LA Clippers: Nerlens Noel
The Clippers are a hard team to choose a target for. Having just acquired John Wall on the buyout market, they’ve got one of the most well-rounded rosters in the league. Still, adding a low-usage defensive big never hurts. With so much offensive firepower, the Clippers could make use of Noel’s rim protection and switchability.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kyrie Irving
Some teams need to make marginal changes. Other teams had such a disappointing 2021-22 season that they should work towards a major overhaul.
The Lakers are one of those teams. If they can find a way to bring the Irving rumors to fruition, they ought to. Irving may be an unreliable employee, but at least they know that he can fit with LeBron James when he is active – unlike Russell Westbrook.
Memphis Grizzlies – Myles Turner
Turner was always a candidate to see his name pop up here more than once. Big men who shoot threes, protect the rim, and don’t need the ball are always in high demand.
The Grizzlies could use one. Granted, they’ve got Jaren Jackson Jr., but his slight frame leaves him best suited for combo big duties. Having a full-time starting center with the same qualities would allow this team to regularly run five-out spacing.
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Miami Heat – Buddy Hield
Finding an elite floor-spacer who can survive on defense is easier said than done. For that reason, they’re also difficult to acquire.
Hield isn’t an elite stopper, but he holds his own on that end. He’d certainly be an upgrade over Duncan Robinson, whose defensive shortcomings rendered him unplayable in the 2021-22 postseason. If the Heat could plug Hield into his role, they’d improve in 2022-23.
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Milwaukee Bucks: Brandon Clarke
The Bucks may not need to make any major moves this summer. More than anything, they need good health. This group could have defended their championship had Khris Middleton not gotten injured in the playoffs.
Hindsight is 20-20. We don’t know what would have happened if not for Middleton’s injury. In any event, the addition of Clarke would give the Bucks a small-ball five who offers a little defensive versatility compared to drop coverage big man Brook Lopez.
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Minnesota Timberwolves – Harrison Barnes
For years, the Timberwolves have paired Karl-Anthony Towns with defensive power forwards. It makes sense: Towns, for all his offensive brilliance, struggles on that end of the floor. Still, at times, the Wolves have run non-shooters in their efforts to compensate for Towns’ shortcomings. Landing a 4 who defends well and shoots the three like Barnes could elevate this team’s ceiling.
