Players That Should Be Traded This Season
While the buzz of free agency is over and the 2020-21 season is almost here, there are still trades that can happen from now until March 25th, which is the new trade deadline. Today I will be going over some players that should be traded from their teams for various reasons, including paying them too much and fit with the team.
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons has been an All-Star for the past couple of seasons, as he is an excellent passer and all-around forward. He has been the 2nd best player for the 76ers and their recent success. But the 76ers seem to have a ceiling with their young duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and I think trading Simmons would fix this problem.
Simmons can’t shoot, and that doesn’t work in the modern NBA. He doesn’t even try to attempt 3’s, or even mid-range jumpshots. It’s like he’s immune to the most vital part of the game. I can’t see the 76ers succeeding in the playoffs when teams don’t even have to guard Simmons. That’s why I’m suggesting that the 76ers trade Simmons for a top-tier guard like James Harden, or maybe CJ McCollum.
Daryl Morey has said that he doesn’t want to trade his young core of Embiid and Simmons, but I don’t see the 76ers winning a title in the East with other teams like the Nets, Celtics, Bucks, and Heat all in better positions to win. Simmons and Embiid haven’t coexisted well together as a duo, and there’s no point trying to hold on to both of them for no reason. I think that the 76ers will have to have this talk in the future about weather or not to trade Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid. And because of Simmons’s lack of a jumpshot and willingness to shoot, I think you trade him.
James Harden
Harden and the Rockets just can’t win. Harden has been paired with lots of All-Star teammates like Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, and now John Wall. And yet they can’t win a title. Clearly Harden’s style of play won’t be winning Houston a title and Houston should just trade Harden and go all in on rebuilding this roster.
Harden is unhappy with the situation in Houston, and he has been asked to be traded to other contending teams. A team that comes up a lot are the 76ers. And if Ben Simmons comes up in trade talks, I would do that in a heartbeat. The Rockets would also be getting some first round picks and maybe some young talent like Matisse Thybulle or somebody like that.
The Rockets should just trade Harden and avoid another Anthony Davis-New Orleans situation. I think that if they clear house and start fresh with Ben Simmons, they’ll have something better than what they have now. Simmons and Embiid doesn’t work, or work well enough to win a title, and if Simmons is the clear #1 option, I think that he could thrive.
And Harden in Philly would be great. He could stretch the floor with his iso scoring, and he has a post anchor in Joel Embiid. Those two on the same floor would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
I think a Harden for Ben Simmons swap is something both sides would agree too, as it would help them both out a lot.
Kevin Love
Kevin Love was the 3rd best player on those Cavs team that won a title in 2016, and was a key piece of championship contending teams from 2015-2018. But after James and Irving left Cleveland, Love has been out of place. The Cavs are not contending and remain near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. So keeping Love and his large contract doesn’t make much sense.
Love would much rather be playing out the remainder of his career on a contending team, but the Cavs seem unwilling to let him go. Love is set to make $31.2 million this season, and will not become a free agent until the 2023 offseason. Meaning that Love will be taking up valuable cap space for a Cavs team that should be rebuilding.
The Cavs should have traded Love last season, and it is really beyond me why they don’t trade him. He’s not getting any younger or better, so there’s no point in keeping him.
Andre Drummond
Man, the Cavs really have a problem, don’t they? Drummond is another guy that shouldn’t be on this roster just because he makes so much money. The Cavs traded for him, and had to give up almost nothing. But again, I’ll repeat it for the people in the back. The Cavs are rebuilding, and they don’t need Drummond’s $28.7 million dollar contract.
Drummond’s contract is better than Love’s because he becomes a free agent after this season, meaning that the Cavs can get him off the books. But trading him would be the best option so they can at least get something instead of just letting Drummond walk.
Koby Altman (Cavs GM), really needs to trade both Drummond and Love. The Cavs desperately need to rebuild, and there’s no point having two expensive, aging veterans. Trading them is the only way you can get something back for them in return, and then you try and win without Lebron James (a tough task).
Otto Porter Jr.
Porter came to Chicago mid-way through the 2018-19 season, and he was great for Chicago during his 15 games. But his 2019-20 season was a disaster. He played just 14 games and averaged 12 points per game. And with the Bulls piling all of this young talent, and with Porter’s large contract, it doesn’t make sense for Chicago to keep him.
Porter averaged nearly 18 points per game for Chicago to end last season was likely a fluke, and now he can’t stay healthy. At his peak with the Wizards, he was averaging around 14 points per game. But Porter’s contract portrays him like an All-Star.
Porter is set to make $28.4 million this season with Chicago, easily their most payed player. Porter does become an unrestricted free agent, giving them a similar situation to the Cavs and Andre Drummond. The best route for the Bulls is trading Porter for either some picks or a decent bench player. You’re going to need money for when you need to pay your young guys. Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr, Patrick Williams, and Lauri Markkanen are all going to get big contracts down the line. So you’d better have some money to keep them.
The easiest way for the Bulls to clear up some cap space is by trading Porter, and then trying to improve with their young nucleus.
Blake Griffin
Griffin was one of the best forwards during his days with the Lob City Clippers. But the Clippers never won a title and the Clippers moved on from the All-Star. Griffin went East to Detroit, and had an amazing 2018-19 season, that got overlooked by most. Griffin was poised for another solid 2019-20 season.
But that didn’t happen a Griffin only played 18 games as he was plagued by injuries. And now with the Pistons starting their rebuild, it doesn’t make sense to keep Griffin.
Griffin is set to make $36.5 million this season, and a whopping $38.9 million during the 2021-22 season. This is far too much money for Griffin, even if he was in his prime. Griffin is now 31 years old, and we don’t know if he can stay healthy. And even if he can, paying him nearly $40 million a season isn’t good for a rebuilding team.
The Pistons need to try and trade Griffin asap and try and get the best possible deal. They could add some draft picks or some young players. They’ll likely have to add a big contract to match’s Griffin’s large one, but they can flip that player. Griffin is likely worth a decent amount in the league, and I’m sure that the Pistons can find a trade partner.
Are There Any Other Players That You Want To See Traded? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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