NBA Trade Deadline 2019: One trade every team should make

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Center Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Center JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game at the Amway Center on November 17, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Lakers 130 to 117. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – NOVEMBER 21: Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on November 21, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Rockets are in need of size at center, due to the injury to Clint Capela and their overall lack of depth. It would seem at this point that the gamble they made in the offseason by acquiring Brandon Knight and Marquesse Chriss hasn’t worked out quite the way they were hoping, with Knight continuing to struggle to return from his knee injury and Chriss struggling to combine different motor actions at the same time.

This trade costs the Rockets a bit, but if they truly want to take advantage of their championship window while Chris Paul is able to play, they need to cash in whatever chips they can get their hands on. That means that their 2019 first round pick is going to Minnesota, their 2021 first round pick is going to Chicago, and Eric Gordon is a Timberwolf now too.

Oh, this trade also involves the Timberwolves swapping out the underwhelming Andrew Wiggins for the underwhelming Jabari Parker. Wiggins will get a chance to see if things change for him in a different city with the Bulls, while Minnesota sees if Eric Gordon can stay healthy enough to help them return to the postseason. It’s a trade that screams “this team belongs to Karl-Anthony Towns,” a move they should feel comfortable with after all these years of watching Wiggins fail to live up to expectations and the max contract he signed two years ago.

For the Bulls, what’s the risk in taking on Wiggins? They haven’t been able to find a marquee free agent in years, and Wiggins is young enough that there is still a chance he realizes his potential. Wiggins could find new life alongside his former Minnesota teammates Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, with young bigs Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markannen in the frontcourt. It’s a risk worth taking for the Bulls, who aren’t anywhere close to being playoff contenders.

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