NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Lance Stephenson, Jose Calderon and More
Several of the NBA's top-tier teams have already shown activity ahead of the trade deadline, yet more squads will get moving on deals as the deadline approaches.
The latest NBA trade rumors suggest that a few big names could be on the move in the coming weeks. February 19 is the date all general managers are watching, as the bulk of their roster upgrades must be completed by then. Doing the wrong thing at the deadline can be detrimental to a team's season.
Below are three players in different situations who have found their names in the rumor mill for one reason or another. For the right team, theses players could represent crucial additions.
Lance Stephenson
Lance Stephenson's first season with the Charlotte Hornets hasn't gone as well as planned. The fourth-year guard is shooting just 38.6 percent from the floor and isn't contributing much at all offensively.
As of January 12, his player efficiency rating (PER) of 10.35 ranks 50th out of the 75 qualified shooting guards in the league, per ESPN.com. Naturally, Charlotte wants to move on.
CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports that the Hornets know what they'd like in return for the former Indiana Pacer: "The Hornets continue to explore trade possibilities for Lance Stephenson and are looking for frontcourt help, sources say."
Berger mentions the Brooklyn Nets as a possible destination, yet he quickly dismissed them considering the Nets' lack of willingness to commit salary past next season. Stephenson is owed $9 million next season and the Hornets own a club option worth just over $9.4 million on him for 2016.
An interesting fit for Stephenson is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe Bryant desperately needs a capable running mate in what should be the closing seasons of his illustrious career, and Stephenson has the skills to fill the stat sheet.
He has been limited by the Hornets because of a focus on Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He wouldn't be too limited with the Lakers.
Wayne Ellington and Ed Davis would be attractive pickups for Charlotte if Los Angeles is willing to deal one or both.
Stephenson and Bryant wouldn't change this current Lakers roster into a playoff contender, but some reshaping over the offseason would help bring the team back to relevance next season.
The New York Knicks could have won the Golden Globe for best comedy on Sunday night. That's the type of season fans are drudging through at Madison Square Garden.
A rookie head coach has something to do with the struggles, but it's clearly the personnel on the roster that is making matters worse. One culprit is point guard Jose Calderon, who was supposed to be a major upgrade over Raymond Felton.
The Spaniard is shooting just 40 percent from the floor and scoring just 9.2 points per game as a result. Those numbers have not been enough to lead an offense that has been ravaged by inconsistency and Carmelo Anthony's knee injury, though he hopes to rejoin the team when it heads to London this month.
The roster reinvention is already starting to take place for the Knicks, but ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley reports that there's more in the works: "The Knicks also might not be done. Several reports stated that the team is shopping Jose Calderon, who has underperformed since coming over from Dallas."
Not all hope is lost for Calderon, though. Knicks president Phil Jackson told Begley that Calderon should improve moving forward:
Calderon is still a valuable asset in the NBA because of his veteran leadership and on-court intelligence, so it shouldn't be hard to find interest in the point guard. Many teams will likely be deterred by the $15.1 million he's owed over the next two seasons, however.
If the Knicks want to clear cap for the upcoming offseason, then they'll have to find a team willing to take all (or most) of that money.
Don't be surprised if the Knicks' roster is nearly completely stripped by February 19.
Tony Wroten
Tony Wroten has come into his own this season, averaging 17.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for the lowly Philadelphia 76ers. Any quality player on a losing team is a trade target in this league, so it's not surprising to hear his name come up in talks.
John Gonzalez of CSN Philadelphia has the latest on the guard:
Interest in Wroten has likely only spiked over the past week. He hit a clutch game-winner against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and head coach Brett Brown spoke about his unflappable demeanor in those situations:
That game-winner gave the Sixers their first home victory of the season.
It's not easy to watch Philly basketball these days, but the excitement Wroten brings to the court each night makes it a bit easier on Sixers fans. On any given night, Wroten is a candidate to be part of highlights like this one:
The Los Angeles Clippers are a great fit for Wroten considering their undeniable depth issues, but they don't have much to trade. Trading Jamal Crawford would be foolish because he's the team's lone quality bench piece, and other big stars like DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul likely aren't going anywhere.
Philly could be interested in draft picks, but money would have to change hands to make a deal work.
As things stand now, it doesn't appear as if Wroten is going anywhere. Even with the struggles in the City of Brotherly Love, there's a ton of young talent poised to break out in the near future. Because Wroten has already broken out, he could lead the next wave of young Sixers to relevance.
Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter @kennydejohn.
