NBA Free Agency 2017: One trade every team should make

May 21, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after a three-pointer during the first half against the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) reacts after a three-pointer during the first half against the Boston Celtics in game three of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) warms up before a game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) warms up before a game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Clippers

With the Los Angeles Clippers’ latest playoff flameout, it’s time to hit the reset button. Forget that all the numbers suggest them being an elite team when their big three play together, because their big three have trouble staying on the court. Besides the health issues, basketball teams perpetuating a failing narrative can grow stale. This group permeates the musty aroma of mothballs.

Clippers Get
F, Carmelo Anthony
Knicks Get
PF, Blake Griffin (sign-and-trade); F, Luc Mbah a Moute

Despite the writing being on the wall, the Clippers keep deciding to run it back, pointing to injuries or lack of depth for their playoff shortcomings. This trade is a reboot instead of a rebuild, and gives Chris Paul one of his best friends to play with. Carmelo Anthony escapes the toxic situation in New York to rejuvenate his career.

This deal comes with two caveats. First, the Clippers would have to make this a sign-and-trade as Blake Griffin opted out of the final year of his contract. The second being Anthony’s no-trade clause. Though, if Anthony has finally had it with all of Phil Jackson’s slights, (and by now, he should have) it would be assumed the Clippers are a team he’d greenlight.

At their apexes, Griffin was the better all-around player, but injuries probably robbed us of peak Griffin. For Anthony’s flaws, this would be the ideal situation for this point of his career. In L.A., he’d have Paul to shoulder the load with and an elite rim protector in DeAndre Jordan behind him. Anthony is at his best when surrounded by top players and the Clippers could do much worse for reshuffling their championship aspirations.

Griffin and Anthony are long past their expiration dates in their current cities. Here, we get two badly needed relocations and half of team banana boat (the banana split?) assembled. Let’s make a deal.