NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Timofey Mozgov, Glen Rice Jr. and More
Some of the NBA's more notable names are moving around, as the start of 2015 has brought with it a whirlwind of apparent dealings, but we could be just getting started.
Late Monday night, the New York Knicks announced a three-team trade with two contenders—the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder—which Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski had reported hours earlier. The Thunder received rumor-mill regular Dion Waiters from Cleveland, and the Cavs received a protected first-round pick from OKC.
That's not all. Cleveland got two wing assets for LeBron James, adding Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from New York, which received Lou Amundson, Alex Kirk and Lance Thomas in the process of the salary dump.
The deal made sense in many aspects, as each team addressed key needs—the Thunder getting scoring, the Cavs getting perimeter defense and the Knicks freeing up cap space. But there's more in store before the upcoming trade deadline, even for some of the teams involved in this mini-blockbuster.
Let's take a look at what might come next.
Timofey Mozgov
The Cavaliers could use Smith's and Shumpert's services, but their biggest need was not addressed in Monday night's deal. With Anderson Varejao out for the season and the frontcourt struggling, Cleveland needs an impact center off the bench to fortify its lineup.
And even though Cleveland just shipped off perhaps its best available asset to Oklahoma City, general manager David Griffin might not be done dealing just yet. The Cavs have their eye on Denver big man Timofey Mozgov, but getting him is proving difficult, as Wojnarowski reported:
It's no surprise the Cavs are having a hard time finding a sweet enough deal to entice the Nuggets. Mozgov is playing the most minutes of his career (25.9), has started all 34 games for Denver and is having no statistical drop-off from a career-best 2013-14 season.
Then again, the Nuggets have a 15-20 record, good for just 11th in the cutthroat West, and look doomed for a playoff-less season. So why not grab a future draft pick or two for a coveted asset?
One thing is apparent: Mozgov doesn't want to talk about the speculation.
"My friends talk about it, but I just say, 'If you’re talking, don't invite me, OK?'" Mozgov told The Denver Post's Chris Tomasson before Monday night's game. "It’s simple. They can talk about it with each other, but I know nothing about it."
Mozgov might know something about it sooner rather than later, as he's undoubtedly a wanted commodity. And when LeBron James' team needs something that could be keeping it from a title run, it usually finds a way to get it.
Kosta Koufos
Of course, Mozgov shouldn't feel all that special that the Cavs are courting him. He's not the only one who could fill their void at center.
While Mozgov is again mentioned as a potential target for Cleveland, Fox Sports' Sam Amico reported that Grizzlies big man Kosta Koufos is also very much in the mix:
Koufos doesn't have the stat totals of Mozgov, as he is averaging only 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game on 15.4 minutes. He has also started only one of Memphis' 32 games. But getting him could prove to be entirely different from nabbing Mozgov from Denver.
Unlike the Nuggets, the Grizzlies are very much in contention for the Western Conference—not just for another deep playoff run but also to potentially get over the hump and reach the NBA Finals. Memphis has depth in the frontcourt but not enough to make losing a 15-minute player shooting 55 percent from the field an easy transition.
Koufos may not command a hefty price tag, but don't be surprised if Memphis is reluctant to move him. Then again, he would provide what Cleveland needs: a center accustomed to making his impact off the bench.
But if one contender is going to help another, it's going to take Cleveland sweetening the deal quite a bit.
Glen Rice Jr.
The Washington Wizards are making strides toward becoming contenders in the East this season, but Glen Rice Jr. isn't making said strides with them. As a result, he could be on his way out.
According to The Washington Post's Jorge Castillo, Rice's days in Washington could soon be over if the Wizards cannot find a suitable trade partner. Here's more from Castillo:
"Washington has already spoken to other teams about Rice, who was shipped to the D-League in late November and hasn't played in the Fort Wayne Mad Ants' last four games despite no reported injury.
If a trade partner cannot be found, the Wizards will likely waive the second-year guard to vacate a roster spot and create salary-cap flexibility as postseason draws near and players become available via trade and late-season buyouts. If they are forced to waive Rice, the move will likely be made by Wednesday so he could clear waivers before Jan. 10, when all NBA contracts become guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
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Finding your niche in the NBA can prove to be impossible if your team has enough depth at a position to make you expendable. It becomes even harder when the developmental curve doesn't kick in entering a crucial season.
Rice averaged just 2.9 points on 9.9 minutes per game as a rookie last season, and the Wizards expected a big progression from the former second-round pick in 2014-15. Instead, he's scored just 2.2 points per game in five games played, going back and forth to the D-League despite no apparent injury.
Rice's athletic skill set (6'6", 206 pounds) and defensive strength on the perimeter could come in handy for a team that can utilize him, and he should get his chance to thrive elsewhere. But without aptly proving himself in Washington, he'll have a short leash wherever he lands until he shows some sizable improvement.
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