With the trade deadline approaching, trade rumors are swirling around the NBA as who will most likely be traded and whose players are in the trade block.
The BleacherReport.com breaks down some more trade rumors to add on the rumors on Pau Gasol, Omer Asik, Greg Monroe,Andre Miller and Evan Turner:
The 26-year-old is averaging career-highs in points with 8.5, rebounds with seven and field-goal percentage at 54.1 percent, while logging a career-high 19.5 minutes per contest.
The 30-year-old Jack hasn’t played nearly as well in Cleveland as he did for the Golden State Warriors a year ago. After signing a four-year, $25 million contract with the Cavs during the 2013 offseason, his numbers have declined across the board in 2013-14.
Cleveland would set itself up for 2015’s free agency by adding the 36-year-old Terry because his contract will come off the books that summer.
This deal makes sense for both sides involved, but the Cavaliers haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention yet. They sit just three games behind the No. 8 Charlotte Bobcats and five games back of the Nets.
The Nets would take on even more salary by adding Jack, but if Mikhail Prokhorov has proven anything during his short stint as owner, it’s that money is no object.
In fact, sources told ESPN.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk and Marc Stein that the Nets “are willing to take on the two remaining guaranteed seasons worth in excess of $12 million left on Jack’s contract despite the luxury-tax implications.”
Knicks Interested to get Hawks’ Teague in a trade
Interest in prospective trade targets rather than incumbent assets abounds within the New York Knicks organization.
Desperate for a point guard with more savvy and better stamina than Raymond Felton, ESPN’s Marc Stein says the Knicks may be knocking at the Atlanta Hawks’ door.
As Stein notes, though, Teague must want to play in New York before anything happens.
The Hawks could simply be interested in moving on from Teague, whoThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported wasn’t thrilled about the thought of continuing his career in Atlanta over the offseason. Grantland’s Zach Lowe previously noted that general manager Danny Ferry wasn’t in love with his contract either.
Still, the Hawks are going to demand ample return on someone who’s averaging 15.6 points and 7.2 assists per game.
Acquiring Teague also hamstrings New York financially beyond next season, which can and should be a deal-breaker.
In December, ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst revealed the Knicks’ plan to embark on a free-agency shopping spree in 2015, when players such as Rajon Rondo, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge and even LeBron James could become available.
Assuming the $24 million left on Teague’s contract after this season decreases the likelihood of any coup coming to fruition.
Again, though, the Knicks are desperate. Other wells, such as the ones containing Toronto Raptors All-Star snub Kyle Lowry, are drying up.
In truth, the idea of trading for Teague isn’t an unrealistic one—especially if Atlanta is motivated to make a deal. On its own, the willingness to take on salary isn’t much. In conjunction with other assets, however valuable, it can work wonders.
Teague is also a clear upgrade over Felton—then again, who isn’t? Though he doesn’t space the floor (25.6 percent shooting from deep),Teague infuses additional playmaking into an offensive dynamic prone to long stretches of stagnancy.
“I haven’t had any in depth conversation with management about who I want to play with,” Anthony told reporters while in New Orleans for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game. “What kind of team we should have. I’ve never had those conversations.”
NBA teams targeting Boston Celtics star point guard Rajon Rondo via trade moving forward may have to cut their losses, because the C’s reportedly want two first-round picks in return if he’s to be dealt prior to the Feb. 20 trade deadline.
It makes sense that Boston’s front office would set the price for Rondo this high, because the point guard was named the Celtics’ 15th captain in franchise history earlier this season.
“I’ve always believed that captains name themselves with their leadership on and off the court,” he said. “This isn’t about us naming Rondo captain. This is about him earning that title through his play as a Celtic, his accountability as a leader of this team, and his commitment to the Boston community.”
That didn’t make it sound like Rondo was on the trade block, but apparently he could still be dealt to a high bidder.
Of course, perhaps the only team in the NBA that could afford the price tag of two first-rounders is the Phoenix Suns.
Depending upon where the Washington Wizards and Minnesota Timberwolves finish in the standings, Phoenix could have up to four first-round picks in the 2014 NBA draft. New general manager Ryan McDonough has ties to the Celtics organization, but the Suns already have two All-Star caliber point guards on the roster in Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. As a result, targeting Rondo doesn’t make sense for the upstart desert dwellers.
Also, since the 2014 draft has been hyped for months as being deep and loaded with talent, teams have been even more hesitant to give up their picks.
For instance, the Los Angeles Lakers have insisted that they want a young asset (player or draft pick) in any potential trade for Pau Gasol, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein. To this point, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Phoenix Suns have refused to give up a first-round pick for the veteran Spaniard.
First-round picks don’t always have a ton of value, but this year’s draft appears to be filled with potential All-Stars and viable starters.
Ultimately, I don’t believe the Celtics will trade Rondo. That’s partly because of the lofty trade demands, but it’s also tied to the fact that the NBA is a point guard-driven league.
Without a competent point guard, teams need bona fide superstars to compensate. In the case of the New York Knicks, they’re still struggling even with Carmelo Anthony on board.
He’s a veteran, a leader and, most importantly, a proven champion. That’s something the Celts simply can’t overlook.