NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz and Trade Talk for Opening Week of Season
The 2014-15 NBA season is officially underway, with every team having played at least one game. It's the start of a long journey for everybody involved, and the rumor mill is starting to heat up on several fronts.
Right now, the two most prominent categories are extensions for players whose rookie deals are ending and early trade talk. The former is more pressing, as the deadline is Friday at midnight, leaving front offices a small amount of time to hammer out details.
Trade rumors are a constant year-round, but they tend to pick up at certain times, including the early stages of the season. So let's check out the latest buzz from around the league in both areas as opening week continues.
Kawhi Leonard Extension?
Leonard is set to return for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday after missing seven games—six preseason games and one regular-season game—due to an eye ailment. Though that's good news for Gregg Popovich and Co., the rising star's long-term status is far more important.
As of now, it sounds like he's heading for restricted free agency. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports that while talks between the two sides on an extension have continued with the deadline lurking, it appears unlikely they will be able to bridge the gap in time.
"There is a strong likelihood that Friday's midnight deadline for contract extensions for first-round picks from the Class of 2011 will pass without a new deal for reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, according to league sources," Stein writes.
It's still highly unlikely he'll be playing anywhere else next season. The Spurs will have the ability to match any offer that comes in from the open market. But with no extension in place, they could be forced to match a cap-complicating max offer.
Given the aging nature of San Antonio's roster, it's important to keep a younger building block in place. That's Leonard. At 23, he's already showcased significant progress on both ends of the floor and should see his offensive numbers rise as he becomes a bigger focal point in that part of the game.
Little Jimmy Butler Progress
Like Leonard, Butler is also awaiting word on potential extension offers while missing time with an injury. The shooting guard is sidelined with a thumb injury, which is preventing him from getting off to a strong start after making some positive strides last season.
Also like Leonard, it sounds like any type of agreement before the Halloween deadline is a long shot. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune states there's a lot of ground to cover in very little time if they want to get something done:
The concern with Butler is the fact that his offensive efficiency dropped when he was placed in a starting role last season. His shooting percentage dropped 70 points, including a marked drop from beyond the arc. It transformed him from a valuable role player into a volume scorer.
He's still a promising young talent, of course, but the Bulls may want to see another full season of play before they make any type of major commitment to him. So it doesn't come as a shock that the deadline will probably come and go without an extension in place.
Fading Number of Rajon Rondo Suitors
Few, if any, players have been involved in more trade rumors over the past couple of years than Rondo. It seems like there's always a new potential destination or trade package on the table. Yet he's still a member of the Boston Celtics.
That trade talk may begin to diminish this season, though. Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders reports that the overall depth at the point guard position paired with Rondo's injury history could cause teams to shy away:
"The market for Rajon Rondo is indeed shrinking. Point guard position is stacked throughout the league. Rondo is approaching 30 (28), coming off an ACL injury, an unrestricted free agent next summer, doesn't shoot a good FT percentage and doesn't have the best mid-range jump shot. All of that is true. Plus there are rumors he's not the most warm and fuzzy guy to deal with on a day to day basis. This is might be true.
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Rondo looked healthy in the Celtics' opener. He scored 13 points to go along with 12 assists and seven rebounds. It's that type of production that interested teams in the first place. But whether he can hold up for 82 games plus a playoff run is a mystery.
Ultimately, the biggest problem for Boston would be trying to get fair-market value for him. He's a top-end player when healthy, but other general managers likely aren't going to pay that type of price right now. If he shows he can stay healthy, perhaps the market will heat up again.
Jason Thompson Interest
Thompson has filled several different roles over the past six years with the Sacramento Kings. For the most part, he's remained a solid option regardless of how he's used. But he is approaching 30, and his team is not viewed as a contender, so the question is whether he could be of more help elsewhere.
Zach Lowe of Grantland notes that the Kings would have more lineup flexibility if they used Thompson off the bench or traded him for future assets. The latter is possible, as teams are inquiring with the plan of using him as post depth:
"They'll also be active on the trade market, and I'd love to see them either move Jason Thompson or use him as a backup center. In Gay, Derrick Williams, and even Omri Casspi, the Kings have the tools to play small-ball lineups, but that will be a tiny feature of their rotation as long as Malone starts the Cousins-Thompson duo. The rising cap has renewed interest in Thompson as a bench big, according to several sources across the league.
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At this stage, that seems like a good option for both sides. Thompson could play a key reserve role for a contending team, and the Kings would get a piece or two in return with an eye toward the future. Exactly how hot the trail is right now is unclear, though.
Teams may wait at least a month or two to decide whether to make a run at a player of his caliber. He's not a game-changing talent, but he would definitely help a frontcourt. Once the direction of each team becomes clearer, Thompson may become an intriguing target.
Chase Budinger Available
The first two games have showcased Budinger's situation with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played 15 minutes in the opener but missed all four of his shots from the field. Then, he didn't play at all in the team's second game.
Minnesota's depth at small forward leaves him in a tough spot, one that could eventually find him moving to another squad. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the team is actively looking to find a trade partner:
"The Minnesota Timberwolves are shopping forward Chase Budinger in trade talks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Among talks with several teams, the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets have shown an interest, league sources said.
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Budinger was a pretty consistent bench presence during his first four seasons in the league. He was good for around 10 points and three rebounds, frequently providing a spark with his outside shooting. But it appears unlikely he'll carve out a similar role for the Wolves this season.
The problem in getting a deal done isn't his ability to help off the bench but rather his contract. The report states his $5 million option is causing teams to think twice, at least for now. But a change of scenery would definitely help his cause.
