NBA Trade Deadline 2015: End Date and Pre-All-Star Weekend Rumors
The NBA All-Star Game is on Sunday, Feb. 15, and the NBA trade deadline is on Thursday, Feb. 19.
You can do the math—front offices across the league aren’t going to have a lot of time to pull the trigger on important trades between the end of All-Star Weekend and the actual deadline. It will be interesting to see how that impacts the overall urgency from various teams trying to make some moves.
With that in mind, here is a look at a few rumors circulating around the Association as All-Star Weekend is set to begin.
Nik Stauskas
Gery Woelfel of The (Racine) Journal Times provided an update on Nik Stauskas and a potential trade to the Milwaukee Bucks:
This is a fascinating rumor for a number of reasons. For one, the Sacramento Kings are essentially out of the playoff race in the daunting Western Conference, so logic would dictate they hang onto their young players with an eye toward the future. However, Stauskas—who was the team’s first-round pick in the last NBA draft—is apparently being used as trade bait.
Still, it’s not as if Stauskas has inspired much confidence, even if he is a rookie.
He is averaging a measly 3.4 points, 0.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game behind 32.8 percent shooting from the field and an abysmal 26.1 percent shooting from three-point range. He was supposed to be a sharp-shooter coming into the league, so the percentage from downtown is particularly concerning.
The other interesting angle is the Bucks, who are very much alive in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference and, perhaps, think a change of scenery will do the rookie some good. As long as they don’t give up too much in return, it may be a risk that is worth making on the path to the postseason.
Goran Dragic
Woelfel passed along another rumor on a more effective NBA guard:
The Phoenix Suns are in a unique position with Goran Dragic, and they will have to ultimately decide what they want to do.
On the one hand, they are locked in a tight battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoff race with the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans. On the other hand, there is an overabundance of guards on the roster, and Dragic can become a free agent after the season.
The Suns could clearly use Dragic and his 16.2 points per game this season if they hope to make the playoffs, but they also run the risk of losing him for virtually nothing if he bolts for free agency after the season.
A first-round pick is awfully tempting in that scenario, especially if Phoenix comes to the conclusion that it doesn’t have a chance to win the NBA title this season even if it does get into the playoffs.
Dragic won the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award in 2013-14 and would immediately bolster a contender’s backcourt if he was traded. He can hit the three, get out in transition and set up his teammates with effective passes, and could help tilt the balance in an eventual playoff series.
The only question now is what jersey he will be wearing when those playoffs roll around.
Shams Charania of RealGM noted that the Denver Nuggets could have some Eastern Conference suitors for Jameer Nelson:
Considering Nelson is already a member of his third team this season, being on the trade block is nothing new for the veteran guard. He started on the Dallas Mavericks, was part of the trade for Rajon Rondo and then was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Nuggets.
Nelson had an admirable attitude about the whole situation earlier in the season, via Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel:
"My job is to play, no matter where it is. I'll give everything I have to the team that I'm on and everything I have for the guys in the locker room, the knowledge that I have, and try to help the coaches out as much as I can once I get comfortable.
If you look at the situation, people are calling me and asking if I'm OK. I'm like, 'I'm OK.' I'm playing basketball for a living, something I love to do, something I'm blessed to have and be a part of this team.
"
That is encouraging for both the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat if they do acquire Nelson. He has plenty of playoff experience under his belt and could help either team as the pressure builds in the wide-open Eastern Conference.
The Wizards don’t exactly have a glaring need at point guard with superstar John Wall and reliable veteran Andre Miller on the roster, but Bradley Beal is dealing with injury concerns. Adding Nelson would at least provide some backcourt depth for a Washington squad battling for seeding.
Miami probably has more of a use for Nelson considering Mario Chalmers is shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 28.5 percent from three-point range, and Norris Cole is shooting even worse at 38.6 percent from the field and 26.5 percent from three-point range. That is not exactly optimal point guard play, and Nelson could provide a steadying hand as the Heat try to secure one of the final playoff spots.
It will certainly be an interesting development to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
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