Blockbuster Deadline Four Team Deal

The NBA Trade Deadline is quickly approaching and there are several teams that need to make moves to continue to compete in their respective conferences. I have included a blockbuster, four team trade that would shake up the league and each team would benefit. I cover the Orlando Magic in these articles so I made sure that Orlando was included, but they also have a top 5 trade asset that has been reported by NBA Insider Bobby Marks:

Evan Fournier’s tenure in Orlando seems to be over, and teams will definitely be interested in his services. It is unlikely that the Magic look to hand Fournier a new contract this summer, but his skillset is so necessary for this unit’s success that they need a player at the starting Shooting Guard position to be able to stretch the floor unlike most other NBA players. This is why I constructed the trade below:

Clippers: This deal helps with LA’s depth as they look to dethrone the champions to claim the city as their own. It has been reported that Lou Williams is available, but I cannot expect many suitors to be calling regarding his abilities. He is 34 years old and unlikely to find another contract worth more than the veteran minimum at 1 or 2 years. Sweet Lou can defy this claim with a change of scenery in Sac-Town. The second unit in Sacramento has been struggling to score the ball minus Rookie of the Year candidate Tyrese Haliburton. With this trade, Haliburton would be given the starting job in Sacramento after shipping out Hield, and Williams can come into the team with the mindset to be a number one or two option while on the floor with the bench. 

The Clippers also trade Kabengele, the late-first round selection back in 2019. Unfortunately for Kabengele, he has yet to prove his worth for a title-contending team, and it might be time to cut him loose. Batum has looked great with LA so far at the PF position, but depth definitely needs to be a priority if the Clippers want a deep playoff-run. Khem Birch and Nemanja Bjelica provide just that. Birch is having a career year in Orlando and has built a newly found offensive game based on screening and finding open space for mid-range jump shots and floaters. He is not much of a shot blocker, as he is averaging 0.8 per game, but he has lateral movement that is exceptional for a big man. He can switch on the pick and roll and do a decent job staying in front of the quicker guard. Birch is also strong at 230 pounds and would be a terrific third string big behind Ibaka and Zubac. Retaining Birch’s Bird Rights would be a great move for L.A. as they could offer him a new contract over the cap limit. Bjelica has fallen out of the rotation in Sacramento, but he is a 39% 3 point shooter for his career standing at 6’10. He would battle Patrick Patterson for the third string stretch big and could catch fire towards the end of the season playing off of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers would give their lineups a lot of versatility as Birch can play the 4 and 5 while Bjelica can play the 3 and 4. 

Cavaliers: Cleveland needs to find value in return for Andre Drummond. He has had a great season and solidified the notion that he can score in the paint, rebound among the best, and protect the rim as an All-Star caliber player. The Cavaliers are not in a position to utilize Drummond’s talents based on the mid-season trade they made to bring in Jarrett Allen as a part of the James Harden deal. Allen, the 22 year old out of Texas, has been named the starter in Northern Ohio and will be receiving a new contract this offseason as the future of the center position for the Cavs. Cleveland wouldn’t be getting much for Drummond, but I believe this offer would be hard to turn down. The only player they trade besides Drummond is Damyean Dotson, who is having a hard time finding playing time behind the plethora of young guards. His contract is non guaranteed for the 21-22 season, so unlikely he is in the team’s plans anyways. Evan Fournier is as close to an elite scorer as they get. He can use the pick and roll to get to his floater and spread the floor. He would be the 6th man in Cleveland coming off the bench for either Okoro or Sexton. The Frenchman could help “Sex-Land” (The duo of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton) find their rhthym on offense and also be a mentor for Okoro. If they like his fit they could be interested in giving him a lucrative deal in the offseason, and if not they wipe their hands clean. 

Al Farouq Aminu would also be an addition of value. While Kevin Love continues to fight the injury bug, Taurean Prince and Cedi Osman are the only PFs who see consistent minutes. Aminu could join Cleveland and be a high-energy defender off the bench. He was a part of those Portland playoff teams and he would hold his teammates accountable to be professionals. He has been somewhat of a journeyman in his 10 seasons and could regain his footing for the Cavs. They wouldn’t lose much from the acquisition and would only have one more year left on his deal. Lastly, Sacramento would trade a young project-rookie in Woodward and they would receive two second round picks from Sacramento. There aren’t many vacancies for starting center in the NBA and Drummond would net Cleveland some assets instead of letting him walk this offseason. 

Kings: Sacramento are now 8 games under .500. Things are stagnating after a stellar start to the season and optimism that Haliburton will be a steal in the draft for years to come. If Sacramento believes in the Fox-Haliburton backcourt, they should make it happen as soon as possible. Hield seems expendable at this point and Bagley is starting to build a strong tertiary season without the injury woes from years past. Harrison Barnes has been consistent since he arrived in Sacramento and has turned into an elite three point shooter. The only missing piece to a strong starting lineup is a big man who can be a threat on offense. Insert Andre Drummond. The Kings would be able to play the pick and roll with Fox, Haliburton, and Barnes as the ball handler or as Barnes, Bagley, Drummond as the pop guy or rim roller. Defenses would sag to prevent Drummond from getting the ball in the paint and it would open up lanes for Fox and Haliburton’s explosiveness and playmaking. Sacramento would also have two quality backup bigs that could be insurance for Drummond or they could look to deal one of the two, preferably Whiteside, to a team in need of rim protection.

Like I discussed earlier, Lou Williams would be an addition to their bench unit and could be a reliable scorer depending on how much he has left in the tank. If Lou can’t get back to a rhythm this season they will still be freeing up cap space to resign Drummond if need be. If Lou proves that he still has value seeing consistent time on the floor, the Kings can resign him for much less than his $8 million contract he is currently under. The Kings would be bringing in the best big man they have had since Demarcus Cousins, and without sacrificing a first round pick. Bjelica and Woodard II are not in Sacramento’s rotation, so they would essentially be freeing up a starting spot for Haliburton and receiving an elite rebounder and shot blocker in return. They would be sacrificing two second round picks to clear the contract of Hield to resign Drummond this off season. This trade would only be contingent on Drummond agreeing to stay with the franchise, but this deal could turn Sacramento into a low-end playoff team with room to grow. 

Magic: Orlando would be trading win-now assets that will be gone this summer in return for a starting SG. Hield is having a poor season, but he is still a career 40% 3-point-shooter. Evan Fournier and Khem Birch are unrestricted free agents this offseason and it is hard to envision Orlando offering them new contracts. Mo Bamba, the 6th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is currently playing behind Birch who has proven to be the better player this season. The deal would be giving Bamba the job as backup center in Orlando. Fournier also would be dealt to Cleveland who could look to keep him this season or look for a potential buyer (Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia) before the end of the deadline. Hield has a substantial contract, but luckily for the Magic it is team friendly and declining in value each of the next three years. With Fultz as the starting PG, there needs to be elite shooting at the other guard position. Hield has been one of the best at catch & shoot from deep in his 6 seasons in the league. Clearing Aminu from the cap also frees up salary that would make this trade more doable from Orlando’s perspective and I also believe it would give Orlando the ability to offer James Ennis III a new contract to solidify the backup SF spot. 

The Magic would also receive Damyeon Dotson and Mfiondu Kabengele as a low risk, high reward move. Dotson is playing behind Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro, and will likely not find more time. Orlando currently needs depth at every position due to injuries, so this could give Dotson another shot to make an impact and stick on a 15 man roster for next season. If Dotson underperforms, then Orlando can waive him this offseason as he has a Team Option for 2021-22. Kabengele, a former first round pick, would be returning to the same state where he played college basketball for Florida State. Dotson could take over Randle’s backup PG position (Randle can be waived), so Kabengele can be placed on a 2-Way contract and begin playing for the Lakeland Magic in the bubble. At 6’9, he would be considered the Magic’s third string center behind Bamba and is another project player with length that Jeff Weltman and John Hammond can salivate over. He has a great contract for a late first round draft pick and would be a great end-of-bench guy. Next season, barring injury, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac will both be able to play the small-ball center position if anything were to happen to Vucevic or Bamba, so the third string option does not have to be a player who contributes anytime soon. Orlando would finish this season with this rotation:

If the team decides to keep most of the core in tact for the start of the following season, this will be their depth not including their upcoming first round pick: