NBA Rumors: Hottest Trade Buzz Regarding DeMarcus Cousins, Joe Johnson and More
The 2015 NBA champion has yet to be decided, but with the offseason very much on the horizon, the trade rumor mill is already starting to churn.
Since the NBA's other 28 teams are hoping to ascend to the same level as the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers in the very near future, there figures to be no shortage of player movement. Between free agency, trades and the draft, the complexion of the league could change quite dramatically in the coming months.
As organizations write up their blueprints for the 2015 offseason, here is a look at the latest and most intriguing trade buzz currently making the rounds.
Boston Celtics Pursuing DeMarcus Cousins?
The Boston Celtics surprised many by going on a late-season run to make the playoffs this year, and with promising head coach Brad Stevens at the helm, they seem poised to take another step forward in the Eastern Conference in 2015-16.
That process could be accelerated by making a big personnel move, and according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the C's have something significant in mind in the form of a trade for Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins.
The 24-year-old center was named to the All-Star team for the first time this season, and he is among the best all-around bigs in the game as he averaged over 24 points, nearly 13 rebounds and almost two blocks per game in 2014-15.
His tenure in Sacramento hasn't been perfectly smooth as the team has struggled and Cousins has received some blame for a perceived attitude problem, but Greg Dickerson of CSNNE.com believes the positives outweigh the negatives with regard to Cousins:
Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe agrees, and he feels as though the Celtics would be wise to make a move for the rising superstar, according to CSNNE.com:
"I will personally pick him up at the airport. I do not think he's evil. I think he's growing up better and he is enormously talented, enormously so. That is a cornerstone player and he's still very young. The year he was in the draft there were people who thought he should've been the No. 1 pick just on the talent. He's proving to be a premier big man. Yes, I would roll the dice on DeMarcus Cousins.
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Boston has some young talent up front such as Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger, but it doesn't possess a truly dominant force like Cousins.
It is unclear how much it will take to land him, but if the Kings are willing to accept a reasonable offer, then the Celtics must take a long, hard look at acquiring Cousins.
Brooklyn Nets Open to Dealing Joe Johnson, Deron Williams?
The Brooklyn Nets' attempt to become contenders in the Eastern Conference didn't work out, and they are now stuck with a number of big contracts. Guards Joe Johnson and Deron Williams top that list, which is why they figure to be trade candidates this offseason.
According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, the Nets wouldn't mind trading one or both of the former all-stars, and they aren't likely to ask for much in return.
A big reason for Brooklyn's desire to trade Johnson and Williams is the fact that it is currently over the luxury tax threshold. General manager Billy King would like to change that, although he isn't willing to sell the farm in order to make it happen, per Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday:
"The goal is to try to be under the tax. That's just the goal. How realistic? It may not be. If we end up being over the tax, so be it. We're not going to jeopardize our roster, jeopardize the team just to be under the tax. If a decision is made to make the team better then we'll do that.
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Buying out Williams or Johnson would be one way to avoid the luxury tax if there are no takers on the trade market, but King has no interest in that, according to Iannazzone:
There is no question that Johnson and Williams have declined in recent years, and they aren't living up to their large contracts. Brooklyn is stuck in a holding pattern until it can get them off the books, but it may not be able to do that right now.
Johnson and Williams would be nice supporting players on winning teams, however, their salaries limit trade options and are likely to force the Nets to keep them for now.
New York Knicks Considering Trading Down in Draft?
New York Knicks fans suffered through a difficult 2014-15 season, but they were somewhat willing to go through the pain due to the potential payoff. A top-two pick in the NBA draft would have allowed the Knicks to draft Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns or Duke center Jahlil Okafor, but the lottery didn't go their way, and they will select fourth instead.
That means New York is also likely to miss out on Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell, which means Emmanuel Mudiay out of the Chinese league, Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein or Duke forward Justise Winslow are among the possibilities at No. 4.
If the Knicks aren't enamored with those options, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reports that New York could potentially trade down from No. 4 to No. 7 with the Denver Nuggets while also landing point guard Ty Lawson or forward Kenneth Faried.
Faried's play dropped off a bit this season, but he still averaged 12.6 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. He is one of the toughest and most determined forwards in the league, and he will help change the culture in New York.
With that said, Raj Sharan of ESPNDenver.com is hearing that the Nuggets are more willing to deal Lawson:
Lawson would be a great addition for New York as well since he averaged a career-high 9.6 assists per game last season and would add an element of explosiveness to the Knicks' moribund offense.
New York would be taking a risk by trading out of the No. 4 slot, but they should still be able to get a very good player at No. 7. Add in either Faried or Lawson, and the Knicks will certainly be on the ascent.
There is pressure on Phil Jackson to turn things around quickly in the Big Apple, and exploring a trade with the Nuggets may be the best way to make that happen.
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