NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Reggie Jackson, Arron Afflalo and More
The NBA trade market has been relatively quiet so far, but the final day before the deadline could see some fireworks.
Without any true stars on the block, teams are left looking for impact players wherever they can get them. The problem is the lack of willingness to give up draft picks for these lower-tier options.
That being said, front offices are going to take a few more risks as they see the clock tick down to Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline. Here is a look at a few moves that could go down before time runs out.
Wizards Try to Acquire a Guard
The job of evaluating a team is usually left to the general manager, but sometimes even players see the hole. Washington Wizards star John Wall had this to say about where the team needs help, via Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post:
"I think somebody, another guy that can create off the bench. A guy that can create and put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. That’s probably the only thing we’re missing in the second unit. Andre’s [Miller] probably the best player that suits itself for creating and making plays for somebody in the second unit. I think sometimes we just get stagnant.
"
Apparently, the Wizards have been interested in acquiring a guard who fits that description, with David Aldridge of NBA.com reporting some potential targets:
In his chat, ESPN's Chad Ford also listed Washington as a possible destination for Kevin Martin.
Castillo previously reported the organization was willing to part with a first-round pick, although that would depend on the return. Still, this is a major plus compared to other teams that are being more frugal.
This team has an obvious need and wants to stay near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, so it seems like a good bet a deal will get done.
Reggie Jackson On His Way Out of Oklahoma City
It seemed like Reggie Jackson was going to be traded earlier in the year in the deal that brought Dion Waiters to Oklahoma City, but the young guard stayed with the Thunder. That was the worst-case scenario for Jackson.
The 24-year-old player is averaging 12.8 points per game this season, but that number has dropped drastically with Waiters on board and everyone else now healthy. In six games in February, Jackson is averaging just 6.3 points to rank seventh on the team in this span.
Unsurprisingly, he has asked for a trade through his agent, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
ESPN's Chris Broussard points out there is a lot of interest in Jackson if he becomes available:
The Thunder do not necessarily want to make a deal, but they might not have a choice if teams become aggressive enough on the market. With teams so hungry for young talent, they could be given an offer they can't refuse.
At that point, you don't have to shop a player to get a deal you want.
Arron Afflalo to Portland?
There might not be a more prevalent name on the trading block than Arron Afflalo, who has been rumored to just about every team in the NBA this winter.
The problem is the Denver Nuggets have held firm in holding out for at least a first-round pick, as Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders noted:
Although some have doubted it would happen, ESPN's Marc Stein believes otherwise:
Portland makes sense as a destination considering the lack of scoring after the top trio of LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews. As a veteran guard, Afflalo would go a long way in adding some depth to this lineup.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne provided a counterpoint:
C.J. McCollum has seen his minutes increase in recent games and is averaging 10.8 points over the last four. Still, the young player has been inconsistent in his career and is hard to trust on a team looking to make a deep run this season.
If the Trail Blazers really want to improve, they will complete the deal.
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