With the NBA trade deadline approaching (Feb. 6th), the teams that aim at a deeper playoff run will inevitably attempt to improve their rosters. This is the first time in years that there is not a clear favorite like the Golden State Warriors were in the previous seasons. All the contenders have obvious flaws to their game, but some are in a more dire need of improvement:
1) The Houston Rockets: It is not a secret that the Rockets have been struggling since the departure of Trevor Ariza during the summer. They need a good small forward, who can play D and compete at a high level. Andre Iguodala, who the Memphis Grizzlies are willing to trade only if they receive considerable compensation, would be an excellent fit for them. The problem, at the moment, is that the Rockets do not possess enough assets to acquire him.
2) The Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets have had an excellent season again so far, being 3rd in the West (34-16), and Michael Porter Jr. has been a revelation. But, if the Nuggets wish to go further in the playoffs this year, they need someone else besides Jokic, who can hold the ball in the last minutes of the game. Ultimately, this is why they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers last year.
3) The Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers’ away record this year has been disastrous (only 9-17). This is why they are currently holding just the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 31-19 record, 11.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks. They need to chase some proven sharpshooters to improve their bad offensive rating, which is 108.4 points per 100 possession (20th in the league).
During the years, we have witnessed some crazy trades in the NBA just before the deadline, so we will need to be patient to see if any of the teams manage to improve their rosters.
