NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Andrea Bargnani, Amar'e Stoudemire and More
It's been a wild last several weeks in the NBA, and the trades aren't expected to slow down anytime soon. In fact, some of the biggest names from around the league are now involved in the discussions, including more potential moves from the New York Knicks.
After already sending J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks might not be done just yet. They might not be the only team in New York looking to make moves, either, as the Brooklyn Nets might be dealing one of their stars.
The trades have been coming in hot and heavy recently, but there's still plenty of opportunity for potential playoff teams to add to the roster. Here's a look at some of the latest buzz from around the league.
Andrea Bargnani
There appears to be a fire sale taking place in New York, and Phil Jackson will stop at nothing to shed salary from the roster.
Andrea Bargnani, who has only played two games this season for the Knicks, is the latest to appear in trade rumors. Marc Stein and Ian Begley of ESPN.com offered the latest on the center:
"The New York Knicks are actively trying to trade veterans Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani as part of their ongoing roster clearout, according to league sources.
Sources say Bargnani, meanwhile, is a candidate to be waived next month if New York can't find a deal for the former No. 1 overall pick and his $11.5 million expiring contract before the Feb. 19 deadline for deals.
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Since arriving in New York by way of the Toronto Raptors, Bargnani has been underwhelming with just 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds last season. Due to the aforementioned injuries, the 7'0" center has seen those numbers drop drastically along with his playing time.
If the Knicks can find a way to move him before potentially waiving him, they would take even more money off the books to rebuild. Ultimately, both sides would be better off separating, but that might prove more difficult if teams aren't willing to take on the injury-prone big man.
Amar'e Stoudemire
We go from one struggling center to another who hasn't quite lived up to the billing in the Big Apple. Amar'e Stoudemire is not as likely to be on the move as Bargnani, but he hasn't avoided the recent trade rumblings.
Stein and Begley also offered the latest on the former superstar big man:
"Sources maintain that the Knicks are not looking to move Stoudemire and, at least for now, intend to keep him for the rest of the season. That could theoretically lead to Stoudemire -- who has relished his time with the Knicks despite the club's struggles -- re-signing with them over the summer at a reduced rate. The 32-year-old former All-Star, who has been plagued by knee injuries in recent years, is playing out the final year of his current contract at $23.4 million.
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Much like Bargnani, Stoudemire has often been sidelined by injuries that have hampered his production in New York. After averaging over 20 points in six of his final seven seasons with the Phoenix Suns, Stoudemire has reached that mark just once with the Knicks—the first year of his contract.
If Stoudemire can ever return to full health for an entire season, which is a big if, the Knicks might want to re-sign him for a reduced price. However, looking to move him to a contending team for a decent return might be a better move for the franchise, though it doesn't appear likely.
Centers are apparently all the rage these days, and Brook Lopez might be the best one available in the state of New York. The Brooklyn Nets center has seen his production dip slightly this year, but is still a big name on the market.
Alex Raskin of The Wall Street Journal reports the Nets are considering offers for Lopez, with a few stipulations:
"They might be motivated sellers, but the Nets still think Lopez could fetch valuable players in a trade, according to one league source. …
The Nets, according to multiple sources, are willing to deal Lopez, but they are against taking on expensive or lengthy deals in order to do so.
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Still grasping at a playoff spot in the horrid Eastern Conference at 16-21, the Nets might not be looking to go into full rebuild mode just yet. Having a stopgap in the middle of the paint that averages 14.8 points and 1.6 blocks per game gives Brooklyn a quality player down low.
Depending on how the next stretch of games goes for the Nets, Lopez might be a huge topic on the trade market. If a team like the Charlotte Hornets or Detroit Pistons overtake Brooklyn, things might get really interesting for Lopez and the organization as a whole.
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