++ROCKETS LINEUP++
KPJ/GREEN/GORDON/TATE/WOOD
BLEDSOE/KENNARD/MATHEWS/KJ/SENGUN
WHY?
Almost overnight, Houston has become a fun basketball team again. The kind of team its fans were hoping for coming into this season. Maximising their spacing has done wonders for Christian Wood who has started to take off and live up to his pre season hype. This adds to that. While Bledsoe isnt a shooter (and is having one of his worst years from 3) he is a veteran presence off the bench to help steddy the ship. Kennard can be a flamethrower when he's on which fits what the Rockets are trying to do. Hopefully a change of scenery will do him good. This also helps Wall go to a team with title aspirations. note The Kemba/Wall swap was rumoured in an article on BR which is the basis of this trade. True or not that is what this is based on.
The other thing this does for the Rockets is keep their trade "assests" open. Eric Gordon is having a career year which could see him moved to a contender, Theis is currently out if the rotation but is still a servicable big who will draw interest at the trade deadline (according to a KOC article).
++KNICKS LINE UP++
WALL/BURK/RJ/RANDLE/MITCH
ROSE/QUICKLY/HOUSE/OBI/HARTENSTEIN
WHY?
This may be overkill moving Kemba for another guard, but Wall theoretically could thrive where Kemba couldnt. While he hasnt suited up all year, historically Wall is the far better passer and significantly better defender in comparison to Kemba. He should help run the floor in a similar way to Rose off the bench (who in fairness is the far better shooter). Swallowing Walls contract is a hard pill, but somehow, the Knicks still remain under the salary cap. The hope is that Wall finds a home here and thrives, leading him to opt out of his final year and signing a longer contract for less annual salary (similar to Chris Paul with the Suns). Getting Hartenstein could be a real get for this team who has struggled with their center rotation due to nagging injuries. While Nerlens is the better player, Hartenstein can hopefuly lean on his availability and serviceable (for a big) outside shooting to be able to contribute.
++CLIPPERS LINE UP++
**this is based on a healthy Clippers team
REGGIE/FOURNIER/KAWHI/PG/NERLENS
KEMBA/MANN/BATUM/MORRIS/ZUBAC
WHY?
Its hard to tell at this point what Kemba is. Is he completely shot? Is he in a bad situation? Is he a better bench guy? The Clippers take that gamble as a team that essentially has two of those guys already in Reggie and Bledsoe, and bet on his high upside. Nerlens is a clear upgrade over Zubac IMO and with shooting coming from every other position in the starting line up Nerlens can bang down low in peace (and maybe pick up an assist or two). Fourniers contract is tough. However, IMO he is an upgrade over Kennard who didnt even manage to see the floor come play off time. And if they were willing to pay him for 4 years, im sure they can talk themselves in to paying Fournier for 4 years for a bit more money.