Buying or Selling the Biggest NBA Trade Rumors 1 Month Before the 2015 Deadline
Not every rumor in the NBA is made with equal amounts of veracity.
With one month to go before the league's trade deadline prevents any further swaps during a year that has already seen plenty of them, the mill is churning fast and furious. New rumors seem to emerge by the day, and many of them are centered around the same core group of players.
Now, it's time to break down which are worth buying and which we need to take with some serious grains of salt.
Do note that we're not concerned with the exact destination of players who are supposedly on the move, but rather whether they're actually going to end up in a new location before the Feb. 19 deadline. And some situations here are pretty complicated.
If one player has a link to a certain team debunked, that doesn't mean his current squad is going to stop trying to trade him. And even if that franchise intends to send him elsewhere, that doesn't actually mean it's going to be able to find a workable deal that it pulls the trigger on.
It's the last part we're most concerned with here.
Brook Lopez
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Though the Brooklyn Nets reached advanced stages in a discussion centered around moving Brook Lopez to the Oklahoma City Thunder, nothing ultimately happened. The big man is still on the same team he's always played with, though he's not guaranteed to be there for too much longer.
"Standing pat at this time," an anonymous Nets source told Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski after the Thunder swap fell through. "There was nothing we liked."
It's not that Brooklyn decided it wanted to keep Lopez; there was just nothing out there that tempted it into parting ways with the former star. But there could be in the future, as Wojnarowski also reported the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat were both interested in No. 11's services.
The issue, however, is that it's nearly impossible to move Lopez while getting something valuable in return. Any piece with a salary high enough to make the finances of this deal work is going to be a coveted one who might be better off as an incumbent on the contender or playoff hopeful this center would presumably be going to. After all, he's saddled with two more years on his contract, making nearly $16 million this season and then another $16.7 million in 2015-16.
Many teams can't even make that type of trade work without giving up a cornerstone. And with Lopez's injury history, his status as a starter in constant flux and his production declining, who's actually going to part with such a key piece in order to land the services of an overpaid big man?
Verdict: Selling
Deron Williams
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The Deron Williams situation is awfully similar to the Brook Lopez one. Except it might be even more difficult to deal the Brooklyn Nets point guard, as a fractured rib is currently sidelining him and preventing him from having much enduring value during the 2014-15 campaign.
Williams is also saddled with a long list of prior injuries, and they've knocked him out of his prime quite prematurely. When healthy, he can still control a game and play some underrated defense, but that's happening with less and less frequency as his career progresses. Additionally, his contract is egregious, as he'll make over $20 million each of the next two seasons.
"Brooklyn has been unable lately to find any traction in talks to move Williams, league sources said," Wojnarowski reports, and that really shouldn't be too surprising.
Most contending teams are going to be satisfied with their current point guard. There are a few exceptions, like the Houston Rockets, but that tends to hold true across the top of the standings in each conference. On the flip side, which rebuilding team is going to want a floor general on the wrong side of 30 with such a lengthy history of injuries?
The Nets aren't going to have much success moving Williams, no matter how hard they try to do so.
Verdict: Selling
Jose Calderon
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Jose Calderon has struggled during the 2014-15 season, averaging just 9.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field. Then again, he's been playing for the reeling New York Knicks, so it really shouldn't be even remotely surprising that he's having trouble playing effective basketball.
Fortunately, the veteran point guard has continued to showcase his signature skill—the outside stroke. Though he's struggled from the field, he's knocked down 41.7 percent of his looks from outside the three-point arc on 3.7 attempts per game.
Calderon isn't going to be a starting point guard on a competitive team, but he's more than capable of taking a few minutes off the bench and providing some quality production as a distributor and floor-spacing threat. He'd be perfect on the Memphis Grizzlies, for example.
The Knicks have already made it clear that they're only working toward the future. Trading Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith for a package of picks and players who were subsequently waived was as clear an indication as any. Dealing Calderon should see a similar situation unfold, and according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, everyone on the roster other than Carmelo Anthony is available.
"It can happen," Calderon told reporters after a New York practice about a potential move, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. "Why would you be surprised? They're changing the staff. I don't know what's on their minds. If the opportunity comes, why not? It's a business. They have a plan and really want that cap space."
At this point, we wouldn't be surprised.
Verdict: Buying
Lance Stephenson
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"Charlotte has been desperate to move [Lance] Stephenson, who has been unable to integrate himself into the franchise's culture under coach Steve Clifford," Wojnarowski reported in the middle of January. "Stephenson, 24, signed as a free agent over the summer and has a guaranteed deal for the 2015-16 season and a team option for '16-17."
Remember, Lance Stephenson was going to be included in a deal for Brook Lopez, but that fell through, as Rick Bonnell details for the Charlotte Observer:
"A trade that would have sent Charlotte Hornets shooting guard Lance Stephenson to the Brooklyn Nets has been put on hold, an informed NBA source told the Observer early Friday.
The Hornets, Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder were discussing a deal that would have sent Stephenson to the Nets, Brook Lopez to the Thunder and various parts to the Hornets. It appeared close Thursday night, but the Nets pulled back Friday, putting any discussions on hold.
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It wasn't the Hornets who were backing out of this trade. They were perfectly willing to part ways with the 2-guard who's proved himself a poor fit next to Kemba Walker. He's still averaging only 10.2 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 18.7 percent from beyond the arc.
It was the Nets who ended the discussions.
Though Charlotte hasn't found a buyer for Stephenson quite yet, it's not as though the team is going to stop trying. And sooner or later, someone is going to get desperate enough to take a gamble on a player with so much untapped potential.
Verdict: Buying
Michael Carter-Williams
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As ESPN.com's Chad Ford explained during a chat session, the Philadelphia 76ers are interested in moving Michael Carter-Williams but are asking for a lot in return:
"I've heard a lot of rumblings from GMs that Carter-Williams is available. There are some in ownership and in the front office, though not all, that don't see him as a long-term piece of the puzzle. There was a lot of chatter that direction before the draft, and in the past few weeks I know several teams have had exploratory discussions with the Sixers. I think the challenge right now is that the Sixers will want a lot in return, and MCW's play, to date this season, hasn't warranted multiple first-round picks for him. That makes him tough to deal.
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Is the reigning Rookie of the Year actually being shopped? Absolutely, as the Sixers are all about acquiring more assets and don't yet view the point guard as a surefire centerpiece as they move forward. Hell, they aren't even guaranteed to hold onto Nerlens Noel, given the uncertainty of who they'll be drafting this summer.
However, there's a yawning chasm between what Carter-Williams is worth and what the Sixers are going to want for him. If multiple first-round picks are the asking price, there aren't many smart general managers who would be willing to part with that much.
Though he has a recognizable name, gaudy—but misleading—surface statistics and a major award to his credit, the Syracuse product really hasn't been that impressive. Per Basketball-Reference.com, he's shooting a putrid 38.8 percent from the field, has recorded 4.4 turnovers per game and has a below-average 12.4 player efficiency rating. He's regressed in all three areas, and his defense has declined as well.
Unless Sam Hinkie is willing to accept far less in return for Carter-Williams, nothing is happening here.
Verdict: Selling
Arron Afflalo and Wilson Chandler
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The Denver Nuggets have already traded away Timofey Mozgov to the Cleveland Cavaliers and shipped Nate Robinson off for Jameer Nelson, but they may not be done making moves quite yet. ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne recently tweeted that two more players could soon be on the move: "Since Mozgov trade, everyone is calling Denver on [Wilson] Chandler & [Arron] Afflalo. Heard Heat, Clippers, Hornets have all discussed Afflalo."
To be fair, head coach Brian Shaw is denying that the Nuggets are going to continue cleaning house, per Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post:
"I just have to try to do a good job of assuring them that I'm not, and we're not, actively shopping them and putting them out there. Obviously calls come in, and we field calls. But we're not saying, 'Hey, we're trying to get rid of Arron, we're trying to get rid of Wilson.' That's not the case at all. That's all we can really tell them.
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Still, it makes sense for the Nuggets to trade either Chandler or Afflalo—or both.
By dealing Mozgov, the team opened up opportunities for rookie big man Jusuf Nurkic. Now, it could do the exact same thing with Gary Harris on the wings, giving him more minutes and letting him grow during a season in which getting a better draft pick is a beneficial strategy.
The Nuggets may technically be within striking distance of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, but there may as well be an unspannable distance between them and the Phoenix Suns, especially with the Oklahoma City Thunder sitting ahead of Denver in the standings.
Right now, building a stronger team for the future has to be the priority in the Mile High City. Capitalizing on the interest in Afflalo and Chandler would allow general manager Tim Connelly to add more draft picks and young, high-potential players to his roster while opening up time for one of this year's first-round selections.
Verdict: Buying
Miles Plumlee
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"Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns are working in conjunction with [Miles] Plumlee's agent, Mark Bartelstein, to try to find a new home for the third-year center, who has seen his playing time steadily dwindle as the season has progressed," ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported on Jan. 18.
This is about as logical as it gets.
Alex Len has shown significant improvement during his second season out of Maryland, and he's just getting better and better as this campaign progresses. Since stepping into the starting lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 15, he's averaged 7.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.6 percent from the field.
In addition to Len, the Suns now boast the services of Brandan Wright, who has posted 7.7 points per contest on 83.3 percent shooting since he came to the desert. Wright is a utility player, but he's a valuable one who can protect the rim and finish around the basket.
Plumlee has actually been spending a bit more time on the court lately, but it still feels as though he's the odd man out in this rotation—or at least he will be in the near future. Given that he's only a third-year player, has size (6'11", 255 lbs) and can work as a placeholder in the right system, surely someone will be willing to take a look at him.
Verdict: Buying
Nik Stauskas
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Nik Stauskas' career with the Sacramento Kings might not last for very long, per CBS Sports' Ken Berger:
"Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.
The Kings want to pair Cousins with a frontline player who would fit with his post-up skills—either a stretch 4 or above-the-rim defender, sources said. They've fielded numerous calls about Stauskas, whose opportunities have been limited with the steadily improving play of Ben McLemore.
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As Ben McLemore has gained his footing in the NBA, Stauskas has struggled to find any. He's still full of potential, given the shooting stroke and athleticism that got him into the first round less than a calendar year ago, but he's knocking down only a third of his shots from the field and has gone just 22-of-81 from beyond the arc.
"I realize this happens to a lot of great players," the former Michigan Wolverine told Vincent Goodwill Jr. of The Detroit News. "They come into the league and struggle because they don't have it all figured out. It's humbling, and I can only get better from here."
Do we have reason to believe that he'll be figuring it out elsewhere? The Kings certainly haven't hesitated to go against the grain before, even drafting Stauskas after already owning the services of an admittedly disappointing McLemore.
When this franchise makes its mind up, it seems to follow through.
Verdict: Buying
