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1 Deal Each Team Could Make Before Trade Deadline

By Jake Hyman

Nov 21, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks for a passing lane during the first quarter of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks for a passing lane during the first quarter of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Johnson (7) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Nets 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Johnson (7) is defended by New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Nets 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

19. New Orleans Pelicans

This concoction took time and effort, but Brooklyn isn’t winning through the draft and New Orleans can take advantage of that. Eric Gordon has been a disaster over the years for the Pelicans, with inconsistent play and injuries limiting New Orleans’ ceiling in the West. Even Anthony Davis hasn’t propelled the Big Easy to more than a No. 8 seed in the West.

It’s officially time to scrap this pipe dream of competing in the still-loaded Western Conference. Parlaying the expiring contracts of both Gordon and Anderson for Johnson’s plus assets would be a detour and a bold play.

The deal would give the bird rights of the two to Brooklyn, who’d have the negotiation advantage over other teams, and allow Brooklyn to compete next season. Anderson’s making a case for Sixth Man of the Year this season and Gordon’s inefficiencies aren’t extremely daunting considering he’s still just 26 years old.

Johnson is averaging the lowest point-per-game total (10.9) since the 2002-03 season and is a bonafide buy-out candidate. However, Brooklyn would like to extract some value out of his expiring contract.

Getting some depth and younger talent would be appropriate during the rough season New Orleans is having. Hollis-Jefferson is injured, but is a versatile commodity, averaging 5.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 1.4 SPG. Bogdanovic is another young wing option averaging 9.3 PPG and shooting 45.1 percent from the floor.

Finally, McCullough is a long-term frontcourt talent who could’ve been a 2015 lottery pick if he didn’t suffer a season-ending leg injury last season at Syracuse.

Next: No Major Changes in New York