I haven’t posted a trade in a while, but I thought this one was too good not to post. Be sure and let me know what you think!
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Magic
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The Magic are a young team on the rise. The play of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have them in playoff contention sooner than many thought they would be. The biggest hole on this roster is a lack of shooting. Adding two of the best shooters in the league in Luke Kennard and Doug McDermott would be major additions for them as they continue to try and make a playoff push.
Wendell Carter Jr showed so much promise early in his time in Orlando, but his play as of late has not been what it should be. Goga Bitadze has taken over his starting spot and has been filling that role much better than Carter Jr. While losing Carter Jr is less than ideal, the added shooting boost and addition of a lotto protect first would more than make up for it.
It has been clear that Markele Fultz is the odd man out of the Magic’s backcourt. With him being an expiring deal it makes tons of sense for them to look to move him. Getting back a proven shooter and scorer in McDermott as well as a currently injured project big man in Bassey would be a great pickup for them.
Projected Rotation
Suggs / Kennard / Wagner / Banchero / Bitadze
Anthony / Harris / Ingles / McDermott / Isaac
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Grizzlies
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The suspension of Ja Morant to start the season followed by his season ending injury is really unfortunate for the Grizzlies. Instead of being a young team with an outside shot at winning the championship, they will now almost certainly be having a high lottery pick. The good news is that they will have their entire core coming back healthy next season. I think it is important for them at the deadline to look to make moves to improve the team going into next season.
Wendell Carter Jr may be underperforming in Orlando as of late, but he still can be a really productive NBA player. I think he would be the perfect long term front court partner with JJJ. It would also be really nice to have a center who can space the floor alongside Ja Morant.
Losing Luke Kennard isn’t a major loss for Memphis as they are stocked to the gills with wing players. John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr can easily take over the minutes that trading Kennard would open up.
Giving up a future first round pick is always a tough thing to do, but getting WCJ back is more than worth it. With that pick you would be trying to draft a guy like him anyways. Why take a chance when you can trade for a known commodity? With the addition of WCJ and a high lottery pick coming in the off-season, the Grizzlies could push themselves firmly into title contention as soon as next year.
Projected Rotation
Smart / Bane / Williams Jr / JJJ / WCJ
Rose / Konchar / Z. Williams / Aldama / Tillman
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Spurs
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In some peoples eyes, the Spurs have underperformed this year. I do not think that is the case. Wemby has been as good as advertised, but they are still an extremely young team. Their biggest weakness has been their lack of a true PG. Markele Fultz would be a great addition for them as he would fit be able to fill that role for them. This deal probably does not happen unless he is willing to resign with the team in the off-season.
Sure the Spurs could and probably should still look to draft a PG this off-season. I don’t like putting all of your trust into some ping pong balls though. If you land are able to land a top PG in the draft then that’s great! You can cut ties with Fultz or bring him back as a backup. If you get unlucky and don’t though, it would be great to know you already have a starting caliber PG in the wings.
Fultz would be able to get the Spurs in their offenses and set up the young guys for open looks. The attention he draws as a driver would make defenses collapse and would allow his teammates to get open looks. He’d also make them much more explosive in transition as that’s a place where he really shines.
This is really a low risk deals for the Spurs as they’re giving up an expiring guy in McDermott, an insured big in Bassey, and what projects to be a mid-late SRP. Pretty good for a guy who could be your starting PG for the next few years.
Projected Rotation
Fultz / Vassell / Champagnie / Sochan / Wemby
Jones / Branham / Johnson / Osman / Collins