NBA Trade Rumors: Analyzing Rumblings Surrounding Enes Kanter and More
Don't let the kindhearted nature of All-Star Weekend deceive: Behind the scenes, things are fast, furious and wild as front offices attempt to upgrade rosters ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Whether it is a rebuilding team looking to unload or a contender on the hunt for a last-minute upgrade, the usual suspects are busy.
In the East, it is safe to presume teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and others in the playoff race have an ear to the ground, while teams like the Philadelphia 76ers hunt for more future assets.
In the West, the primary focus of the deadline chatter so far, the Phoenix Suns seem to want to sell a point guard, and other sellers want to unload players for various reasons, too.
Buckle in, as this deadline comes with a certain air of desperation that hints to a few major moves, unlike in normal years.
The Point Guard Situation in the Desert
The Phoenix Suns are the hottest team on the market these days.
In an ideal world, general manager Ryan McDonough and the front office would like to unload a point guard to help free up more playing time for the wealth of talent on the roster at that position. At the same time, that sort of move would help to better round out the roster beneath the basket.
This is not an ideal world for these Suns, though, as a desire to ship away Isaiah Thomas may have the rest of the league instead looking for an opportunity to take Goran Dragic off their hands.
ESPN's Marc Stein sets the stage:
On one hand, the Suns need Dragic to contend now. He shoots a superb 50 percent from the field and averages a 16.2/4.1/3.6 slash line. On the other, the return the Suns would receive in a trade would be great, not to mention the fact that he heads to free agency in the offseason, where the team is likely to get nothing in return for his departure.
Truthfully, Thomas is the more interesting revelation here.
He averages a 15.2/3.7/2.4 slash line with a 19.69 PER, according to ESPN.com, but is 26 years old and is a vital piece to the organization's future. If the Suns ship him away and then Dragic walks in free agency, the team's biggest strength will morph to weakness quicker than Zach LaVine's ascent to greatest thing since Vince Carter.
The Suns will have plenty of suitors for both players. The Los Angeles Lakers need a point guard to build around, and the Houston Rockets need a leader for a title push. Others will call, too.
It's a cliche, but the landscape of the league may change depending on how the Suns proceed.
Kings Likely Deadline Movers?
The 18-win Sacramento Kings are obvious sellers at the deadline.
The question is to what extent, especially with new coach George Karl on board. Sean Deveney of Sporting News seems to have an answer: "'They have been as active as anyone,' one general manager told Sporting News. 'Obviously they want to make a lot of changes, and they’re pushing hard to get something done.'”
As the report goes on to note, the Kings seem to be most interested in moving Jason Thompson, Derrick Williams and rookie Nik Stauskas.
Two of those names are not a surprise. Williams is five years deep into his career at this point as a journeyman who only averages 17.7 minutes per game. The thought in Sacramento has to be that the Arizona product at least looks like a salvageable project to suitors given that he is only 23 years old. Thompson is 28 and a non-factor next to DeMarcus Cousins.
Stauskas is the most interesting given his rookie status. He's not a fit in Karl's system due to defensive struggles. It doesn't help that the Michigan product only shoots 26 percent from long range so far, although teams on the hunt for a rotational presence might dial up the Sacramento front office at the deadline.
Regardless, the Kings are a team to watch in crunch time. There is a new vision in place, and with it comes an alteration in personnel.
Utah's Enes Kanter Problem
Many could see this coming a mile away.
Enes Kanter is unhappy despite an average of 27.1 minutes per game. The 19-win Utah Jazz continue to toy with the lineup as things move along, apparently much to the dismay of the Kentucky product.
Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune provides the info: "Frustrated by his role during his three-plus years in Utah, center Enes Kanter told The Salt Lake Tribune he hopes to be traded before this year's deadline."
Falk also notes "Kanter grew tired of empty promises of playing time during his time under Tyrone Corbin and remains frustrated by the inconsistency of his role."
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft shares playing time with Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker—which has led to this ultimatum.
It is hard to figure out what the market for Kanter might look like at the deadline, but rest assured that the Jazz will treat the demand with a semblance of seriousness or risk losing him when he becomes a restricted free agent next year.
On the aforementioned average, Kanter posts a 13.8/7.8/0.3 slash line and is just 22 years old. The upside is there if a team that wants to build in a youthful manner needs a big man.
Overall, Kanter might be the biggest name to move at the deadline. The "where" part of the equation is what makes the rapidly developing situation so interesting.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
