NBA Rumors: Buzz Surrounding Draymond Green, Gerald Green and More
You hear that, right?
It’s the buzz of the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaching. In fact, it’s about to get a lot louder after the Super Bowl as the attention of the sports world shifts from the gridiron to the hardwood.
Here is a look at some of the latest speculation from around the Association.
Draymond Green
Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today provided an update on the Golden State Warriors’ plans for Draymond Green:
"The Golden State Warriors forward will be one of the most fascinating restricted free agents. A second-round pick, Green has developed into a necessary and versatile piece of the Warriors' puzzle. All indications point to the Warriors matching even if it means going into the luxury tax at a salary that's a bit higher than they expected.
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It is really no wonder why the Warriors are willing to dip into the luxury tax given the way Green has played this season.
Through 39 games, Green has shown off his durability by starting every single night. What’s more, his versatility and ability to play either small or power forward has been critical for a team that has suffered through early injury problems down low with Andrew Bogut, David Lee and Festus Ezeli.
And Green is producing in his expanded role with 11.5 points, 7.9 rebounds (second on the team behind Bogut) and 3.6 assists per night. He can stretch the defense with his stroke from three-point range or battle down low for rebounds on both sides of the floor.
Even with some early injury problems, the Warriors are a sizzling 33-6 and in contention for the No. 1 seed in a loaded Western Conference. Green is a major reason why and will be rewarded accordingly in the offseason.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News noted that Gerald Green has mixed feelings about his Phoenix Suns right now:
“Green, while happy that the team is winning, has not been pleased with a reduced role. He can become a free agent in the summer, which makes him an obvious trade target. But sources told Sporting News that there is 'no way' the Suns will move Green this year.”
Phoenix’s roster is absolutely loaded in the backcourt with guards Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, Green, Zoran Dragic, Reggie Bullock and draftee Tyler Ennis. There is only one ball to go around, and playing time has been impacted by the glut of ball-handlers.
Green is not the only one who is somewhat frustrated, if guard Archie Goodwin’s comments were any indication, via Deveney:
"Of course it is going to be frustrating for me, because I am a competitor. I have enough confidence in myself to believe I can play right now. A lot of guys, once they get here, they sort of feel like, ‘Well, it’s OK, I will get my opportunity eventually.’ That’s not me. I feel like I could be playing right now. In that sense, it is very frustrating.
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This is certainly an intriguing situation, because the multiple backcourt options are clearly working for the Suns. They are ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 8 seed in a daunting Western Conference and will be in the thick of the playoff race all season if they continue to play this well.
Green is one of the 10 players on the team averaging at least 18 minutes a night and one of eight players averaging better than 20. That type of rotation is something fans would expect from a platoon-substitution pattern like John Calipari has used at Kentucky, much less an NBA contender’s rotation.
To Green’s credit, he is scoring 13.7 points per game in that limited time behind a solid three-point shot and an ability to slash the lane. For now, all he can do is continue to produce, because the Suns are apparently more than happy to keep him around.
Robert Covington
Shams Charania of RealGM passed along the latest on the Philadelphia 76ers and Robert Covington:
“A few NBA teams have placed interest in Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington, but the 24-year-old sharpshooter has been made largely unavailable from trade inquiries as a core part of the franchise’s long-term plans, league sources told RealGM.”
Covington is third on the team in scoring at 12.4 points a night and shoots just shy of 40 percent from downtown. He is a valuable piece who can stretch the floor, and it is no wonder that other teams have shown interest.
Still, it’s all about the future for the 76ers, and the most important number when it comes to Covington is 24—his age.
Covington is part of a young core of players that includes Michael Carter-Williams, K.J. McDaniels, Nerlens Noel and the injured Joel Embiid. In an ideal situation, this group (along with another impressive draft pick or two) will compete for a playoff spot within the next three years.
If fellow NBA teams want to pry some players away from the 76ers before the trade deadline, they should start looking at some of the older veterans, because the young guys take on even more value in a rebuilding process.
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