NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz and Trade Talk for Week of Jan. 19: With the 2015 NBA trade deadline less than a month away, there is no shortage of activity in the Associations rumor mill. The Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off the new year with a flurry of high-profile trades that netted them Timofey Mozgov and J.R. Smith among other considerations, but the teams carrying the torch in terms of player movement are the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics. Both organizations engaged in multiple deals and fine-tuned their rosters in January, although for vastly different reasons. There will almost certainly be plenty of trade action in the coming weeks, so it makes sense to round up the latest trade chatter from the week of Jan. 19, along with some of the top non-trade rumors generating buzz in the past few days. Miles Plumlee The Suns are 26-18, in the thick of a heated race for a low playoff seed in the West and are looking for the right mix in the frontcourt. According to ESPNs Marc Stein, the Suns are shopping third-year center Miles Plumlee, whose playing time has diminished of late and doesnt figure to be in the teams future plans: Sources told ESPN that the Suns are working in conjunction with Plumlees agent, Mark Bartelstein, to try to find a new home for the third-year center, who has seen his playing time steadily dwindle as the season has progressed. Plumlee is averaging a mere 13.5 minutes per game this month, compared to 23.5 minutes per game in November, and faces even more competition in the Suns frontcourt rotation now in the wake of Phoenixs recent acquisition of Brandan Wright and the continued progression of Alex Len. Stein also noted the Suns are looking for a future first-round pick for Plumlee, who could flourish if he latches on with a contender in need of a bench presence. Plumlee doesnt hold up well against stronger post players but boasts a solid 104 defensive rating and averages 5.3 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. A late-first round pick isnt too steep a price for a 26-year-old role player, but his suitor will likely have to be a team with draft picks to burn in any case. One possible fit is the Chicago Bulls, who could use depth behind Joakim Noah and acquired multiple picks in the Luol Deng trade in January 2014. Brook Lopez The Brooklyn Nets have reportedly tried to dismantle their Big-ish Three of Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and Deron Williams for some time now but have yet to make any move. Lopezs name has come up time and again in the rumor mill, and Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post recently noted the Denver Nuggets could be interested in the 26-year-old big man: But when those wheels get back turning again — and they will — there will be no shortage of suitors, and the Nuggets are expected to be among them. They’ve already made one run at it, but were rebuffed along with everyone else by the Nets in favor of negotiations with Oklahoma City, and those talks got intense before breaking down. Lopez is averaging just 14.8 points per game this season, down from a career-high of 20.7 a year ago. Hes lost some minutes to the young Mason Plumlee, a rising star at center who, unlike Lopez, can actually rebound. Lopezs rebounding numbers (6.0 per game) are tragic for a 7-footer and diminish his value on the trade market, no matter how gifted a scorer he is on the low block. He also carries significant injury risk, playing in just five games in 2011-12 and 17 in the 2013-14 season. Dempsey also pointed out that Lopez is a risk in any trade, as he can leave to become a free agent at the end of this season. The Nuggets would be a nice landing spot for Lopez, as they can offset his poor glass-cleaning numbers with Kenneth Faried and Jusuf Nurkic, who boast total rebounding percentages of 18.0 and 19.9, respectively. Lopez would also be a significant offensive upgrade over Mozgov, whom the Nuggets traded to the Cavs in early January. He would be a nice fit for the fluid Nuggets, who rank fourth in the league in pace factor with 96.7 possessions per 48 minutes. Goran Dragic The Suns three-guard system featuring Eric Bledsoe, Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic has proven to be mildly successful this season, but its quite possible the embarrassment of riches at the point guard position could lead to the eventual departure of one of these players. Dragic figures to be one of the most highly sought-after free agents in 2015, although that hasnt stopped at least one NBA franchise from trying to lock him down before a summer frenzy for his signature. According to USA Todays Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick, the Houston Rockets have been persistently pushing for Dragic this season: The Houston Rockets, where he had his first breakout season, would love to bring the Slovenian star back for a second go-round, and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has tried to no avail to land Dragic via trade this season. The Slovenian slicksters numbers are down this season in the Suns crowded backcourt, making it much tougher for the 28-year-old to shine in his prime years. He would be an excellent complement to MVP candidate James Harden in the Rockets backcourt. The Rockets current starting point guard is Patrick Beverly, a defensive monster but a limited passer averaging just 3.3 assists per game. Phoenix might be willing to trade an expendable like Plumlee for future assets, but it would likely take players who can provide immediate returns to pry Dragic away from the Suns. They cling to the eighth seed in the Western Conference and still have a chance to hold on to him after this season. Dragic has a $7.5 million player option for 2015, per Spotrac, but could stand to make a hefty chunk of change on the open market. Zillgitt and Amick note the Lakers as one potential suitor; they could desperately use a viable starting point guard, considering the limited returns on the Jeremy Lin experiment. If the Rockets are truly desperate for Dragic, they would be wise to continue their efforts right up to the trade deadline. Unless the Suns plan to part ways with either Bledsoe or Thomas, it is in Dragics best interest to seek employment elsewhere, hopefully with a team ready and willing to make him a lead point guard without any fuss involved. Pablo Prigioni The New York Knicks are in the ugly, early stages of a rebuilding project this season. That might not have been the original plan coming into the year, but thats what happens when you suffer franchise-record losing streaks. The team needs to find ways to cut off the dead weight, and it appears veteran point guard Pablo Prigioni is on the block, per NBAs Adam Zagoria: This is an obvious cap-space move for the Knicks; they could easily waive Prigioni this summer to clear space for younger hires. Pro Basketball Talks Dan Feldman notes the Knicks can save some cap room if they find a willing trade partner: Prigioni’s $1,734,572 2015-16 salary is just $290,000 guaranteed, but if the Knicks waive him this summer, they’d gain just $919,479 in cap room after the roster charge. If they trade him without taking salary in return, they’d gain $1,209,479 in cap room after the roster charge. One would think a second-rounder might not be too hard to part with in return for a cheap, veteran point guard, but Prigioni doesnt exactly strike as a hot commodity. Hes 37 years old and has a lackluster 38.3 shooting percentage from downtown despite taking nearly 71 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Plus, he is falling out of the rotation on a 7-36 team, which doesnt exactly boost his resume. Heck, most teams in the point guard market would probably rather have his teammate, Jose Calderon. He is averaging 9.3 points and 4.3 assists per game this season and is four years younger than Prigioni, and his name has also surfaced in trade rumors this January, per ESPNNewYorks Ian Begley. If the Knicks cant trade Prigioni and end up waiving him this summer, dont be surprised if he returns to Spain or heads back to his native Argentina to play basketball. His options abroad could be greater and more varied than those likely to crop up in the Association. Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant isnt the subject of any trade rumors, but injury woes certainly make him one of the most buzzworthy players of the week. According to Lakerss Mike Trudell, Bryant has suffered a torn rotator cuff on his right arm: Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News passed along a couple of potential timetables for his return, depending upon the severity of the injury: ESPNs Ramona Shelburne noted the Lakers could shut down Bryant for the season: Bryant is averaging 22.3 points per game this season on a career-worst 37.3 shooting percentage. Its yet another disappointing health development in a fitful, frustrating denouement to the 36-year-olds brilliant career. There was the Achilles injury in April 2013, the fractured knee in December of that year, multiple rest days for his aching body this season and now a partially torn rotator cuff. If the Lakers are to squeeze any last bit of value from the 17-time All-Star, shutting him down for the season appears to be the best course of action. Bryant is central to the Lakers sales pitch as they attempt to lure free agents to Tinseltown in 2015. With this latest setback, his role becomes a little less clear. If he tries to play this season and cant keep the injuries at bay, there is little hope that he will serve as an impact player next season. Should the Lakers shut him down, Bryant can begin recuperating and rehabilitating posthaste, but free agents may still be wary of his status. There is also the possibility, however slim considering Bryants dogged demeanor, that he will retire at the end of this year. According to the Los Angeles Times Bill Plaschke, Bryant admitted retiring has crossed his mind this season. Dont expect this story to go away anytime soon, as it has huge implications for one of the leagues premier franchises. Ray Allen NBA fans may have seen the last of Bryant this season, but its possible roundball aficionados could see a triumphant return to the hardwood for a different NBA legend. Sharpshooter Ray Allen has been sought after by title contenders since becoming a free agent after the 2013-14 season but has yet to latch on with any team for one last NBA romp. With the playoff picture beginning to take shape and teams more acutely aware than ever of their needs this season, Allens name has resurfaced in the rumor mill. Basketball Insiders Alex Kennedy cites the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards as potential landing spots for the NBAs all-time leader in three-pointers made: According to ESPNs Dave McMenamin, LeBron James met with Allen during the Cavs trip to Miami in the hopes of luring him to Cleveland. The 39-year-old averaged just 9.6 points per game last season with the Miami Heat on 37.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc. A down year, to be sure, but Allens experience as a two-time NBA champion and penchant for hitting crunch-time daggers cant really be found on the trade market. Considering that Allens motivations for returning presumably begin and end with the Larry OBrien Trophy, the Wizards might actually be the better option at this point, as they are second in the Eastern Conference and can pair him with another familiar face, per Kennedy: However, the lure of playing with King James in Cleveland cant be ignored, and the team could finally be hitting its stride with four wins a row as of Thursday. Advanced stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference unless otherwise noted. Read more NBA news on BleacherReport #NBA #KobeBryant #RayAllen #BrookLopez #fantasybasketball
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:22:30 +0000
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