5 Teams That Should Chase Potential Jeremy Lamb Trade with Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jeremy Lamb was once one of the key pieces of the much-maligned 2012 trade that sent James Harden to the Houston Rockets. Now, he seems to be the odd man out in a crowded Thunder backcourt, and both parties would benefit from a divorce via trade.
Lamb has struggled to carve his niche in two-and-a-half seasons with the Thunder. At one point this year, the team felt more comfortable playing journeyman Ish Smith instead of the former No. 12 overall pick. In his last 11 games, the University of Connecticut product has played all of 45 minutes, including six games in which he did not play.
When asked why we haven't seen much of Lamb lately, head coach Scott Brooks cited a reason that has plagued the youngster his entire career, per Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.
"With Jeremy, we just want some consistency on both ends," Brooks said. "He's working on it."
Lamb's inconsistency likely stems at least partially from confidence issues. Of course, how can a young player build either consistency or confidence when his minutes fluctuate on a nightly basis? Making matters worse, the recent acquisition of Dion Waiters gives the Thunder four shooting guards. It's obvious Lamb isn't in the plans.
To clear up that logjam, someone has to go. Lamb is the clear choice.
Despite Lamb's struggles, there's still enough potential to entice a possible suitor. He's only 22 years old, a decent outside shooter (career 34.6 percent from three) and can be a productive scorer when he gets hot.
He would be a nice reclamation project for a team with the patience to develop him.
Note: All stats current as of Jan. 13 and are courtesy of NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
New Orleans Pelicans
1 of 5
The New Orleans Pelicans are suddenly thin in the backcourt. The Pelicans sent away Austin Rivers (to the Boston Celtics) and rookie Russ Smith (to the Memphis Grizzlies) in a three-team deal that netted them small forward Quincy Pondexter.
On top of that, point guard Jrue Holiday missed the second half of New Orleans' 108-100 loss to the Celtics with inflammation in his right ankle, per NOLA.com's Jimmy Smith. If Holiday's out for an extended period of time, the Pels would be down to Jimmer Fredette and (ironically) Eric Gordon as their only healthy guards.
This is where a trade for Lamb makes sense. Gordon has had durability issues his entire career, and even if he stays healthy, the team needs someone to back him up. Lamb would be a cheap addition, as he's still on a rookie contract that will will see him earn a reasonable $3 million next season.
His outside shooting would come in handy on a Pelicans team that currently ranks tied for 20th in three-point shooting (34.4 percent).
Plus, Lamb's potential as a stopper could intrigue head coach Monty Williams. According to NBA.com, opponents are shooting 38.4 percent with Lamb guarding them as opposed to 43.2 percent normally. The third-year pro is also posting a defensive rating of 103, per Basketball-Reference.com.
New Orleans has an inexpensive trade chip in small forward John Salmons, who was initially included in the Pondexter deal before the Pelicans called an audible (per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski). He's owed just $2 million for this season, and he would give the Thunder another option behind Kevin Durant. The Pelicans also have Memphis' 2015 second-round pick to offer.
General manager Dell Demps is no stranger to taking risks. He famously traded Nerlens Noel on draft day to acquire Holiday. He dealt a first-round pick over the summer to add Omer Asik. He took a chance on guys like Rivers and Gordon.
The team would be rolling the dice again by trying to make something out of an inconsistent player buried on another team's bench.
Utah Jazz
2 of 5
The Utah Jazz have done a nice job of stockpiling young talent over the last few years. In players such as Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert, Trey Burke, Dante Exum and Alec Burks, the team has a promising core and could be competitive in a deep Western Conference sometime in the near future.
However, while the future in Salt Lake City is bright, the present isn't as shiny. The Jazz are 13-26, nine games behind the Phoenix Suns for the eighth seed. With teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of them and fighting for a playoff spot as well, the postseason seems out of reach for Utah.
Making matters worse, the team lost Burks for the season with a shoulder injury. Rookie Rodney Hood (foot) is also out, and current starter Joe Ingles is dealing with a sprained ankle. With nowhere to go and a void at shooting guard, this seems like an ample opportunity to make a move for Lamb.
Whether he temporarily fills in for Burks or comes off the bench, Lamb will still see more playing time in Utah than he ever would in Oklahoma City this season. He would have a little over three months to show the team he deserves to be a part of the rotation.
Much like New Orleans, Lamb's deep stroke would be a huge help. The Jazz are 24th in the NBA in three-point shooting (33 percent) and 23rd in scoring (96.2 points per game). If he gets hot, he could be a potential steal.
This is arguably the best place for Lamb to prove himself. There's no pressure to win now nor should there be a fear of a quick hook. The ability to spread his wings should work wonders for his confidence, which, in turn, should help him become the player he was meant to be.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 5
The Brooklyn Nets have one of the oldest rosters in basketball (average age: 27.9, per RealGM) to go along with the league's biggest payroll ($91.2 million, per HoopsHype). For all of their money and veteran wisdom, the team is still barely clinging to the eighth spot in the East.
That could explain why a report from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk surfaced in December that the team is looking to move expensive parts such as Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson. General manager Billy King refuted the idea of a fire sale, saying that he was merely doing his job by listening to offers, per Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:
"My job is to listen and to make calls and to make calls back. Does that mean we're having a fire sale? Absolutely not. I'm doing my job, as well as asking the players and the coaches to do their job. But my job is to work the phones, see what's available.
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Bleacher Report's own Howard Beck believes the Nets will move one, maybe two, of their three expensive stars.
"The more likely scenario, per team sources, is that the Nets will trade one of the three, two at most, and keep retooling around whoever is left. Team officials want to rebuild while staying competitive."
According to a tweet from Youngmisuk, there were talks between the Nets and Thunder about a potential deal for Lopez. The trade would have Perry Jones, Lance Thomas and Kendrick Perkins' expiring contract coming to Brooklyn in exchange for the Nets big man.
That obviously never happened, and Thomas was eventually sent to New York in the Dion Waiters trade. Still, just because the two teams couldn't work out a potential blockbuster, that shouldn't prevent King and Thunder GM Sam Presti from having a conversation involving Lamb.
Lamb is young and inexpensive, which are two qualities that are at a premium in BK. Regardless of the role, Lamb would represent an infusion of youth on an aging unit. With a good coach in Lionel Hollins and a roster that could change drastically over the next few weeks, Lamb has the chance to grow on a team in transition.
Indiana Pacers
4 of 5
The Indiana Pacers have been in need of a shooting guard since they let Lance Stephenson walk during the offseason. They've tried to patch up that void with guys like Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Miles, but neither have made much of an impact.
With injuries limiting the team's potential this year, the Pacers' focus should be on next season. That's when star forward Paul George is expected to return, and both Roy Hibbert and David West have the ability to opt out of their contracts after this season.
In the meantime, Indiana can both build for the future and bolster the shooting guard spot by going after Lamb. While Stuckey and Miles have been more productive, it's not unrealistic to think Lamb could eventually overtake them in the rotation.
Here's how Lamb's numbers compare to the Pacers duo:
- Rodney Stuckey: 11.7 points, 42.1 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from three in 26 minutes per game
- C.J. Miles: 12.4 points, 36.3 percent from the field, 33.9 percent from three in 25.3 minutes per game
- Jeremy Lamb: 8.4 points, 40.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three in 19.3 minutes per game
That's not exactly a huge statistical gap, and you have to take into consideration Lamb has been collecting dust on the Thunder bench the past few weeks. With a more concrete role, Lamb could be just as productive. However, to crack the rotation on a defensive-minded team like the Pacers, he would need to step up his efforts on that side of the ball as well.
Another factor that works in Lamb's favor is Indiana's history of developing young players under coach Frank Vogel. George went from a lottery pick stuck in Danny Granger's shadow to a household name by his third season. The same for Stephenson, who went from afterthought to one of the league's most improved players last season.
Lamb may never be a star, but he could ascend to being a quality role player in this situation.
Philadelphia 76ers
5 of 5
In the midst of all of the losing that has occurred in the City of Brotherly Love over the last two seasons, the Philadelphia 76ers have done a nice job of turning one team's trash into their own treasure.
They picked Tony Wroten off the Memphis Grizzlies' scrap heap and turned him into the team's leading scorer (16.9 points per game). Wroten's vast improvement has teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers expressing interest in a possible trade, per Dan Woike of The Orange County Register.
Forward Robert Covington went from being let go by the Houston Rockets to a breakout candidate in Philly. He's averaging 12.4 points per game and shooting 40.8 percent from behind the arc.
In Lamb, the Sixers would have another chance to turn water into wine. Lamb's a good shooter, a solid athlete and has the physical tools to become a two-way guard. At 7-30, the team isn't concerned with winning this season. They could bring him in and allow him to showcase his talents, much like they did with Wroten and Covington.
In Wroten, Lamb, rookie K.J. McDaniels and reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia would have an impressive array of young guards. If Wroten is dealt, that would open up even more of an opportunity for Lamb to shine.
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