NBA Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Last-Minute Buzz as Deadline Approaches
Less than 24 hours remain until the Thursday at 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, which means the most aggressive pushes in the NBA rumor mill are amping up with little time left to get deals done.
Whether it's a team looking to offload a valuable asset who wants out or a contender looking to make key reinforcements before the playoffs, front-office executives are chomping at the bit to get certain moves made before the deadline comes. The stakes are high, as certain clubs could end up without any return for established starters if no deal is made, and teams on the cusp of title contention can see their depth fall apart down the stretch.
With all of that in mind, let's take a look at a few rumors that fit the bill of those scenarios.
Goran Dragic and Miles Plumlee
The saga that is the Phoenix Suns backcourt took a decisive but not unexpected turn Tuesday evening, with Goran Dragic looking to inevitably be finding a new home after the season—if not in the coming hours.
Sam Amick of USA Today reported that Dragic's representatives told the Suns that the point guard had no plans to re-sign with them over the offseason as he enters free agency this summer. It didn't feel like much of a coincidence that Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski leaked Dragic's preferred locations minutes later:
While obviously a sour development for the Suns, who saw Dragic blossom into a near All-Star in 2013-14 and wanted to re-sign him according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, they aren't wasting time trying to move along.
Nor should they. With the threat of losing him without compensation to free agency this summer, Phoenix is "exploring all options to try to strike a deal" for Dragic per ESPN's Marc Stein. He added more on Twitter about the availability of Dragic's teammate Miles Plumlee:
Amick reported Plumlee's suitors (note the similarities to Dragic's preferred spots):
The Suns have known something like this would eventually happen and will rest easy with Isaiah Thomas and Eric Bledsoe in the fold, but losing Dragic on the cheap won't be an easy pill to swallow. With his intentions for free agency—at least in terms of Phoenix—known, it's looking likely that the Suns will be losing out on a lot of Dragic's value.
As for Dragic's three preferred destinations (the Lakers, Heat and Knicks), none proves to be a playoff contender this season. That would lead one to believe the Slovenian would entertain signing a long-term deal with one of those traditional powers.
Plumlee hasn't shown nearly the potential as that of brother Mason Plumlee, but he has established himself as a rotation big who provides strong defense and rebounding off the bench. There's no doubt both the Lakers and Knicks could use some more of that as they eye quick rebuilds.
Enes Kanter
Embattled Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter pretty much set the sails in motion for his potential trade by himself, telling The Salt Lake Tribune's Aaron Falk back before the All-Star break that he hopes to be dealt before the deadline. But it will take more than his own wishes for that to be granted.
The Jazz still control the young center's immediate future and even his rights come free agency, as they can match any offer that comes or execute a sign-and-trade. And with such power over a player already established as a promising young big man, they're understandably asking for plenty, per Wojnarowski:
With that said, one intriguing destination is beginning to present itself for Kanter as the deadline approaches—the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yes, the Bucks—without rookie Jabari Parker—are making a playoff push and are nearing the removal of the nagging headache that has been Larry Sanders with a buyout, per ESPN's Marc Stein. Milwaukee is one of the most interested teams in Kanter, per USA Today's Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, aided by Jason Kidd's interest in the player:
"The Milwaukee Bucks are known to be among the teams that have interest, in part because coach Jason Kidd has had a front-row seat to some of Kanter's best games in the past two seasons. He averaged 19.5 points and nine rebounds in two games against Kidd's Brooklyn Nets last season, then finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds in Utah's lone game against the Bucks this season. Kidd, it's safe to say, took notice and would love to add him to his group that has been such a pleasant surprise this season (30-23).
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The Bucks are likely one of many teams that would fancy adding Kanter after seeing his early career prominence, but actually doing so will be another story. Despite Milwaukee's strong play this season, the organizational goal was to build through the draft and with young talent—both of which are assets that Utah will covet in return for its big man.
The Jazz won't be at a lack for young talent when Kanter departs, with Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors manning a frontcourt duo among the league's most promising young pairs. But you can't blame them for wanting to get the most out of another player they have been high on—a former No. 3 overall pick who has validated that lofty value.
Joe Johnson and Brandon Jennings
For all of the rumblings about the Brooklyn Nets being big dealers this season, the lack of moves has been pretty surprising. But with hours to go before the deadline, a move could be in the works.
This time, it's swingman Joe Johnson in the cross hairs for the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk:
Youngmisuk and ESPN's Mike Mazzeo added an interesting wrinkle to a potential deal, including Pistons guard Brandon Jennings: "Sources told ESPNNewYork.com that no deal is imminent but said the teams have had exploratory discussions in advance of Thursday's trade deadline about a trade package built around injured point guard Brandon Jennings and expiring contracts in exchange for Johnson."
It's not hard to see why the Nets would be all ears when Johnson's name comes up in trade talks, but it's complicated. Johnson—with a $23.1 million base salary this season, per Spotrac—is widely known as one of the NBA's most overpaid players, and the gut punch of taking on his salary would leave the Pistons not willing to offer a whole lot else in return (if they would even entertain taking the entire salary off Brooklyn's plate).
It is tough, however, to see exactly what the Pistons envision in such a move. Detroit might be 4-6 in its last 10 games, but it found an incredible hot streak following the buyout of Josh Smith. There might be a need on the perimeter for Detroit, but sticking to the plan with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Singler and Caron Butler seems arguably as fruitful as bringing Johnson on board.
As for Jennings, who is out for the season, he might have been a handful early on in 2014-15, but he found his stride in a big way once Smith hit the dust. Trading a 25-year-old who flourished with this group for an overpaid veteran on a noticeable decline is just head-scratching, no matter how you slice it.
Johnson is averaging his lowest point total since the 2002-03 season, and the Pistons are still 11th in the conference and far from playoff contention. If this goes through, it will be interesting to hear how Stan Van Gundy validates it.
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