NBA Trade Ideas to Create the Next Superteamshttps://t.co/imtHNuTW1k via @BleacherReport
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) September 12, 2020
The Deal
L.A. Lakers Get: Chris Paul, two 2020 second-round picks from PHI
Oklahoma City Gets: Danny Green, Mike Scott, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Zhaire Smith, 2020 No. 21 pick from PHI
Philadelphia Gets: Kyle Kuzma, Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker
Why Los Angeles Does It
This is contingent on the Los Angeles Lakers’ falling short of the title. Paul gives the Lakers the backcourt presence they need in addition to playmaking when LeBron sits. While Anthony Davis is one of the NBA’s best at filling up the box score, he has always struggled to get his own shots—he was assisted on 63.2 percent of his made buckets in 2019-20, 65.3 in 2018-19 and 71.5 in 2017-18.
While this transaction makes the Lakers almost untenably top-heavy, agent-turned-front office executive Rob Pelinka has shown a penchant for attracting veterans to Los Angeles on meager deals. The Lakers also keep their 28th pick, which can be flipped for another veteran.
Why Oklahoma City Does It
This is all about dumping Paul’s exorbitant salary while still selling the transaction as a win. The Oklahoma City Thunder can move Danny Green and Caldwell-Pope at next year’s trade deadline for additional assets, and they get this year’s 21st pick while turning the keys over to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Why Philadelphia Does It
The Philadelphia 76ers don’t lose much while adding a volume scorer on the wing in Kuzma plus a veteran presence in the backcourt in Bradley. To achieve this, the Sixers dump a late first-rounder and a couple of second-round selections they probably weren’t going to use anyway.
I like the variation of this deal I proposed, which was a straight up trade of Green, Bradley, KCP, and McGee for CP3. No reason to include Philly and give up Kuzma. We’re saving OKC $50 million by taking on CP3 contract and giving them expiring contracts.
We don’t need Chris Paul. Not at his age, cost or role.