NBA Rumors: Hottest Chatter for Week of Nov. 7
The San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers, teams frequently ticketed for an NBA Finals showdown in June, are a combined 3-5 in the early going. While it's far too early to press the panic button, it illustrates that seasons rarely feature smooth sailing—even for the most talented squads.
Aside from some early worrying among fanbases, another part of the conversation at this stage is chatter from around the league.
The rumor mill is usually very active during the first month before cooling down a bit and then reaching a fever pitch as the trade deadline move closer.
This week's banter includes possible locker room drama in Cleveland along with talk about potential trades and free-agent signings.
Let's check out all of the latest rumors and examine what it could mean for the teams and players involved.
Early Issues in Cleveland
It's clear the Cavaliers are still working things out. One of the main points of contention is the role of Kyrie Irving, who's averaging nearly as many shots as LeBron James and fewer assists.
As a result, Kevin Love's usage on the offensive end has dropped from his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports the ongoing discussion led to an exchange of words between James and Irving after the Cavs' loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. He provided details about the overall tone of the conversation:
"The discussion was seen as healthy, sources said, with the veteran James voicing concerns about the direction of the Cavs' offense. James scored just 11 points against the Blazers and did not score in the second half, and he was often not a part of the offense. Cleveland is off to a 1-3 start following a last-second loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
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One thing to keep in mind is what happened when James first moved to the Miami Heat. Prevailing wisdom said they were going to run circles around the league with James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh leading the way. After 17 games, their record was just 9-8.
Similar chemistry concerns were raised, and then the Heat won 21 of their next 22.
These type of roster overhauls take some time to fully complete. It's just going to take some patience, and a few exchanges like the one after the Portland game, to get everybody moving in the same direction.
Having gone through it once, James is trying to calm any concerns:
It would be a surprise if they don't get it figured out over the next month or two.
Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Lakers?
Rondo has been the focus numerous rumors about potentially leaving the Boston Celtics in recent years. None of them have come to fruition, but with free agency looming, that may change.
And it sounds like the Lakers plan on being involved.
Chris Mannix of SI.com notes the general feeling among other executives is that Los Angeles is going to become a major player in the Rondo sweepstakes. He adds the Celtics may not be willing to give a max deal to the point guard:
"There is one player who makes sense in LA next season: Rajon Rondo. Several rival executives believe the Lakers will make a strong run at Rondo next summer, and it's easy to see why. Rondo is young (28), plays a critical position and shares the same win-at-all-bleeping-cost attitude as Bryant. The Celtics are rebuilding and have a young playmaker in Marcus Smart, which may limit their desire to hand Rondo max money.
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It seemed like interest in Rondo was actually fading coming into the campaign. His injury woes, combined with playing a position with an increasing amount of depth, made him a risky option. But after nearly averaging a triple-double through four games, the rumors have quickly returned.
Ultimately, a lot will probably depend on how Rondo holds up this season. It's hard to build around a player who can't stay on the court consistently.
However, there's no denying his game-changing talent when he's healthy and in peak form.
Interest in Ray Allen
Allen remains a free agent after a summer of considering whether to continue his career. He's coming off a season that saw him average a shade under 10 points for the Heat. His outside shooting ability would still make him a valuable asset to a contender.
One team that certainly falls into that category is the Chicago Bulls. Questions about Derrick Rose's health continue to linger, but the overall squad is strong.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required) confirms the team is interested if Allen wants to join.
"The Bulls have stayed in contact with Allen's representatives to see if he will play this season. If he chooses to, they'd certainly add another shooter," he wrote.
With that said, the best option for the veteran shooting guard is the waiting game. Assuming he wants to continue his career, there's no rush to sign at this stage. He can wait it out and then pick the contender he thinks is the best fit later in the campaign.
Along with the Bulls, the Cavaliers are a team that's often been linked to Allen. His decision could play a key role in the race for the Eastern Conference title.
There's little to suggest any type of choice will be made imminently, though.
Possible J.R. Smith Trade
Smith remains an interesting case. He's a streaky player who can provide a major boost when clicking on all cylinders. But there are also times when he goes completely ice-cold, which—along with things like his most history of league discipline—make it tough to depend on him.
As a result, the New York Knicks may look to move him at some point this season.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports discussions have already begun, with the team talking to the Indiana Pacers about a deal involving Chris Copeland.
"One of president Phil Jackson's big decisions this season is whether to trade J.R. Smith, and the club had recent conversations with the Pacers regarding ex-Knick Chris Copeland, according to a league source," he wrote.
The overarching theme is the Knicks trying to open up as much salary-cap space as possible.
Between the expected rise of the cap in 2016—as discussed by Grantland's Zach Lowe—and the increasing importance of bringing big-name stars together in one fell swoop, New York wants flexibility.
Moving Smith in a deal for a player with an expiring contract like Copeland would help that process. Whether the Pacers are keen about taking on Smith is unclear, though. A sluggish start likely decreases the chances of a deal.
Potential Deadline Targets
Of course, while there will be plenty of rumors in the weeks ahead, a vast majority of the activity won't take place until trade-deadline time. By then, front offices around the league have a much better idea of what direction they want to go in.
For teams that view themselves as championship contenders, there could be some valuable pieces available for the stretch run.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders provides an early glimpse at some names that might be on the move:
"For right now, I'd say Rajon Rondo, Austin Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire, Steve Nash's contract, Roy Hibbert, Chase Budinger, Enes Kanter, Ersan Ilyasova and Josh Smith are some guys who immediately come to mind as players who could be moved before February's deadline. I'm sure we'll have a much better idea as that date gets closer though.
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Hibbert is a name that immediately jumps out. He could provide a significant defensive boost to any team looking to make the title change. The only thing left on his contract after this season is a player option, so it wouldn't be a huge financial commitment.
What could be interesting is if a small group of serious contenders emerge, and one of them strikes first by making a marquee trade. That could set off a flurry of activity among the other teams to keep pace.
It sounds like there should be some impact names available.
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
