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The Whiteboard: Be ready, NBA trades are coming this weekend

By Ti Windisch

From left, Los Angeles Lakers President Magic Johnson and Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka talking before the start of the game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
From left, Los Angeles Lakers President Magic Johnson and Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka talking before the start of the game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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There’s been some moves made already this NBA season, but this weekend will probably bring some more.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are looking to make some moves, and both NBA teams have reason to do so. The Lakers improved after a rocky start and are climbing up the Western Conference, but Los Angeles is reportedly looking to flip Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, which makes sense considering his slow start.

The Rockets are just bad right now, and clearly need another defensive-minded wing or two who can shoot. Whether it’s to get good or to get better, both Houston and Los Angeles will have an easier time making moves this weekend, specifically on/after Dec. 15.

On Dec. 15, both the Rockets and the Lakers will suddenly be able to trade a bunch of players they signed this summer and couldn’t move until now due to the NBA CBA. If the Rockets wanted to flip James Ennis or Michael Carter-Williams they could do so on that day.

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Houston could probably make moves ahead of that day, considering the Rockets have other players such as Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss who can be moved. The Lakers, on the other hand, have been almost completely hamstrung.

KCP, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee are all not able to be traded until Dec. 15. Moving Caldwell-Pope is actually even more difficult for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers, as he essentially has veto power over any deal thanks to Los Angeles having his early bird rights after this year. It doesn’t make much financial sense for him to accept a trade, because he’d lose those early bird rights if he did so.

Even ignoring that specific situation, the Lakers would have a much easier time adding a star, or even a role player like Trevor Ariza, once they can trade some of those other guys. Currently, the only Lakers who could be traded who make more than $1.7 million are Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, meaning Los Angeles would need to attach up and coming young talent to make any moves.

In addition to the Lakers and Rockets, most players signed league-wide this past offseason will be able to be traded after Dec. 15, unless they were signed pretty late. Some NBA moves that have been in the works for weeks will be possible, but not for long with the trade deadline looming on Feb. 7. That makes for a fun weekend.

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