NBA Rumors: Updates, Speculation for Week of Dec. 15
It feels like business is about to pick up around the NBA with the season's quarter pole in the rearview mirror and the first blockbuster in the books. Now's the time for teams that view themselves as contenders to start searching for the missing piece.
The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics kicked things off by completing a trade highlighted by Rajon Rondo. The point guard has spent more time in the rumor mill than just about any other player in recent years. The Mavs hope he can be the difference in a competitive Western Conference.
Things should become even more interesting in the weeks ahead with two months until the trade deadline. So let's check out some of the latest buzz making its way around the league and examine the potential impact for the teams involved.
Rajon Rondo Keeping Options Open After Trade
The Celtics were forced to make a tough call on Rondo. They always seemed hesitant to move him despite the constant rumors in recent years. However, he is scheduled to become a free agent after the campaign. It reached a point where if they kept him there was risk of losing him for nothing.
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports the Celtics front office didn't feel confident competing for Rondo with teams more prepared to contend. He also notes it's not a lock Rondo is going to re-sign with the Mavericks:
"The fact that other teams had the same concerns as the Celts in Factor 1 above made them look at Rondo as potentially a short-term solution. Sources are insisting he will be very open to re-enlisting with Dallas after July 1, but there are no guarantees."
Even at a time when point guard depth around the league is solid, the talented Kentucky product would generate plenty of interest as a free agent. His shooting percentage has gone down over the past two years, but he remains a terrific across-the-board contributor.
Obviously, it's something Dallas understood before making the move. It just adds more risk and puts more of an onus on gearing up for a run at the championship this season. If the Mavericks are able to re-sign him, the deal will look a lot better over the long haul.
Josh Smith on Trade Block
It's impossible to deny Smith's talent. He's shown throughout his career that when he's focused he can make a major impact on both ends of the floor. Consistency has been very much an issue over the years, though, and his efficiency has dropped off since his move to the Detroit Pistons.
As a result, it appears they may be willing to trade the forward before his value fades any further. Vincent Goodwill Jr. of the Detroit News states the Pistons are shopping Smith to clear a frontcourt logjam and the Sacramento Kings are the biggest link at this stage:
"The Sacramento Kings are still interested in Smith, a source told The Detroit News. The man with final say, Van Gundy, turned down the Kings proposal over the summer—one that amounted to a pu pu platter of talent relative to Smith's, as he wanted a chance to see if he could unlock all of Smith's versatility and turn it into consistency.
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Smith is averaging just 13 points, which would be his lowest mark since the 2005-06 season, while also shooting a career-low 39 percent from the field. Those numbers paired with the Pistons' 5-21 record make it no surprise he's on the block.
The Kings make sense in terms of needing someone who could slot in at power forward between DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. But it would result in quite a volatile roster and it's unclear if they have the pieces to create a package to satisfy the Pistons after falling short over the summer.
Lance Stephenson Staying Put?
Stephenson is off to a forgettable start with the Charlotte Hornets. The guard, who made steady progress across his four years with the Indiana Pacers, has looked completely out of sync in his new home. He's averaged 10 points while shooting 39 percent through 25 games.
That's led to rumors about a potentially swift exit from Charlotte. Not so fast. Chris Broussard and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com report the team's front office came away unimpressed with the offers and has decided to keep him for the time being:
"Underwhelmed by the quality of trade offers they've received for Lance Stephenson, the Charlotte Hornets have decided to keep the volatile guard 'for now,' according to league sources. […]
But while sources say as many as seven teams registered interest, including Miami and Brooklyn, no offers intrigued Charlotte and several teams that called did not make trade proposals.
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The Hornets were always better off waiting for Stephenson to heat up before trying to move him. Teams are always looking for buy-low opportunities, and that's what he represented at this stage. Charlotte can't afford to take one of those types of offers after just signing him this summer.
Furthermore, the report also states the team believes a lingering groin injury may have held Stephenson back. Perhaps if he can return and showcase some better form, talks will heat back up. But things are in a holding pattern for now, which is the right move for the Hornets.
Toronto Raptors Eyeing Marc Gasol
Gasol is set to become a free agent after the season. The center, who's excelled in a larger offensive role for the Memphis Grizzlies this season, will be highly coveted if they can't retain him. That's mostly because of the lack of reliable, top-end big men around the league.
One team with their sights set on the Spanish star is the Toronto Raptors. Cathal Kelly of The Globe and Mail notes the front office believes Gasol might be the one missing piece they need to round out the roster heading into next season:
"A player that increasingly intrigues Raptors management is Memphis centre Marc Gasol.
The Spaniard is a free agent this summer. The greatest lack on the Raptors roster is a truly dominant big man. Gasol is a Jungian figure that features prominently in GM Masai Ujiri's bedside dream diary.
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He doesn't plan on putting much thought into the future until the offseason. He explained his outlook to Sam Amick of USA Today, saying: "I think at the end of the season, we're going to sit down and put the cards on the table and see where everybody stands."
If no agreement can be reached with the Grizzlies, the Raptors will face plenty of competition for his signature. But it's clear the team, which surprisingly leads the East with a 20-6 record so far, is starting to shoot for the stars.
Jermaine O'Neal Considering Dallas Mavericks
Jermaine O'Neal has followed the same path as fellow veteran free agent Ray Allen. Rather than making a choice back during the summer, he's put off making any decision while assessing the available options and also considering retirement.
Now it appears a front-runner has emerged should the post player decide to play on. Marc Stein of ESPN reports the acquisition of Rondo makes the Mavericks his favorite. He also notes getting a chance to play near his home adds to the intrigue for O'Neal:
Mavs fans shouldn't expect to see a suddenly rejuvenated O'Neal. He's long removed from his peak seasons with the Indiana Pacers. Instead, he showed his value as a reserve in limited minutes with the Golden State Warriors last season, averaging eight points and better than five rebounds.
Dallas does have a glaring need up front following the departure of Brandan Wright in the blockbuster. Whether that will get O'Neal to accelerate his decision-making process is unclear, but it sure seems like an ideal fit on paper as the team loads up for what it hopes to be a deep playoff run in the spring.
