The 2015-16 NBA season has been a very interesting one, but through it all, it looks like the NBA Finals could come down to about four teams: OKC, San Antonio, Golden State and Cleveland. Naturally, with no real threats in the Eastern Conference at the moment, a few teams could still pull into the running if they can swing a huge trade. The same goes for the Western Conference, where there are still a few teams ranking right below that top three that could see a spike if they land the right trade.
To gauge which teams could be looking to make the biggest move, let’s break down the top 5 teams that could be looking to make a big trade:
Chicago Bulls
Chicago is right behind the Cavs in the Central Division and when it’s all said and done they should end the year as a top-4 team in the Eastern Conference. Their main issue has been injuries, though, with center Joakim Noah (shoulder) being their latest casualty. He’s done for the year and while his absence clears up room for the Bulls jammed front court, it also saps them of some depth and defensive intensity. Chicago could end up trading one of their left over bigs in an effort to kill two birds with one stone – acquire some shooting and free up minutes for rookie big man Bobby Portis. Unloading Taj Gibson for a shooter could be the answer.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have done a terrific job staying atop the Atlantic Division and at 27-15 look like a top four team in an improved Eastern Conference. They have some very good pieces and once DeMarre Carroll gets healthy might have the balance to be a real threat in the playoffs. Their only real issue has been power forward, as they never replaced Amir Johnson, who left for Boston as a free agent. Markieff Morris could be the answer, as he’s been wanting out of Phoenix for a while now. Whether or not the Raptors could send the Suns a fitting package to get him, of course, is open for debate.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets were two wins away from reaching the NBA Finals last year, so it’s quite a shock that they have basically the same team and are just 22-22 this year. There is a lot of chatter about possibly blowing things up a bit, with James Harden potentially being the only true “untouchable” in Rockets trade rumors. Dwight Howard is in a walk year and could absolutely be on the move, while guys like Terrence Jones, Ty Lawson and others have been involved in trade rumor talk. Houston reportedly likes Markieff Morris and Ryan Anderson and could try to send a package for one of them to get a suitable stretch four.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans is a nasty 14-27 thanks to a huge rash of injuries to start the year, but they still have one of the game’s bright young stars in Anthony Davis and don’t want to give up on what is probably a lost season. They’re getting healthier as we speak but did just lose starting shooting guard Eric Gordon for 4-6 weeks. That could be the nail in the coffin, but there is talk that the Pellies will simply go out and seek more shooting elsewhere. There has also been a ton of talk about possibly trading away Ryan Anderson, who is a free agent after next season. Center Omer Asik is also available as the Pelicans may try to reconstruct on the fly.
Orlando Magic
Orlando is an interesting case, as they got off to a really nice start and for a second there looked like they might fend off the Hawks and Heat for the Southeast Division title. That didn’t last long, though, and now they’re 20-20 and might not even make the playoffs. If they really want to make a push, they have two options: make a trade to land a star that can push them to the next level or stick with their young core and hope they figure it out. For the future, the latter may be the right move, but rumors suggest the Magic could be players a the trade deadline nears.
Think these teams will pounce on a move or think all five will stand pat? Tell us in the comments below!
