Four bold NBA trade deadline predictions with Dubs surprise
The time to make a deal is running out.The March 25 NBA trade deadline is less than 72 hours away and the rumors are flying fast and furious. Aaron Gordon reportedly has requested a trade from the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks are trying to deal John Collins, the Miami Heat want to take a swing, the Boston Celtics needs help and the Warriors have to determine what's the best course of action to help the 2020-21 team while also improving their chances to truly contend for a title next season.Can the Houston Rockets move Victor Oladipo? What does the future hold for the Kings and Marvin Bagley? Will Lonzo Ball be changing addresses in the next few days? Can the Warriors get Steph Curry any help?Here are four bold predictions as the NBA trade deadline nears.
Celtics get: John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Tony Snell
Hawks get: Marcus Smart, Tristan Thompson, Aaron Nesmith, 2021 first-round pick
Danny Ainge has been so close to making a deal over the last six seasons, but he never has been able to seal the deal. With the Celtics floundering, he can't afford to miss another opportunity to improve his team and Collins would be a huge boost to the C's frontcourt, which is in need of a facelift.
The Hawks reportedly have been interested in Marcus Smart, who would be a good defensive fit next to Trae Young, but have to add salary in order to acquire Smart's contract due to their cap status. Putting Bogdanovic ($18 million) in the deal gives the C's another wing scorer they've been looking for and gets the Hawks out from under the four-year contract they signed Bogdanovic to this summer.
The Celtics throw in Nesmith, who has been underwhelming in his rookie season, Thompson and a first-round pick and take back Snell, a veteran defender, hoping the change gives the C's the boost they need to get back into the thick of the Eastern Conference race.
Nuggets get: Aaron Gordon
Magic get: Will Barton, Bol Bol, future first-round pick
With the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers ailing, the Denver Nuggets decide this is the perfect time to strike, so they add 25-year-old explosive forward Aaron Gordon to pair with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
The Magic reportedly want either multiple first-round picks or a young player and a first for Gordon. Denver won't want to give up Bol Bol, a promising but raw player, but believing their window is now they agree to pay the price to get a player they believe helps put them over the top.
Kings get: Malik Monk, Vernon Carey Jr., 2022 protected first-round pick
Hornets get: Marvin Bagley Jr.
The Kings and Bagley would like a break from each other. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft needs a fresh start and the Kings need to get something for him while he has some value.
With LaMelo Ball going down for the season, the Hornets shift their focus a touch and trade Malik Monk, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, along with rookie Vernon Carey Jr. and a lottery-protected first-round pick in 2022 for Bagley, believing he and Ball, when healthy, could be the start of something special.
The Kings get both a good young wing in Monk and a first-round pick, which is the best they can hope in exchange for the oft-injured Bagley.
Warriors get: Lonzo Ball, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr., 2023 protected first-round pick
With the Warriors continuing to float at the .500 mark, they decide to make a deal for the future, believing that having Lonzo Ball come off the bench and run the second unit gives them a better chance to contend in 2021-22 than paying to keep Oubre.
Oubre has been better over the past six weeks, but his expected $20-25 million AAV has the Warriors sniffing around for a trade partner. Ball is averaging 14.2 points and 5.6 assists per game while shooting a respectable 38.5 percent from 3-point range this season. Ball's game would fit nicely in Steve Kerr's system, and his length would give the Warriors a solid wing defender to fill the void left by Oubre's exit.
The Pelicans reportedly want a young player and a first-round pick for Ball. The Warriors agree to throw in a heavily protected 2023 first if the Pelicans include the young and underused Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who has the potential to develop into a good NBA wing in the right system.
