NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Most Recent Buzz Around the League
It's that time of the NBA season when speculation and rumors run rampant. Playoff contenders look to bolster the roster and underachievers look for ways to improve down the road.
There's still plenty of time before the Feb. 21 trade deadline, but we're already hearing some notable whispers throughout the league surrounding big names.
Will there be a blockbuster deal before the deadline this season, or will teams simply add bits and pieces?
Here's a look at the latest buzz around the NBA.
Spurs Looking to Acquire Jazz Big Man Al Jefferson?
Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com wrote on Wednesday:
"The San Antonio Spurs are the front-runners to land Al Jefferson in a trade with the Utah Jazz – and they are frontrunners like Secretariat was in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.
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The trade would make some sense. The Spurs and Jazz have a good relationship. The Jazz don't want to lose Jefferson as an unrestricted free agent after the season. And the Spurs could swing over a point guard like Patty Mills, along with 28-year-old European big man Erazem Lorbek, Tiago Splitter (to back up Enes Kanter) and Stephen Jackson (to make the money match).
But there are some issues with that trade, as Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News noted.
Not only is Jefferson more expensive, he doesn't fit as well into San Antonio's system. He's a low-post player, which makes it difficult for him to transition into the Spurs' pick-and-roll offense. He's also not as good a defender as Splitter, and the Spurs value defense greatly. Beyond that, the Spurs are playing beautiful basketball lately—why risk disrupting that?
Clippers Pursuing Kevin Garnett?
The Sporting News reported on Feb. 3 that multiple sources indicated that the Los Angeles Clippers were going after Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett, and that there had been talks among team officials.
It makes sense. The Celtics certainly aren't title contenders with Rajon Rondo being lost for the season, and Garnett and Paul Pierce are getting older. This would be a good time for the Celtics to blow up the roster and acquire some young, promising pieces.
On the other side of things, center DeAndre Jordan is an impact defender on the post, but he's had trouble assimilating into the offense, which is why he's receiving fewer than 25 minutes per game this season.
The Sporting News has the Clippers possibly sending Caron Butler and Eric Bledsoe in the trade. They may even add Jordan in the deal, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
Timberwolves Shopping Luke Ridnour?
Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reported on Thursday that a "league source" said "there is a good chance" that Luke Ridnour is traded before the Feb. 21 deadline.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have Ricky Rubio back from injury and they also have J.J. Barea under contract, presenting a log-jam at the point guard position.
According to Sheridan, the Jazz have reportedly looked into Ridnour. Utah is without Mo Williams and Earl Watson at the moment, having to rely on Jamaal Tinsley and second-year guard Alec Burks.
Talks of a Ridnour-for-Burks trade have reportedly been discontinued for now, but there's still a chance the Timberwolves and Jazz swing a trade before the deadline.
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