2014 NBA trade deadline decisions - Western Conference

While the NBA put on one of its showcase events last weekend with the All-Star festivities in New Orleans, another key date on the league's calendar looms less than a week away.

The trade deadline is Thursday (early Friday, PHL time), and numerous players figure to change teams as contenders look to bolster their rosters and pretenders turn their sights to the future.

The Sports Xchange asked its NBA correspondents for their projections as the trade deadline approaches. Here are the responses for the Western Conference teams:

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

DALLAS MAVERICKS

The Mavericks don't have particularly strong trade assets in terms of players or a 2014 first-round draft pick to deal, so they are not going to be buyers, at least not for an impact player who could give them a power boost into the top four of the Western Conference. Team officials remain adamant that they are not interested in dealing veteran forward Shawn Marion or swingman Vince Carter as long as they are in contention for a playoff spot. Marion is a valuable jack-of-all trades, and Carter is the Mavericks' best scoring threat off the bench.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

With the Rockets seemingly committed to keeping center Omer Asik through the end of the season despite his reluctance to serve as the backup to Dwight Howard, their most likely target at the trade deadline is a two-way wing player. Forward Omri Casspi and swingman Francisco Garcia haven't provided exceptional three-point shooting, hitting 35.5 and 34.4 percent from behind the arc, respectively, leaving the Rockets craving additional bench scoring. Someone who could shoot from the perimeter and also attack the rim while providing decent defense would be a boon to the Rockets' postseason hopes.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

If the Grizzlies were going to make some sort of deal before the trade deadline, they probably would have considered parting with backup center Kosta Koufos or reserve forward Ed Davis. But starting center Marc Gasol re-injured his left knee in the last game before the All-Star break, and an earlier MCL injury already cost Gasol 23 games. Gasol was due to get an MRI over the break, so Memphis won't want to part with any frontline players. It still would be nice have more insurance at point guard, but starter Mike Conley (sprained right ankle) is expected to be ready for the second half, and rookie Nick Calathes played surprisingly well in his place after struggling earlier in the season. The Grizzlies pulled the trigger on a deal for shooting guard Courtney Lee in January, and Lee is providing perimeter scoring punch and solid defense.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

With the preseason acquisitions of point guard Jrue Holiday and shooting guard Tyreke Evans and the expected improvement of power forward Anthony Davis, the Pelicans hoped to be a borderline playoff team in the West. An avalanche of injuries squashed those hopes, but at least they provided shooting guard Eric Gordon more minutes to shop his wares. Gordon probably won't be dealt before the trade deadline, but he might be moved in the offseason because the Pelicans do not have a 2014 draft pick - unless they luck into a protected top-5 spot in the lottery, which would prevent that pick going to the 76ers in this year's draft.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

The Big Three - forward Tim Duncan and guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili - tie up most of the salary cap, limiting the Spurs' maneuverability. In addition, Ginobili (left hamstring), Parker (right shin), center Tiago Spliter (sprained right shoulder), guard Danny Green (fractured finger), forward Kawhi Leonard (non-displaced foot fracture) and forward Matt Bonner (nasal fracture) all were sidelined a period of time this season, forcing the Spurs to go with 23 different starting lineups in 53 games. Despite all the injuries, the Spurs own a 38-15 record at the break, second best in the West. For San Antonio, the goal is to get players out of the training room and onto the court - not onto the trade market.



NORTHWEST DIVISION

DENVER NUGGETS

The broken rib point guard Ty Lawson suffered early in February showed once again the Nuggets are thin at point guard - and short of players. Denver was blown out in each of the four games leading up to the All-Star break, allowing an average of 119.7 points. Despite the dearth of point guards, the Nuggets need to move estranged point guard Andre Miller, who hasn't been around the team since his sideline tirade early in January. Denver is a seller at this point and needs to find a way to resolve the Miller dilemma and add some depth to the bench. That could mean throwing someone else in the deal, like forwards Quincy Miller or Jordan Hamilton, to get something done. With forward Danilo Gallinari out for the year and center JaVale McGee unlikely to be effective when and if he comes back, Denver's front office could shake up the roster for the final stretch.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

The Wolves enter the post-break portion of the schedule in a tenuous position. Three games under .500, they are not out of playoff contention, but realistically don't have a great chance either. One thing is certain: President of basketball operations Flip Saunders is not going to make a major move at the trade deadline. None of the Big Three - forward Kevin Love, center Nikola Pekovic and point guard Ricky Rubio - is going anywhere, at least not now. Indeed, if a trade is made, the most likely pieces to go would be backup forward Dante Cunningham and backup point guard J.J. Barea. Cunningham has an expiring contract and is able to defend at both the 4 and 5 positions. Barea could be useful to a playoff-bound team looking for scoring off the bench.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

The Thunder seem pretty set with their lineup. They took the best record in the NBA into the All-Star break despite not having their second-best player for the majority of the season. Even so, Oklahoma City could use some roster reinforcements, and it possesses some money to spend under the luxury tax. If there is one area the Thunder might look to improve, it is a consistent outside shooter off the bench, but it is doubtful that player will arrive via trade this month.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Portland's prime backup at the 4 and 5 positions, Joel Freeland, will be lost for four to six weeks with an MCL sprain, and the next man up, reserve Meyers Leonard, is also expected to miss two to three weeks because of a sprained left ankle. With All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge sidelined at least a week because of a groin strain as well, that leaves Thomas Robinson to step into the starting line-up with Robin Lopez. Even before the rash of injuries, general manager Neil Olshey surely would love to bolster a bench that reaps the fewest points in the NBA (albeit with the fewest minutes). Problem is, the Blazers don't have a draft pick this year to trade (both were moved), and NBA rules prohibit trading a first-round pick in successive years, so next year's No. 1 pick is out, too. The Blazers desperately need a veteran big who can defend and score a little.

UTAH JAZZ

"Flexibility" is a word Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey invokes quite often. Heading into the trade deadline and the next offseason, that will be the mantra he uses while trying to acquire assets to bolster the team's future. Utah has nearly $32 million tied up in forwards Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams, center Andris Biedrins and guard Brandon Rush, and it would be plausible for the Jazz's wheeling-and-dealing to focus around their expiring deals. Utah picked up two future first-round picks last summer from the Golden State Warriors, and those selections could be packaged to bring in a piece to fit with the Jazz's young cornerstone players, point guards Trey Burke, shooting guards Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks, and centers Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter. One thing is for sure: Lindsey's phone will be ringing off its charger leading up to the deadline.



PACIFIC DIVISION

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

When the Warriors traded quantity (players, expiring contracts and draft picks) for quality (swingman Andre Iguodala) in the offseason, they did so with the postseason in mind. They are not about to make a significant move at the trade deadline just because the regular season was predictably a bit rocky. Having added Iguodala to a lineup that already was good enough to make the final four in the West last season, Warriors coach Mark Jackson believes his starting five is as good as any in the league. He looks forward to testing that belief in the playoffs, where stars shine and benches shrink. Could the Warriors use more depth to pave a smoother path to the postseason? Sure. Would they deal a frontline player in order to get deeper, thus basically reversing the logic of the Iguodala acquisition? That makes no sense.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

The Clippers toyed with the idea of adding center Andrew Bynum before the Indiana Pacers scooped him up. As much as they could use a big man off the bench, they may just have to settle for Ryan Hollins to fill the bill since the pickings are slim on the free agent market. Hollins isn't an idea replacement when center DeAndre Jordan needs a rest, but he is a better alternative than Byron Mullens, a bust who rarely gets off the bench.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The Lakers could help themselves by dealing forward Pau Gasol or risk losing him as a free agent at season's end and receive nothing. The Phoenix Suns seemed like an idea trading partner, but the Suns believed Lakers' management wanted too much, refusing to take a late first-round pick for the seven-footer. The fact that Gasol missed the final five games before the All-Star break did nothing to help his trade value. Before getting hurt, he scored at least 20 points and grabbed at least nine rebounds in 10 consecutive games.

PHOENIX SUNS

The Suns have $5 million in cap space and the $14.4 million expiring contract of injured center Emeka Okafor - which is also covered by insurance to the tune of $5.7 million to any team that owns it at the trade deadline. Phoenix would like to pick up an inside player who is good defensively around the basket and offensively in the half court. They kicked the tires on forward Pau Gasol but want someone early in his career who can grow with their young nucleus. If they can't land someone the caliber of forward Kevin Love, they will go with what they have, save the money on Okafor themselves and try their luck in the playoffs since they didn't expect to be anywhere near the postseason this year.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

The Kings are going nowhere fast in the Western Conference, but they are making strides. Coach Michael Malone continues his assault on establishing a defensive culture in the locker room, meaning that pretty much anyone can be had in a deal, as long as the return creates financial flexibility and builds toward that end. Center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Rudy Gay - the latter acquired in a seven-player December trade with the Toronto Raptors - likely aren't going anywhere. Guard Jimmer Fredette is a crowd favorite and playing his best ball - he scored a career-high 24 points Wednesday at Madison Square Garden - so a few clubs might inquire. A franchise always conscious of keeping its fan-base happy would have an interesting decision to make should it receive a big offer for Fredette.

- Reuters