We're a little more than a month into the NBA season right now. While that sample size may not be large, it is big enough to draw a few important conclusions. Based on what we've seen so far, here are three teams that need to make a trade to remain in the playoff hunt.
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets rank just 21st in offense and 13th in defense. Those are unacceptable numbers for the NBA's highest payroll. Franchise cornerstone Deron Williams has been inconsistent while Brook Lopez has struggled with injuries over the past few years. Still, when both are healthy and productive, they are a formidable duo. The Nets would be best served by moving on from Kevin Garnett and allowing Mason Plumlee, who is only playing 13 minutes per game this season, to take over the power forward duties full time. Plumlee is just a better player at this point. The problem is, KG has a full no-trade clause in his contract. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
2. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have the talent of a playoff team but the record of .500 club. It's worrisome that New Orleans has been unable to take advantage of Anthony Davis' MVP-type start to the season. The main problem lies at the small forward position. Tyreke Evans is undersized, Eric Gordon is out with yet another injury, Ryan Anderson may be oversized. Like I said, this roster has talent, but the pieces are an odd fit. Finding a permanent solution at the 4 would go a long way in improving the Pelicans' playoff chances.
3. Phoenix Suns
The Suns wanted to blitz the league with their three-guard offensive sets. Perhaps they've gotten a little carried away. You could make a case that Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas, Goran Dragic and Tyler Ennis all deserve to start. Instead, they're all eating into each other's minutes. Bledsoe just got a $70 million contract, so he's not going anywhere. Thomas was signed in free agency while Ennis is on a valuable rookie contract. That leaves Dragic, who can opt out of his deal at season's end, as a viable trade asset to help balance out this roster. At 11-8, the Suns are currently eighth in the Western Conference. If they don't want to lost that position, they should sell high on Dragic.
