Rocio Robles
While we enjoy the postseason, the rest of the league is preparing to fill the holes they might have in their teams for next season. For that reason, we bring you three possible NBA trades that could happen next season, eventually changing the landscape of the teams below in a positive way, even though several of them are currently in the playoffs. These trades will be made to solve issues that will persist regardless of where they finish in the playoffs.
Without further ado, we present the three trades that could create a postseason contender in 2023, or who knows, perhaps even a super-team.
Julius Randle to the Dallas Mavericks
If they can close out the series against the Jazz this week, Doncic will still need help on the court and especially in the paint. Randle is a native of Dallas so he could put his displeasure with playing in New York City to rest by going home and playing for a team that has one of the league’s finest passers. In this way, we could see the best version of Randle in the NBA again, and our future MVP candidate joined by a player capable of being the second star of the team without any trouble.
Jalen Brunson would be the primary bargaining chip via a Sign-&-Trade: Brunson will not discount Dallas on his contract renewal and the Knicks are one of the few teams with need and money for a point guard. In addition, Jalen’s family has good relations with the organization’s vice president of operations, Leon Rose, and this would make the negotiation much quicker for both parties. Unless they wish to extend it, it might be a pretty quick trade with no need for extra parts on both sides.
Rudy Gobert to the Charlotte Hornets
Let’s face it: the Frenchman’s contract is one of the most difficult in the NBA to trade for, and his 38 million salary (which will rise to 46 million in a few years) is too much for most teams in the league to offer for a center who, while capable offensively, is best known for his defense. However, there is one team that needs an inside guy who can cover the paint urgently: the Charlotte Hornets.
After being eliminated from the NBA playoffs for the second time in a row (and by another beating) the organization needs to make drastic adjustments. They need to keep Miles Bridges within the organization and bring in Gobert (through prospects such as P.J. Washington, James Bouknight, Kai Jones, Jalen McDaniels and many draft picks) in exchange for a couple of big contracts like Gordon Hayward and Mason Plumlee. Gobert would solve all of the Hornets’ problems in the paint by being the most impactful defender in that area in the league.
This would suggest that Utah would want to keep Donovan Mitchell as their draft’s centerpiece, which is the least likely outcome going forward, but still a possibility.
Russell Westbrook to the Indiana Pacers
Believe it or not, this has been a rumor that’s been gaining traction heading into the preseason: the Pacers would be interested in acquiring Westbrook during his final year of his contract (even if he is making 47 million currently) for the simple fact that he would would provide more salary space in the near future, as opposite to retaining players such as Malcolm Brogdon (22,6 million) or Buddy Hield (20,5 million), even Myles Turner (17.5 million). However, because of his age and due to having the lowest salary among the three mentioned, he does not look like an attractive candidate for Indiana.
Brogdon and Hield would bring a point guard and shooting guard duo compatible with LeBron and Davis’ style of play, and theoretically would not have to give draft compensation thanks to the benefit it brings to the Pacers to move on from both players. With Chris Duarte and Tyrese Haliburton being the future of the team, it is in the best interest of the organization not to create a bad environment around a core of players that could become an important team in the Eastern Conference in the coming years. Westbrook would be a good veteran addition for them to pick up the knowledge and behaviors (the good ones at least) that the 33-year-old veteran can provide in his time with Indiana.
For the Lakers, it simply creates another window of contention, depending on filling out the rest of the roster. This is a positive situation for both teams.
