NBA Trade Rumors: Newest Info on Arron Afflalo and Other Players on Block
There aren't many more attractive potential trade targets than the Denver Nuggets' Arron Afflalo. The 29-year-old guard is averaging 14.9 points per game, and he's a willing defender.
While he's struggling a bit form distance this season at just under 34 percent from three-point range, he's a career 38 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, there's a bevy of teams interested in Afflalo:
The Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls stick out as the most intriguing potential suitors from that short list. The Clippers' pursuit of depth at the 2-guard position has seemingly been ongoing over the last two seasons.
J.J. Redick has played well this season, but the Clippers would love to have a player like Afflalo to back him up or even log minutes at small forward where he'd be an upgrade over Matt Barnes.
The Bulls have Jimmy Butler playing at an All-Star level, and recently Tony Snell has emerged as a player capable of giving Chicago quality minutes on the wing. Because of that, Afflalo's place in the team's rotation would be tough to figure out.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. recently returned from a 19-game absence due to injury. Because of the depth the Bulls already possess on the wings, it would seem a deal that brings Afflalo to the Windy City might have as much to do with saving money in the future as it would improving this year's roster.
Per Spotrac, Afflalo makes roughly $7.4 million this season and has a player option for the same amount next season.
If the Bulls were willing to part with, say, Taj Gibson, it could potentially offer the team some wiggle room to re-sign Butler, who is headed for restricted free agency in the offseason.
Jazz Not Keen on Dealing Kanter
Enes Kanter made it very clear he wants to be traded, but the Utah Jazz may not be willing to grant him his wish—at least not without receiving an amazing deal for the 22-year-old big man.
"While the team will listen to offers, Kanter is still valued highly by the franchise and very much in its long-term plans," wrote Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune.
If the Jazz listen to offers, it seems they would receive some serious consideration from teams all over the NBA. Kanter is averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in just 27.1 minutes per game. The latter is more than likely the cause of Kanter's frustrations.
The emergence of second-year center Rudy Gobert has undoubtedly cut into Kanter's minutes. Kanter is the better natural scorer of the young bigs, but Gobert excels as a rim protector and rebounder.
In just 21.9 minutes per game, Gobert is grabbing 7.3 rebounds and blocking 2.3 shots per game.
If a team is looking for a young, scoring big man, it may be hard to find a better young prospect than Kanter. If the Jazz feel comfortable with Gobert as their future in the paint, they could potentially accelerate a return to contention with the assets attained from a Kanter deal.
Phoenix Trying to Keep Dragic
One of the main focuses in many trade rumors over the past two weeks has been Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic. The Suns are either trying to shoot down rumors that he is available or attempting to play mind games with one or more potential suitors.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that the Suns are not only not trying to trade Dragic, but looking to ink him to a possible extension:
Having Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas in the backcourt has never made much sense to me. Even if Dragic isn't the one being moved, it seems to make sense that one of the three players would have to leave for Phoenix to take advantage of too much depth at the point guard position.
We'll see if the Suns do something sensible before Thursday's deadline.
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