10 NBA Players that Benefit From Trade 2017-18
10
Players That Can Benefit Most From a Trade 2017-18
By Kyle Crabbe
Follow on Twitter:@KthetruestKnick
Follow on Twitter:@KthetruestKnick
For some players in
the NBA a change of environment or playing in a new system can
maximize a player's talent and production. Every season and
off-season we see players change teams and reap great benefits from a
renewed situation. This year we have already seen players like Kyrie
Irving with the Boston Celtics and Victor Oladipo with the Indiana
Pacers take great advantage of new opportunities and are off to great
seasons in their new playing situations. Here on TrueFan, we looked
around the league and have found the top 10 players that can benefit
from a new opportunity. I based my decision's on a team's need, where
that player was likely to fit, and where their was a opportunity for
the player and team to succeed together.
10)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Position: SG
Size: 6'5, 205Lbs
Age: 24
Current
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2017-18
Stats: 23 Games Played, 34.5 Mins Per Game, 12.4 PER(Player
Efficiency Rating),13.7 Points Per Game, 5.0 Rebounds Per Game, 2.3
Assists Per Game, 1.7 Steals Per Game, .418% Field Goal Percentage,
.368% 3-Point Percentage, .705% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
Career Comp: Kerry Kittles
Possible
Great Fits: New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers,
Dallas Mavericks
Best
Fit: Dallas Mavericks
Potential
Role with Mavericks: Starting Shooting Guard
TrueFan
Take:
In my opinion,
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a very good starting shooting guard in
today's NBA. Pope has a great jumper he sports in the mid-range but
mostly is an excelling long range shooter. Pope is also a physical
shooting guard that makes contributions also on the defensive end,
citing his 1.7 steals per game. I believe that at this point in
Pope's career he is more of a mature player than the core of his
teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers. With that being the base of my
reasoning, I believe Pope can benefit from another situation where
the core of that team is more primed to compete sooner. A great fit
in my opinion would be with the Dallas Mavericks. There I believe
Pope could blend his talents well with 2012 lottery pick wingman SF
Harrison Barnes, and 3-and D SG Wesley Matthews. Also being a bigger
sized shooting guard, Pope would help defending in the backcourt with
the young undersized but uber-talented Point Guard Dennis Smith Jr.
With the addition of said Pope with a high draft pick to replace
aging legend Dirk Nowitzki with possibly Michigan State's Freshman
Power Forward Jaren Jackson Jr, Duke Freshman Bigman Wendell Carter,
or with Texas A&M Sophomore PF Robert Williams the Mavericks
could be well on their way to putting a entertaining competitive team
on the floor in 2018.
9)Trey
Burke
Position: PG
Size: 6'1, 190Lbs
Age: 25
Current
Team: Westchester Knicks
2017-18
G-League Stats: 14 Games Played, 36.9 Minutes Per Game, 23.7
PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 25.3 Points Per Game, 3.0 Rebounds Per
Game, 5.7 Assists Per Game, .506% Field Goal Percentage, .453%
3-Point Percentage, .815% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: PG Kemba Walker
Possible
Great Fits: Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers,
Phoenix Suns
TrueFan
Best Fit: Phoenix Suns
Potential
Role with Suns: Starting Point Guard
TrueFan
Take:
Trey Burke is a
former college player of the year, former high lottery pick and is a
talented offensive player. Burke is currently enjoying a great season
with the Westchester Knicks in the G-League where he has led the
Westchester Knicks to a top record and just was awarded G-League
Player of the Week(Week 5). Burke talents are he is a great leader
and consistent offensive contributor that brings a strong competitive
spirit to the game, he was compared to Chris Paul and Reymon Felton
entering the 2013 NBA Draft. Burke has showcased that same talent and
skill so far in his opportunity with the G-League Knicks. I believe
he would be a great fit and great addition for the Phoenix Suns. With
their starting point guard of the past few seasons being moved on to
the Milwaukee Bucks in Eric Bledsoe, I believe Burke can comfortably
fill that role and be a great backcourt mate for Suns best player and
young Franchise Player in SG Devin Booker. I believe the Suns have a
lot of good young talent on their roster but are missing a floor
leader to take the next step toward consistently competing in the
NBA. I believe this season could be a great opportunity for Burke to
prove he can consistently lead a young roster and make it through the
rigors of being a starting point guard in today's NBA game after
game.
8)
Garry Harris
Position: SG
Size: 6'4, 210Lbs
Age: 23
Current
Team: Denver Nuggets
2017-18
Stats: 24 Games Played, 33.5 Minutes Per Game, 15.6 PER(Player
Efficiency Rating), 15.4 Points Per Game, 2.9 Rebounds Per Game, 2.7
Assists Per Game, 1.8 Steals Per Game, 0.4 Blocks Per Game, .470%
Field Goal Percentage, .399% 3-Point Percentage, .791% Free Throw
Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: SG Hersey Hawkins
Possible
Great Fits: Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans,
Philadelphia 76ers
TrueFan
Best Fit: Philadelphia 76ers
Potential
Role with 76ers: Starting Shooting Guard
TrueFan Take:
In my opinion,
Denver Nuggets young Shooting Guard Gary Harris can benefit greatly
from playing with the Philadelphia 76ers. Harris is a young piece
that is an excellent perimeter shooter that can also defend well for
his position. At age 23 and starting to find his way in the league, I
believe Harris can be an excellent fit along the young nucleus in
Philadelphia. I believe his talents would blend very well with Ben
Simmons at the Small Forward Position, Dario Saric at the Power
Forward, Joel Embiid at the Center Position, and Markelle Fultz at
the Point Guard. Harris and Simmons would be great defensively
together as both are great at deflections and getting steals. And on
the offensive end Simmons' great passing ability( 7.8 Assists per
game) would mesh very well with Gary Harris shooting prowess. A trade
with Denver and Philadelphia could look like this with Denver
exchanging Gary Harris for Philadelphia's SG/SF Justin Anderson and
SF Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and I believe this deal could benefit
both teams in my opinion.
7)
Alex Len
Position: C
Size: 7'1, 255Lbs
Age: 24
Current
Team: Phoenix Suns
2017-18
Stats: 23 Games Played( 2 started), 22.2 Minutes Per Game,
18.4 PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 9.0 Points Per Game, 9.0 Rebounds
Per Game, 0.8 Assists Per Game, 0.3 Steals Per Game, 1.0 Blocks Per
Game, .507% Field Goal Percentage, .753% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: C Zydrunas IIgauskas
Possible
Great Fits: Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Washington
Wizards
TrueFan
Best Fit: Washington Wizards
Potential
Role with Wizards: Starting Center
TrueFan
Take:
I see Center Alex
Len as a young international bigman that is starting to find his way
in the NBA. In his 5th season Len is averaging career
bests in scoring and in rebounds per game. I feel in Phoenix with
there being quite a few big men that are vying for playing time,
Len's career could benefit from a change where he can play more
consistent minutes. Len is a athletic Big that can fill the lane well
with soft hands and is a underappreciated rebounder that is an
effective rim protector on the defensive end. I believe a trade to
Washington would be a great fit. Len would instantly make the Wizards
a better defensive team and take their team as a whole to another
level. Len could also be the long-term solution at Center on this
Wizards team's built around Franchise Point Guard John Wall and
All-Star Shooting Guard Bradley Beal. Len would be a great pick and
roll partner for PG John Wall and would set effective screens to free
up sharp shooting SG Bradley Beal. I believe a trade of a Lottery
Protected 1st Round Pick and PF Chris McCullough for Len
would be a deal both the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns could
benefit from and get done.
6)
Dante Exum
Position: PG/SG
Size: 6'6, 196Lbs
Age: 22
Current
Team: Utah Jazz
2017-18
Stats: N/A, Out Indefinitely with a Shoulder Injury
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: PG/SG Derek Harper
Possible
Great Fits: Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers
TrueFan
Best Fit: Indiana Pacers
Potential
Role with Pacers: Starting and Future Point Guard
TrueFan
Take:
I feel the Indiana
Pacers have put together a great young team that can now be built
around future All-Star Shooting Guard Victor Oladipo. For young Utah
Jazz Guard Dante Exum I believe young rookie Guard Donovan Mitchell
great 2017 performances might of overtaken Exum's position on the
Utah Jazz in light of his recent injuries. So I believe for both the
Utah Jazz and Dante Exum, a move might benefit both parties. Exum has
been injury prone in his young career with the Utah Jazz but the 5th
overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft has a lot of talent and is still
very young and growing. At age 22 in my opinion, Exum still has a
very promising future in the NBA. Exum is a big Guard at 6'6 that can
both score the ball and can play a effective passing point guard
position. Exum is a unselfish player and would benefit playing
alongside another playmaking guard like a Victor Oladipo. I believe
Exum and Oladipo could form a great backcourt in Indiana and make the
Pacers a perennial playoff contender in the future Eastern Conference
if Exum is to join the Pacers at some point. I believe a trade
involving PG Edmond Sumner, PG Cory Joseph, and PF T.J Leaf for PG/SG
Dante Exum would be a trade that could benefit all parties here in my
opinion.
5)
Dragan Bender
Position: SF/PF
Size: 7'1, 225Lbs
Age: 20
Current
Team: Phoenix Suns
2017-18
Stats: 28 Games Played( 1 Game Started), 20.0 Minutes Per
Game, 7.0 PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 4.9 Points Per Game, 3.2
Rebounds Per Game, 0.9 Assists Per Game, 0.3 Steals Per Game, 0.7
Blocks Per Game, .367% Field Goal Percentage, .357% 3-Point
Percentage, .750% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: SF Hedo Turkoglu
Possible
Great Fits: New Orleans Pelicans, Detroit Pistons
TrueFan
Best Fit: New Orleans Pelicans
Potential
Role with Pelicans: Starting Small Forward
TrueFan
Take:
Dragan Bender is
another very young player that is just starting to get his feel for
the NBA game. Bender a once highly touted international prospect of
the 2016th Draft( 4th overall selection), being
hyped to the likes of NY Knicks Young Phenom Kristaps Porzingis for
his offensive ability and talent for a 7' footer. Bender has a great
shooting touch and a array of ways to put the ball in the basket.
Bender also has a high offensive basketball IQ and makes good passes
and smart plays. However the Suns don't have much minutes to offer
Bender with the likes of young talents they have playing in similar
positions in Rookie SF Josh Jackson, SF TJ Warren, PF Marquese
Chriss, and PF/C Greg Monroe. I feel that the New Orleans Pelicans
could take their current roster to the next level by adding a talent
like Bender to their team. I believe Bender's skills would fit well
with the great dual bigman tandem of the Pelicans in PF/C Anthony
Davis and PF/C DeMarcus Cousins. Bender could be an additional
playmaker as well as spread the floor for the two and in addition do
the same for Pelican Point Guards Rajan Rondo and Jrue Holiday. A
trade in my opinion of SF/PF Dante Cunningham, PG Frank Jackson and a
Top 5 Protected Draft Pick for Dragan Bender would be a great deal to
help both promising teams' futures.
4)
Mario Hezonja
Position: SG
Size: 6'8, 200Lbs
Age: 22
Current
Team: Orlando Magic
2017-18
Stats: 21 Games Played( 1 Game Started), 10.9 Minutes Per
Game, 7.3 PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 3.0 Points Per Game, 2.0
Rebounds Per Game, 0.7 Assists Per Game, 0.4 Steals Per Game, 0.1
Blocks Per Game, .406% Field Goal Percentage, .300% 3-Point
Percentage, .750% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: SG Rex Chapman
Possible
Great Fits: Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks,
Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers
TrueFan
Best Fit: Los Angeles Lakers
Potential
Role with Lakers: Starting Shooting Guard
TrueFan
Take:
Orlando Magic young
Shooting Guard Mario Hezonja is a exciting player that I believe just
needs more minutes to prove how talented he really is. Hezonja was
the 5th Selection in the 2015 NBA Draft right after Knicks
selected Kristaps Porzingis. Hezonja was labeled as having the best
jump shot of the prospects in that 2015 Draft. Hezonja's game is very
comparable to Cavaliers Shooting Guard Jr Smith where he has a
excellent combination of offensive athleticism and unconscious
shooting ability. At 6'8 he poses as a great offensive weapon if
developed and given the right opportunity in my opinion. Therefore I
believe a great place for Mario to showcase his talents would be with
the Los Angeles Lakers in a backcourt with Lakers young Point Guard
Lonzo Ball. With Ball's great passing ability and Hezonja's great
shooting ability and athleticism they could make for a dangerous and
exciting tandem in LA. And with Ball being 6'6 and Hezonja 6'8, in
the right defensive scheme they can be a elite defensive backcourt as
well. With the Lakers not owning their next first round draft pick, I
believe they might have to find a third team to partner up with or
they might have to part ways with one of their great young pieces
such as SG Jordan Clarkson, PF/C Julius Randle or PF Larry Nance Jr
to make this deal happen with the Orlando Magic. But if this deal
happen's I believe the Lakers might have a special and exciting
backcourt for many years to come.
3)
Julius Randle
Position: PF
Size: 6'9, 250Lbs
Age: 23
Current
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
2017-18
Stats: 25 Games Played, 22.4 Minutes Per Game, 17.0 PER(Player
Efficiency Rating), 12.4 Points Per Game, 6.3 Rebounds Per Game, 1.8
Assists Per Game, 0.5 Steals Per Game, 0.8 Blocks Per Game, .551%
Field Goal Percentage, .208% 3-Point Percentage, .663% Free Throw
Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: PF David Lee
Possible
Great Fits: Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston
Celtics, Dallas Mavericks
TrueFan
Best Fit: Sacramento Kings
Potential
Role with Kings: Starting and Future Power Forward
TrueFan
Take:
Los Angeles Lakers
young Power Forward Julius Randle is a very talented and promising
bigman in my opinion. Randle is the former 7th overall
pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Randle has a very skillful game where he
can grab the ball off the glass, bring the ball up the court, and
make plays for him or his teammates. His game is comparable to
recently retired PF David Lee, whereas he can potentially average a
double-double every game given his rebounding prowess and offensive
skill set. Randle is a natural lefty that has a non-stop motor and
powerful athleticism. Randle came into the NBA with potential
rivaling former great Power Forward's Shawn Kemp and Chris Webber.
And to that Chris Webber comparison I believe Randle might have a
better opportunity to show off his considerable talent in a city that
Webber played in and dominated, in Sacramento. With the Sacramento
Kings I believe Randle would join fellow former Kentucky WildCat and
John Calipri product in Rookie Point Guard De'Aaron Fox. I believe
that they share the quality of endless energy and would form an
incredible pick and roll tandem similar to that off 1990's Seattle
SuperSonics teams with PG Gary Payton and PF Shawn Kemp. The speed
that these two together would bring to the game would be breakneck
and very entertaining. But, I also do believe that Randle could make
out fine in the pick-n-roll combination in Los Angeles with PG Lonzo
Ball if he is given more minutes with Ball and the Lakers are willing
to commit to Randle as a long-term piece. To get this deal done that
could benefit both teams I believe the Kings would have to part ways
with a 1st Round Pick in addition to PF Harry Giles and PF
Skal Labissiere and maybe have to take on the contracts of either SF
Luol Deng or C Brook Lopez to make the Lakers part ways with such a
talented young player in Julius Randle.
2)
Justice Winslow
Position: SF
Size: 6'7, 220Lbs
Age: 21
Current
Team: Miami Heat
2017-18
Stats: 25 Games Played( 15 Games Started), 23.2 Minutes Per
Game, 11.4 PER(Player Efficiency Rating), 6.9 Points Per Game, 5.6
Rebounds Per Game, 1.8 Assists Per Game, 0.7 Steals Per Game, 0.4
Blocks Per Game, .429% Field Goal Percentage, .385% 3-Point
Percentage, .654% Free Throw Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: SG/SF Andre Iguodala
Possible
Great Fits: New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz
TrueFan
Best Fit: Utah Jazz
Potential
Role with Jazz: Starting and Future Small Forward
TrueFan
Take:
Miami Heat Small
Forward Justice Winslow in my opinion is a talented young player that
is in need of a team that will give him the opportunity to take on
more responsibility. Winslow is the former 10th overall
pick of the 2015th Draft and member of the 2015-16
All-Rookie Team. Winslow after taking steps further in his second
season, averaging 34.7 minutes per game, 10.9 Points per game, 5.2
rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, 1.4 steals per game, on 12.5
shot attempts per game; compared to so far this season thru 27 games
this season averaging 22.6 minutes per game, 6.6 points per game, 5.4
rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, on 6.3
shot attempts per game. I believe the regression has come because of
Winslow injuries as well as the heat have a lot of talent that plays
similar positions to Winslow. I believe Winslow is a Andre Iguodala
type player and has to be put in position to allow all his abilities
and talents to show. I believe Winslow is a jack of all trades
caliber player and can do almost everything on the basketball court a
good or better than average ability. So I believe a trade to the Utah
Jazz could greatly benefit not only the Miami Heat but could greatly
improve Winslow's performance. Whereas the Jazz just lost their
Franchise Small Forward in Gordon Heyward to the Boston Celtics this
past off-season, I believe Winslow would make a great fit in that
position vacated by Heyward. I believe Winslow would mesh extremely
well with players such as PG Ricky Rubio, SG Donovan Mitchell, PF
Derrick Favors, and C Rudy Gobert; especially on the defensive end. A
Jazz team with Rubio, Mitchell and Winslow defending the perimeter
with Gobert protecting the paint could be a nightmare for opposing
offenses and a truly elite defensive squad for many years to come. I
believe the Jazz in Justice Winslow would get a player like former
Utah Jazz Star SF Andrei Kirilenko in being a elite all-around player
as their best player. To make a deal between these two teams that I
believe could benefit both teams and all players involved the Jazz
could give up SG Rodney Hood and a 1st Round Pick for SF
Justice Winslow.
1)
Emmanuel Mudiay
Position: PG
Size: 6'5,
200Lbs
Age: 21
Current
Team: Denver Nuggets
2017-18
Stats: 26 Games Played, 22.0 Minutes Per Game, 12.3 PER(Player
Efficiency Rating), 10.3 Points Per Game, 2.8 Rebounds Per Game, 3.3
Assists Per Game, 0.6 Steals Per Game, 0.1 Blocks Per Game, .397%
Field Goal Percentage, .419% 3-Point Percentage, .788% Free Throw
Percentage
TrueFan
NBA Comparison: PG Rod Strickland
Possible
Great Fits: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit
Pistons
TrueFan
Best Fit: Los Angeles Clippers
Potential
Role with Clippers: Starting
and Franchise Point Guard
TrueFan
Take:
I believe Denver
Nuggets Point Guard Emmanuel Mudiay has not had the opportunity to
show the NBA how great the young guard can be. Once touted as the
best point guard prospect since Derrick Rose and the best prospect of
the 2015 draft, the former 2015 7th overall pick has seen
his minutes and hence opportunity decrease every year since Mudiay
entered the league. The Nuggets franchise has drafted point guards
behind Mudiay in each draft since selecting the young Texas Prep
School Star in 2015. Mudiay once described as a young John Wall and
spoken of as the best young point guard prospect he ever seen by
Legendary Head Coach Larry Brown, shows just the level of talent and
potential Mudiay possesses. Mudiay, a physical 6'5 Point Guard with
great court vision and derrick rose like ability to get to the
basket, in my opinion still has the tools to be a Franchise Point
Guard in the NBA. Unfortunately, I believe that in Denver he might
not be able to reach anything close to his full potential especially
with current young point guard Jamal Murray playing promising and
well at that position right now for the Nuggets. Mudiay has seen his
minutes and playing time dip every year in his first three seasons
with the Denver Nuggets, from 30.4 minutes a game in 2015, to 25.6
minutes per game in 2016, to this season only logging 21.1 minutes
per game. But I feel that with the Los Angeles Clippers Mudiay can
have a excellent opportunity to begin to chip away at his enormous
potential. In my opinion Emmanuel Mudiay would be a great fit along
with the Clippers current frontcourt in PF Blake Griffin and C
DeAndre Jordan. I feel Mudiay would be an excellent pick-n-roll
partner with Blake Griffin for his ability to break down the defense,
get in the paint with his excellent court vision and throw lops and
perfect feeds to Griffin for easy baskets. He would also be able to
get C DeAndre Jordan some of the same easy baskets PG Chris Paul laid
out to Jordan for years with the Clippers. I feel like a trade
between these two teams could greatly benefit both franchises. For
Mudiay it would give him a opportunity to realize his potential under
a great point guard coach in LA Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers(
former NBA Point Guard) and it would allow for the Nuggets to have
more direction for the minutes available for their backcourt players.
I believe a deal that could greatly change the future fortunes of
both the Clippers and the Nuggets would be a deal where the Nuggets
send both PG Emmanuel Mudiay and PF Kenneth Faried to the Clippers
for PG/SG Lou Williams, PG Jawun Evans, PF Brice Johnson, and 2020
Lottery Protected 1st Round Pick.
TrueFan
Final Take:
Now that the date
has passed where players that signed in the off-season can now be
part of trade deals( as of Dec 15th) we can expect a few
deals to go down in the coming weeks in the NBA. Here were a few
trades I feel can benefit the teams involve, let's see what trades
and transactions the 2017-18 NBA season will bring us.
Thanks For Viewing
Thanks For Viewing
Also Check out our weekly podcast
Best Urban Sports Conversations
Change Of Pace Sports With Alternative Views
Follow on Twitter:@PaceofSportsTks
Weekly Content Giving A Change to the Common Pace of Sports Talk
On Youtube: Search " Change of Pace Sports"
Listen, Comment, and Subscribe
Comments
Post a Comment