NBA Trade Rumors: Hottest Talk to Start the Offseason
While the turns of the annual coaching carousel and the movements on the free-agent market are often powered by the NBA elites, trade talks extend the realm of possible additions to all 30 teams.
If two teams (or more) can come together on a fair(ish) talent swap, then any number of players could be filling out change of address forms before the start of the 2013-14 season.
Whenever there's a player facing a possible exit, we'll tell you where and why they're being moved. More often than not these talks are marathons not sprints, so we'll keep you abreast of every step in the race.
Read on for the latest trade rumors popping up in the early part of the 2013 NBA offseason.
Dallas Eyes a Point Guard
1 of 11Latest Reports
While the Boston Celtics contemplate just how deep their rebuilding efforts plan on going, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe the Dallas Mavericks have been calling to gauge their interest in moving Rajon Rondo.
Dallas' interest in Rondo would be as another player to persuade Dwight Howard to wear a Mavericks uniform next season, and would likely mean the Celtics taking a similar, yet more draft-pick stacked deal than they got from Brooklyn for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
Celtics team president Danny Ainge insists that Rondo is the cornerstone of the franchise, and moving him isn't in their plans.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks are looking at all point guard options available, showing interest in Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings and Chris Paul, according to DallasBasketball.com.
The problem with any talks involving the Mavs and Rondo is that Boston only seems interested in getting Dirk Nowitzki in return, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
Buying or Selling?
Put simply, Dallas doesn't have much that would convince Boston that trading Rondo would be beneficial.
According to Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald, a league source called the notion of such trade talks "ridiculous."
A deal would be centered around multiple contracts coming back from Dallas, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Meanwhile draft picks Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo, along with Jae Crowder, Jared Cunningham, Darren Collison and Roddy Beaubois are the only young players they could send back.
Otherwise they owe Oklahoma City their first-round pick in 2014, and wouldn't be able to give up a pick to Boston until 2015 at the soonest.
Boston doesn't appear extraordinarily willing to part with Rondo, so don't expect it to happen for another pu pu platter.
However, Dallas checking in on every above-average point guard on the market could land them something of merit eventually.
Nets Acquire Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from Celtics
2 of 11Latest Reports
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will both be members of the Brooklyn Nets come July 10 according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Per Woj, the Celtics will receive Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, the expiring contract of Kris Humphries and three first-round picks (2014, 2016, 2018) in exchange for Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry. Boston will also have the right to swap first rounders with Brooklyn in 2017 if the Nets have the higher pick.
Brooklyn will send the Celtics MarShon Brooks and do a sign-and-trade involving Keith Bogans as well. Garnett has agreed to waive his no-trade clause to help facilitate the deal.
Buying or Selling?
You want to sell this. You really, really do. But there's no use trying, because this one is all but done.
Three first-round picks is a monster get for Danny Ainge and the Celtics, and Humphries' contract does come off the books after next season, but Wallace's pact is hardly a desirable one.
And yet, if it's draft picks the Celtics truly crave, they're not going to get three first rounders from anyone else. To them, tangible assets aren't a necessity right now. Preserving cap space and stockpiling first-round selections are. Moving Terry was then key for Boston, and equally as important for Brooklyn if it wished to get this done.
Speaking of Brooklyn, they'll now have a payroll that toes the line of $100 million and, per Woj, face an $80 million tax bill. Are Pierce, Garnett and Terry really worth that?
We'll find out soon enough.
Nerlens Noel to the Sixers
3 of 11Latest Reports
After dropping to the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 6, ESPN's Andy Katz reports that Nerlens Noel is on the move.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, David Aldridge of TNT, and Sam Amick of USA Today all report that the Philadelphia 76ers will send Jrue Holiday and the No. 42 pick in 2013 to New Orleans for Noel and the Pelicans' 2014 first rounder with lottery protection.
Per ESPN's Marc Stein, the 2014 pick is actually only top-five protected.
Buying or Selling?
Buy this. Buy it, buy it, buy it.
Jrue Holiday gives the Pelicans an All-Star to build around in a addition to the ceilings of the oft-injured Eric Gordon and one eye-browed Anthony Davis. They have a talented core in place that seems one move away from being a real threat in the Western Conference.
Watching Sam Hinkie trade the Sixers' best player couldn't have been easy for Philadelphia fans. And it most definitely still stings. But this seemingly poor move is a good one for the franchise.
Analysts had Noel as the unquestioned top pick in the draft before he went down with an ACL injury. Provided he can expand his offensive came and continue to develop as a passer in the post, he has Kevin Garnett-esque potential.
Not only that, New Orleans' 2014 first-round selection is only top-five protected, and now the Sixers look like a team that may have a shot at draft Andrew Wiggins with their own pick.
Change is tough to stomach, but this will be good for Philly in the long run.
Trey Burke to the Jazz
4 of 11Latest Reports
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Utah Jazz are trading for Trey Burke, who was selected ninth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Chad Ford of ESPN confirms that the Wolves will acquire picks No. 14 and 21 in the deal.
Buying or Selling?
Absolutely buying.
The Wolves have Ricky Rubio. The Jazz have a gaping hole where their point guard should be. This just makes too much sense.
So much sense, that you're almost surprised it actually happened. These things usually have a way of not working themselves out.
Instead, the Jazz wound up with an athletically-inclined Burke, who excels at creating his own shot and is just a few tweaks away from becoming a truly elite playmaker, something they haven't had since they traded away Deron Williams.
Good move for all, here.
Eric Bledsoe, Caron Butler Could Be Leaving Los Angeles
5 of 11Latest Reports
Now that the Los Angeles Clippers have finally found their next coach in Doc Rivers, they can move on to the next phase of their offseason overhaul.
Sean Deveney of the SportingNews.com reports that a deal involving L.A.'s athletic point guard Eric Bledsoe will be coming soon. Deveney says the most likely trade will involve Bledsoe and Caron Butler going to the Orlando Magic in exchange for shooting guard Arron Afflalo.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated had previously reported that L.A. preferred to hold on to Bledsoe until a better offer slid across the table.
ESPNLosAngeles' Ramona Shelburne also says that the Clippers won't be trading Bledsoe anytime soon. Rivers just arrived and would like to have some time to digest the roster and the team's options. However, the Orlando Sentinel's Brian K. Schmitz reports that talks could be renewed sometime this summer.
That hasn't stopped teams from contacting the Clippers, as ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Toronto Raptors have expressed interest in Bledsoe.
Any deal with Bledsoe would likely include Butler, according to Stein, and Toronto could possibly get rid of Andrea Bargnani in an exchange with Los Angeles, while including DeMar DeRozan.
Stein also reported that the Clips would prefer to take back Bargnani over DeRozan, but that they aren't especially excited about either of them.
Buying or Selling?
Considering this isn't the first time this rumor has surfaced, it seems like there's a good chance that this eventually goes through.
Afflalo isn't a game-changer by any stretch, but he's a tough, gritty player who can make his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Free-agent forward Matt Barnes could re-up with the Clippers and assume Butler's starting spot, or perhaps Paul Pierce gets bought out by the Boston Celtics and follows his former coach out West.
The rebuilding Magic would love to land a potential rising star like Bledsoe, and Butler's $8 million contract comes off the books after next season.
Now that Los Angeles has a team to bid against the Magic, the price could get steeper and Los Angeles could make out better than expected.
Marcin Gortat on the Move
6 of 11Latest Reports
Per Paul Coro of azcentral.com, the Phoenix Suns are looking to deal Marcin Gortat after selecting Alex Len in the draft.
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports confirms the Suns will shop both Gortat and Jared Dudley.
Phoenix has nothing in place to move Gortat immediately, and his agent Guy Zucker told RealGM.com that, "...for now they want to hold onto him," but added, "As with everything in the league, it should be stated: As of today.”
Buying or Selling?
This is an obvious one.
Now that Phoenix has a center of the future in Len, Gortat is expendable. The Suns could hold onto him, let his contract expire after next season and watch him waltz his way toward another team, but that seems unlikely.
Phoenix isn't in a position to make the playoffs, which makes holding onto a player who could leave just about useless. Teams are always better capitalizing off departures.
Gortat excels within the pick-and-roll when next to savvy playmakers (see his days next to Steve Nash), can hit the mid-range jumper and is an understated shot-blocker as well.
Plenty of calls will be made to the Suns and after selecting Len, we're inclined to believe they hash something out eventually.
Rockets Trying to Dump Lin
7 of 11Latest Reports
Mark Deeks of ShamSports reports that the Houston Rockets want to improve their financial flexibility and will look to trade Jeremy Lin on draft night.
Buying or Selling?
Sure buy.
Linsanity has not made the transition to Houston beautifully. He has been solid yet unspectacular on the court and expensive off it.
Meanwhile, the Rockets are famously fond of keeping a clean cap sheet and stockpiling draft picks and young talent.
Combine those two truths and this seems to hold water.
Bucks Make Brandon Jennings and Ekpe Udoh Available
8 of 11Latest Reports
Per Gary Woelfel of The Journal Times, the Bucks have made it known that Brandon Jennings can be had at the right price.
Jennings is set to explore restricted free agency this summer.
Woelfel also reports that the Bucks are exploring a potential Ekpe Udoh-Luke Ridnour swap with the Timberwolves as well.
Buying or Selling?
We can't really buy or sell here.
Jennings can't be traded until July 1, and even then it's complicated.
If Jennings signs an offer sheet somewhere else before Milwaukee can hash out a deal, he can't be traded. The Bucks could match it or let him walk, that would be it.
So the Bucks would have to work in conjunction with Jennings to facilitate his exit, ensuring he agrees to a sign and trade before he signs an offer sheet.
LaMarcus Aldridge Eyeing the Windy City?
9 of 11Latest Reports
Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald reports that All-Star big man LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of Portland and "has made it known" he'd like to suit up for the Chicago Bulls. But McGraw says the Blazers covet Joakim Noah, and that's a price the Bulls are unwilling to pay.
Sam Amico of Fox Sports adds that the Blazers are entertaining offers for Aldridge, but are said to be seeking two "first-rounders and player(s)." Their asking price could change now that the draft is in the rear-view mirror, though.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW reports that Aldridge's preference is to be moved to a contender, making any potential trade more difficult. He reiterates that the Bulls are still his preferred landing spot, but the Clippers and Mavericks also interest him.
KC Johnson of The Chicago Tribune added that a package from the Bulls would likely have to revolve around Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler, and possibly Chicago's first-round pick from Charlotte.
There's an awful lot of smoke here, but Aldridge made an effort to put out the fire. According to CSNNW.com, the big man said he has not requested a trade and that all of the reports to the contrary are untrue.
Buying Or Selling?
Selling here, if only for the simple fact that this rumor seems a year premature. Plus, Aldridge has personally weighed in now, which has to count for something.
Aldridge is an elite-level talent. He finished the season with the ninth-best scoring average (21.1 points per game) and was one of only three players averaging at least 9.0 rebounds per game among the league's top-25 scorers.
To say there would be interest in him around the league is a gross understatement, and Portland's desired package appears reasonable.
But why would the Blazers deal him now? Even if he's not thrilled at the prospect at spending another season in The City of Roses, he's still playing up to his sizable contract (two years, $29 million remaining).
Another All-Star season would only increase his value for next summer when his deal would tack on the desired "expiring" label. Considering next year's draft class is potentially loaded with superstar talent, the Blazers are better off waiting at least until an offer materializes that's too valuable for them to pass up.
Danny Granger Is Back on the Market
10 of 11Latest Reports
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com reports that Indiana Pacers former All-Star forward Danny Granger is once again making the rounds on the trade rumor mill.
Per Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, however, Larry Bird has no intentions of dealing the swingman.
Despite being limited to just five games by a knee injury this season, Kennedy reports that a number of teams still have interest in Granger, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.
Buying or Selling?
Given David West's impending free agency, freeing up some spending money should be priority No. 1 for the Pacers. There is mutual interest here, but the battle-tested West won't come cheap after a bounce-back season of 17.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
Granger's expiring $14 million contract is a valuable commodity with so many marquee names potentially flooding the 2014 free-agent market, but it may hold more value with a team that's not as close to cracking the elite ranks as the Pacers.
Keeping West in the fold won't solve Indiana's issues beyond the arc, but the Pacers could free up even more money by letting restricted free agents Tyler Hansbrough and Jeff Pendergraph take their talents elsewhere.
That said, Granger has the potential to make the Pacers even better and it seems Bird isn't prepared to deal him anytime soon. Barring an offer that makes Indiana's collective jaw drop, don't expect Granger to go anywhere.
Pelicans Aren't Hiding Eric Gordon's Availability
11 of 11Latest Reports
Andrew Perna of RealGM.com reports that the New Orleans Pelicans are making Eric Gordon "very available."
Perna added that New Orleans general manager Dell Demps stopped short of promising that the shooting guard would be back next season.
Buying or Selling?
Gordon's going to generate some interest around the league.
Even with the medical concerns and that steep financial commitment, he's still a career 18-points-per-game scorer and has posted three straight seasons of per-36-minute scoring averages of 20-plus points.
He'll never be a bargain, but if he can just stay healthy he has the talent to live up to his current deal.
Of course that's a huge if, and one that has surely decimated his value around the league.
But if he's still not happy with his current club, the Pelicans might be inclined to ship him out for something less than equal value. Disgruntled, expensive damaged goods are hardly a strong foundation for a rebuilding team.
Especially one that now has Jrue Holiday to build around.
