NBA Trade Deadline 2020: One trade every team should make

Oklahoma City Thunder: Chris Paul for the Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley, DeMarcus Cousins and own unprotected 2020 first-rounder

Reason for Oklahoma City: Chris Paul is still awesome, but there’s really not too many trades available for him. He makes almost $40 million per year, and there’s really no one player for whom he can be traded. Because of his monster salary, he’s probably not going to command a huge haul in terms of positive assets. In this proposed deal, the Thunder would trade for only two-year contracts, meaning they only owe such a massive amount of money for two years instead of three. That, plus a first-round draft pick, is probably the best they can get for Paul. It’s possible Oklahoma City decides to keep Paul and just be good this year. But their other veterans, like Danilo Gallinari or Steven Adams, could land big assets. Think of OKC’s outgoing trades as a collective, rather than individual units. Selling Paul would add financial flexibility in the future, obtain draft assets and allow the trading of those other vets for more goodies. That, plus opening up more time and responsibility for the young guns like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is a worthwhile long-term cause.

Reason for Los Angeles: Los Angeles signed all four of these players this offseason, so dumping all four is a cost. But Paul is a phenomenal player, and he would give the Lakers the on-ball creation, shooting and guard defense that they sorely lack. LeBron James can’t be the only creator on the team. Paul would fix that. He and Anthony Davis would have great pick-and-roll chemistry, which would be important because the Lakers have been horrible whenever James is on the bench. Four players are tough to lose, especially as three are real contributors, but the Lakers would have their pick of the buyout market. Paul is completely worth it. He’s still one of the best players in the league. Bring the partial banana boat together!