Pointless Trade Idea

Pelicans get Channing Frye (2yrs/$15.2m), Evan Fournier (1yr/$2.2m); Magic get Ryan Anderson (1yr/$8.5m), Kendrick Perkins (1yr/$1.5m). (NOTE: This deal makes no difference for this year, this is all about setting up the off-season)

The Pelicans bring back perimeter scoring with Fournier (whom they could re-sign this summer) and the original stretch four in Frye, who stretches the floor for either AD or Asik and has just one more very affordable year on his deal. Great deal for the Pelicans? No, but they're in danger of slipping into Sacramento territory where it just doesn't matter what they do, it'll turn bad. They have THE coveted player at the trade deadline in Anderson but there just aren't any good deals out there for him, so I think the Pelicans are better off trying out the solid vet Frye and giving an audition to the intriguing shooter Fournier.

Given that the Magic have ditched Tobias Harris (it was dump, man, dumping that contract is the only reason for them to take on Brandon Jennings), they could truly clear the books by moving Frye to make room for Aaron Gordon, as well. Fournier is not likely to be re-signed in the off-season, so sending him out for someone else's rental is just as well. Assuming the Magic would not re-sign Anderson or Perkins (or Jennings), they're young core would be Vucevic, Ilyasova, Gordon, Oladipo, Peyton (w/Hezonja and a 2016 lottery pick off the bench), leaving the Magic to be big time players in free agency (hello, Durantula? You wanna go to Disney World?).

(Or it could be that the Harris-for-Jennings move makes Peyton or Oladipo available. I wouldn't trade either of those guys but if the deal is right, it could happen)

Pointless Trade Idea

Celtics get Jennings (1 yr/$8.3m), Bullock (2yrs/$2.5m); Pistons get Bradley (3 yrs/$24.8m), Young (2yrs/$3.5m; 3rd year team option).

Celtics get a shoot-happy PG that can close games and send Isiah Thomas back to his 6th Man role. Pistons get a defensive-minded SG as a counterpoint to Caldwell-Pope. Bullock and Young are just rookie contracts swaps to make the deal work, too early to tell whether either of them can play in the NBA. Jennings isn't really necessary in Detroit any more and Bradley seems unhappy in Boston. Each team would like to do better with these pieces but they could definitely do worse.

Yeah, not too sexy. Even though there's buzz about a lot of players being available and a lot of teams looking to make moves, I'm not seeing a lot of trades that make sense when I look at the numbers. Making cap space is not a priority this summer for anyone, which means there aren't any sellers, only buyers. I'm sure trades will be made but they will either be blockbusters or insignificant contract dumps. I dunno, we'll see.