NBA Trade Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on Arron Afflalo, Kevin Martin and More
The 2015 NBA trade deadline is fast approaching, and at this point of the season, good teams are looking to stock up to make deep playoff runs, and bad teams are looking to offload big contracts in an effort to build for the future.
We're already well into the madness created by the looming deadline, and Sean Deveney of Sporting News compiled a list of 15 players known to be on the trade block. With that in mind, let's touch on this burning question: Which of those players are most likely to be moved?
Based on information from trusted sources that has recently surfaced around the Web, we can begin to get a better idea of which players may be wearing a different colored jersey in the near future and which appear to be staying put.
Arron Afflalo
The 19-32 Denver Nuggets have now lost 12 of their last 13 games and are going nowhere fast. Shooting guard Arron Afflalo returned to the team this season following a couple of years with the Orlando Magic, but his stay may be a short one.
According to a report from Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post, the team is looking to trade Afflalo for a lofty price of a first-round draft pick:
"The Nuggets are holding firm to seeking a first-round pick from teams wanting to trade for shooting guard Arron Afflalo, according to NBA sources.
There have been no takers, although interest remains high for Afflalo's services. Teams don't want to relinquish a first-rounder for a player that might walk on them at the end of the season. Afflalo has a player option for the final year of his contract.
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That price tag could ultimately keep Afflalo in Denver for the remainder of the season, as Dempsey points out the guard's player option could allow him to walk away from his new team following the season.
Still, Afflalo's averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor. His addition could be the catalyst that sends a playoff contender over the top; however, is losing a first-round pick too steep of a price to make a run at a championship?
We'll find out by Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. ET.
Kevin Martin
It took the Minnesota Timberwolves until February to notch double-digit wins. This is a team with plenty of young talent, but it still needs lost of time to develop before becoming a contender. Of course, that situation puts the Timberwolves in prime position to offload some expensive assets.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Minnesota may be looking to deal shooting guard Kevin Martin before the trade deadline.
Writes Mannix, "Player to keep an eye on before the trade deadline: Minnesota's Kevin Martin. He is owed $14 million over the next two seasons but could be a valuable asset to a team looking for scoring punch off the bench. Dallas and Washington are among the possibilities."
Martin's been having a solid season, averaging 19.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while connecting on 44.0 percent of his shots from the field and 42.0 percent from downtown as of Sunday afternoon. His skill set could give a contender some great additional firepower and depth for a playoff run.
Interest doesn't seem too high at this stage of the game, though, as Darren Wolfson of ABC 5 Eyewitness News tweeted the Washington Wizards haven't discussed him as an option:
Mannix does list the Dallas Mavericks as a possible landing spot for Martin, and with star guard Rajon Rondo's status for the immediate future in doubt, it may not be a bad idea to bring in another backcourt option.
Taj Gibson
The Chicago Bulls are still well in the mix for the postseason; however, that hasn't stopped rumors from surfacing regarding longtime power forward Taj Gibson. Well, things changed Friday, as Joe Crowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the team has no plans on moving the forward.
According to Crowley's report, "A source indicated the Bulls have made no calls about trading Gibson, especially because they have health concerns about center Joakim Noah. Coach Tom Thibodeau did all but reiterate that point, stressing the importance of the role Gibson plays."
Gibson's role has been important to the success of the Bulls this season. Not only has Gibson continued to shine on the defensive end of the court, but he's also averaging 10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field as of Sunday afternoon.
Adding to the need to keep Gibson around is the health of Noah, as the center continues to recover from offseason knee surgery and suffered a sprained ankle in January. Don't expect Gibson to finish the season outside of Chicago.
