Eventually we'll get around to dissecting these two mega-deals, but with the deadline less than 24 hours away, let's focus on a few hypothetical deals, with thanks from the good ol' ESPN Trade Machine. Feel free to comment on these potential deals or add your own in the comment section. Keep checking back and I'll add more tonight and tomorrow.
1. Jazz and Bucks Four-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
 | Milwaukee gets Al Jefferson and Andrei Kirilenko |
 | Utah gets Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd (expiring) and option to swap first-round picks with Milwaukee in the future |
Comment: Since the Jazz are in rebuilding mode, then they should try desperately to find a home for Andrei Kirilenko and his ridiculous, albeit expiring $17.8 million contract. (Wow, Andrei Kirilenko is making $17.8 million this season. I need to ask for a raise.) The Bucks are only 3 1/2 games behind Indiana for the 8th seed in the East. Kirilenko is a shell of his former self but he's definitely an upgrade if he's taking minutes from Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova. Jefferson has been better than Bogut this season and is a year younger. Bogut would be beloved back in the state where he went to college. Who says no?
2. Jazz, Rockets and Bulls Three-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
 | Houston gets Andrei Kirilenko and Miami's (or Chicago's) first-round pick from Bulls |
| Utah gets Yao Ming (expiring) and $3 million from Chicago |
 | Chicago gets Courtney Lee |
Comment: The Bulls crave Courtney Lee and this might be enough to get it done. They just cleared some cap room and acquired Miami's pick in the James Johnson deal with Toronto. They would get a solid player in Lee to shore up their deficiencies at shooting guard at little cost. With Utah and Denver on the way down, and Memphis maybe joining them with Rudy Gay out for at least a month and Zach Randolph possibly on the way out this week, playoff spots are suddenly there for the taking for the Suns and Rockets of the world. Who says no?
3. Trailblazers and Thunder Two-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
 | Oklahoma City gets Marcus Camby |
 | Portland gets Nick Collison and first-round draft pick |
Comment: Are the Thunder close enough to roll the dice and try to make it happen this year? Nick Collison is a valuable glue guy on their team, but Camby specifically addresses their front-court defensive and rebounding woes. Although he just signed a five-year deal, Collison's contract is front-loaded and is very cap friendly next year and beyond. Who says no?
4. Nuggets and Thunder Six-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
| Oklahoma City gets Nene, Al Harrington and Arron Afflalo |
 | Denver gets Jeff Green, Nenad Krstic, Mo Peterson and first-round draft pick |
Comment: Along the same lines as above. Would the Thunder be willing to part with one of member of their young nucleus in order to shore-up their front court? If you saw the end of the their game against the Spurs Wednesday night, you can probably make a case for it. Who says no?
5. Cavaliers and Pistons Four-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
 | Cleveland gets Richard Hamilton, Jason Maxiell and 2011 first-round pick |
 | Detroit gets Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker |
Comment: If Cleveland is in the market for lottery picks in the upcoming (very weak, by the way) draft, then there are probably teams willing to shed some contracts on them. How about an end to the Rip-Kuester drama in Detroit? Cleveland takes on additional money and additional years in exchange for Detroit's pick. Who says no? Another possibility for Cleveland would be Milwaukee (two of the following three guys: Corey Maggette, John Salmons and Drew Gooden and a 2011 first-rounder for Jamison).
6. Cavaliers, Rockets, Thunder and Wizards in Four-Team, Nine-Player Trade (see in Trade Machine)
| Houston gets Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao |
| Oklahoma City gets Shane Battier |
 | Washington gets Yao Ming and Mo Peterson expirings |
| Cleveland gets Rashard Lewis, Andray Blatche and first-round picks from Oklahoma City and Washington |
Comment: Along the same lines as above, how far is Cleveland willing to go to get additional draft picks? In this deal, they take on additional money and two bad contracts in Lewis and Blatche. The Wizards wipe the slate clean at the cost of what would be a very high pick next year, but would be able to build around John Wall. The Thunder would get a defensive stopper that helps them out for the playoff drive this year. And the Rockets get a reasonably-priced big man for the future at the cost of taking on Jamison's bloated contract for next year. Who says no?
[Here's a variation on the same theme involving the Sixers instead of the Wizards. Doug Collins has Philadelphia playing well and in good position for a play-off spot, although nobody expects them to go anywhere. This allows them to wipe the slate clean of Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. Plus, wouldn't it be great if Elton and Baron played together in Cleveland after Brand left Davis high-and-dry in L.A.? Awkward!]
7. Nuggets and Bulls One-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
| Chicago gets Arron Afflalo |
| Denver gets two first round draft picks |
Comment: This is the guy I'm hoping the Bulls land for this year's stretch run. Not Anthony Parker. Not Courtney Lee. Not even O.J. Mayo. I think Afflalo puts them right with Boston and Miami in the East, assuming they are not there already. With the Melo trade, Denver has a scrap heap of average to slightly above average players, almost two at every position. They'd swap Afflalo for two picks in next year's draft - the Chicago and Miami late first-rounders. Who says no?
8. Nuggets and Timberwolves Two-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
 | Minnesota gets Raymond Felton |
| Denver gets Wesley Johnson |
Comment: Despite drafting three point guards in the first round and signing a couple others, the Timberwolves find themselves in desperate need of a floor general. Felton proved himself more than capable this year in New York. If the Nuggets are truly ready to hand over the keys to Ty Lawson (originally drafted by Minnesota), then they can deal Felton if he's the only player leaving in the deal. The deal also works for Michael Beasley, depending on how you feel about the prospects of Beasley, J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen traveling together. Who says no?
9. Nuggets and Rockets in Five-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
| Houston gets Nene Hilario and Al Harrington |
| Denver gets Yao Ming (expiring), Patrick Patterson, Chase Budinger and future first-round pick |
Comment: If the Nuggets are going to go into rebuilding mode, then they have to find somebody to take on the remaining 4+ years of Al Harrington's contract. I'm sure Masaj Ujiri's phone is ringing off the hook with interest for Nene, who is one of the most underrated big men in the league. He'd be a great fit with Houston and would shore up their playoff chances immediately. The Nuggets get some young talent in Patterson and Budinger and a future first rounder. Who says no?
10. Nuggets and Heat in Five-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
 | Miami gets Nene Hilario, Al Harrington and J.R. Smith |
| Denver gets Chris Bosh and Mike Miller |
Comment: It's crazy to think about the Heat trading Chris Bosh, but would this be even to push them over the top for a title this year? Nene has comparable numbers to Bosh, Smith would be an upgrade over Miller and Harrington would provide depth for their thin bench. Denver gets a marquee guy locked-in long-term for less than max money. Who says no?
11. Mavericks and Pistons in Two-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
 | Dallas gets Tayshaun Prince |
 | Detroit gets Caron Butler (expiring), $3 million and future first-round pick |
Comment: You gotta believe that Dallas needs to get something in exchange for Caron Butler's expiring deal. Tayshaun would welcome the change of scenery and would fit in immediately. Detroit gets a draft pick or two and some cash for its troubles. Who says no? Other options for Dallas include Boris Diaw, Chris Kaman, Andris Biedrins, (gulp) Corey Maggette, Antawn Jamison or Sam Dalembert (if Dallas throws in Brian Cardinal to make the numbers work), and Andrei Kirilenko or Zach Randolph (if Dallas includes DeShawn Stevenson and probably Roddy Beaubois in Randolph's case).
12. Mavericks, Suns and T-Wolves in Three-Team, Eight-Player Deal (see in Trade Machine)
| Dallas gets Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Josh Childress and Martell Webster |
 | Phoenix gets Caron Butler (expiring), Roddy Beaubois, DeShawn Stevenson (expiring), $3 million from Dallas and two first-round picks from Dallas |
| Minnesota gets Jason Kidd |
Comment: Dallas has to at least make an offer for Steve Nash, right? Mark Cuban is never one to shy away from rolling the dice. This deal is probably enough to make them the favorites to come out of the West. Suns fans would be okay with shipping their hero Nash off to a contender. They clear the decks with some expiring contracts, get an interesting prospect in Beaubois and force the Mavs to take on Josh Childress's awful deal. Who says no?
13. Hornets and Heat in Five-Player Blockbuster (see in Trade Machine)
| Miami gets Chris Paul, David West and Emeka Okafor |
| New Orleans gets Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh |
Comment: This is what happens when you play with the Trade Machine for too long. After a few (plus or minus five) hours, even the craziest deals start to look good. But think about this one for a second. Doesn't a lineup of LeBron and Paul along with West and Okafor equate to a title this year? Right now, Miami is obviously one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the league, but there are no guarantees that they make it past Boston or even Chicago, much less whoever makes it out of the West. James and Wade have redundant skill sets, and although it's crazy to think of Wade being run out of his town, if Miami had to trade one of them, it definitely wouldn't be LeBron. The Hornets get two big-names locked in for at least the next few years...the perfect scenario for the franchise to stay in New Orleans and attract a buyer. Who says no?
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