NBA Trade Deadline 2015: Date and Analyzing Rumors About High-Profile Players
Deadline day has arrived in the NBA. Front offices around the league are down to mere hours remaining if they want to make any additions before the trade door closes. As usual, the rumor mill has been spinning rapidly for the past week or so.
Exactly how active the deadline will be remains a mystery. There is no shortage of title contenders, which would normally point toward plenty of moves. Yet the back end of the playoff races are also competitive, and that could leave a shortage of sellers.
All questions will be answered by Thursday afternoon. So let's check out the critical details for this season's deadline. That's followed by a closer look at some of the most interesting rumors as the trade clock winds down.
2015 NBA Trade Deadline
Date: Thursday, Feb. 19
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Breaking Down Late Buzz
Goran Dragic's Preferred Options
Dragic has been one of the most talked-about players leading up to this year's deadline. The veteran guard is set to become a free agent at season's end, which is surely a factor in talks, but he would represent a nice backcourt upgrade for several teams.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the Phoenix Suns are casting a wide net as they attempt to maximize their return. That said, he also notes that Suns general manager Ryan McDonough was given a list of preferred landing spots:
"After informing the Suns that Dragic wouldn't sign an extension this summer, agent Bill Duffy delivered McDonough and management a list of preferred trade destinations that includes the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
"
The Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings are listed among the interested teams as well. They are just not the most desired spots. That said, it seems unlikely the Suns would go out of their way to accommodate a certain deal, especially since they could lose him for nothing if no deal is made.
Given the amount of buzz surrounding Dragic, it would be a surprise if he wasn't moved somewhere before the deadline. The Rockets have stood out as a good match throughout the process. But it all comes down to which team is willing to step up in a crowded sweepstakes.
Potential Ty Lawson Swap
Lawson is tied with John Wall for the league lead in assists per game. So while he's dealt with some off-court problems, his on-court performance has remained strong. That's the balancing act the Denver Nuggets and teams that may be considering the point guard are probably debating.
The Nuggets do have fellow veteran Jameer Nelson available to run the point. It sounds like the team would be seeking a more long-term option in a deal, though. Chris Broussard of ESPN reports the Indiana Pacers' George Hill is a main target:
Hill has missed time this season with both knee and groin injuries. When healthy, he's played varying roles en route to less than 24 minutes per game. That would represent the least amount of playing time since his rookie campaign with the San Antonio Spurs.
It's unclear whether the trade would be a direct match or if the sides would need to get another team involved to make the pieces work. The Nuggets won't give away one of the league's top distributors cheap. In the end, keeping him may be their best bet.
Joe Johnson On The Block
By now, teams know what they would be getting in Johnson. The 33-year-old guard is a solid offensive option with plenty of postseason experience. He's no longer at the top of his game but could still be a solid rotation member for a contender.
"The rumors are true. My name is out there (in trade discussions). Anything is possible. I'm definitely going to have my phone on," he told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. The report notes, however, the Brooklyn Nets haven't found a trade partner:
"As one of the highest paid players in the NBA, Johnson has been shopped and linked to a variety of teams -- including the Hornets and Pistons. However, a team source refuted that there was any traction to the discussions with Detroit, which reportedly included a package surrounding Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings.
"There is nothing," the source said.
"
That's not a major surprise. Johnson likely isn't any team's first choice at this stage of his career, particularly given his big contract. But he may become more of an option as the deadline approaches and other targets become unavailable.
It's a situation where other dominoes will need to fall into place first. That brings it back to the earlier question about the activity level of this year's deadline. If things end up getting hectic, Johnson could find himself elsewhere when the dust settles.
