Northwest Division Trade Candidates

Whether the NBA season is canceled or not, the question every fan wonders is how their team will fare during free agency, whenever that eventually occurs.

Going division by division, I will identify one player from every team that will most likely be traded this offseason. Let’s start with the Northwest Division.

Oklahoma City Thunder- Chris Paul

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the most unique teams in the league. Before the season began OKC had a 0.2 percent chance of making the playoffs. Now, the team holds the 5th seed in the competitive Western Conference. Chris Paul’s resurgent year molded this team into a playoff dark horse.

Despite his return to form, Paul will almost inevitably be traded away from Oklahoma City eventually. No one expected the Thunder to be in the position they are. In the eyes of the front office, Chris Paul’s main purpose is to mentor young guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; anything else is complementary.

Providing the ringers with playoff experience is like general manager Sam Presti getting a pickle on the side with his sandwich at the deli. He definitely did not ask for it but he’ll take it.

After this strange season concludes, I believe Chris Paul will be shipped out of OKC. Perhaps he’ll end up in LA, where he could team up with longtime friend LeBron and attempt to score his first championship ring, although the math here would be quite complicated.

When Paul is eventually traded, this team will enter a rebuilding phase, but with a jumpstart due to this unanticipated season of triumph. OKC will build around Gilgeous-Alexander, who has the potential of a franchise player. The possibility of Steven Adams being traded away is plausible, but I would not be surprised if the Thunder keep him around as an anchor for this developing team.

Minnesota Timberwolves - James Johnson

The Timberwolves just made a blockbuster deal, pairing the first two picks of the 2015 draft for a 1-2 punch that is one of the most promising young duos in the league. Still, Minnesota is a few moves away from doing any damage in the playoffs.

Why should Minnesota stop at just two-star players?

Aaron Gordon could find his way north. I believe this offseason the Magic will blow up their squad and make severe changes, opening the door to trades for the high-flying forward.

But what would Minnesota give Orlando? He’ll have a competitive market, and Minnesota’s asset stock is nearly empty following the D’Angelo Russell trade. Between Black-belt James Johnson and Evan Turner, the Wolves don’t have that many flippable players.

Besides the scariest fighter in the league, the Timberwolves do own two first-round draft picks. Could Orlando opt for a full tear-down and bite on the picks? If the trade goes through, the Timberwolves can begin to build around this new trio.

Minnesota would not exactly be instant contenders but with a young core all 24-year olds, but the possibilities as these players continue to evolve are endless.

Portland Trail Blazers- Zach Collins

The Blazers Zach Collins experiment has been a disaster, as the big man played just three games this season. The problem with trading Collins is Portland’s lack of depth at power forward. Nassir Little and Caleb Swanigan do not have what it takes to start for a playoff team.

If the Trail Blazers send Zach Collins away, they must receive a power forward in return.

Enter the San Antonio Spurs.

San Antonio is stuck between a rebuild and contending for a first-round exit. Maybe it is the possibility that head coach Gregg Popovich does not want to surrender his record playoff streak. Surely the Spurs need to make a change soon, though.

LaMarcus Aldridge has voiced his desire to return to Portland, and serve as the shooting big they are missing. A tswap of Aldridge and Collins could make a lot of sense for both sides.

Denver Nuggets- Absolutely Nobody

Do you ever type multiple paragraphs as to why Noah Vonleh should be traded this offseason then realize he is a free agent come this summer? Because same here.

Besides Noah Vonleh, this Denver Nuggets team is pioneering an old fad that is a forgotten trait of today’s NBA. Denver is focusing on continuity and player growth.

The constant improvement and togetherness of the Nuggets have the potential to separate this squad from other Western Conference powerhouse.. The Nuggets are a young team, with a few star players and great chemistry.

Denver does not need to execute any trades, and this step-by-step process of slow development has so far been successful. Barring any roadblocks and halts to their constant evolution, new general manager Calvin Booth does not need to perform any trades.

Utah Jazz- Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert will forever be linked to a suspended season, I believe that Gobert’s locker room antics have started a fire the team will not be able to put out. The possibility of Gobert on the move could be a legit scenario, the backlash from his teammates for his season altering shenanigans can never be unsaid, and may never be forgotten.

It is no surprise that Utah’s chemistry has been altered for the worse, and whatever Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert say on camera could be bogus just to postpone media attention.

A realistic landing site for Gobert is suiting up for the Celtics in TD Garden. The Celtics land their much-needed center, while Utah could see Gordon Hayward return to Salt Lake City. The small forward position is one of Utah’s few weaknesses and Hayward would return to a stronger team than the one he departed from. Along with Hayward, the Jazz could receive Enes Kanter as a replacement for Gobert’s absence.

With a starting lineup of Conley Jr., Mitchell, Hayward, Bogdanovic, and Kanter, Utah’s starting five is as well-balanced and scary as any team in the league.