NBA Rumors: Hottest Chatter for Week of Dec. 29
Although the NBA's trade deadline is still about six weeks away, there has been no shortage of buzz regarding potential trades and player movement over the past week.
The rumors don't relate solely to trades, though, as there is also plenty of chatter regarding the future of certain franchises and even franchise players. It often feels like almost anything can happen in the NBA, and that will be proved true if some of the hottest current rumors ultimately come to fruition.
With the midway point of the 2014-15 NBA season quickly approaching, here is a look at some of the most interesting gossip that has basketball fans talking.
Opting Out on the Table for LeBron James
LeBron James' return to Cleveland has been far from smooth to this point, but few have considered the possibility of King James bolting for a second time. According to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com, however, it isn't out of the question.
James has the right to opt out of his contract at the end of the season, and Haynes reports that the four-time MVP won't hesitate to do so if he is unhappy with the direction of the Cavaliers.
"James, who turns 30 today, has no intention of compromising his prime years playing for a sputtering organization. He can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent.
Given the massive scrutiny he would endure if he departed Cleveland a second time, if his hand is forced, I'm told he won't hesitate to make the appropriate business decision if it means bolting.
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Per Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com, James and the Cavs aren't clicking with head coach David Blatt. One can only assume that LeBron has the power to run Blatt out of town if he so chooses, and he could potentially use his opt-out clause as leverage.
The Cavs are just 18-14, which is a far cry from what most expected, but James has shown public commitment to turning things around in Cleveland, according to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin.
"I'm here to build something great in the present and in the future, and that's the reason I'm back," James said. "I got no other reason to have to continue to talk about things that's so outlandish. I'm here. This is where I'll be, and this is where I'm comfortable at."
LeBron is dealing with knee and back ailments right now, so he has other things on his mind. If the Cavaliers don't develop into the elite team that most figured they would be, though, it will be very interesting to see what type of move James makes.
Atlanta Hawks Available for Sale
The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of a spectacular season as they are 23-8, which is good for first place in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division. For all their on-court success, though, there is plenty of uncertainty off the court.
According to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 100 percent of the franchise is in line to be sold at some point in the near future:
This report comes on the heels of Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson announcing his intention to sell his share of the team back in September.
While all signs point toward eventual new ownership, the organization has yet to confirm that a sale is being planned:
The Hawks are a young and talented team, so one can only assume that there will be significant interest in purchasing the organization. Nothing is imminent and no candidates have emerged yet; however, that should change soon now that the franchise is set to hit the open market.
With the Hawks potentially chasing an Eastern Conference championship, their ownership situation will definitely be something worth monitoring.
Los Angeles Clippers Dealing with Dysfunction?
The Los Angeles Clippers have played inconsistent basketball as of late, and a recent report suggests that a lack of team chemistry may be to blame.
According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, a source told him that the Clippers players "don't like each other."
There hasn't been any outward evidence that Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and others are in conflict, but it could potentially explain why the Clippers are just 6-6 over their past 12 contests.
Head coach Doc Rivers was inevitably made aware of the report, but he didn't put much stock into it, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
"I'm not getting into all this stuff. I've had teams that have won and they got along. I've had teams that have won and haven't gotten along. That's why it doesn't matter. I mean, really, it's so silly. To me, whenever I hear stuff that's outside of us, I think it's so silly that I usually don't make any comment on it, because it usually gives people something to write about. So go write about it, is what I'm saying.
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While Rivers brushed off the report, he didn't exactly say that it was inaccurate. If the Clippers truly aren't getting along, though, it seems likely that the issue will eventually manifest itself.
The Clippers' current struggles may simply be a product of them going through a rough patch, but whispers will grow louder if they don't start to turn things around.
Ricky Rubio Potentially Nearing Return
The Minnesota Timberwolves are just 5-26 this season due largely to the absence of point guard Ricky Rubio, but the Spanish star may very well return to action in the near future.
Rubio has played in just five games due to a severe ankle sprain, but Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that he may be just a couple weeks away from returning:
The 24-year-old point guard has been unable to help his teammates while on the shelf, and that has taken its toll on him to some degree, per Spears.
"It's painful seeing them struggling some games. But we're young. ... We didn't know that three of our best players would go down. It's hard when 20-, 19-year-old kids have to take 40 minutes a game. It's a process. They have to learn. Being a rookie is hard. Being a rookie playing 40 minutes a game is even harder. It's tough to adapt to the league.
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Although the sample size is small, Rubio seemed poised to enjoy his best season before getting injured. He was averaging over nine points and 10 assists per contest, and he was shooting a career-best 42.6 percent from the field as well.
Veteran Mo Williams and rookie Zach LaVine have had to step up in Rubio's absence, and while they have performed admirably, they simply don't bring the same skill set to the table that Rubio does.
This is already a lost season for the T'Wolves; however, they will finally be able to start building toward something positive when Rubio gets back in the lineup.
New York Knicks Holding off on Fire Sale
With a record of 5-29 rendering the 2014-15 season a lost cause for the New York Knicks, conventional wisdom suggests that some trades are forthcoming. As things currently stand, though, the Knicks aren't ready to sell the farm.
According to Spears, he was informed by an NBA general manager that New York is holding off on a fire sale.
The Knicks would probably like to get some of their younger players much-needed experience as the season continues, but they are content to hang on to their veterans for a while longer. In actuality, though, one can't but wonder if any team would want a player like Amar'e Stoudemire or J.R. Smith.
As pointed out by Jason Smith of Fox Sports Radio, the Knicks don't exactly have a lot of overly appealing pieces to move:
Their decision to stand pat could be by necessity rather than by choice, although that will become much clearer as the trade deadline gets closer.
The Knicks are obviously best off playing for the 2015-16 season at this point since they figure to get a high draft pick and will have money to spend in free agency.
Since the 2014-15 season isn't even halfway over, though, Phil Jackson and Co. have plenty of time to make personnel decisions.
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