NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Trade Buzz for Mo Williams, Brook Lopez and More
This has been one of the strangest NBA seasons in recent memory. To think Atlanta and Golden State own the two best records, while Cleveland, Chicago, San Antonio and Oklahoma City have struggled for different reasons, shows that anything really is possible.
As the trade deadline looms, expect a lot of activity as teams make their final preparations for the playoff push. Whether teams are actual contenders or not is also going to make this dealing season more difficult to predict, as the No. 7 and 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference are currently under .500.
There are just over two weeks left before the deadline, so the rumors are starting to pick up steam. Here is the latest trade chatter, as well as what it could mean for teams down the stretch.
Mo Williams Market Building
With the Minnesota Timberwolves fully immersed in a rebuilding process, not to mention owning the league's worst record at 8-39, it makes no sense for the team to hang onto a veteran player in the final year of his contract.
In this case, that player happens to be Mo Williams. The veteran point guard is no longer capable of starting in the NBA, at least on a quality team, but Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 did list four clubs that could pull the trigger on a deal:
Williams has never been a good shooter, but this season has been particularly harsh with a 39.9 percent success rate on his attempts. Perhaps being traded to a team with playoff aspirations like the Cavaliers or Clippers will ignite a fire in the 32-year-old.
What Williams lacks in shooting touch he does make up for with good floor vision and passing ability. His 6.4 assists per game is his highest since 2010-11, and teams are always looking for depth in the backcourt.
The Cavaliers are an interesting potential landing spot, given Williams' history with the franchise from 2008-11 and his rapport with LeBron James. They don't necessarily need another guard with Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, Shawn Marion and Mike Miller already in place.
Whatever happens with Williams, it doesn't seem likely that his immediate future will be in Minnesota. The Timberwolves don't need him, he's not making so much money that the contract is untradeable and contenders can find a spot for him.
Nets Cooling On Brook Lopez Trade
It seems like everyone has been waiting for a Brook Lopez trade ever since he was drafted in 2008. If ever there was a time for the star center to be moved, it would seem to be this year with the Nets at 18-28. There are also reports of owner Mikhail Prokhorov exploring potentially selling the franchise.
With so much uncertainty around the Nets right now, not to mention Lopez being in the last guaranteed year of his deal, acquiring future assets would make sense for the franchise.
However, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the Nets appear to be in no hurry even though there was a deal on the table:
One reason Stein cited on Twitter for the Nets' hesitation is because of what Lopez did on January 30 against Toronto:
In a 127-122 loss, Lopez had 35 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Every franchise in the NBA yearns for that kind of production from the center position, especially if the player in question is only 26 years old.
The problem with Lopez is those dominant numbers are few and far between. Before that game against Toronto, he had just three games with at least 20 points in January and three games with single-digit points.
Opposing teams certainly know that and likely aren't going to pay a high price for Lopez, so the Nets aren't going to be entirely satisfied with what they get. Eventually, the franchise will have to start moving some of these pieces just to cut costs, but for some reason, it doesn't feel like now will be the time.
Minnesota's Other Trade Chips
In addition to Mo Williams, the Timberwolves have a lot of other trade chips they are willing to play with. Names like Chase Budinger, Thaddeus Young and Kevin Martin would figure to be pawned off on other teams.
However, according to Sean Deveney of SportingNews.com, it doesn't sound like any team is willing to bite on what Minnesota is serving:
"The Timberwolves have been trying to accommodate Budinger, shopping him around the league. But the team has been unable to find any takers as we head into the final weeks before the NBA’s trading deadline, largely because of Budinger’s player option for next season.
In fact, a source rates the possibility of the Timberwolves—who also have veterans Thaddeus Young and Kevin Martin on hand—making any trades before the deadline as an, 'almost zero chance.'
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At a time when most teams would be looking to add talent, even if it did slightly inflate their budget, Deveney notes that more front-office personnel are being cautious because they hope to take "a run at major free-agents or re-signing their own" since most of the league is projected to have cap space.
That's the worst thing to hear for a franchise like Minnesota. There are good pieces already in place, led by Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad, but a lack of depth is what haunts this franchise. Being able to trade expendable parts for future draft picks or other young players is what this franchise needs.
The Timberwolves aren't completely dead in the water, as they might be able to find some tricks to clear roster space. It's just going to take some cajoling by David Kahn.
