NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on Deron Williams, Dion Waiters and More
Somewhere out there right now is an NBA blockbuster trade in the infancy stages.
Recent rumblings on the rumor mill suggest the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets as the suspects.
Let the drama begin.
It is only natural for the rumor mill to heat up around this time of season. Contenders, good start or not, see ugly weaknesses in need of a fix. Pretenders are always in sell mode with the hope of a better future, regardless of whether that means getting a young player or expiring contract.
Below is the latest on the mill as it begins to spin.
Cavaliers Shopping Dion Waiters
Dion Waiters is no stranger to the trade block at this point.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft is an odd fit in Cleveland at this point, with LeBron James and Shawn Marion, among others, often taking precedence before him.
Waiters has been a bright spot as of late, but that has not stopped those in the Cleveland front office from throwing his name around on the block. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Cavaliers are willing to move Waiters in return for help beneath the rim:
"Sources say that the Cavs are well aware landing a quality big man likely depends on selling on potential trade partners to take back polarizing shooting guard Dion Waiters. Cleveland rates Waiters' talent highly, but sources maintain that the Cavs have let a number of teams know they are prepared to surrender him if they can acquire a difference-making center in return.
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The good news is that Stein notes the Cavaliers would like to bring on Memphis Grizzlies backup Kosta Koufos. The 25-year-old Ohio State product averages 3.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game, and at 7'0", 265 pounds, he's right in line with what the Cavaliers need in terms of presence.
The crazy part of all of this is that it makes a ton of sense. Waiters averages 9.1 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds, and on Dec. 8, he exploded for 26 points when given 30 minutes on the court. Some believe he is finally discovering his role, as captured by ESPN Cleveland:
Waiters seems right on board with that idea, too.
"It's all right. We're winning," Waiters said, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin. "It ain't about me right now. It's not about me. As long as we're winning (I'm fine)."
One problem—this is what the Cavaliers want if they are serious about moving him.
Waiters is a critical get for the Grizzlies if this all goes according to plan, as it helps the team to better build for the future. His 26-point outburst is proof enough that there is plenty of talent and upside to justify an investment.
ESPN Insider Nick Borges (subscription required) also recently noted that colleague Brian Windhorst has heard rumblings that the Cavaliers have interest in the Grizzlies' Tayshaun Prince.
The pieces continue to form around the notion that Cleveland and Memphis will work something out that builds a better foundation for the Grizzlies and more interior defense for the Cavaliers.
Nets Blockbuster Brewing?
No shocker that the Nets are off to a horrific start to the season, but a new revelation suggests that the front office is ready to put on a fire sale to free up some cap space.
A fire sale highlighted by Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson.
According to Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk, everything remains the same in Brooklyn, the exception being the job security of perhaps the biggest names on the roster:
"Yet sources insist that the Nets haven't abandoned their recent "win-now mentality" and aren't merely looking to dump salary. Brooklyn's hope, sources said, is eventually to construct a deal or two that bring back sufficient talent that enables the Nets remain a playoff team.
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Keep in mind that these are just exploratory feelers put out by the organization, but they're ones that make too much sense to not happen.
Williams is now 30 years old and played in 64 games last season. He averages 17.1 points, 6.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game, but the fact he is due $21 million next season alone—paired with recent injury history—makes him an obvious trade candidate.
Ditto for Lopez. At just 26 years old, the Stanford product is a much more attractive trade piece if teams are willing to look past his plethora of injury issues that include a trio of surgeries over the course of the past year.
Lopez averages 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, but the icing on the cake is that he only has one year left on his max deal.
Speaking of max deals, Johnson has one of those, too. He is now 33 years of age and is the league's third-highest paid player, but as Grantland's Zach Lowe points out, anything is possible:
It seems the Nets want to have it all in one swoop. Get rid of bad age and contracts to solidify the future but remain in the playoff hunt.
In the woeful Eastern Conference, that last bit will not prove too difficult. Finding teams to take major contracts in a reasonable deal is another conversation entirely.
All stats and info via ESPN.com as of Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET unless otherwise specified.
