NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Rumblings on J.R. Smith and Steve Nash
There will be a time later in the 2014-15 NBA season when the hot stove is on full blast and cooking up juicy rumors left and right.
In mid-November, it is simply simmering, with the occasional rumor popping up as something of an appetizer before things eventually get serious. Some of that early trade buzz recently surrounded J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks and Steve Nash of the Los Angeles Lakers.
With that in mind, read on to see the latest from around the Association.
J.R. Smith
Marc Berman of the New York Post passed along an update regarding Smith and his early-season adjustments with the Knicks:
"J.R. Smith, who scored 19 points, in particular, has seemed uncomfortable in the offense. Smith, who could have gained some redemption by hitting the final shot in Wednesday’s loss, is a big trade candidate and the Pacers have some interest.
Smith can opt out of his contract after the season, but he still could opt in, costing the Knicks cap space. They believe there is a strong market for Smith and aren’t looking to just dump him for an expiring contract, according to a league source.
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This is not the first time the Indiana Pacers have been connected to Smith this season, but Bob Kravitz of WTHR TV shot down the notion that Chris Copeland would be the player Indiana sent back in a potential swap:
Indiana could certainly use a scorer considering it is 29th in the league in points per game at 91.7 and still reeling on the offensive side without a healthy Paul George, George Hill or Rodney Stuckey. That’s not even mentioning the fact that Lance Stephenson is currently lacing it up for the Charlotte Hornets.
In the last eight years, the lowest per-game scoring total Smith posted for an entire season was 12.3 in 2010-11 and 2007-08, and he scored 18.1 points per game in 2012-13. The Pacers could use some of that scoring early this season.
The other note of interest in that rumor is the Knicks’ belief that they can get something of value back for Smith rather than just getting rid of his salary. Smith is only shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from three-point range in the early going and is scoring 9.6 points a game.
The best hope from the Knicks is that the rest of the league assumes Smith is struggling to grasp the triangle offense and would be better off elsewhere.
Even if that were the case, it may take some time before Smith is actually moved if these comments from Knicks president Phil Jackson are any indication, via Berman in a separate piece: “This is going to happen, all part of the process. We think in terms of basketball-wise, Thanksgiving, December, it’s time to really say, ‘If you haven’t gotten [the triangle] by now, maybe we’ll have to think of you as a learner or not a learner as a ballplayer at that time.”
It is certainly wise for the Knicks to show some patience as Jackson and coach Derek Fisher institute a brand new system for a team that struggled mightily a season ago. However, if Smith continues to shoot a poor percentage from the field and doesn’t really find a role in this offense, he will likely be on the trade market by the holiday season.
Steve Nash
Marc Stein of ESPN.com updated fans on the status of injured point guard Nash:
"With respect to injured guard Steve Nash, meanwhile, sources say that the Lakers are still evaluating their options.
As ESPN.com reported last month when Nash was ruled out for the 2014-15 season because of recurring nerve issues with his back, Lakers officials are planning to explore the trade market for potential deals between now and the February trade deadline with Nash's $9.7 million expiring contract.
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It is difficult to see one of the greatest players of his generation and a former league MVP reduced to an injured salary-dump chip in a potential trade, but that is the reality for the Lakers and Nash at this point.
From Los Angeles’ perspective, if it can get anything at all in return for Nash, it should pull the trigger.
The Lakers are not competing for anything this season except for better draft position (if their pick in the upcoming draft is in the top five, they get to keep it), but they need to keep an eye on the future. What’s more, Los Angeles needs some depth across the entire positional board, so lumping Nash’s salary in any trade that could land something back seems ideal.
Los Angeles simply needs bodies at this point with Nash and Julius Randle out for the season and Nick Young and Ryan Kelly dealing with temporary ailments. If the Lakers can get that in any deal involving Nash, they should not hesitate to make the move.
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