One Trade That Every Team Should Do
Miami gets: SG/SF Arron Afflalo, PG Erick Green
Denver gets: PG Shabazz Napier, C Chris Andersen, Philadelphia’s 2015 second-rounder
Finances: It is hard to call someone as key to two title teams’ success as Andersen was a “cap-filler”, but that’s pretty much what he is in this trade, as he’s due for a slightly pricey $10.3 million over the next two years. He’s involved in order to even out Afflalo’s contract, whose current two year contract is worth $15.3 million. Napier and Green are on rookie deals, worth $1.2 million and $500,000 respectively, though Green is more of a benchwarmer while Napier is a role player in just his rookie season. Andersen and Afflalo are the only major deals in this trade, and they’re involved to cancel each other’s contracts out.
The Fit: Miami has been lacking a quality backup to star SG Dwyane Wade all season, and Afflalo represents more than just a quality backup. Averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 threes per game, Afflalo can also shift over to backup SF Luol Deng. Having a player of Afflalo’s caliber gives the Heat a much-needed second-unit scorer, as well as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Losing Napier hurts, but the rookie was really only traded for in the failed attempt to keep superstar SF/PF LeBron James (CLE) in South Beach. Green can come in and play as the third stringer behind PG’s Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole to almost the same affect that Napier was. The loss of Andersen hurts a lot less with the emergence of C/PF Hassan Whiteside, and a second-rounder shouldn’t cause Miami to lose sleep at night, as they are looking to build a title contender in 2016. There are some lost assets in this deal that do hurt, but it is well worth it to bring in the likes of Arron Afflalo.
Why the other team does it: Denver is a rebuilding team, who is shopping the likes of Afflalo, among others, in exchange for young players and draft picks. Though Andersen’s contract runs into next year, it shouldn’t be a problem as the Nuggets will likely have a ton of cap space anyways. The young players and draft picks come in the form of Napier and the second-rounder, respectively. Napier is a two-time champion at UConn, and can bring a winning pedigree as well as potential to a Nuggets team that lacks the former, even in his rookie year. The second-rounder is really more of a first-rounder, as the pick is from Philadelphia, making it a very early second-round selection. This package for Afflalo is a nice one, and it really helps get the rebuild underway in Denver.
Miami gets: SG/SF Arron Afflalo, PG Erick Green
Denver gets: PG Shabazz Napier, C Chris Andersen, Philadelphia’s 2015 second-rounder
Finances: It is hard to call someone as key to two title teams’ success as Andersen was a “cap-filler”, but that’s pretty much what he is in this trade, as he’s due for a slightly pricey $10.3 million over the next two years. He’s involved in order to even out Afflalo’s contract, whose current two year contract is worth $15.3 million. Napier and Green are on rookie deals, worth $1.2 million and $500,000 respectively, though Green is more of a benchwarmer while Napier is a role player in just his rookie season. Andersen and Afflalo are the only major deals in this trade, and they’re involved to cancel each other’s contracts out.
The Fit: Miami has been lacking a quality backup to star SG Dwyane Wade all season, and Afflalo represents more than just a quality backup. Averaging 14.5 points and 1.5 threes per game, Afflalo can also shift over to backup SF Luol Deng. Having a player of Afflalo’s caliber gives the Heat a much-needed second-unit scorer, as well as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Losing Napier hurts, but the rookie was really only traded for in the failed attempt to keep superstar SF/PF LeBron James (CLE) in South Beach. Green can come in and play as the third stringer behind PG’s Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole to almost the same affect that Napier was. The loss of Andersen hurts a lot less with the emergence of C/PF Hassan Whiteside, and a second-rounder shouldn’t cause Miami to lose sleep at night, as they are looking to build a title contender in 2016. There are some lost assets in this deal that do hurt, but it is well worth it to bring in the likes of Arron Afflalo.
Why the other team does it: Denver is a rebuilding team, who is shopping the likes of Afflalo, among others, in exchange for young players and draft picks. Though Andersen’s contract runs into next year, it shouldn’t be a problem as the Nuggets will likely have a ton of cap space anyways. The young players and draft picks come in the form of Napier and the second-rounder, respectively. Napier is a two-time champion at UConn, and can bring a winning pedigree as well as potential to a Nuggets team that lacks the former, even in his rookie year. The second-rounder is really more of a first-rounder, as the pick is from Philadelphia, making it a very early second-round selection. This package for Afflalo is a nice one, and it really helps get the rebuild underway in Denver.