NBA Rumors: Latest Info on Pre-Draft Trade and Free-Agent Rumblings
With the San Antonio Spurs' impressive NBA Finals performance secure in our minds, it's now time to move on to the next big events on the NBA calendar.
The NBA draft is June 26, and free agency begins on July 1.
Teams will immediately go about the business of dethroning the Spurs, and the champions will take measures to defend their title.
Here's the latest buzz on potential deals and free-agency rumors.
Boston is Preparing a Handsome Deal for Minnesota
There are several teams believed to be interested in prying Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but none have been featured as prominently on the rumor mill as the Boston Celtics.
Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler gives some specifics on what the Celtics might be willing to part with to deal for Love:
This makes all the sense in the world for Boston to do.
The Celtics, unlike teams like the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets, aren't a contender. So while a package of two first-round picks and roster players is a lot to give up, it doesn't seem as costly as a similar haul would be from the Bulls or Rockets.
Chicago and Houston would be taking a much bigger gamble to try and match what it appears the Celtics are prepared to offer.
Chicago is Right to Listen to Just About Any Trade Offer
Bulls fans would hate to see Jimmy Butler or Taj Gibson traded. A deal that sent Joakim Noah out of town would burn even more, but sometimes teams have to part with fan favorites and major talents to get better.
Before the Bulls won their first of six championships in eight years with Michael Jordan and Co., the team made a bold move by dealing Charles Oakley, one of the league's leading rebounders, for Bill Cartwright.
Not everyone liked the move, but after Cartwright helped the Bulls win three straight titles, it was hard to find legitimate detractors.
Chicago is already a very good team when all of its pieces are healthy, but there's still a lack of offensive options. That's what the team has to find this offseason to be considered a true contender in 2014-15.
Per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls are seemingly intent upon adding another superstar to their mix this summer. Love, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony and even the Miami Heat's LeBron James have been mentioned as possibilities.
While it seems Anthony has every intention on opting out of his deal with the Knicks, we don't know yet if James will.
After the loss to the Spurs, James said this about potential free agency, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald: "I haven’t even begun to wrap my mind about it. I need to get away with my family before I start to think about what will happen next. For me, I just want to win, and that's all that matters to me."
Per Cowley, only Rose is considered off limits for potential trades or sign-and-swap deals. Cowley writes:
"According to several NBA sources Sunday, the Bulls have been actively looking to improve the starting lineup at almost any cost, with Derrick Rose the only untouchable player — and not by choice.
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If you were to rank the key Bulls who could be moved in order of most expendable to least, the list would begin with Butler, then Gibson and then Noah.
Suffice to say, if Chicago parted ways with Gibson or Noah, it would need to get back a substantial player in his place to make up for the departure.
Jazz Smitten with Jabari Parker
The Utah Jazz are said to be willing to trade up in the draft for a chance to select Duke's Jabari Parker, per Kyler.
He writes:
"There has been talk that the Utah Jazz would like to move into the top three and may be willing to give up some of the assets they acquired from Golden State last year for a shot at Parker.
There was also talk that guard Alec Burks could be had if it netted the Jazz Parker.
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Parker is a Mormon, and the Utah area has the highest population for followers of the religion in the United States. Besides the fact that the team could use his extraordinary basketball talents, this dynamic would appear to make the Jazz a great fit for Parker.
The question is: Will the Milwaukee Bucks exchange the opportunity to take Parker for picks and Burks?
Seems risky for the Bucks. Parker is perhaps the surest thing in a loaded draft class. Letting him slip through their fingers could be something the Bucks regret when Parker becomes a star.
Joel Embiid Has Seemingly Solidified the Top Spot in the NBA Draft
Wonder why almost no one is discussing who the Cleveland Cavaliers will select with the No. 1 pick in the draft anymore? It's because Kansas' Joel Embiid has answered all questions about his physical state and is showing the Cavs in workouts why scouts were so crazy about him all season.
Per ESPN's Chad Ford (subscription required):
"Embiid's workout and interview in Cleveland last week were major successes, according to sources close to the Cavs. Embiid did a full workout there in front of the Cavs' front office and owner Dan Gilbert. Multiple sources said that the team was blown away with the workout. Embiid even ended one session by launching and nailing a series of 3s. Directly after the workout, two different sources told me that Embiid was the strong favorite to be drafted by the Cavs. Even Gilbert was on board.
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With Embiid likely landing in Cleveland, the potential draft-day deal speculation will likely begin with the Bucks' No. 2 pick.
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