NBA Trade Rumors: Rounding Up Buzz on Potential Draft Deals and Plans
The most active part of the NBA offseason is in full swing with the rumor mill alight as teams plan for the upcoming draft and free agency.
There are contenders looking to get in good position on draft day, would-be contenders looking to acquire as many assets as possible and perhaps make a splash in free agency and outright rebuilders ready to wheel and deal.
It's all about the future, one ripe with new-look rebuilding tactics and two stacked conferences.
Here's a look at the latest.
Phil Jackson's Master Plan
Most hail the New York Knicks as one of the draft lottery's biggest losers thanks to landing the fourth selection.
In an ideal world, team President Phil Jackson and the front office would have landed among the top two picks and chosen from the top big men, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor, or even grabbed one of the top two guards, D'Angelo Russell or Emmanuel Mudiay.
At No. 4, Jackson doesn't get to make the pick among his top targets, but instead, he figures to watch as the teams in front of him make the decision for him. For a rebuilding team—a legendary rebuilding team led by a guy like Jackson—putting the future in someone else's hands might not feel right.
That is why Frank Isola of the New York Daily News notes the Knicks seem likely to move the pick:
"The great unknown is that Jackson has never been responsible for making a first-round pick in his career, much less a pick as high as four. The consensus among executives, scouts and agents is that Jackson will actively look to deal the fourth pick for a proven veteran. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it shows that Jackson, who will turn 70 in September, is looking for a quick fix and doesn’t have the appetite for rebuilding.
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The who, how and why doesn't matter. If Jackson seems intent on a quick turnaround, even landing a pro-ready big man such as Towns, who can impact the game on both ends of the court, seems unfavorable.
Then again, there's more than one report involving the Knicks, which is what happens when a team thought to land a top-tier selection takes a stumble and has plenty of options.
Marc Berman of the New York Post is hearing things could swing in the other direction:
"Knicks general manager Steve Mills said after the disappointment of falling to No. 4 that the club will “explore all options.’’ But a person debriefed on the front office’s thinking said trading down is not a top priority because the goal is to get the best player in a deal, not a second asset. If the Knicks ultimately judge Mudiay, Winslow or Kentucky big man Willie Cauley-Stein as most impactful, they will stay put.
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The thing is, nobody knows what to expect. The Knicks might be just fine with taking a gamble on Mudiay, who struggles with his shot but can get others involved in a John Wall-esque manner.
Justise Winslow and Willie Trill Cauley-Stein are the others mentioned. The former can score at will, but he might be considered a reach at four. The latter classifies as a project on the offensive end of the court, but he can control the paint.
When it comes right down to it, like plenty of teams in the top 10, the Knicks might not make a decision until a few picks come off of the board.
So yes, it's going to be a long wait for the draft.
Trade Time in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the offseason's most intriguing teams after bowing out of the postseason earlier than most expected.
Big man DeAndre Jordan heads to free agency, where he'll find what figures to be plenty of max offers. He's also part of an odd dispute with Chris Paul.
Not enough? The Clippers don't have a selection in the upcoming draft, but according to the Los Angeles Times' Eric Pincus, the front office wants one:
Even in the replies to the above note, Pincus notes the Clippers want to strengthen "everything," which is quite a lot for a team with no picks at the moment.
If Jordan somehow signs elsewhere, there will be an obvious hole next to Blake Griffin. Perhaps most pertinent is upgrading small forward, though, where the team may want to upgrade on Matt Barnes.
There's also a conversation worth having about what the Clippers will need to surrender to move into the first round. If the target is the first round, it means sacrificing more future assets in favor of the present, a dangerous territory the front office needs to tread carefully in for fear of joining the team they share a city with in the cellar years down the road.
Either way, the Clippers were already one of the top teams to watch. This ups the ante a bit with the revelation the team wants to be active on draft day.
All stats and info via ESPN.com, unless otherwise specified.
