NBA Rumors: Fresh Trade Buzz from Around League Before Deadline
Everyone in the NBA community is watching and waiting for February 19 at 3 p.m. ET. That's the trade deadline for the 2014-15 season, and if a third of the rumored deals happen, it'll be a busy Thursday afternoon.
Contenders jockey for position and aim to swing the deal that takes the team to the next level. Some of the bottom feeders are looking to take advantage of contending teams that may be desperate to find missing pieces. Not every bad squad is selling, though.
Philly Not Moving Its Core
The Philadelphia 76ers have a ton of cap space, and they could be attractive trade partners for several teams. The Sixers might be ready and willing as long as the proposed deal doesn't include a member of the team's young core.
Speaking from information provided by a source, Keith Pompey of Philly.com said, "The Sixers are not interested in parting ways with their core players, Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid, at this time."
If the Sixers were to part with any of those three players now, you'd have to wonder what the last two years of suffering have been about. The trio has yet to take the floor together, because of Embiid's injury. Before the team decides to break up the trio, it should see them in action together first.
Pistons Looking for Point Guard Depth
Per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, the Detroit Pistons are looking for a point guard.
The Achilles injury that ended Brandon Jennings' season put a damper on the Detroit Pistons' playoff hopes. D.J. Augustin has filled in admirably since Jennings went down, but now the team doesn't have a viable backup to spell him.
The Pistons could look to sign a lead guard for the backup role, but there's always the possibility of a trade. Perhaps depth isn't what the Nuggets will seek. Maybe a bona fide starter would provide the team with a lead guard who is an upgrade over Jennings.
After all, Jennings is an unrestricted free agent after the 2015-16 season.
There's no legitimate rumor connected to this concept, but the Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson would be an interesting player for the Pistons to pursue. The Nuggets could be tanking shortly, and Lawson is their everything on offense.
Moving him would effectively make the Nuggets one of the worst teams in the Western Conference. Here's a deal that might work: Denver gets the expiring deals of Joel Anthony, Luigi Datome (restricted free agent in offseason), Jonas Jerebko, Caron Butler (one year and $4.5 million remaining on his deal) and a future first-round pick.
In this fictional deal, the Pistons would get Lawson and Darrell Arthur's expiring deal. The Nuggets may not make Lawson available, but don't be surprised if the Pistons and other contenders inquire.
Mo Could Be Dealt...Again
Mo Williams has played for six teams in 11 years, and he could be on his way to his seventh. The Minnesota Timberwolves point guard is said to be on the block, per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:
For Williams, this is old hat, but the deadline still weighs heavily on his mind. Per Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press, Williams said this about the rumors and potential deals: "Obviously, right when the game is over with, I'm thinking about (my future). Before the game, I think about it. But I can block it out during the game and move forward."
While the talks with the Charlotte Hornets have stalled recently, there's seemingly a chance talks pick back up. Even if Williams doesn't land with the Hornets, he could still be on the move. ESPN 1500 AM's Darren Wolfson believes Williams' days in Minny are numbered:
Without question, the 32-year-old scoring point guard has something to offer a contending team. His experience and scoring punch off the bench or as a spot starter are potential assets. He's played in 40 games this season, starting 19 for Ricky Rubio when he was injured.
Williams is averaging 12.3 points, 6.5 assists and knocking down just under 35 percent of his threes. We'll see if he will be taking his act on the road again soon.
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