NBA Rumors: Latest on Hottest Trade Talk Before Deadline
Trade rumors and February are like Christmas trees in December—they just go together. The 2015 NBA season is no exception, and a particularly wide-open campaign has birthed a seemingly increased amount of trade buzz.
Teams that still believe they have a chance to contend for a title, like the Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors, are heavily involved in the scuttlebutt that may or may not come to fruition.
Here's a look at three of the hottest and most recent rumors that should at least pique the interest of fans.
Taj Gibson Possibly on the Move
Behind LeBron James' return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pau Gasol to the Chicago Bulls has undoubtedly been the second-best free-agent addition in the NBA this season. However, his arrival in the Windy City has created a logjam at the 4 and 5.
That picture has been further convoluted by the signing of rookie Nikola Mirotic. Jimmy Butler has been playing well this season. He earned his first All-Star appearance, and he's headed toward restricted free agency in the offseason. The cap-tight Bulls will more than likely need to make a move to be able to afford the new deal Butler has earned.
With so many frontcourt players, it seems pretty obvious that the target area for this deal would be one of the Bulls' big men. Right now, it seems as if Taj Gibson is the most likely candidate.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News writes, "Gibson has been connected to much of the league the past few months, from Los Angeles [Lakers] to Toronto to Phoenix [Suns] to Detroit [Pistons] to Portland [Trail Blazers]."
When asked about the rumors, Gibson had the typical but sensible player response. Per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Gibson said:
"I’ve been here for a while, and my name is always brought up in trade rumors throughout my career here in Chicago. ‘It’s just one of those things that you have to put in the back of your mind and continue to do your job. Of course, things like that are going to happen when you look how our team has been playing. [Rumors] are going to happen.
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With two years and $17.4 million left on Gibson's current deal, he isn't the easiest sell for prospective suitors, but he isn't immovable. The once one-dimensional reserve has blossomed into a dependable two-way player who could start at power forward for most teams.
He's only 29 years old and still has plenty of bounce in his legs. The Raptors, Suns and Blazers could dramatically improve with the addition of a player like Gibson. Per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Raps are reportedly in the market for an upgrade at the 4, and Gibson would give Toronto one of the best starting fives in the league with he, Jonas Valanciunas, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez.
Martin Being Shopped
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard can be had, and there are at least two teams interested.
"Player to keep an eye on before the trade deadline: Minnesota’s Kevin Martin," Mannix writes. "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 [Mavericks] and Washington [Wizards] are among the possibilities."
Martin could be one of the more underrated available players. For teams that are looking for a perimeter player who can spread the floor with his outside shooting and get to the free-throw line, Martin should be of interest.
He recently returned to Minnesota's lineup after battling an injury this season. The Wolves have won their last three games with Martin in the lineup. He's a career 18-point-per-game scorer, and he's pouring in 20.1 per contest in 16 games this season. Martin has connected on 39 percent of his threes and is shooting five free throws per game while connecting on 86 percent of the attempts.
On the downside, he is 32 years old. Martin is also owed $7 million in 2016 and has a $7.3 million player option for 2017. That could create a cap issue for a contending team moving forward.
Wilson Chandler is Coveted
Strong, athletic wing players who can shoot the three are almost always a hot commodity. While most of his career has been played outside of the hoops spotlight with the Denver Nuggets, Wilson Chandler fits the aforementioned description.
The 27-year-old is averaging 13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and he's making 34 percent of his threes. Those numbers are consistent with what he's done throughout his career. In fact, the point-per-game average and the three-point percentage are identical to his career totals.
That consistency and the Nuggets' apparent willingness to move him has sparked interest. Per Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders writes,"A number of teams have expressed interest in Chandler, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. It’s believed that Denver wants a first-round pick back in any deal involving Chandler."
Stacking first-round picks is obviously the plan for the Nuggets in their current rebuilding efforts. The team was able to procure two from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the deal for Timofey Mozgov. It seems the Clippers have long been in search for a wing who could add some scoring punch and allow Jamal Crawford to remain in the sixth-man role.
J.J. Redick has been hurt this season and missed Sunday's lopsided loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's clear the Clippers need a dependable 2-guard. Chandler's ability to play small forward only makes him all the more intriguing.
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