Wednesday, March 14th, 2012 at 3:46 pm  |  8 responses

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Etc, Etc: 2012 NBA Trade Machine Special

It’s a trader’s market.

“The Michael Jordan of Childersberg Comes To Cleveland!”
The Portland Trail Blazers-Los Angeles Clippers-Cleveland Cavaliers deal

Portland Trail Blazers get:
Antawn Jamison, Eric Bledsoe

Los Angeles Clippers get:
Jamal Crawford, Chris Johnson

Cleveland Cavaliers get:
Gerald Wallace, Randy Foye

Why It Works:

The Portland Trail Blazers would be able to get salary relief and an instant upgrade in the frontcourt with Antawn Jamison, who would be likely to re-sign with the team as a productive compliment to LaMarcus Aldridge. Eric Bledsoe would give the Trail Blazers yet another talented point guard prospect who would be another one of head coach Nate McMillan’s side projects at the position.

The L.A. Clippers would acquire the instant size and shooting that they have lacked all season in Jamal Crawford and propel the team further into Championship talks now that Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are paired with DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler as the starting five; Chris Johnson would also give the Clippers the size and athleticism that is missing from the bench as a big man behind Jordan, making the Clippers even more formidable between substitutions.

Gerald Wallace would be a great finishing partner with Kyrie Irving as his ace for alley-oops and bring additional veteran toughness and professionalism that the team could ably use to compete for a Playoff spot and grow. Randy Foye would give the Cleveland Cavs an ideal backup for Irving and more shooting for a team lacking marksmen.

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The Trades That Should’ve Been…

1) The Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks-Washington Wizards deal

Chicago Bulls get:
Stephen Jackson

Milwaukee Bucks get:
Richard Hamilton, Nick Young

Washington Wizards get:
CJ Watson
Wizards’ second-round draft pick

Why It Would’ve Worked:

Though Stephen Jackson is in Golden State again, he and the Milwaukee Bucks would’ve been better served by the trade above. Jackson would be going to the Chicago Bulls, a team that still lacks offensive consistency at the shooting guard position, and Captain Jack fits perfectly and is healthy. In addition to being physically big, he plays big in big moments, which occur more frequently in Chi City these days.

Milwaukee would get veteran help in Hamiton and a legitimate scorer in Nick Young, who would pair excellently with Brandon Jennings as “Backcourt Los Angeles” (their native city). Head coach Scott Skiles would likely be demanding of Young to tune up his defense and the Bucks would’ve been spared of trading away any big men.

Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards would get a young veteran who actually knows how to play point guard on the team and be able to guide the struggling John Wall along as he continues to learn the position, and exiling Young to Chicago would lessen the tomfoolery that frequently occur while the Wizards play actual ballgames.

2) The Milwaukee Bucks-New Orleans Hornets-Atlanta Hawks deal

Bucks get:
Chris Kaman

New Orleans Hornets get:
Josh Smith, Andrew Bogut

Atlanta Hawks get:
Emeka Okafor

Why It Would’ve Worked:

Simply put, all teams would get a much-needed big man to improve their teams – and Josh Smith.

(Andrew Bogut already actually left in the aforementioned Stephen Jackson trade to the Golden State Warriors.)

Milwaukee would get a healthy, scoring big man with the ability to change games in Chris Kaman, a native of the northern Midwest.

The New Orleans Hornets would be able to acquire an All-Star frontcourt in Andrew Bogut and Atlanta Hawks malcontent Josh Smith, making the team an instant Playoff team and not far from Championship contention (or being able to be sold away from the NBA).

The Atlanta Hawks would be able to get addition and additional addition by subtraction (follow me?) – moving Josh Smith, who plays power forward for ATL, for Emeka Okafor, a natural center, would allow for All-Star Hawks center/forward Al Horford move back to his natural power forward position and make the team much more balanced.

All teams would acquire a pivot that makes them Playoff-worthy and improve their teams’ standings.

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Sandy Dover is a published author, fitness & media consultant, and a SLAM web columnist & print contributor whose work has been featured and published by US News, Yahoo!, Robert Atwan’s “America Now” and ESPN. You can find Sandy frequently here at SLAMonline and via his website at About.Me/SandyDover.