What big name players in the NBA could change teams in 2017?
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The NBA trade deadline occurred last week and was one of the more quiet ones in recent memory. Outside of DeMarcus Cousins, there were not many big name players that changed teams. Players like Jimmy Butler, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony are all names that have come up in trade conversations.
For now these players cannot change teams during the season, but the offseason is another story. Let’s take a look at where these player can end up during the offseason.
Paul George
George, the small forward for the Indiana Pacers, is probably the most likely of the three players to change teams. The Pacers have never recovered from when George broke his leg before the 2014 NBA season while playing for team USA. They are currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and George is only under contract for two more seasons until he hits free agency. The time is not for the Pacers to trade George and rebuild.
George is still relatively young, 26, but has a lot of playoff experience, 61 games. These are characteristics that intrigue the Boston Celtics. Have an extremely young team and is building though the draft. They are one of the up and coming teams in the NBA but lack playoff experience. George is young enough to fit in with the Celtics and provide the playoff experience the young team lacks.
Currently, the Celtics have Jae Crowder (12.4 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game) at small forward, and he has not lived up to expectation. He is shooting below 50% from the field and only makes two three pointers per game. George would be a huge upgrade over Crowder, who could be used as depth.
Jimmy Butler
Even though the Chicago Bulls are the seventh seed in the East, they need to keep Jimmy Butler. The small forward broke out during the 2014-15 season when he had his first All-Star season. Butler is under contract until the 2020 season and keeps getting better. Since 2014 Butler’s PPG has increased from 13.1 to 24.4 this season and has increased every season. The Bulls added point guard Rajon Rondo and shooting guard Dwyane Wade this past offseason and have not meshed well with Butler so far.
Going forward the Bulls should look to pair a playmaking point guard and a power forward/center with Butler. Since Bulter is under contract until 2020, they have time to build that team. They could target someone like point guard Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder and center Hassan Whiteside from the Miami Heat. Westbrook (30.8 PPG) is one of the best scoring point guards in the league and Whiteside (2 blocks and rebound per game) is one of the best defenders. Butler, Westbrook, and Whiteside could work out really well for the Bulls.
Carmelo Anthony
The New York Knicks are a mess right now and are five games out of a playoff spot. Carmelo Anthony has expressed interest in being traded specifically to a contender.
Anthony has been in the NBA for 13 years, but has never won a NBA Title. He has also played on many USA men’s basketball teams with LeBron James and two of them have experienced interest in playing with each other in the NBA. The Cavaliers have been connected with the Knicks in a trade for Carmelo Anthony. However, the only way that would happen is if Kevin Love is a part of the trade. It is definitely possible, but it will come down to who James wants to play more with. Even if the two teams cannot work out a trade, the Knicks need to move on from Anthony.
