NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on DeMarcus Cousins, Michael Carter-Williams, More
Whether it's the preseason, summer, regular season or playoffs, trade rumors may be the one constant in the NBA.
And although we're four months away from the NBA's trade deadline in February, several big names are already surfacing in the rumor mill.
A pair of Sacramento Kings, DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay, came up in an interview with Kings owner Vivek Ranadive. Milwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd commented on the status of rumor-regular Michael Carter-Williams. And everyone's favorite hypothetical trade partner, the Boston Celtics, may have already seen a trade ship sail by.
No Moves from the Sacramento Kings?
In an interview with USA Today's Sam Amick, Ranadive explored a number of different topics, including the possibility of moving Cousins in a trade.
When asked if he'd consider a move this season, Ranadive said:
"I leave it up to (general manager) Vlade (Divac). What I see is a young guy who wants to win, and has actually matured. And I'm just repeating what I hear Vlade saying, so it's better to ask him this question, but I think what Vlade really wants to see is - and the way he says it with his Serb accent - is hugs (laughs). Hugs. He wants to see hugs, and he wants to see growth as a teammate. I know that Vlade and coach (first-year coach Dave Joerger, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies) will make the right decisions, and I don't know. Right now what I see is I'm excited for what we have.
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Cousins has led the Kings in points in each of the last four seasons and in rebounds in each of the last six. But apparently he needs to up his hugs average.
Of course, Divac's talk of hugs is probably less about a physical manifestation of affection than a general harmony within the team. It's there that Cousins does have something to prove.
If he can continue to dominate the stat sheet while adding a better relationship with his coach and teammates, it will be difficult to trade him.
He is, after all, one of just seven players in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game through his first six seasons.
Later in the interview with Amick, Ranadive was asked about Gay's desire for a fresh start somewhere other than Sacramento. Ranadive responded:
"I was puzzled to read that I was involved in that (situation) because I had zero involvement in it. Rudy and his agent wanted me to be there when they expressed that they weren't happy, and I didn't really want to be (there). It meant flying out here (from the San Francisco Bay Area) and meeting (at Sleep Train Arena), and so then finally they said, 'Hey, just out of respect for him would you do it?' and I said 'Sure.' But again, whatever Vlade wants to do Vlade will do.
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In an appearance on The Vertical Podcast with Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. Redick, ESPN.com's Zach Lowe mentioned that the trade market for Gay isn't robust at the moment, so the volume-scoring forward may have to wait until next summer's free-agency period before he gets his fresh start.
The Milwaukee Bucks are 'Happy' with Michael Carter-Williams
It feels like Carter-Williams has been in and out of trade rumors from the day he was acquired by the Bucks in early 2015.
The fit hasn't been seamless, particularly on the offensive side, but Carter-Williams' length, defensive ability and draft pedigree still make him an interesting asset.
Most recently, he was mentioned at Woelfel's Press Box by Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times as a possible trade chip to secure a wing in the wake of Khris Middleton's injury.
Kidd, though, recently said he's happy with Carter-Williams in an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio (via HoopsHype):
"Rumors are just part of this business. We're happy with Michael (Carter-Williams). He's had a great summer and has worked extremely hard and it showed in the first game in Chicago. He came off the bench and I think he led us in rebounds. He can be one of the best wing defenders in this league. He helped us late in the game running the team at the point guard position. There's always speculation around different guys, but I think Michael is going to help us win.
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Comments like Kidd's aren't out of the norm for a coach in his situation. There's no reason to crank up the speed of the rumor mill.
But this could be a "where there's smoke, there's fire" situation. Carter-Williams can play some of the wing minutes Milwaukee needs to make up in Middleton's absence, but he can't make up for the loss of shooting.
Middleton averaged 18.2 points and shot 39.6 percent from deep last season, while Carter-Williams went for 11.5 points and shot 27.3 percent from three.
If Milwaukee can find a team that's willing to talk about giving up a shooter, it'd be wise to listen carefully.
Nothing Imminent Between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers
The Celtics—with their nearly bottomless treasure trove of young talent and future draft picks—seem to have some connection to every name on the trading block. That's included 76ers big men Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel at various times.
The Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett wrote about the two on Sunday:
"On the surface, it seems so logical. You would think that by now the Celtics and 76ers would have been able to get their heads together and do business on a major trade.
The Celts need a big man, and Philadelphia has a logjam up front. The Sixers need backcourt/wing help, and the C’s are loaded there to the level where it’s going to be hard finding enough minutes for those who deserve them.
But while the teams discussed a big deal in February and had further talks over the summer, no agreement was reached. And maybe that’s understandable.
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The safer choice is almost always not making the trade. That's why you hear so much more about rumors than you do about actual deals.
And in this case, it's even harder to imagine something coming to fruition following the addition of Al Horford.
