NBA Rumors: Trade Buzz Regarding Brook Lopez, Nik Stauskas and Thaddeus Young
The rumor mill is working hard these days. The NBA buzz keeps pouring in with just a month to go until the trade deadline.
On the mill today are rumors concerning players of varying levels of success in the Association. A few veterans have found their names brought up in talks, but there is also a rookie—still adjusting to the NBA lifestyle—who must also now deal with trade rumors.
Haven't heard the buzz yet? Continue on below for a brief breakdown of the rumors and some analysis on potential deals involving the rumored teams.
If you own a TV or anything with Internet connectivity, then you've heard Brook Lopez's name pop up frequently over the past few days. He can be had for the right price, it appears, so look for things to heat up in the weeks leading up to the deadline.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that a Western Conference contender has shown interest in the 7-footer:
An unnamed Nets source told Wojnarowski that the team is "standing pat at this time. There was nothing we liked."
Houston's interest in Lopez is confusing for a few reasons. The most obvious reason stands 6'11": Dwight Howard. Howard is in the midst of the worst season of his career since his rookie campaign, but even his 16.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game make him one of the top centers in the league. He's also shooting 57.5 percent from the floor.
The real gripe Houston may have with Howard is that he doesn't run the floor particularly well (even if he can still go up and finish off a lob from James Harden from time to time).
Few big men run the floor as well as the Rockets might require, and Lopez certainly isn't one of them. With his recurring foot issues, Lopez is less than ideal for this type of team.
Perhaps the Rockets could work something out where Howard and Lopez share the frontcourt, playing as two centers with just one forward and two guards on the floor. But Josh Smith has been pretty solid since coming over from the Detroit Pistons, and Donatas Motiejunas hasn't been that bad either.
The interest in Lopez makes absolutely zero sense from the Rockets' standpoint. Play under the basket isn't where this team needs to improve. This is likely a case of general manager Daryl Morey trying desperately to keep up with the Golden State Warriors, but pulling the trigger on a trade for an oft-injured center who isn't better than the one he already has is not the right way to go about it.
Nik Stauskas
Nik Stauskas' transition into the NBA hasn't been pretty. The Michigan standout was known for his excellence beyond the arc during his college days. His 27.2 percent mark from deep this season is shocking, then, to say the least.
He isn't just struggling from distance, though. Throw in 33.3 percent from the floor, and it appears as if the faster pace of the NBA has gotten to the 21-year-old.
Perhaps that's why CBS Sports' Ken Berger's report could be true. "Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins," Berger writes, "the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal."
The No. 8 pick in the draft hasn't earned the playing time the Sacramento Kings hoped he'd garner following his strong final season in school, and they could attempt to sell him as a bounce-back candidate to a team who can be more patient with his progression.
Shooters with Stauskas' talent are valuable assets. The numbers aren't there right now, but his transition into the league may just be a little more difficult than others.
Pairing a star with DeMarcus Cousins will require more than just the underperforming rookie. Berger suggests that the team could also include Derrick Williams or Reggie Evans, both of whom have expiring contracts.
The Kings have an odd history of trading lottery picks. If you recall, they sent Thomas Robinson to the Rockets in February 2013 after taking him No. 5 overall.
Thaddeus Young, 26, is an athletic wing who is too small to play power forward at 6'8", though most of his career minutes have come at the position. The Minnesota Timberwolves acquired him this offseason to make up for dealing Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it turns out the team no longer has him in its long-term plans.
ESPN's Marc Stein has the latest:
Young is having perhaps the worst season of his eight-year career, averaging just 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and a 43.2 percent mark from the floor. Even his free-throw percentage has suffered, coming into play Saturday night at 56.5 percent.
Despite a down season, Young can thrive in the right system. Perhaps moving him back to the Eastern Conference will help, but a potential trade to the Nets hinges entirely on the fate of Lopez.
It's hard to see Brooklyn acquiring Young before trading Lopez. Their mediocre roster needs improvement, and several veterans could be on the move. The first domino is Lopez, however. Once he goes, everything else will fall into place.
Chalk this one up to the "maybe" column. There's definitely a fit but only if the Nets find someone to take Lopez.
Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn
