-flying energy of the young team.
John Collins - Charlotte Hornets
The Atlanta Hawks have a plethora of forwards on their roster, so a John Collins trade shouldn’t surprise anyone, even though his play has been great this season. Collins is a 6’9, high-flying power forward who is averaging 18.3 points per game this year while shooting 37.4% from 3. This type of versatile big man is exactly what teams need in today’s fast-paced game, one who can both stretch and run the floor.
Likely Rookie of the Year Lamelo Ball recently went down with a fractured wrist, which will hold him out for the rest of this season. However, the Hornets do not have a reliable big man on their roster, as they have Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo, both of whom cannot stretch or run the floor very well. With the Hornets young team and their fast-paced offense led by Lamelo, an athletic, shooting big man would benefit the team greatly, and the connection of Lamelo and John Collins will be must-see T.V. for years to come.
Kristaps Porzingis - Boston Celtics
The Kristaps Porzingis trade talks have been going on for a while, and since he has not been able to return to his superstar form after injury, the Mavs might have to look elsewhere to get a star big man for Luka. Without much athleticism and speed in his game, Porzingis has resorted to shooting more threes, as he averaged 7 threes attempted per game last season and 6 threes per game this season. However, he is still a reliable scoring threat on the inside, which the Boston Celtics could use.
The Celtics pretty much have every position locked up, except for the center position. Acquiring Porzingis would be a major boost to their team and could help them get into the Conference Finals once again. With no reliable center, teams have been attacking Daniel Theis and Tristan Thompson. Although Porzingis isn’t known for his defense, his offensive ability makes up for this downside. Theis and Thompson are not able to provide numbers like Porzingis, and Porzingis could thrive in Boston with multiple superstars around him. The Celtics have many trade assets after acquiring so many first rounders over the past few years, as well as key role players that they could trade for Porzingis.
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