Patience is the word most NBA general managers use when describing their approach to offseason trade talks as they look to get the most out of the assets they deem extendable. However, the reality is that some players should be moved with much more urgency than others either because of their current team situations, their potential decline in value or simply because there are only so many teams out there that would be interested in acquiring them period. We saw the Denver Nuggets do exactly that by shipping Ty Lawson to the Houston Rockets, but here are three other NBA players that need to be traded before the end of this offseason period.
Brendan Haywood, Cleveland Cavaliers
This list might as well begin with the Cavaliers frontcourt situation, which is all of a sudden incredibly loaded with Haywood, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao all on the current roster. Cleveland can afford to have a maximum of four of those players on their roster and considering Love is the superstar, Mozgov and Thompson both emerged as a legitimate starters during last year’s playoff run, and Varejao is one of LeBron James’ best friends, it should be obvious who the most likely big man on his way out is.
The Cavaliers can absorb more than $13.2 million in commitments if they move Haywood on his own and any team that acquires Haywood before August 2nd will have the option of waiving his non-guaranteed contract. The other aspect of a potential trade is that Cleveland would love to use the extra cap space to acquire another asset to help them win a championship this season.
Hayward is essentially a salary dump and the Cavs can take on a big contract – maybe someone like Joe Johnson – and then the opposing team can get a big salary off the books at the end of the year. The Cavs should act now, though, as added players midseason takes time in terms of gelling. Making the move in the offseason would be better for the team chemistry.
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Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns
The Suns have been an absolute mess since owner Robert Sarver decided he wanted GM Ryan McDonough to do absolutely everything possible to get his team back in to the playoffs and as if things couldn’t get any worse, now there are issues between Morris and head coach Jeff Hornacek. It certainly didn’t help that Phoenix traded Morris’ brother Marcus to the Detroit Pistons, even though he made it known he wanted them to play together.
It also didn’t help when the Suns moved Goran Dragic but all that’s left for the team to do now is decide what the best path to take at this point is. The addition of Mirza Teletovic could help negate some of what Phoenix would lose if they trade Morris, whose value will never be higher than it is right now. And remember, we just saw T.J. Warren look great in Summer League action, so Hornacek will want to make some playing time for him too. The Suns haven’t shied away from moving some big name players in recent seasons, so it wouldn’t be a shock if they trade Morris before the offseason is over.
Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls
This is a very interesting spot for the Bulls to be in as Gibson’s value will never be higher than it is now and Chicago is absolutely loaded at the forward positions. Remember they have Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, who can both soak up minutes at center and power forward. Normally, Gibson is the first guy off the bench but now there’s Nikola Mirotic, who can slot in as a stretch four, and rookie Bobby Portis, who looked great in Summer League. The Bulls also have Doug McDermott, who can slide to the four in a small lineup.
This is a fairly loaded team that’s ready to make a run for a championship, so it would surprise anyone if they held onto him. However, he’s on the books for just this season and next, and he’s likely a goner after that. The Bulls would be wise to move him ahead of time and get something for him.
