NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Greg Oden, Paul Pierce and Knicks Draft Plans

We're just about three weeks away from the 2015 NBA draft and under a month away from the official start of free agency, so naturally the rumors are beginning to swirl.

Right now, 28 NBA teams are pondering how to rebuild their rosters or add new pieces so that they can be in the same position as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers are at this time. 

One of the players making headlines prior to the start of free agency is Greg Oden, who of course has been one of the most disappointing No. 1 overall picks in league history.

Oden, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of Kevin Durant back in 2007, played with LeBron James and the Miami Heat last season. The oft-injured center averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 23 games in 2013-14.   

Oden did not play in the NBA this year but is garnering interest yet again.

According to Shams Charani of RealGM, the Memphis Grizzlies have "explored" the 7-footer and were "expressing interest" in the free agent during a workout in the spring: "The Grizzlies’ current level of interest in Oden remains unclear, but the franchise is believed to be having a free-agent minicamp in the upcoming weeks—like many organizations around the NBA. Oden is undecided in his possible participation there."

There's an obvious connection here, as Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley was Oden's teammate when the two were at Ohio State. Oden averaged 15.7 points and 9.6 per game with the Buckeyes in 2007 en route to an appearance in the NCAA championship game, but he has never lived up to those expectations at the professional level.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The Grizzlies—or any other NBA team, for that matter—will likely consider Oden with caution. Oden has appeared in 105 games over the past six years, which include a three-year span in which he was not a part of a team. 

Memphis is likely considering Oden as an insurance policy should prized center Marc Gasol leave the team in free agency this summer. Gasol (7'1", 265 lbs) will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and arguably the most courted player of the summer.

Gasol recently expressed admiration for the San Antonio Spurs by calling them "an example franchise" in an interview with Diario AS (via RealGM.com). Gasol should receive interest from the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks, among others.

Should Gasol flee town, the Grizzlies will need to find big bodies to try to piece together a new frontcourt. Kosta Koufos (7'0", 265 lbs) is also an unrestricted free agent and could leave.

Oden is likely a Plan B or C, as his health is a concern in addition to his actual production. More realistically, Oden would be a second or third center behind Gasol's and Koufos' replacements.

Pierce to Reunite with Rivers in L.A.?

Paul Pierce won his first NBA championship with Doc Rivers in Boston. The veteran forward was unable to get the Washington Wizards over the hump in 2014-15, but perhaps he could do just that for the Los Angeles Clippers next year.

According to Robert Morales of InsideSoCal.com, the Clippers are interested in bringing Pierce to Los Angeles if he opts out of his current deal with Washington. 

Pierce, 37, is a California native and has long been connected to the Clippers because it's his hometown and he has history with Rivers. Last year, he averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists with the Wizards, all career-low marks.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

He also averaged 26.2 minutes per game, his lowest total in his 17-year career.

Still, we saw what Pierce is still capable of doing during Washington's second-round playoff series against the Hawks. That clutch factor and veteran presence are what the Clippers need to overcome their own playoff demons. 

Pierce could continue to be a bench player at small forward behind Matt Barnes while actually providing the second unit with some offense. Along with Austin Rivers and Jamal Crawford, he improves the Clippers' bench drastically, making L.A. that much more formidable for the postseason.

Knicks Considering Lyles with the No. 4 Pick?

No one spent more time watching the Kentucky Wildcats this college basketball season than the Knicks, says Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. So it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that a rumor connects them to yet another member of Big Blue Nation.

While center Karl-Anthony Towns is widely projected to be the top pick on June 25, ESPN Insider Chad Ford recently connected the Knicks to one of his teammates, Willie-Cauley Stein.

But perhaps the Knicks are eyeing another Kentucky big man...

According to Isola, while Towns and Cauley-Stein have been the main subjects of conversations surrounding the Knicks' first-round pick, the team is "enamored" with Trey Lyles.

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While Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein have garnered the most attention, the Knicks for months have been enamored with Trey Lyles, according to a team source. Lyles is a 6-foot-10 forward out of Indianapolis who Phil Jackson sees as a good fit for the triangle offense.

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The Knicks are not planning to stray from Jackson's triangle offense anytime soon, and when you're a teaming picking fourth, that usually means there are a number of holes you need to fill in the offseason.

The 6'10" Lyles fills a glaring need at power forward for the Knicks, who were also rumored to have interest in small forward Justise Winslow with the No. 4 pick, per Ford.

As the roster currently stands, Lou Amundson and Jason Smith are the top two power forwards in the mix for a starting job.

Most mock drafts peg Lyles as a mid-round pick, so No. 4 is seemingly a bit of a reach for the former Kentucky forward. The team could consider moving down in the draft and still being able to draft him too.

The more pressing question is whether Lyles will be able to contribute next October. The Knicks need to find players who help turn them around right away in order not to further infuriate an already frustrated fanbase—not to mention ease concerns about Phil Jackson running the front office and Derek Fisher as head coach. 

Drafting Lyles—whether it's at No. 4 or trading back to do so—is a risky proposition, especially when there are other players who seemingly have even higher ceilings. When given a top-five lottery pick, it's wise to use it or make a trade for a proven veteran, not move out of that spot to take a more questionable prospect.