NBA Rumors: Analyzing Buzz on Roy Hibbert and Other Trade-Deadline Reports
The day of the NBA trade deadline has finally arrived—any and all moves must be locked in by 3 p.m. ET Thursday. This is a very exciting day for fans. Rumors continue to run rampant across the Web, and anxiety over which players your team is likely to acquire—or relinquish—is at an all-time high.
Even though many contenders are aiming to bolster their rosters for a title run, and struggling squads are looking to offload larger contracts while hoping for luck in the draft lottery, there's no guarantee every rumor will come to fruition. In fact, most won't.
Still, it's always fun to speculate. So, as the trade buzzer fast approaches, here's a look at a few intriguing rumors that have just surfaced regarding potential last-minute moves.
Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert continues to be one of the NBA's most enigmatic players. He has plenty of talent—it's been on display many times—however, he doesn't always play up to his full potential. This season, he's averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the floor. Those aren't bad numbers, but consistency has been a factor.
That could be one reason why the 21-33 Pacers are looking to move Hibbert and his $14.9 million salary, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:
The reason that nothing appears to be imminent right now is likely do to Hibbert's contract. Not only is he making just under $15 million this season—a lofty number considering his production—but he is in line to get a raise before next season. Making matters worse, he could also opt out of his current contract, via Kennedy:
There are certainly contenders that could use a big like Hibbert—the Phoenix Suns immediately come to mind—however, it's unlikely anything will get done unless Indiana's asking price is extremely reasonable.
Miami Heat
Less than one year after LeBron James decided to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there's a completely different mindset down south. The Miami Heat were always legitimate title contenders with James in the fold; however, at 22-30 this season, the team could be undergoing an overhaul, according to a tweet from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Holding onto Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh seems obvious for the Heat. Those two players are still capable of acting as the foundation for a team. The interesting player in this situation is Hassan Whiteside.
Yes, Whiteside isn't eligible to be traded, but he's having a breakout season in Miami, averaging 10 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting and impressive 64.2 percent from the floor. Whiteside's had a difficult journey to this point, but things appear to be taking shape for the young center.
That said, the Heat may be willing to part ways with Mario Chalmers, Luol Deng and others. Deng has started 46 games for Miami this season, averaging 14.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Chalmers has played in 52 games this season, starting 34, and is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest.
Things could get very interesting in Miami should these players find new homes before the deadline hits.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have plenty of young talent on their current roster; however, at 11-42, they aren't going anywhere in a hurry just yet. This gives Minnesota the ability to tinker with its lineup and assess its roster throughout the remainder of the season.
Some players—and their contracts—don't appear to be in Minnesota's long-term plans, and the team could make several moves before the deadline. According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, one such player is forward Chase Budinger:
Budinger has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Timberwolves, as his minutes have steadily decreased over the three seasons he's spent with the team. This year, he's averaging a career-low 14.9 minutes per game. Hanging onto him doesn't make sense at this point considering he's due a pay raise next season.
However, Budinger isn't the only player on Minnesota's trade block, according to Zillgitt:
Gary Neal is set to be an unrestricted free agent following this season, and considering he's shooting a career-low 35.9 percent from the floor this year, Minnesota isn't opting to simply let his contract expire. David Aldridge of NBA.com tweeted the team's asking price:
A second-round pick should be an enticing option for contending teams. There's always a chance Neal can be acquired after he's bought out, but if he generates interest from multiple teams, someone is likely to pull the trigger before the deadline.
