NBA Trade Rumors: Latest News on Hottest Potential Deals
The Minnesota Timberwolves just traded point guard Mo Williams and shooting guard Troy Daniels to the Charlotte Hornets for Gary Neal and a second-round pick. Apparently, Neal won't be spending much time in Minnesota.
According to Shams Charania of Real GM, the T-Wolves are looking to unload Neal as soon as they can:
As a scoring combo guard, Neal has some assets that he could offer to a contender. He's a good outside shooter with deep playoff experience from his days with the San Antonio Spurs. He's averaging 9.6 points per game, but he has struggled from long range this season.
He's shooting a career-low 29 percent from beyond the arc. That may serve as a deterrent for teams looking for a veteran point guard who can spread the floor.
Jameer Nelson Could Be Dealt Again
In other trade scuttlebutt, Charania has news of interest in Denver Nuggets veteran point guard Jameer Nelson:
You'd think Nelson would welcome a move to a contending team. He was playing for a contender with the Dallas Mavericks, but as part of the move that sent Rajon Rondo to the Lone Star State, Nelson was banished to the rebuilding Boston Celtics and then again to the lowly Nuggets in exchange for Nate Robinson.
Nelson's veteran experience and leadership could be a boost for the Miami Heat and the Washington Wizards, but it's peculiar that the Cleveland Cavaliers wouldn't have more interest. Nelson would seemingly be an improvement over Matthew Dellavedova as the backup to Kyrie Irving.
We'll have to wait and see if any interest in Nelson is rekindled in Cleveland.
The Nuggets Are Ready to Deal
Charania isn't the only one with trade buzz. Per ESPN.com's Marc Stein:
"[Arron] Afflalo, Nelson and Randy Foye, sources say, are all in play. The price for Afflalo, though, is said to be high, with Denver seeking at least one future first-round pick in exchange for the swingman, who holds a $7.5 million player option for next season that will allow Afflalo to either become a free agent or continue for one more season at his current salary.
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While we've talked about Nelson's potential value and Randy Foye could provide a team with backcourt issues some depth, the biggest potential prize in the Nuggets' lot of available players is Arron Afflalo.
The 29-year-old 2-guard is averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting just under 34 percent from three-point range. Afflalo is a willing defender, and his manageable salary situation makes him all the more intriguing for contending teams.
The catch is the Nuggets' potential asking price. Afflalo could walk at the end of the season if he believes he'll get a better deal elsewhere. That means Denver could be at risk of losing him for nothing. That fact could encourage Denver to lower its asking price closer to the trade deadline.
Thursday, Feb. 19 is the date. In less than a week, we'll know if any of these rumors have legs.
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