NBA Rumors: Latest on Possible Ty Lawson Trade, Blazers Roster Uncertainty, More
There is still more than a month remaining on the 2014-15 NBA calendar, but for the first time since October, more teams are sitting at home than playing the sport. Only eight teams are still alive in their quest for an NBA championship, which can only mean one thing: The rest are out there making noise behind the scenes.
Generally speaking, actual movement is nonexistent at this point in the season. Roster transactions are put on hold through the end of the playoffs and are only briefly reopened in that short window between the predraft process and July 1. Given the NBA's overall desire to keep league news at a minimum during the postseason—a desire shared by every major sports outfit—one would think things would be quiet.
That, of course, would ignore the reality of our 24/7 sports culture. From the moment teams are eliminated, the conversation shifts from on the court to off. Who will be returning? Is management still all-in on superstar X? Does ownership still have faith in its head coach?
Some of these questions have already been answered. The Oklahoma City Thunder have fired Scott Brooks and hired Billy Donovan. The Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic have ongoing coaching searches. And just about everyone's wondering what will happen next with the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers.
With that in mind, let's take a look around the league landscape and assess.
Ty Lawson, Nuggets Heading for Offseason Divorce?
There were few more overtly unhappy star players in the league this season than Lawson. His demeanor on the floor rarely got better than "mildly perturbed," and his relationship with former coach Brian Shaw was hot and cold at best. Things got better across the board once Shaw was dismissed. Denver returned to the go-go style that suits Lawson best, the team righted the ship a bit and there seemed to be a coherent game plan on most nights.
That isn't to say everything is fixed, of course. Interim coach Melvin Hunt probably isn't the answer. There really aren't any long-term answers at this point. The Nuggets are filled to the brim with role players who just turned in a 30-win season, and no one on the roster should or will be untouchable.
Lawson, once the closest thing to an untouchable, may now be the first shoe to drop. Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post reported word around the league is that Lawson wants out of Denver, something he all but confirmed with comments on Instagram about the prospect of playing for the Mavericks.
Here's the thing: A divorce is probably better for both sides. Denver's going nowhere with this current group of players. It's needed a foundational stripping since the still-odd decision to fire George Karl after he won Coach of the Year in 2013.
The market for point guards isn't robust, but Lawson has been almost a nightly double-double the last two seasons and brings a ton to the table. A team like Dallas, which is currently without a point guard after the Rajon Rondo debacle, makes sense on paper. The Mavs also have exactly zero assets the Nuggets would want, so it's kind of a moot point to discuss.
Of the teams that need a point guard and star power, the still-alive Rockets could make some sense. James Harden essentially acts as Houston's point guard now, and Lawson isn't a great spot-up shooter, but Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's long subscribed to the belief that talent works itself out. If the Rockets get bounced by the Clippers and Patrick Beverley's market rises too much—or, perhaps, if they miss out on the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes—they could be a match.
Either way, don't expect Lawson back in Denver.
Blazers in Flux
At the All-Star break, the Blazers looked like a sleeper contender. They were right in the mix for the No. 2 seed, had just filled a wing need by acquiring Arron Afflalo and had managed to keep themselves together despite missing Robin Lopez for an extended period.
After the All-Star break, things fell apart. Wesley Matthews' Achilles tear started a cascade of problems that culminated in a five-game drubbing by Memphis in the first round. In fact, Portland's entire playoff experience is perhaps best known for bringing to light issues with the NBA's rewarding of division winners with a top-four seed.
If that weren't bad enough, Portland's fit of uncertainty is only beginning. Aldridge, Matthews, Lopez, Chris Kaman and Afflalo can all become free agents this summer. It's infeasible to expect Portland to re-sign them all, but Aldridge obviously takes the highest importance. The All-Star forward is expected to entertain offers this summer and has vacillated back and forth over the last year on his desire to remain with the team.
ESPN's Marc Stein reported one factor that may be pushing Aldridge to consider his options is the rising star of point guard Damian Lillard: "The rumbles are out there, and thus impossible to ignore, that Aldridge is said to feel somewhat underappreciated in Rip City because of the ever-growing focus inside and outside the organization on backcourt darling Damian Lillard."
Lillard has increasingly become one of the league's most visible faces, a charismatic young star who engages on social media and is well-managed. But the Blazers' best player he is not.
Lillard's a talented scorer whose style at times looks like a lesser but springier Stephen Curry, but he's a downright terrible defender whose efficiency can take major dips. He shot 34.4 percent from three this season, and his jumper fell apart against Memphis.
Aldridge may not be comfortable playing the second banana to a lesser player. He may be more comfortable, however, as a co-star in his home state of Texas. The Mavericks and Rockets, who are going to be linked to nearly every major free agent, aren't bad fits on paper.
As for the rest of the roster, Stein reported Afflalo plans to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. His stock took a major hit as his minutes and shot attempts dipped in Portland, but two-way wings who stretch the floor come at a premium on the market. If Jodie Meeks can get $8 million a year, Afflalo should approach $10 million.
Brook Lopez Plans to Opt out
Lopez is proof positive of how much a couple solid months can change things in the NBA. In October, as he sat out with yet another foot injury, the Nets consigned and were more than happy to pay the final two years of his contract. In December, a back ailment left him hobbling, and he joked the team was better off without him.
Now? Lopez is arguably the only foundational piece Brooklyn has. He averaged 20.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game over the season's final 25 games, helping push Brooklyn into the playoffs, thus removing the indignity of surrendering a lottery pick to Atlanta. That trend continued in the Nets' first-round series against the Hawks, and suddenly, it looks like a mortal lock Lopez will test free agency.
“You know, I don’t know,” Lopez told Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. “There’s lots of different stuff. I haven’t thought about it at all. The season just ended, so I haven’t given it any thought."
Bontemps notes most expect Lopez to opt out regardless of his public statements. It just makes too much sense not to. Lopez underwent a risky procedure last January to repair the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. The surgery came after a number of fractures and other injuries threatened to halt his career altogether.
Many comparisons were made to former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who had the same surgery, but it's not unfair to wonder if Lopez's foot is a ticking time bomb.
Lopez is probably wondering the same thing. And while his $16.7 million salary for next season is a lot of money, it won't touch the overall guarantee he'll receive on the open market. Teams aren't going to dive into max territory given his injury history, but a four-year deal in the $12-14 million range per season seems reasonable.
Lopez would be taking a short-term pay cut for his long-term security. If he stays healthy, the team that signs him will be getting one of the NBA's biggest bargains—especially with the salary cap rising. If not, insurance would likely cover a majority of the damage.
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