Solving NBA problems

The NBA, about to trade its wits in

The NBA enjoyed a minibreak this week, well earned, rad season so far in spite of teeming injuries. That’s my thing now, saying “rad.”

The league and its players collectively bargained ways to make it tougher to deal players, but the minibreak begs teams to take a look at the dozens of NBA talents turning trade-eligible Sunday. I miss Woj.

The minibreak tempts leadership into dialing-in the cap expert. Dialing-up the expectation in view of Boston (a smirking defending champion every team thinks it has a shot at), Cleveland (the upstart every team thinks it can house) and Oklahoma City (already provably thrown off course, via 2024 Western Conference finals, by trade deadline acquisitions).

So what name pops up mid-break?

THE HEAT’S PROBLEM

Miami announced it wanted to deal Jimmy Butler, so now it has to.

The solution? Don’t shoot for no moon.

If the Heat can muster a win-win deal outta Jimmy Butler, go get ‘em. The Hawks go got themselves a good player and two first-round picks out of Dejounte Murray, seven years younger than Jimmy and under contract for three more seasons.

But those weren’t the Pelicans’ picks, and the Pels needed Dejounte Murray: Butler’s market is a boutique. From a stylistic standpoint, he skips to his own rhythm, not every offense requires a 90s-style swingman. And Butler’s a free agent in July, writ by his own hand.

Miami? Dwyane Wade’s move to Chicago embarrassed everyone, Chris Bosh never got a proper goodbye, Erik Spoelstra had to watch as Pat Riley sat at a podium and told LeBron James to kiss off after James chose Ohio in 2014.

Of course, trades aren’t every team’s problem.

THE WIZARDS’ PROBLEM

Attention.

The solution? Do something with it.

It was only a matter of time before observers caught onto Washington’s point differential, on pace for the worst mark in league history at -16.2 per game. One full point per game worse than the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks.

Those 22-win 1991-92 Mavs were already ruddy awful, but then Dallas dealt its leading scorer (Rolando Blackman) for cap space Dallas didn’t use and a first-round draft pick for a draft three years later (Loren Meyer).

Starting small forward Rodney McCray was traded for a first-round pick two years later (Tony Dumas). Dallas lost its third-leading scorer (Herb Williams) to free agency, and fourth-leading scorer (Lafayette “Fat” Lever) to a knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament “ACL” tear).

The trades were designed solely to clear space to sign a No. 4 overall pick, Jim Jackson. The 22-year old Jackson, unmoved, held out for the first 54 games of his rookie season, negotiating his six-year, $20 million contract. The salary cap was $14 million.