NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Speculation on Corey Brewer and Eric Gordon
If you thought the rumor mill stopped when you graduated high school, think again.
Rumors and speculation are ever-present in the NBA, even if the actual trade deadline isn’t until Feb. 20.
Read on to see the latest whispers surrounding Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Eric Gordon of the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Corey Brewer
Marc Stein of ESPN noted that the Houston Rockets could be moving in on Brewer:
It should come as no surprise that the Rockets and possibly the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in Brewer for his defensive prowess on the wing (he was averaging 2.2 steals a game and 2.3 allowed field goals made coming into Saturday’s game, via NBA.com). He could also help spell LeBron James in Cleveland or James Harden and Trevor Ariza in Houston.
However, a trade takes two sides, and it is certainly intriguing to look at this from Minnesota’s perspective as well. Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press provided some context to the Timberwolves’ side of things from head coach Flip Saunders:
To make matters even more interesting, things recently took a turn for the worse in the health department for the team, which could impact the decision-making process with Brewer, via Stein:
Stein touches on the two possibilities now available to the Timberwolves. In terms of winning now, they'll need Brewer for depth purposes. However, Minnesota is in a daunting and loaded Western Conference and probably won’t be making the playoffs this season.
Trading the 28-year-old Brewer could expedite the rebuilding process because it would lead to more losses and a better draft pick. That mindset could certainly come into play closer to the trade deadline if and when the Timberwolves have completely fallen out of playoff contention.
Eric Gordon
Nakia Hogan of NOLA.com provided an update on the possibility that the New Orleans Pelicans could trade Gordon:
“Although, at times, it appears as if Eric Gordon is an odd cog with the Pelicans, the front office and coaching staff still believe Gordon is a key piece to the team. ... Don’t expect the Pelicans to make a move simply to rid themselves of Gordon’s salary.”
Gordon was scoring less than 10 points a game and shooting 38.6 percent from the field entering Saturday’s contest, so he isn't exactly dominating for the Pelicans. However, with 17 points on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings and 13 against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, he could be turning the corner.
There is also something to be said for letting the roster develop together in the early going because the Pelicans have playoff hopes in the deep Western Conference.
Hogan noted that if the team could find an attractive deal that bolstered those playoff chances and allowed it to move that unfavorable contract, it would jump all over it, but that should come as no surprise. Finding a trade that improves your team on the court in the immediate future and alleviates salary-cap concerns is not easily done.
If Gordon’s comments during the offseason, when the team was deciding whether to use him as a starter or sixth man, were any indication, he still sees himself as a leader, via John Reid of NOLA.com: "I won't get into that because I thought they brought me here to lead and set the tone for the team. I've got a lot to prove in my career and I'm still young (25). So the more durable I am will really show what I'm capable of."
The only way he can serve as a leader is if he is still on the roster, even if he is making more money than any other Pelican.
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