With the NBA trade deadline looming the media has pumped out articles discussing where and how Kevin Love, Danillo Gallinari, Robert Covington, Andre Drummond, and Derrick Rose will all be traded.
I smell a weak trade deadline with limited transactions. As a result I do expect the few waiver-wire players that are available to be signed. The players I will point out and discuss can all have a positive impact as a rotation player or better on a top level playoff team.
Jeff Green (PF/SF) - The solid all-around swingman and stretch power-forward was waived
earlier this season on a team that had no use for him. Fast forward to present day and you have plenty of playoff caliber teams that could surely use the combo forwards skillset and veteran leadership, especially on the offensive end of the court. The Sixers, Nets, Magic, Thunder could all be buy low options, and depending on certain trades and roster moves made in the next two weeks teams like the Lakers and Rockets could also end up as options. Green could provide a solid 20+ minutes a night off the bench at either forward spot as a versatile player that can hit the three and play off the ball.
Kenneth Faried (PF/C) - What happened to Faried? The Rockets waived him earlier this year deciding to go with more traditional backup centers in Tyson Chandler and Nene, but that doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't belong on an NBA roster. He is a small ball Center that would fill in nicely off the bench to grab boards and bring energy. I'm sure he finds a roster spot somewhere.
Joakim Noah (C) - This 6'11" Center is still available surprisingly, after showing last year he was still a great backup center. Averaging 7.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.1apg, 0.5spg, 0.7bpg in just 16.5 minutes (an 18.6 PER) last year proved he was still one of the most efficient NBA centers in the league. He's a savvy veteran, a great screen setter, a vocal leader, and a pest on the court. I'm surprised he's not been called by a team sooner, but unless he personally feels like retiring we will see him wearing an NBA jersey soon, Dallas and Boston, among others, could still pick him up.
Iman Shumpert (SG/SF) - This aged veteran was on a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier this year, and though he played decent they decided to continue with their youth development. Shumpert remains a solid 3 and D sort of option on the wing, but his 3-point shot is so sporadic it's hard to truly label him "3 and D". Still a good defender and role player, I imagine a team could come calling for some defensive minutes on the wing. I'm not sold on Shumpert though as his career might be over. Lacking the scoring ability others have could be his falling out.
JR Smith (SG/SF) - We all know this guy is one of the best 3-point shooters of this decade, although he is extremely streaky. But when he is hot I'm not sure I'd rather have anyone outside of JJ Reddick wide open spacing the floor for me. I could see the Sixers show strong interest, but JR's attitude and whether he affects the team's chemistry is the only thing that remains questionable.
Darren Collison (PG) - About a month ago it surfaced that Collison was looking at coming out of his early retirement from last summer to sign with one of the LA teams. I suspect he will declare he's available in the next week or two, and I see no shortage of suitors. The Lakers seem like the perfect fit. He's an LA native interested in staying home and playing on a championship contender while the Lakers could use an upgrade at their point-guard spot in terms of efficiency and defense. Rondo has held down the fort respectfully, but I believe they will sign Collison in the coming weeks (assuming they don't make a move for Derrick Rose or another PG on the market). Collison should see 20 minutes a night and help the Lakers on both ends from that PG spot off the bench.
Last but not least, the man that can play in the NBA until he's 55+
Jamal Crawford (SG/PG) - That's right. The multiple time 6th Man Of The Year champion is 40 years old nearly, but he will be able to score 10 points a game as long as he breathes. Now I'm not sure how positive his impact would be on a playoff contender, if positive at all, but his ability to create for himself and others goes unmatched. Didn't he put up 50 points last year for Phoenix or something to that tune?
Shout out to Jared Cunningham, Jeryd Bayless, and Shaun Livingston who could all be on a roster soon.
I smell a weak trade deadline with limited transactions. As a result I do expect the few waiver-wire players that are available to be signed. The players I will point out and discuss can all have a positive impact as a rotation player or better on a top level playoff team.
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| Green averaged 12.7 points per game last season |
Jeff Green (PF/SF) - The solid all-around swingman and stretch power-forward was waived
earlier this season on a team that had no use for him. Fast forward to present day and you have plenty of playoff caliber teams that could surely use the combo forwards skillset and veteran leadership, especially on the offensive end of the court. The Sixers, Nets, Magic, Thunder could all be buy low options, and depending on certain trades and roster moves made in the next two weeks teams like the Lakers and Rockets could also end up as options. Green could provide a solid 20+ minutes a night off the bench at either forward spot as a versatile player that can hit the three and play off the ball.
Kenneth Faried (PF/C) - What happened to Faried? The Rockets waived him earlier this year deciding to go with more traditional backup centers in Tyson Chandler and Nene, but that doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't belong on an NBA roster. He is a small ball Center that would fill in nicely off the bench to grab boards and bring energy. I'm sure he finds a roster spot somewhere.
Joakim Noah (C) - This 6'11" Center is still available surprisingly, after showing last year he was still a great backup center. Averaging 7.1ppg, 5.7rpg, 2.1apg, 0.5spg, 0.7bpg in just 16.5 minutes (an 18.6 PER) last year proved he was still one of the most efficient NBA centers in the league. He's a savvy veteran, a great screen setter, a vocal leader, and a pest on the court. I'm surprised he's not been called by a team sooner, but unless he personally feels like retiring we will see him wearing an NBA jersey soon, Dallas and Boston, among others, could still pick him up.
Iman Shumpert (SG/SF) - This aged veteran was on a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier this year, and though he played decent they decided to continue with their youth development. Shumpert remains a solid 3 and D sort of option on the wing, but his 3-point shot is so sporadic it's hard to truly label him "3 and D". Still a good defender and role player, I imagine a team could come calling for some defensive minutes on the wing. I'm not sold on Shumpert though as his career might be over. Lacking the scoring ability others have could be his falling out.
JR Smith (SG/SF) - We all know this guy is one of the best 3-point shooters of this decade, although he is extremely streaky. But when he is hot I'm not sure I'd rather have anyone outside of JJ Reddick wide open spacing the floor for me. I could see the Sixers show strong interest, but JR's attitude and whether he affects the team's chemistry is the only thing that remains questionable.
Darren Collison (PG) - About a month ago it surfaced that Collison was looking at coming out of his early retirement from last summer to sign with one of the LA teams. I suspect he will declare he's available in the next week or two, and I see no shortage of suitors. The Lakers seem like the perfect fit. He's an LA native interested in staying home and playing on a championship contender while the Lakers could use an upgrade at their point-guard spot in terms of efficiency and defense. Rondo has held down the fort respectfully, but I believe they will sign Collison in the coming weeks (assuming they don't make a move for Derrick Rose or another PG on the market). Collison should see 20 minutes a night and help the Lakers on both ends from that PG spot off the bench.
Last but not least, the man that can play in the NBA until he's 55+
Jamal Crawford (SG/PG) - That's right. The multiple time 6th Man Of The Year champion is 40 years old nearly, but he will be able to score 10 points a game as long as he breathes. Now I'm not sure how positive his impact would be on a playoff contender, if positive at all, but his ability to create for himself and others goes unmatched. Didn't he put up 50 points last year for Phoenix or something to that tune?
Shout out to Jared Cunningham, Jeryd Bayless, and Shaun Livingston who could all be on a roster soon.
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