NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on Lance Stephenson, Wilson Chandler and More
Some NBA organizations are able to work below the radar to hammer out deals that help their teams in the trade market. Others aren't as fortunate.
Around-the-clock coverage of the NBA and the wondrous world of social media help to make working in silence all but impossible. While players have enough to focus on with the season in full swing, some have to see their names pop up in trade rumors in the midst of an 82-game slate.
But those players will be the first to tell you the NBA is a business. And with some of the struggles that playoff-aspiring teams are mired in through the early part of 2014-15, change is needed for a handful of organizations.
Let's take a look at the latest marquee names to pop up in the rumor mill.
Lance Stephenson
When Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan pulled out the full-court press to lure in Lance Stephenson over the offseason, he was viewed as the missing piece to an Eastern Conference contender. Some 20-plus games into the season, he's on the trade block.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported Sunday that with Stephenson becoming eligible for a trade on Monday, the Hornets are already looking at options to deal the talented swingman. Stein added some specifics as to why and how:
"One factor that could ultimately lead to a deal, despite Stephenson's ragged and discouraging start, is the fact that the three-year, $27 million deal he received over the summer from Charlotte owner Michael Jordan is only guaranteed through next season. The third year of the deal is not guaranteed, which theoretically enhances Charlotte's chances of finding another team willing to gamble on the mercurial swingman.
Sources say that the Hornets are not in a move-him-at-all-costs mode with Stephenson but made it clear that Charlotte is ready now to abandon the experiment if a palatable deal presents itself.
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Anyone keeping any sort of tabs on Charlotte's season has been able to tell how treacherous of a start it's been—both for Stephenson and the Hornets themselves. The 24-year-old is shooting a putrid 38.9 percent from the field en route to a 6-17 start for Charlotte.
While certain aspects, such as Josh McRoberts' absence, have played a part, the lack of Stephenson fulfilling his big-money deal (three years, $27 million) has been a primary reason for the Hornets' woes. And the franchise is looking to be aggressive in fixing the woes, with Grantland's Zach Lowe reporting earlier in December that the Hornets are "willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson."
What makes it really intriguing, though, is the Indiana Pacers' potential interest in re-acquiring their former commodity, as Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski noted:
Perhaps the Hornets don't need a star-caliber player on the outside to turn things around—after all, last year's blueprint worked pretty well. They just need some capable players to glue the roster together and some decent guard-play to take the pressure off Walker.
Just as well, the Pacers could use his impact. Injuries to key players have left Indiana using pieces like Chris Copeland and Solomon Hill in his place, and the 7-17 Pacers need some serious improvement to threaten for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The risk-reward factor was high in courting Stephenson, although it's unlikely anyone—including Charlotte—expected things to go this sour this quickly. But if anyone is willing to take a chance on Stephenson, it's the franchise that saw him reach his greatest heights.
Wilson Chandler
The Nuggets have gotten off to one of their worst starts to the season in years, and a lethargic slew of performances early in 2014-15 has the front office listening to calls from suitors.
One of those calls is particularly interesting. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported Friday that the Oklahoma City Thunder have given Denver a ring in the hopes of securing solid perimeter swingman Wilson Chandler.
Chandler hasn't been much of a reason for the Nuggets' 10-13 start. The veteran has once again started strong offensively, averaging nearly 15 points per contest despite playing just 30 minutes a game and maintaining a small role.
It's no secret as to why the Thunder would be interested in adding Chandler—their roster has been a mess with injuries piling up. But now that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are back in action, OKC might be patient in figuring out whether they need the extra help.
Although Chandler would assume a smaller role in Oklahoma City, the Thunder could end up in serious need of his help. He's a serviceable defender who can give Durant and Westbrook the ability to move around, playing a similar role that Thabo Sefolosha did over the last few years.
But with the Thunder having won seven of 10, expect them to see what they've got in this finally healthy team before conceding the draft picks or young assets necessary to secure Chandler.
The Nets have made it clear to the league that their trio of core star players are on the block. Now, they're just waiting for a bite on the bait.
Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com reported on Dec. 10 that Brooklyn has been "reaching out to teams" to alert them of the availability of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson. Although, Stein and Youngmisuk added that no deal is imminent involving any of the three players.
The Nets' struggles and subsequent interest in trading their core shouldn't be too surprising. After all, the team sorely failed to live up to expectations in Jason Kidd's lone season at the helm and left new coach Lionel Hollins with the project of making their star-caliber pieces fit together.
ESPNNewYork.com's Johnette Howard added why the Nets' core trio could be coming to an end in Hollins' tenure:
"But look: At some point it was inevitable that the focus would shift from who is coaching the Nets' core three -- Hollins is their fourth coach in three years, remember, following Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo and one-year wonder Jason (Get Me The Hell Outta Here) Kidd -- and onto the players themselves. A roster can only be responsible for so many tombstones before someone yelps.
It's become clear it's not a question of if roster changes are coming. But when.
Neither Hollins nor Nets general manager Billy King is even taking great pains to deny it.
King, when asked 11 days ago if he still believes Lopez, Johnson and Williams can win together, raised the first red flag when he said, "We'll see."
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It's not hard to see what is spurring the Nets' supposed quest to re-hauling the roster. A big-money roster—which includes Lopez, Johnson and Williams all exceeding $15 million on the payroll for this season, per Spotrac.com—has more than failed to live up to the expectations of contending for an NBA Finals spot.
The struggles have caused many across the league to wonder if guys like Lopez are a fit in Brooklyn. ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo uncovered some doubt about whether the Nets can continue a recent hot streak when Lopez returns, as Johnson said: “When Brook’s on the floor we just try to play through Brook so much, maybe force-feed him at times,” Johnson said Thursday. “But when he’s not on the floor, I think collectively as a team everybody kinda takes it upon themselves to make plays, to be more aggressive, to assert themselves a little more into the offense."
It hasn't presented itself as to how, but the Nets obviously need to make some changes in order to seriously contend in a wide-open East. It is becoming increasingly apparent, however, that either Lopez, Johnson or Williams will be a part of said changes.
