NBA Trade Rumors: Buzz on Brook Lopez, Chase Budinger and More
The NBA won't be the quiet kid in the back of the classroom much longer.
College football is over. So is the Super Bowl. National signing day is now complete. That means the NBA and its impending trade deadline can step into the spotlight alone and remain there.
It's good news for all, really, as this year's crawl to the deadline offers plenty of teams desperate enough to make high-profile moves. After all, this season has already featured a Rajon Rondo trade.
As things begin to hit a fever pitch, the top-tier rumblings are worth a review.
The Brook Lopez Saga...
Will. Not. End.
Look, everybody knows this will drag on until the deadline. Everybody knows the bumbling, 20-28 Brooklyn Nets want out of at least one of their max contracts. The front office went all-in with three—Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez—to no avail.
To dig the team out of the hole, the staff correctly decided Lopez is the most tradable asset.
One problem: The Nets seem to think they are choosers at this stage of the game, as a note by ESPN's Marc Stein reveals:
It's decision time for the Nets. Lopez is 26 years old, and he averages a 15.3/6.2/1.6 slash line and a 19.67 PER, according to ESPN.com.
Nice, but the team is not going to find a much better offer than what Denver put out if it wants to shed his contract. Both JaVale McGee and J.J. Hickson are around the same age, productive and much cheaper.
Denver may be the only team with an interest now that Timofey Mozgov is in Cleveland. Brooklyn's best move is probably to move on from a center who stands at 7'0" but hardly averages six boards a game and played just five games in 2011-12 and 17 in 2013-14.
One of the more interesting storylines to watch as the deadline nears is how Brooklyn walks the rebuild tightrope.
Thaddeus Young on the Move?
Fans in Philadelphia know all about Georgia Tech product Thaddeus Young.
Young was a solid member of the 76ers for seven years, acting as a reliable scoring threat before the team shipped him away to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now, Minnesota wants to move him as well, per The Boston Globe's Jake L. Fischer:
Young is one of the more important names to watch at the deadline this year. Per Spotrac, he will make $9.9 million next season, but where he lands is just as important as the expiring status of his contract.
At the age of 26 and with no major health issues, the man who currently averages a 14.3/2.8/5.0 slash line can be the missing piece for a contender.
Minnesota knows it has a top-tier trade chip on its hands. How this plays out will have a bigger impact on the landscape of the league than most realize.
The Chase Budinger Situation
Stick with those Timberwolves.
Veteran rotational piece Chase Budinger is available as a nice option for teams in need off the bench, especially considering he makes just $5 million next year, per Spotrac.
Minnesota understands the value and continues to look to make a move, per Sean Deveney of Sporting News:
"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.'
"
The almighty player option strikes again.
Budinger averages a slash line of 4.6/0.8/2.5 but is an inherent risk, as he played no more than 41 games in each of the prior two seasons in Minnesota.
Granted, the Arizona product looks healthier this season, but many contenders who figure to be interested in his services need to walk the financial tightrope and want to be in control of all their assets, hence the issue with the player option.
The Timberwolves want to continue to build their young core around Andrew Wiggins and Shabazz Muhammad. There is value in Budinger, so keep an eye on whether a team becomes desperate at the deadline and takes the bait.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
