NBA Rumors: Last-Minute Trade Buzz Before Deadline
What would the NBA trade deadline be without a few last-minute rumors whipping fans into a frenzy?
It may seem like those staffing NBA front offices are the ultimate procrastinators, considering how many deals are completed or at least discussed in the waning eligible hours, but considering jobs and reputations are on the line, it's probably a good thing that most teams don't pull the trigger until they absolutely have to.
Some trades have a long gestation period, with general managers taking their time to weigh all the pros and cons of any potential deal. Others come as a result of a player trying to force management's hand, while still others come together as a result of last-minute negotiations, perhaps for a final puzzle piece.
Whatever the situation, trades often bump up right against the deadline. With a moratorium on trades set for 3 p.m ET on Thursday, it's time to take a final look at some of the many trade rumors still kicking around in the final hours.
Goran Dragic Sweepstakes
Slovenian star Goran Dragic is the prize of the NBA trade deadline, but if any team is going to swing a deal for him, it will come at a high price.
Dragic is averaging 16.2 points and 4.1 assists in 33.4 minutes per game this season with a 16.6 player efficiency rating, via Basketball-Reference.com. Those numbers are down from last season, hardly a surprise considering the Suns backcourt has become fairly crowded with point guards Isaiah Thomas and Eric Bledsoe also in the fold.
If the Suns are too get any value out of Dragic, they may have to trade him soon, as his relationship with the team has apparently soured, per Paul Coro of AZCentral.com:
"I don't trust them anymore. It happens too many times. Two, three times. They give promises, OK. It's hard. But at the same time, I wish them all the best. They were great to me the past five years. I'm always going to have a good memory about Phoenix fans and the city. I just hit that point of my career that it's better for me and my family to move on.
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According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, Dragic—who could become a free agent this offseason—is still angling for a move to one of three teams in marquee locations and apparently doesn't want to sign long-term elsewhere:
New York and Miami reportedly have last-ditch trade pitches in the works, per Broussard and NBA.com's David Aldridge:
The Los Angeles Lakers could still get in the mix, but the team should have plenty of cap room this summer and could try to lure Dragic to Tinseltown when he becomes a free agent, provided he doesn't sign a long-term contract with another team.
Of the three big teams with chances of landing Dragic, Miami is the safest option in terms of short-term success. A lineup featuring Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the emerging Hassan Whiteside should be able to make a playoff splash in the weak Eastern Conference. Wade could also groom Dragic to be his eventual successor in Miami, as the latter has proven himself to be a viable combo guard working alongside Thomas and Bledsoe.
New York and Los Angeles are still alluring destinations no doubt, and each has a high-volume scorer in Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, respectively, that could use a dynamic presence at point guard.
However, Dragic wouldn't have a chance to pair with Bryant until next season at the earliest, and Anthony's own injury woes don't quite portend a bright future for the team.
Both the Lakers and Knicks will have plenty of work to do to surround Dragic with a playoff-caliber squad.
Trading away key assets in order to just land Dragic himself would hamper their ability to do so, but a big contract, the alluring locales and the opportunity to own the point guard position could prove to be more important to Dragic than immediate success.
Reggie Jackson-Brook Lopez Deal
Here's a potential blockbuster. According to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst, the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City could engage in a notable deal involving Reggie Jackson and Brook Lopez:
"The Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder are engaged in serious talks on a trade that could swap disgruntled point guard Reggie Jackson for center Brook Lopez, multiple sources told ESPN.com on Thursday.
The Nets and Thunder discussed a deal for Lopez last month that didn't include Jackson and fell apart. The sides re-engaged on talks late Wednesday, and Jackson, who has made it clear he'd like to be traded, was added to the talks, sources said.
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Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal is close to going down, and could lead to another move for the Thunder:
Wojnarowski also noted that this potential deal could involve more than just the two principal teams:
While the amount of potential moving parts in this deal can make one's head swim, the likely core of this deal makes sense for both teams.
Jackson has the opportunity to establish himself as a star on a team that looks destined for a rebuild. He proved this season he can put up strong numbers in an increased role. Jackson averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game as a starter this season, per Basketball-Reference.com.
He may not mesh early on with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson taking up spots out on the perimeter, but those two are 30 and 33, respectively. At just 24 years old, Jackson would clearly be the future of the team, provided he signs a long-term deal.
In Lopez, Oklahoma City gets the inside scoring presence they need at center. Steven Adams has shown a marked improvement on offense this season, but is still averaging just 7.4 per game. Lopez, on the other hand, is putting up 15.3 points per game, just a bit below his career average of 17.7 per contest.
His ability to score points in the low block while hitting the occasional mid-range shot bodes well for the flexibility of the Thunder's offense, which can often be all too reliant on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant trading off as the alpha dog on a possession-to-possession basis.
Adding Lopez would also allow the Thunder to completely commit to converting Serge Ibaka into a stretch power forward.
The drawback on Lopez is that he is a poor rebounder for such a tall player. The 7-footer pulls down just 6.2 per game. The Thunder will presumably bank on the likely improvement on offense to offset any drop-off in rebounding or defensive presence inside.
