Three NBA Trades That Need To Happen Before Deadline

We still have a little ways to go before the trade deadline, but it’s never too early to come up with some trades that would make sense ahead of the deadline!

Around the deadline, certain teams either look to make a splash or trade away win-now assets to better their future.

Here are three trades that would make great sense for both sides!

Domantas Sabonis to the Washington Wizards

The Indiana Pacers are clearly trying to hit the reset button, as they’re slowly finding themselves out of the playoff picture game by game.

Any package would likely have to start with Deni Avdija and/or Rui Hachimura, as both bring promise as wings in this league. Daniel Gafford, Thomas Bryant, or Kyle Kuzma may also have to go the other way to satisfy Indiana in addition to several first-round picks.

Sabonis is the prototypical modern big that’ll help open up a team’s offense with his ability to convert on easy opportunities near the basket and make plays for others.

He isn’t the strongest 3-point shooter, which is an area of weakness for this current group, but his ability to attract gravity inside the paint could free up better looks from deep for their better shooters including Beal, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Davis Bertans.

On the pick-and-roll, Sabonis and Beal could form a deadly duo with both of their abilities to get to the rim or shoot from mid-range. The same could be said for Spencer Dinwiddie.

Acquiring Sabonis would help the Wizards solidify their playoff chances this season.

Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Caris LeVert is another player Indiana is looking to move, and what better place would there be for LeVert, who is a Pickerington, Ohio native.

The Cavs are incredibly thin at the guard position with Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio now out for the season, but fortunately, they still have Darius Garland running the show at the point.

The recent acquisition of Rajon Rondo should help the Cavs weather the storm for now, but with playoff aspirations this season, they need to go all-in and acquire another scorer.

LeVert also has a history with Jarrett Allen during their days with the Brooklyn Nets, as both had success running the pick-and-roll together.

With LeVert’s ability to create his own shot and slow things down, he will open up several opportunities for his teammates with the attention he’ll attract.

Isaac Okoro would likely be the centerpiece of any trade, but Okoro’s offense hasn’t developed at the rate Cleveland hoped, and he may be better off in a rebuilding environment.

Cedi Osman‘s salary would likely have to be used as a filler, and the Cavs could add a protected first-round pick to sweeten the deal.

Jerami Grant to the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers need help in the worst way, as their team as currently constructed just isn’t good enough to take down the likes of the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns out West.

Jerami Grant could come in and provide a significant boost, however, as he could provide some much-needed floor spacing with his ability to hit the 3-pointer.

This season, he’s hitting just 33 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities. However, when he was with the Denver Nuggets in 2019-20, he hit closer to 40 percent of those looks.

When he has space, he becomes a dangerous weapon. He’ll have plenty of those looks with LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis doing a significant amount of their damage inside, but also being willing passers.

The Lakers could also use a switchable forward who can provide excellent on-ball defense to opposing shooting guards, small forwards, and power forwards.

They’d likely have to trade Talen Horton-Tucker, who the Lakers have not so discreetly been high on, in any potential package, but their window to win is now. Grant’s presence would open up so many different opportunities for the Lakers with his ability to space the floor.

Salary fillers like Kendrick Nunn would likely have to go back to make salaries match. 

Add in a few first-rounders, and the Pistons could be moved into pulling the trigger.