NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Surrounding Rudy Gay, Nerlens Noel and More
The first month of the NBA season has given teams a chance to see exactly what they are missing and how the holes need to be addressed.
It is likely too early to expect major changes on any roster, but this is the time when front offices start looking externally for candidates to improve their squads. As other teams around the league realize the playoffs are an unlikely goal, they will also start preparing to unload their talent to help build for the future.
While it might take some time for these moves to come to fruition, here are some of the latest potential deals that could happen in the coming months.
Rudy Gay to the Thunder?
Russell Westbrook has been as good as ever in his first season playing without Kevin Durant, but the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder have struggled to pick up the slack. They are still in position to reach the playoffs, but returning to the level of last season will not be easy.
If Oklahoma City wants to get back to the Western Conference Finals or beyond, the squad needs an additional weapon on the offensive end. That could come from Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay.
As Zach Lowe of ESPN.com noted: "They remain interested in bigger wings, including Rudy Gay, sources say, in part because such a player would slide everyone down to their intended spots: [Victor] Oladipo to the bench, and Andre Roberson back to defending shooting guards."
Gay has never been an All-Star, but he is scoring as well as ever with an average of 20.5 points per game in 13 contests this season. He has averaged at least 17 points per game every season of his career except for his rookie year.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders confirmed the interest from Oklahoma City but noted the Kings don't want to trade him yet. As the season progresses, however, this is likely a team that will move further down the standings and out of contention, which could force a move.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical also reported in September that Gay plans to opt out of his contract and sign elsewhere, which means he wants out of Sacramento.
Although this clearly won't replace Durant, it would give the Thunder a much better chance of contending this season and possibly beyond.
Cavaliers Targeting Backup Point Guard
The Cleveland Cavaliers are once again one of the best teams in the NBA, but it might be difficult to survive an entire season without a backup point guard.
Kyrie Irving has been at his best this season, leading the team with 24 points per game. Health has been an issue for him throughout his career, however, which could lead to problems if he is forced to miss an extended period of time again.
After losing Matthew Dellavedova in free agency this offseason, the only true point guard on the roster is Kay Felder, who has played just four games in reserve. While LeBron James is capable of running an offense by himself, and players such as Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith can handle the ball if needed, the team is playing with fire.
This makes it little surprise the Cavaliers are reportedly searching for a backup point guard on the trade market, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. He speculated Deron Williams or D.J. Augustin could be options as the year progresses.
Williams especially makes a lot of sense while playing for the Dallas Mavericks, who have gotten off to the worst start in the NBA this season. If they continue to fall out of contention, they could look to deal their veterans with value, including the 32-year-old Williams.
Although he has dealt with a calf injury as of late, Williams is an 11-year veteran who has been a starter for most of his career and knows how to run an offense. While he has lost some quickness over the years, he has experience in both the regular season and playoffs and could be a key addition to the Cavs' second unit.
With Cleveland always in competition with the Golden State Warriors, this could be a major addition.
Philadelphia Dealing Nerlens Noel
The Philadelphia 76ers have been drafting the best player available for the past few years, but this has left the team with too many young centers to see adequate playing time. At least one of them is likely heading elsewhere, and Nerlens Noel appears to be the odd man out.
In October, David Aldridge of Turner Sports noted on NBA.com the team's intention to trade the 22-year-old player. ESPN.com's Marc Stein then added the Toronto Raptors had "expressed interest" in the center.
Noel has shown a lot of ability on the court when he has played, especially on the defensive end. In two seasons, he has averaged 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.
Of course, there are a few holdups preventing teams from making a deal. He hasn't played at all this season while he recovers from knee surgery.
"There's a concern in NBA circles about Noel's maturity, which may have complicated his trade value," Matt Moore of CBSSports.com reported.
Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown recently provided a noncommittal plan for the former lottery pick, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
"I'm not able right now to lay out the perfect road map to everybody. But it was a great conversation. It was good to see him as we always do with our players and me with Nerlens. I've been with him a long time. It's very clear and candid what his role and what's going to happen. How are we going to try to make it work.
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Joel Embiid has been a star this season, while Jahlil Okafor is still a top option at center, leaving little room for Noel when he is healthy.
The Raptors make sense as a destination to provide depth behind Jonas Valanciunas, but so do a lot of teams that are not trying to squeeze out playing time for several young players. The 76ers need to find a way to move him before losing him for nothing.
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