The offseason trade period is fast approaching and there are some JUICY rumors about.
Let’s get straight into it.
CHRIS PAUL
Phoenix are likely to guarantee the full salary of veteran guard Chris Paul for the 2023-24 season, according to B/R’s Chris Haynes but the key word here is likely.
Some alternative landing spots for Paul include the Lakers, Spurs and Clippers.
A deal proposed by B/R’s Zach Buckley sees D’Angelo Russell agreeing to sign-and-trade which will send Paul to LA to join his buddy LeBron and AD.
Buckley believes that Paul would restore a natural order at the franchise and keep them in championship contention.
“He’d help the Lakers maximize each position, and he’d consistently put James and Davis in favorable scoring situations,” Buckley wrote. “Paul would even elevate the supporting cast by knowing where his teammates are most effective and learning how they like to be set up. He’d also be a defensive upgrade over Russell.”
Meanwhile, CBS Sports have suggested an interesting idea to send Paul to San Antonio to mentor the once-in-a-generation talent Victor Wembanyama.
“If the Suns want to dump Chris Paul this offseason, the Spurs should offer to absorb him into their cap space,” CBS Sports tweeted. “He only has one guaranteed year on his deal. Ask Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Booker what a great mentor he can be for a young star.”
NBA Insider Zach Lowe says the Clippers have flagged the need for a point guard as they’ll have offers for Westbrook they may not want to match.
“He’s [Westbrook] a free agent [and] they’re going to have handicaps signing him that they don’t have in aggregating salaries to get up to $30 million.”
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
Golden State are in dire need of some size and Karl-Anthony Tows could be just the man for the job.
A trade which sends KAT to Golden State and Minnesota will get Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and the No. 19 overall pick (can’t be traded until after the draft) has been proposed.
“Adding him to Golden State’s motion offense might send it into overdrive,” Buckley said. “He’s a really good shooter (career 39.5 percent from three), but maybe history’s best shooting big man. He can also keep things moving as a passer or toy with smaller defenders in the post. There wouldn’t be a right way for defenses to handle a Towns-Curry pick-and-roll, and those Curry-[Draymond] Green pick-and-rolls would become exponentially more challenging when having to account for the shooting threats of both Towns and [Klay] Thompson.”
The Timberwolves went all-in on Rudy Gobert so to get any value back, trading KAT may be their only option if they want to build around young talent Anthony Edwards.
An Anthony Towns trade definitely wouldn’t solve the Warriors’ growing luxury tax problems, but it is interesting to ponder.
MYLES TURNER
Now that Dallas has secured the number ten 2023 draft pick, getting a rangy center should be their main priority.
One way to do this is a trade scenario where the Mavs get Myles Turner, while the Pacers receive Davis Bertans, Jaden Hardy and number ten pick.
“The No. 10 pick may not do too much for [Luka] Doncic, but sending it out as part of a package for interior anchor Myles Turner absolutely would,” Buckley wrote. “Among the many reasons Dallas disappointed this past season was its tumble from seventh to 25th in defensive efficiency. Turner may not cure all of the Mavs’ ills on that end, but the two-time blocks champ would be a tremendous insurance policy on the back line.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd couldn’t find a suitable big all season and they need someone in the middle setting things up for Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Then maybe they can find some sort of offensive rhythm and genuinely compete.