NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on DeMarcus Cousins, Nerlens Noel and More
NBA front offices, writers and their sources blessed us with a few rumors to go along with our Thanksgiving feasts this year.
It looks like the oft-chattered-about DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings may have to start paying rent in the rumor mill, as his name has surfaced again.
Hot on his heels as the most trade-worthy big man in 2016-17 is the Philadelphia 76ers' Nerlens Noel, who looks like the odd man out with Joel "The Process" Embiid and Jahlil Okafor soaking up all the minutes at the 5.
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And former (maybe future, maybe current, mostly who knows) Houston Rocket Donatas Motiejunas remains a mystery despite the passing of a key date related to the trade deadline.
Is DeMarcus Cousins Wearing on the Kings Front Office?
One day, Cousins is as good as traded. The next, he's an All-Star-level talent the Kings want to build around.
The latest turn seems to point toward the former, with ESPN.com's Zach Lowe dropping this nugget on the latest episode of The Lowe Post with guest Marc Stein (via HoopsHype):
"I’ve had a couple of guys from other teams tell me they’re hearing the Kings are starting to get sick of Cousins. Whatever that means. I mean no one knows who’s making the decisions from the ownership level, not who’s making the decisions, but there’s just so many voices among ownership. They have a million minority owners. Vlade [Divac] and Ken Catanella.
"
As is always the case with Cousins and the Kings, his individual numbers are stellar, but the team (6-9) continues to lose more often than it wins.
Cousins' line of 27.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists is ridiculous. But if February rolls around and it looks like Sacramento is on track to miss the postseason for the 11th straight season, don't be surprised if one of those voices in the front office makes Boogie a serious trade candidate.
Are the 76ers More Likely to Trade Nerlens Noel than Jahlil Okafor?
We've known this was coming for a while. The 76ers have too many big men on their roster.
Embiid looks like a no-brainer for Rookie of the Year. Okafor has improved his efficiency as a backup. Dario Saric looks to have real point forward potential. And 2016 No. 1 pick Ben Simmons will command playing time once he returns from a broken foot.
That might leave Noel, likely the best defender of the bunch, as the odd man out. At least that's what Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler tweeted:
Despite the logjam and Philly's obvious need to move one of these players, Noel should still fetch a decent return in a trade.
Over the course of two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16), he has the fifth-best defensive box plus/minus among players who logged at least 1,000 minutes, per Basketball-Reference.com:
| 1 | Andrew Bogut | 18.4 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| 2 | Rudy Gobert | 20.5 | 1.4 | 6.5 | 5 |
| 3 | Tim Duncan | 17.4 | 1.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| 4 | Cole Aldrich | 19.8 | 2.4 | 6.1 | 4.3 |
| 5 | Nerlens Noel | 14.6 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 4 |
| 6 | Draymond Green | 14.4 | 2.2 | 3 | 3.9 |
| 7 | John Henson | 13.9 | 1.1 | 9.5 | 3.9 |
| 8 | Joakim Noah | 18.1 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| 9 | DeAndre Jordan | 23.4 | 1.2 | 5.4 | 3.5 |
| 10 | Paul Millsap | 14.4 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
Any team in need of a versatile big man who can defend all over the floor has to be keeping a close eye on this situation.
Donatas Motiejunas and the Houston Rockets Remain at Odds
Motiejunas' already extended offseason gets longer every day, as the Rockets have yet to re-sign him for this campaign.
ESPN's Stein shared the key difference with this week:
In the wake of the two sides not finding much common ground in negotiations, ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins tweeted that Motiejunas may be close to heading overseas:
The Lithuanian big man could catch on with a high-profile European team, but it won't pay him what he can make here, and the Rockets will still retain his NBA rights.
