The biggest blockbuster of the 2020-21 season has already occurred when James Harden left Houston in January, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t see a flurry of activity before the March 25 deadline. A champion shipowner can be on the move, as can a mercurial All-Star center. A flurry of Eastern Conference candidates is likely to be looking for updates for veterans, while lottery teams are likely looking to secure a youth before free agency. The agreement with Harden changed the championship scene in an instant. Perhaps the right move could have a similar impact next month.
So, who are the most likely names on the move in the coming months? Check out The Crossoverlist below:
Kyle Lowry
Lowry is the best piece available on the market if Toronto is in fact willing to ship it. And based on recent reports, this may well be the case in the coming weeks. Lowry does not provide the long-term advantage for someone like John Collins, but for a title contender, the Toronto owner can put him at the top. Lowry is one of the most brilliant guards in the game. He is a defensive bulldog and has a tendency to make a three clutch in one big spot. The 2019 playoffs erased any criticism of ‘Playoff Lowry’. He delivered in the finals alongside Kawhi Leonard just two summers ago. He could do the same across the continent in 2021.
The candidate field for Lowry is quite clear. The 76ers’ hometown team – Lowry – has been reported as a favorite destination for Lowry, along with the Clippers and Heat. All three destinations make sense. Philadelphia still needs an initiator at the end of the game to avoid its patented crime of clogged bathroom in the fourth period. Clippers’ shortcomings in the point guard were painfully obvious in last year’s playoffs. Goran Dragic’s score fell to Miami, and Kendrick Nunn is more of a scorer than a leading star. Add Lowry to any of the teams mentioned and your chances of a title are sure to increase.
Equivalence of money is the most complex issue in relation to a Lowry trading. He earns $ 30 million in 2020–21, creating a situation similar to Andre Drummond in Cleveland. But it is not impossible to make a deal work. Clippers can quickly pack Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams and additional filler (probably including young pivot Ivica Zubac). Philadelphia could offer a combination, including Danny Green and Mike Scott contracts, as well as young guards Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle. The Sixers also have a $ 8 million trade exception. Miami has a collection of expendable contracts, most notably Kelly Olynyk’s expiring deal. Finding out finances is not very difficult. Doing a business worthwhile in Toronto is the difficult part.
Zubac can be an intriguing piece for the Toronto attacking field fight, although, ultimately, Philadelphia is likely to be in pole position if it is willing to part ways with at least one from Maxey and Thybulle. Is the Lowry era in Toronto over? Not yet. Your departure may come after the season. But if Toronto pulls the trigger for a deal, it would be appropriate to send Lowry back to where his basketball journey began.
Andre Drummond
Drummond’s situation is a swamp with less than a month before the negotiation deadline. Its value is somewhat in the eye of the beholder. It can be argued that, although it was a career disappointment, Drummond is still an immense talent that just wasn’t in the right situation. He’s only 27 and now in a contract push, you will probably have some of the most engaged moves of your career. Considering Drummond’s size and athleticism, you would assume that teams are inclined to try the All-Star twice.
An engaged Drummond could have a legitimate impact on a candidate, although, frankly, finding a home is not as simple as one might think. The Celtics are the most natural place considering its $ 28 million exception. But Boston is not being crushed on the edge most nights. Danny Ainge would be better served chasing a more versatile player on the pitch, someone who could add some scoring punch while Kemba Walker and the bench continue to fight. Toronto is playing its best basketball of the season, behind a group of small balls. It’s hard to see Nick Nurse spinning after what we’ve seen lately. The first options under consideration for Drummond may not be the most sensible ones.
One option that may make sense: Dallas. The Mavericks were successful using a line of twin towers by Kristaps Porzingis and Dwight Powell last season, but Powell’s minutes and efficiency dropped in 2020-21 after returning from an Achilles tendon injury last January. Porzingis is used primarily as a pick-and-pop threat. His defensive struggles this year were blatant. Drummond is not a magical answer to Dallas’ problems, but he could serve as a good addition to Porzingis in limited minutes.
Cleveland may end up failing to find a trading partner ahead of schedule, sending Drummond into what could be a very competitive takeover market. And in what could be a common theme this year, perhaps the Nets will take it to try to strengthen an unstable inner defense. LeBron James’ teams have celebrated in the acquisitions market in recent years. Perhaps the Nets will have a similar success with the league’s newest super team.
PJ Tucker
It is difficult to assess whether the Rockets will send Victor Oladipo before the negotiation deadline. The same does not apply exactly to PJ Tucker. The Rockets’ interior anchor failed to reach an extension agreement with Houston in the off-season, a problem that clearly bothered him as the opening night approached. Harden’s switch from Houston and the subsequent unstable season dampened Tucker’s spirit and impact at both ends. A fresh start before the negotiation deadline is probably the best option for both parties.
Tucker’s score has plummeted this year. He has more than twice as many zero point games (nine) than double digit scoring efforts (four), and he has 0-17 out of three in his last nine games. Should this stop any potential commercial bidders? In truth. Tucker is still close to the elite on the defensive end (he may be the smartest defender in the game) and he is not getting a flood of open eyes like he did alongside Harden. Pair Tucker with an elite offensive starter, and he’ll hit many open-ended trios. This is a sad way for Tucker’s Rockets career to end after serving as the heart of the franchise for the past four seasons. Hopefully, he can play basketball significantly again in 2020–21.
The usual crop of competitors comes when assessing the market for Tucker. It would be an important frontline piece in Brooklyn, although there isn’t exactly a treasure trove of pick capital available for the Nets. Stealing Spencer Dinwiddie from a torn ACL would be an appropriate move for Houston’s Misfit Toy Island. Would Brooklyn pull the trigger for such a proposal? Maybe not.
Boston could acquire Tucker and still have a significant part of its commercial exception, although Ainge and Co. could be hindered by the attacker’s scoring limitations. Could Dallas use a little more defensive strength and, although the Knicks have more than enough attackers, was there ever a more suitable player for Tom Thibodeau? Tucker’s contract is modest and his reputation is excellent. I would be surprised if he was in Houston in April.
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JJ Redick
Like Lowry, it is not a mystery who could pursue Redick in the negotiation deadline. The New Orleans sniper guard named a quartet of teams from the Northeast (Brooklyn, New York, Boston and Philadelphia) as his preferred options and, considering his relationship with Stan Van Gundy, his wish is likely to be met. So, what is the most sensible house for Redick? The Celtics are ahead of the block.
Brooklyn doesn’t need any more poor advocates. The Sixers’ backcourt is relatively crowded, with Seth Curry taking the position of second guard in minutes of crunch. Perhaps there is some interest in New York, although from a perspective of pure adjustment, Boston is the big winner. The Celtics are dedicating too many minutes to Payton Pritchard, Jeff Teague and Aaron Nesmith. They are an average three-point shooting team. Like Tucker, Boston could use part of its commercial exception for Redick and then continue to hunt for parts in the commercial market. It is difficult to find a single movement changing the fortunes of the Celtics in the East. But add Redick and a frontline piece, and we may not be able to rule out Brad Stevens’ team after all.
John Collins
The situation with Collins is different from the rest of the names on our list. Players like Lowry, Drummond and Tucker are veteran players in declining their earning potential, probably playing half a season with an opponent before entering an uncertain free agency market. Collins does not face a similar fate. Whoever acquires the Atlanta striker will want to sign him again during the off-season, probably giving him a nine-digit contract. This proposal probably limits Collins’ market. But Atlanta may still have a short list of suitors.
We will start with two postseason teams. The Celtics could acquire Collins with its commercial exception, and then hope to keep it in the summer. Does Boston have the resources to close a deal? They are considered neutral at the moment, but if Atlanta wants current talent in return, the path narrows. A Porzingis-for-Collins blockbuster is quite intriguing. It is also more of a trading machine fantasy than a likely business. I still feel that Dallas is not quite ready to end the Porzingis experiment, and with looming extensions for DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter, perhaps committing to Porzingis’ contract is not the most prudent move for the Hawks.
Houston is a lottery team that could make a game. Pairing Collins and Christian Wood would be an attractive combination for Houston (although a little defensive) and perhaps Atlanta is intrigued to pair Victor Oladipo with Trae Young. Oladipo is also a free agent this summer, but will he really make more than $ 100 million as Collins? I’m not so sure. At the right price, Atlanta could re-sign Oladipo and maintain some appearance of flexibility. Collins has the best skill set of any player on our list. If the right franchise buys you, they can quickly make a bargain.
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin’s relatively rapid decline is a real disappointment. The insane athletics of his Lob City days disappeared years ago, but even in his early seasons with Detroit, Griffin was still an underestimated valuable player. He expanded his reach relatively easily, and Detroit relied heavily on his playing skills. Point Blake was a truly dynamic weapon. It is a pity that we will never see him again.
Griffin is firmly in the trading market at the moment, tied to Pistons bank while looking for a trading partner. But it is likely that this partner will never appear. Perhaps this is a different story if Griffin is an expiring contract, but assuming he opts for $ 39 million for 2021–21, it is difficult to find any suitor unless Detroit allocates significant capital. We are likely to see Griffin and the Pistons working towards an acquisition after the deadline, where an uncertain crop of landing sites awaits. Griffin’s decline was precipitous. We hope to see him impact the team at least one more time before the end of his career.