NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Trade Buzz on Roy Hibbert, David Lee and More

The best part of free-agent season in the NBA is all the speculation it brings, both for the players seeking new contracts and for potential trades. Through two days, there has already been enough manic action and talk involving all 30 teams to fill an entire offseason.

Yet even with key players like Dwyane Wade, Kevin Love, Greg Monroe and others reportedly off the board, there are still several top-tier free agents waiting to sign on the dotted line. Marc Gasol, DeAndre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge and several others are playing things out slowly compared to how quickly many agreed to terms.

With teams still seeking to clear cap space for free agents, or just rid themselves of bad deals, speculation hasn't slowed down in the 48 hours since negotiations could begin.

Here are the latest trade rumors around the sport that could change certain dynamics over the summer. 

Indiana's Trash, Dallas' Treasure?

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One of many theories in sports involves trading for a talented player who hasn't lived up to his potential in one spot and bringing him somewhere else, hoping the light turns on.

In the case of Roy Hibbert, who has seven seasons with the Indiana Pacers under his belt, that may not end up being the case. But that won't stop someone from taking a chance on the two-time All-Star. 

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com, the Dallas Mavericks would entertain a deal for Hibbert if they can't work out a deal with free agent DeAndre Jordan. 

The Pacers seem intent on getting rid of Hibbert as soon as possible. He put a dent in those plans by exercising his $15.5 million option for next season, which wasn't a surprise, considering the market for pure centers who shoot less than 45 percent from the floor isn't robust.

In April, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters, per Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star, that the team wanted to change its style of play, likely leading to less playing time for Hibbert:

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We'll have to see how it all plays out and what the roster ultimately looks like, but there's a possibility that Roy's role will be diminished, if we're trying to play faster and trying to play smaller. But a lot of stuff is going to happen this summer. We'll see how the roster shapes out coming into next season.

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Hibbert is the kind of player Mavericks owner Mark Cuban can take a chance on without crippling his roster. The Mavericks need size after losing Tyson Chandler, who agreed to a four-year deal with the Phoenix Suns earlier in the week, according to ESPN.com's Mark Stein.

For the Mavericks, Hibbert could be Chandler-lite. Here's how the two centers compare, using defensive stats from last season:

Chandler	Stat	Hibbert
27.4	Defensive Rebound Percentage	21.9
3.2	Block Percentage	5.1
3.1	Defensive Win Shares	3.2
2.3	Defensive Box Plus-Minus	2.1

Paying Hibbert $15.5 million for that kind of performance would be extravagant for most teams, but the Mavericks are trying to keep their roster strong enough to compete for a title in the stacked Western Conference.

David Lee Over DeMarcus Cousins

With the Los Angeles Lakers being unable to give away their money, at least thus far, the trade market could end up being their best friend this summer.

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne noted that if free agents spurn the Lakers, the team would likely pursue David Lee in a possible trade with the Golden State Warriors instead of looking to the Sacramento Kings for DeMarcus Cousins.

It turns out that the Lakers may not be alone in pursuing Lee, as B/R's Howard Beck reported the New York Knicks have had discussions about bringing the veteran big man back.

While both franchises seem desperate to add talent at this point, the Lakers have more incentive because the Knicks were able to get Arron Afflalo on a two-year deal, per Shelburne. 

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Lee would seem to be a solid alternative option, given what the Lakers have been looking at this offseason. Aldridge and Jordan, while their playing styles are vastly different, would give the team size and athleticism. 

While Lee is on the back nine of his career, he's not far removed from averaging nearly a double-double per game. The 32-year-old averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in 2013-14 as a starter in Golden State.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr used Lee in a reduced capacity last season, to the team's benefit, but the two-time All-Star isn't incapable of being a productive player for a franchise that can make better use of his skills.

The Lakers need bodies with some semblance of talent at this point. They can't depend on Kobe Bryant after he played just 41 games over the last two years; Julius Randle and D'Angelo Russell have tremendous talent but are unproven.

Lee can serve as a nice transitional player for the Lakers. He also wouldn't require a long-term commitment from the team, as his deal expires after this season.

You Can Have Joe Johnson!

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As the Brooklyn Nets try to dig themselves out of the salary abyss they dug themselves into, one name that will linger over everything is Joe Johnson—simply because of how bad his contract is.

According to ESPN.com's Mike Mazzeo, the Nets are actively shopping Johnson. He also notes that teams are "leery of taking his contract and gutting their team."

This report came out days after ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported the Nets had discussions with the Memphis Grizzlies about a deal involving Johnson:

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The teams could not find a workable deal and have tabled discussions, but sources told ESPN.com that the Nets were encouraged enough in general to believe that they will ultimately find a trade taker for Johnson's mammoth contract, which only has one season left to run but at a massive $24.9 million in 2015-16 -- the league's richest deal when it was signed four years ago.

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Finding a taker for Johnson would be a huge sigh of relief for the Nets. Johnson has always been an erratic player, even at his best. He's a career 37.1 percent shooter from three-point range but has had four seasons under that mark, including last year, when he shot 35.9 percent.

Paying him nearly $25 million for that kind of production would be crippling for a franchise, even with the salary cap steadily rising before the NBA's new television deal kicks in next year.

Johnson is far from the league's worst player, but his salary makes him appear that way. Since there's no way to change that, the best thing that can happen to the 34-year-old is a trade to a contending team where he would able to blend in.

That's what the Grizzlies would have offered, though there are lots of things that can happen between now and the start of next season to send Johnson somewhere else.

Player moves courtesy of ESPN.com's tracker unless otherwise noted.