NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz and Trade Talk for Week of Feb. 23
A wacky and wild NBA trade deadline has left a number of rosters around the league either in flux or needing another piece or two to complete the puzzle.
While the rumor mill has slowed down considerably after last week's deadline, it never comes to a complete halt in this around-the-clock league. Certain teams that didn't find their pick of the litter in the trade market are filling out key spots with recently bought-out journeymen, and recent signings are making their offseason priorities known in the media.
Even in the post-deadline week, some of the league's more notable names are having their futures pondered. Let's go ahead and take a look at who as we regurgitate this week's biggest rumors.
Nate Robinson
The Chicago Bulls are reeling both emotionally and in their lineup after another injury to Derrick Rose. So, why not fill the gap with the one player who has shown an ability to effectively replace him?
As it turns out, Nate Robinson is looking for work following the trade deadline. And one of his former employers is ringing him up to try and get him in the fold down the stretch, as per RealGM's Shams Charania.
"The Chicago Bulls have held exploratory conversations with free agent guard Nate Robinson as a potential roster addition, league sources told RealGM.
Discussions have yet to advance, but the Bulls were made aware Tuesday night that Robinson has a strong desire to sign with the franchise. Robinson is a natural fit for the roster, familiar with its core players and coaching staff.
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Bulls fans don't have to think back very far to remember the 30-year-old's value in the wake of Rose's absence. Robinson channeled arguably the best play of his career in the 2013 postseason with the Bulls, breaking the 20-point plateau in three games and playing at the caliber Chicago needed in the backcourt to pose a serious threat.
Of course, the weight wouldn't be as firmly on Robinson's shoulders this season. The Bulls lineup is noticeably better and deeper, with Aaron Brooks ready to step in as a starter.
But as Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com noted, Robinson likely wouldn't be supplanting Brooks but rather bench guard Kirk Hinrich in the rotation:
"The question is not what can Nate Robinson do that Aaron Brooks can't. It is, what can he do that Kirk Hinrich can't?
— Mark Deeks (@MarkDeeksNBA) February 26, 2015"
There may not be a better landing spot in Robinson's mind than the Windy City. Unlike the last time he helped replace Rose, the Bulls have Jimmy Butler playing at an All-Star level and now Pau Gasol in the fold—not to mention Brooks. At the same time, his arrival could help re-energize a potential NBA Finals run.
For the Bulls, there's no reason not to do it. Spirits are down around the team, and there's no better injection of energy on the market than Robinson. He should be thirsty for contending basketball after an unsuccessful spurt with the Denver Nuggets, and point guard is the only true position of need now for Chicago.
Thomas Robinson
For a while, it looked like Thomas Robinson was destined to be one of many hotly contested-for players recently available after the Nuggets waived him. But Robinson's value apparently isn't lost on the Philadelphia 76ers as they continue another forgettable season.
Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported the perceived end—for now—to the Robinson conundrum, confirming the Sixers claimed him in the waiver process and plan to unleash him for the rest of the 2014-15 season.
Per Wojnarowski, Robinson had previously agreed to a deal with the Brooklyn Nets—but that was contingent upon him clearing waivers. He didn't, and now the Nets don't have much of a backup plan, per Tim Bontemps of the New York Post:
Even in the midst of Philadelphia's undying efforts for a long rebuild that keeps getting longer and longer, the 23-year-old's potential wasn't lost. A former No. 5 overall pick in 2012, Robinson showed flashes of an effective, high-energy bench big with the Portland Trail Blazers. But it should be noted that the Blazers were his third team in just his first two seasons in the league.
Robinson just hasn't panned out on the three rosters he has appeared on in his young career, but perhaps a change of scenery—not to mention a likely uptick in playing time—will do him wonders. It's really a sink-or-swim scenario, as Robinson could either see his value skyrocket or watch it plummet based on his play.
For the Sixers, it puts them over the salary floor, per Wojnarowski. But if Robinson thrives in his extended audition in Philadelphia, he could at the very least turn out to be a valuable trade asset for general manager Sam Hinkie.
The Denver Nuggets have held onto their best player in Ty Lawson amid a major roster dump with their playoff hopes all but gone. But with so many of his teammates gone and the front office practically throwing in the towel, his future in Denver could be fleeting.
One potential landing spot has already appeared, with former coach George Karl now the head man for the Sacramento Kings. Looking for up-tempo players for his new team, Karl expects to go all out for his former point guard, according to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report:
"Sources say Karl would love to acquire Ty Lawson—if the rebuilding Nuggets were to make him available—or any other members of his last Nuggets team, which won 57 games in 2012-13. Karl wants players who move the ball and push the tempo, and that could mean wild upheaval on the Kings roster. Even DeMarcus Cousins, their franchise center, is not untouchable, according to a source with insight into Karl's thinking.
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OK, that all seems to make sense. Wait, what was that about DeMarcus Cousins?
Discussing a potential Cousins exit is for another time, but the Kings' reported interest in Lawson should not be scoffed at. Karl was Lawson's head coach for the first four seasons of his career, quickly helping establish him as a constant 16-point, seven-assist guy. His numbers are as impressive as ever in 2014-15, averaging 16.6 points and a career-high 9.9 assists per contest.
Of course, any move for Lawson would have to wait until the offseason with a contract buyout unlikely. But given the Kings' place near the bottom of the Western Conference, Karl and Co. most likely have their sights set on that period in time anyway.
Andre Miller
Speaking of Karl's new-look Kings, he's already acquired one of his former Denver pupils in Andre Miller. And by the sound of it, the 38-year-old isn't expecting a short stay in Sacramento.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reported Miller's interest in staying put on the West Coast through 2015-16:
Like Lawson, Miller in Sacramento makes sense exclusively due to the presence of Karl. But the aging veteran might need coach more than coach needs him after seeing his averages dip to 3.8 points and 3.5 assists in 2013-14 after double-digit point averages in each of his first 12 seasons in the league.
Miller played his way out of the rotation in Washington this season but has seen an immediate increase in playing time with Sacramento. He only played 12 minutes in his final Wizards contest but has logged 22 or more minutes in each of his three Kings outings.
The early returns have already been promising, as Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix noted:
Karl is slowly building his style of team in Sacramento. The arrival of Miller is just a small first step.
Danny Granger
Danny Granger's stay in Miami with the Heat didn't last long, and his next step after being traded to the Phoenix Suns is still up in the air.
Charania reported the latest on Granger's talks with the Suns, indicating the discussions are going swimmingly despite no agreement made:
"Danny Granger, Suns having positive and open talks on whether he will stay or pursue buyout to join contender, league sources tell RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 25, 2015"
It would be something to be a fly on the wall for this one.
The Suns looked the part of a potential contender throughout the season's first half, but an inevitable roster breakup has finally occurred with Goran Dragic, Isaiah Thomas and others now gone. When it comes to saying whether the new backcourt of Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe has a chance to make the postseason, it depends on whom you ask.
Even if the Suns remain afloat for the eighth and final West playoff spot, it's hard to argue that they should be considered a true contender. And with more realistic contenders—such as the Los Angeles Clippers—eyeing roster improvements before the playoffs, Granger should have a crop of suitors.
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