BS Meter on KAT Trade Talks, Alex Caruso Market, Latest NBA News and Rumors
As we start gaining a more accurate sample size of NBA action, the play on the court is only half the buzz happening in the league.
The future of Zach LaVine (and others) with the Chicago Bulls has been a major talking point. It's nearly make-or-break time with one young prospect in the West, and is Karl-Anthony Towns actually available in trade talks by the Minnesota Timberwolves?
It's time to round up all of the latest NBA news and rumors, running them through the BS meter to see what's truly to be believed.
Karl-Anthony Towns Not Available in Trade Talks?
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While the alpha role in Minnesota has shifted from Karl-Anthony Towns to Anthony Edwards, does this mean KAT is necessarily available via trade?
According to Matt Moore of The Action Network, "There is a widespread belief that Towns is available in trade discussions, a claim that sources close to the Wolves continue to say is overblown, if not outright wrong."
Moore did note that the New York Knicks are interested in trading for the 28-year-old, and that "there is a feeling in league circles that aren't involved with the Timberwolves or Knicks that this situation is largely being promoted from within New York."
So, is Towns available via trade?
It should depend on the offer.
As we noted recently, the Wolves should be taking phone calls on Towns all the way up to the deadline for a number of reasons.
The four-year, $222.7 million extension owed to the veteran forward/center will kick in next season, almost certainly forcing this team deep into the luxury tax. The Wolves have also been 25.2 points per 100 possessions better this season when Edwards and Rudy Gobert are on the floor without Towns, an alarming difference.
There's no evidence to say Minnesota is actively shopping Towns, nor should it want that information out there even if it was. However, to say that him being available is outright wrong does carry some BS with it.
BS Meter: A little BS. The Wolves have to seriously consider trading Towns if the right offer comes along.
Wizards May Not Consider Jordan Poole a Franchise Cornerstone
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Could the Jordan Poole era in Washington be nearing an end already?
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line substack, various league observers believe the Wizards may have acquired the 24-year-old with an eye toward dealing him down the line instead of as "a cornerstone player of their post-Bradley Beal future."
This news comes following a surprisingly mild start to his Wizards career.
Poole moving from a veteran-heavy Golden State Warriors team with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and others to a rebuilding Wizards side was supposed to lead to a huge jump in scoring and overall usage for the combo guard.
Instead, his shot attempts (15.6 to 14.7), scoring (20.4 points per game to 15.5), and usage percentage (29.2 percent to 27.7 percent) have all taken a dive, as has his scoring efficiency (48.9 true shooting percentage, the worst since his rookie season).
The Michigan product is in the first season of a four-year, $128 million extension, one that looks pretty rough at the moment.
The reality is, it would do no good for Washington to shop him now with his value at an all-time low. The Wizards aren't supposed to be good this season and the franchise can afford to be patient with Poole, who's still an extremely talented player overall.
Washington still got a first-round pick back in the deal with Poole, so this trade was never just about acquiring the former Warriors guard. We've still got a long way to go before deciding if he is a cornerstone on this new-look Wizards team yet.
BS Meter: No BS here. All options are on the table for Poole's future, although it would do the Wizards no good to try to trade him now.
Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams Drawing Most Trade Interest of Any Bull?
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The Chicago Bulls will continue to dominate the rumor mill as teams monitor the direction the franchise takes.
While their core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vučević would elevate contenders most with their offensive pop, these apparently aren't the players opposing teams are after.
According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line substack, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams are "generating the most November trade curiosity from rival teams."
No one is saying Caruso is a better player than any of Chicago's Big 3, but he is far easier to trade for with a $9.5 million salary this season. The 29-year-old was an All-Defensive team member last season and is averaging a career-high 9.6 points on 61.5 percent shooting overall along with 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks in 24.0 minutes a night.
He's an easy plug into any team's backcourt and can operate as both an on- or off-ball threat. Every contender in the league should be calling to check on Caruso's asking price.
As for Williams? C'mon now.
The fourth-year forward is off to a horrendous start this season, averaging a career-low 5.6 points on 31.0 percent shooting overall. He's already been taken out of the starting lineup by head coach Billy Donovan and is down to a personal-low 22.4 minutes per game.
While some rebuilding team may want to offer a future second-round pick or two for Williams, he's shown little sign of making any sort of leap.
BS Meter: Total BS that Williams is getting more trade interest than LaVine or DeRozan; no BS that teams are checking in on Caruso.
Warriors Reaching a Breaking Point with Jonathan Kuminga?
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Playing the two-timeline game hasn't exactly worked for the Warriors, who have already punted on James Wiseman and been reluctant to play Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody big minutes now into Year 3.
Kuminga, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 draft, has long been an athletic marvel, yet the Warriors have refused to give him a major role or trade him for veteran help.
"It has always been, 'No,' on him," one NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports. "It's always, 'We're not trading him, move on.' But how long can they stick with that, if he is not going to be a guy they rely on and he is not going to be happy in that role? There is going to be a breaking point. And I think they're getting near that point where they have to say, we need to move him get help now. It has not happened yet. But give it a month. Everybody's got their eye on that."
Even with Draymond Green currently suspended, Kuminga has averaged just 21.0 minutes a night during the veteran's absence, hardly a change from his 20.5 minute-per-game average before. This was the time to truly take the training wheels off of the 21-year-old, but the Warriors still won't do it.
Kuminga has one more season remaining on his rookie deal, so no major decisions need to be made this year. Still, with Klay Thompson struggling and the Warriors off to a 6-8 start, patience could be running out.
A Kuminga trade should absolutely be on the table if it means getting this core a fifth ring together, especially while his value and upside are still high.
BS Meter: No BS here. The Warriors are looking older than ever and either need Kuminga to turn into a star or use him to trade for one.
Sacramento Kings 'Are Going to Be Involved for Every Star Player'
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While franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks often get thrown out first when trying to find landing spots for stars in trades, a new destination has entered the chat.
Yes, the Sacramento Kings would like your team's best player as well.
"They are going to be involved in every star player," Shams Charania told FanDuel TV's Run it Back. "Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, maybe Zach LaVine. ...They've done a good job at keeping their assets, they have tradeable contracts. So they're gonna be a player for stars coming up, for sure. I think eventually, they could add a third piece."
While it appeared Keegan Murray could become the third star for the Kings, the second-year forward is off to a slow start and would likely be the first player opposing teams would ask for in any potential trade.
Sacramento is actually quite limited in what it can trade picks-wise, as its 2024 first-round pick is owed to the Atlanta Hawks stemming from the Kevin Huerter trade. The pick is lottery-protected in 2024, top-12 protected in 2025 and top-10 protected in 2016. Given these protections, the Kings can't actually trade a first-rounder until 2028 and could only part with two total (2028 and 2030).
They do own nearly all of their future second-rounders moving forward (save for a 2030 selection owed to the Indiana Pacers) and have an extra second coming from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025.
While a player like Siakam or Anunoby would look terrific in this starting lineup, the Kings don't have the draft capital of a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans, Knicks or other contenders that have extra first-rounders owed to them.
Buy Sacramento making a run at any stars who become available to pair with De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but sell that they can outbid some of the other contenders for them.
BS Meter: No BS that the Kings will pursue another star, although Sacramento is limited with its first-round picks due to the Huerter trade.
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