NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Potential Deals After All-Star Weekend
The lights have gone out in Madison Square Garden, and it's back to reality for the NBA as the trade deadline is rapidly approaching.
But in reality, All-Star weekend in New York did little to slow the churning of the rumor mill with so many teams around the league looking to get in on potential deals before Thursday's deadline. The championship looks more attainable for the average contender than it has in years, and certain teams are reacting accordingly with aggressive pushes for roster bolstering.
With the start of Monday morning brings the return of the 2014-15 NBA season, and there's no better way to ring that in than with a look at the hottest trade rumors.
Isaiah Thomas and Goran Dragic
It's looking more and more likely that a Phoenix Suns guard will be hitting the bricks before Thursday, but which one will it be?
This past week, it's pretty much changed by the day between soon-to-be free agent Goran Dragic and undersized sixth man Isaiah Thomas. ESPN's Marc Stein initially reported Friday that Dragic could be on the block, but the word quickly shifted toward Thomas later into Saturday, per his Twitter:
Why the sudden change, you ask? Well, it's not so sudden, per Stein:
Dragic is certainly the pearl of the Suns roster if they're looking in terms of the highest value, but that cuts both ways—they'd also be losing perhaps their best player by dealing him. What's more, Dragic is playing out the last year of his deal and would have a hard time commanding a big trade if he didn't commit long-term to said team.
As for Thomas, he's an arrival that came with plenty of criticism in Phoenix simply due to the Suns' loaded backcourt with Dragic and Eric Bledsoe. His play (15.2 points per game) hasn't struggled in response, but it's hard to envision where he fits in the system in the long run.
Even general manager Ryan McDonough admitted the roster is a bit unbalanced, per an interview with Arizona Sports: "I think our roster balance is a little off, and that's my fault. We are a little too backcourt heavy, especially in terms of guys who, you know, I think you'd define primarily as scorers in the backcourt."
From the sounds of it, the Suns are hoping to make a splash in the trade market with their playoff chances fleeting. And given the recent rumblings, it's sounding more and more like it's going to be Thomas.
Jason Thompson
The never-ending saga of Sacramento Kings forward Jason Thompson in the rumor mill has taken another turn, as told by Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears: "The camp for Jason Thompson, the longest-tenured Kings player, would prefer that he is traded before the deadline, a source said."
The 6'11" big man is playing in his seventh season in the Association, all of which have come in Sacramento. But while he has surpassed the double-digit scoring plateau three times in his career, he's sputtered to a career-worst 5.6 points per game in 2014-15.
Thompson's play hasn't lived up to his salary in quite some time, and the latest development had the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones wondering if the Kings would have any luck on the trade market this time around:
Thompson has showcased his value over the years, but it's hard to say that his recent play commands the $6.4 million cap hit and $6.8 subsequent hit he'll put on the cap over the next two seasons, per Spotrac. The Kings need cap space if they're going to entice a marquee free agent to play alongside DeMarcus Cousins, and getting rid of Thompson's cap weight would be a solid step in that direction.
However, finding a suitor for a player who has not so quietly floated around on the block for seemingly years now can prove tough to do, especially when opposing front office executives are ready for your every move.
Lance Stephenson
The Charlotte Hornets didn't take long in their experiment with Lance Stephenson to begin looking for suitors, but their efforts may be too little, too late.
Talk about the former Indiana Pacers wing lit up All-Star weekend as one of the top storylines entering the trade deadline, and Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski shed light on the situation to SiriusXM NBA Radio:
It's not surprising to hear that the market for Stephenson has dried up.
Despite showcasing star potential through four seasons in Indiana, the 6'5" guard has played his way in and out of the starting rotation in Charlotte despite a serious need for his impact on the perimeter. His shooting has struggled (.371), and other staples of his game—like defense and attacking the boards—have suffered along with it.
A handful of teams in the playoff hunt are in need of a versatile wing with a defensive presence, which Stephenson would typically fit the bill for. But when there's such a risk regarding whether he'll be able to find his early-career formidability, it's hard to command a fair deal in the market.
