With Brandon Bass on the trade block for the Lakers, here are five possible destinations for the veteran forward
The Los Angeles Lakers are at least going to try and be active at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline, looking to be sellers to try and put themselves in a better position for the future in a number of ways. They’ll be looking to free up cap space for the 2016 offseason, potentially acquire future assets, or even make a splash in a big way if the right deal is there.
The Lakers haven’t made it much of a secret who they are willing to give up in any potential trades prior to the deadline. For a while now Lou Williams, Nick Young, and Roy Hibbert have been rumored to be on the trade block for the Lakers. However, perhaps the most intriguing trade candidate would be veteran forward Brandon Bass.
Bass has shown that he still has plenty left in the tank throughout this season for the Lakers, but he doesn’t exactly fit in what the team is trying to do. He’s a part of a crowded and poorly constructed frontcourt where minutes are hard to come by, which isn’t a good look for the likes of Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. (when healthy) if a veteran player like Bass is eating up minutes.
Moreover, Bass is one of the few players on the Lakers roster that’s on the books beyond this season, something that the organization pretty clearly isn’t keen on with the salary cap jumping in free agency this summer. Moreover, he also has an easily movable contract as he makes only $3 million per year.
With all of this in mind, the Lakers should be looking for fitting trade destinations for Bass as the deadline approaches. Scoping out the rest of the NBA, these are five potential trade destinations for the veteran big man.
Next: No. 5 Raptors
5. Toronto Raptors
With DeMarre Carroll still out indefinitely for the Toronto Raptors, their frontcourt rotation has taken somewhat of a major hit as they were really hoping that their big free agent acquisition from 2015 could give them minutes as a small-ball four. Subsequently, they’ve been forced to rely heavily on the likes of Luis Scola and Patrick Patterson. Though they haven’t been ineffective, they could be looking to add another body to that frontcourt rotation.
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Not only would Bass give this team yet another valuable veteran presence on their roster, particularly one with quality playoff experience. The big man could give the Raps solid minutes off the bench as an offensive option, decent team defender, and quality rebounder. He could really be a nice addition for a Raptors team reportedly looking to make some moves at the deadline.
Moreover, the Lakers would have some intriguing options in regards of what they would get in return for Bass in a potential trade. They could look to pick up an expiring deal like a Scola’s or James Johnson, or the Lakers could look to add a possible asset like center Lucas Nogueira. Either way, the Raptors as a trade partner for Bass make a ton of sense.
Next: No. 4 Knicks
4. New York Knicks
Especially after the firing of head coach Derek Fisher, it’s increasingly clear that making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference is the goal for the New York Knicks this season, even if that wasn’t totally in play coming into the year. However, they’re going to need to move some pieces if they plan to get over the hump and do that. Subsequently, their likely willingness to make some trades puts them in consideration in regards to Bass.
However, the Knicks are also a team that makes a ton of sense in regards to what Bass could bring the team. Again, the big man for the Lakers would bring New York another veteran with postseason experience to a team that is largely short on that. Even more important, though, Bass would bring the Knicks much more help than he has the Lakers in terms of them needing help in regards to frontcourt depth. While Robin Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis have been solid, it gets shaky after them and Bass could provide a stabilizing presence if he were to be traded there.
Unless New York would be willing to part with a player like Jerian Grant as another asset for the Lakers (which might not be a good move for LA anyway), the likely return for Bass would be an expiring contract from the Knicks. However, that would fit into LA’s plans and ultimately make sense.
Next: No. 3 Grizzlies
3. Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies undoubtedly wouldn’t have been a trade destination for Brandon Bass not too long ago at all. However, the injury to Marc Gasol undoubtedly changes everything for them. Considering that their frontcourt rotation now relies on JaMychal Green and Ryan Hollins, the Grizzlies could either look to blow it up entirely with their roster or could look to add another body in the frontcourt to make one last push into the postseason.
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Bass may not be the tough-nosed defender that would ultimately fit into the mindset that the Grizzlies have made famous, but he is undoubtedly a player willing to do the dirty work and bang down in the post. He may not be the most ideal fit, but he’d be an experienced, usable player in a frontcourt that, quite frankly, could use that type of player with Gasol out for potentially the rest of the season.
The Grizzlies have a bevy of expiring contracts that could be intriguing to the Lakers in a potential trade for Bass. While Matt Barnes is the only player that would work in terms of a salary in a one-for-one deal, players like Tony Allen, Courtney Lee, and Jeff Green could be had via a package that includes Bass from the Lakers. Who knows what Memphis’ plans actually are, but Bass would make sense as an addition and the Grizz have the players to make a deal happen.
Next: No. 2 Hawks
2. Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are rumored to be primed to potentially make a major trade before the deadline. There have been rumblings throughout the NBA that the Hawks could very well look to move on from either point guard Jeff Teague or veteran big man (on an expiring contract) in Al Horford. However, even if they don’t choose to move a major piece of their core, they’d still have a potential role for Brandon Bass.
For all of the Hawks’ strengths, depth in their frontcourt certainly isn’t one of them. Players like Mike Scott and Mike Muscala routinely see minutes in the Atlanta frontcourt rotation. While both players have their talents and value, you have to believe that they’re a team that would benefit from having the experience and savvy of a player like Bass as they again look to make some noise in the East.
In terms of what a potential trade between the Lakers and Hawks involving Bass would look like, there’s a number of areas that LA could look. They could look to put together a package for the likes of Horford (especially if they plan to target the big man in 2016 free agency), but they could also potentially benefit from acquiring young assets like Tim Hardaway Jr. or Muscala. Either way, there are deals that could be made that would benefit both the Lakers and Hawks that would involve Bass.
Next: No. 1 Celtics
1. Boston Celtics
The much despised Boston Celtics dodged a major bullet in their frontcourt heading into the NBA All-Star break as Kelly Olynyk wound up having nothing more than a shoulder bruise and nothing more serious. However, that still doesn’t mean that the Celtics couldn’t look to put a more reliable and consistent body in their frontcourt as they look to make a strong push in the East after the All-Star break.
For starters, Bass is a familiar face in Boston as he spent many years with the Cs, including contributing to the team’s title runs alongside Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. However, the Celtics have struggled immensely in terms of finding reliable production among their big men as it’s been largely a crapshoot. Though Bass wouldn’t be an overwhelming presence, he is a player that could potentially come in and carve out a role as a veteran presence that they know what they’re getting from night in and night out.
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In terms of what the Celtics could send to the Lakers for Bass, an ideal trade for Los Angeles would be one that would get them an expiring contract and an asset on a cheap contract either for Bass or for a package. As the Celtics are also looking to move David Lee at the deadline, a potential package deal for Bass and Roy Hibbert in exchange for Lee and an expiring might be a feasible move here. Whatever the deal, there is a definite trade to be made between the two rival organizations.