One Trade That Every Team Should Do
Los Angeles Clippers get: SG/SF Arron Afflalo, SG Randy Foye
Denver gets: SF Otto Porter, C Kevin Seraphin, SG C.J Wilcox, Washington’s 2015 second-rounder
Washington gets: SG/PG Jamal Crawford, SF Matt Barnes
Finances: This one gets a little crazy, as Seraphin is the only obvious cap filler, with a $3.9 million expiring contract. Afflalo is due for $15.3 million in each of the next two seasons, while Foye is due for $6.1 million in that span. Porter and Wilcox are on their respective rookie deals, though Porter is due for $4.5 million while there’s just $1.1 million for Wilcox. Crawford and Barnes have two year deals, each with team options on the second year, worth a total of $11.1 and $7 million, respectively. All contracts in this trade are particularly good ones, and this deal is more about addressing needs for the teams rather than the finances.
The Fit: A star small forward has been on the Clippers’ wish list for awhile now, and though they have to part with former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, this trade is well worth it. Crawford is one of the Clippers’ few shot-creators, as he’s averaging 16 points and 2 threes per game, but Foye can replace him as the sixth man should a deal like this go through. The C.J Wilcox pick, with such a glaring need for depth up front and a surplus of it in the backcourt, made little sense from the start, and he hasn’t been utilized much in his rookie season. Barnes is more of just an energy guy than anything else, though he does provide some key floor spacing. This can be easily replaced by Foye, who’s averaging a three a game himself. Landing Afflalo is the main prize of this deal, and he should be with averages of 14.5 points and 1.5 threes a game. Throwing away someone like Wilcox, who has little value to the Clippers anyways, in order to upgrade from the aging Crawford to Afflalo and from Barnes to Foye, all while improving their small forward position, makes plenty of sense for the Clippers.
Why the other teams do it: As a young team looking to get future assets for its veterans, this deal makes plenty of sense for Denver. Though both Wilcox and Porter have been disappointing as they transition to the pros, both have potential and could probably benefit from a change of scenery. Seraphin will likely not stay longer than one year, as he’s just in the deal to make the finances work, and the second-rounder will just be thrown on top of the pile of draft picks that the Nuggets are looking to add to. For the Wizards, they get key backcourt depth in this trade, while giving up rather meaningless assets. Porter has just been a failed experiment from the start, and Seraphin is just a role player that can be easily replaced up front. The second-rounder also means next-to-nothing for a team looking to make a playoff run, so this has to be a steal for the Wizards when you consider what their getting in this trade. Barnes is a physical, high-energy guy who can also space the floor, as he’s knocking down 1.6 threes this year, as part of his 10 points per game. Crawford can do a lot to help shore up Washington’s backcourt depth, which was already hurting before star SG Bradley Beal’s latest injury added fuel to the fire. He can play both guard spots, behind Beal as well as superstar PG John Wall, and can step up as a starter while Beal is injured. Averaging 16 points and 2 threes a game, Crawford can compete for his third Sixth Man of the Year award once Beal returns.
Los Angeles Clippers get: SG/SF Arron Afflalo, SG Randy Foye
Denver gets: SF Otto Porter, C Kevin Seraphin, SG C.J Wilcox, Washington’s 2015 second-rounder
Washington gets: SG/PG Jamal Crawford, SF Matt Barnes
Finances: This one gets a little crazy, as Seraphin is the only obvious cap filler, with a $3.9 million expiring contract. Afflalo is due for $15.3 million in each of the next two seasons, while Foye is due for $6.1 million in that span. Porter and Wilcox are on their respective rookie deals, though Porter is due for $4.5 million while there’s just $1.1 million for Wilcox. Crawford and Barnes have two year deals, each with team options on the second year, worth a total of $11.1 and $7 million, respectively. All contracts in this trade are particularly good ones, and this deal is more about addressing needs for the teams rather than the finances.
The Fit: A star small forward has been on the Clippers’ wish list for awhile now, and though they have to part with former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, this trade is well worth it. Crawford is one of the Clippers’ few shot-creators, as he’s averaging 16 points and 2 threes per game, but Foye can replace him as the sixth man should a deal like this go through. The C.J Wilcox pick, with such a glaring need for depth up front and a surplus of it in the backcourt, made little sense from the start, and he hasn’t been utilized much in his rookie season. Barnes is more of just an energy guy than anything else, though he does provide some key floor spacing. This can be easily replaced by Foye, who’s averaging a three a game himself. Landing Afflalo is the main prize of this deal, and he should be with averages of 14.5 points and 1.5 threes a game. Throwing away someone like Wilcox, who has little value to the Clippers anyways, in order to upgrade from the aging Crawford to Afflalo and from Barnes to Foye, all while improving their small forward position, makes plenty of sense for the Clippers.
Why the other teams do it: As a young team looking to get future assets for its veterans, this deal makes plenty of sense for Denver. Though both Wilcox and Porter have been disappointing as they transition to the pros, both have potential and could probably benefit from a change of scenery. Seraphin will likely not stay longer than one year, as he’s just in the deal to make the finances work, and the second-rounder will just be thrown on top of the pile of draft picks that the Nuggets are looking to add to. For the Wizards, they get key backcourt depth in this trade, while giving up rather meaningless assets. Porter has just been a failed experiment from the start, and Seraphin is just a role player that can be easily replaced up front. The second-rounder also means next-to-nothing for a team looking to make a playoff run, so this has to be a steal for the Wizards when you consider what their getting in this trade. Barnes is a physical, high-energy guy who can also space the floor, as he’s knocking down 1.6 threes this year, as part of his 10 points per game. Crawford can do a lot to help shore up Washington’s backcourt depth, which was already hurting before star SG Bradley Beal’s latest injury added fuel to the fire. He can play both guard spots, behind Beal as well as superstar PG John Wall, and can step up as a starter while Beal is injured. Averaging 16 points and 2 threes a game, Crawford can compete for his third Sixth Man of the Year award once Beal returns.