NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Rumblings on Team Plans as Draft Approaches
To trade or not to trade?
It seems to be the ultimate question in the Association right now with the 2015 NBA draft on approach. For contenders, making a move and picking up a crucial piece makes sense, while rebuilding teams may want to blow things up and start fresh.
There are many ways to build a playoff contender through a limited amount of avenues. One course is the trade block, whether a team buys or sells.
Below, let's take a look at the best of both worlds as teams scramble to best prepare themselves for the draft.
Mason Plumlee on the Block?
With a snap of the fingers, Mason Plumlee is one of the hottest names on the trade block.
The 6'11", 235-pound center offers plenty of upside for potential buyers after averaging 8.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season.
It just doesn't sound like the Brooklyn Nets may wait for the Duke product to blossom, per RealGM.com: "However, some rival executives believe the Nets could go explore the marketplace for Plumlee anyway."
ESPN.com's Marc Stein later followed with a note of his own:
It seems the Nets may want to acquire more draft picks and help retool the roster in a bigger way than most figured. While 25 years old, Plumlee struggled from the line in the postseason and was a weak point when he took the court.
Teams with patience are sure to love the upside and can work with Plumlee as he improves. Where there's smoke there's sometimes fire, so watch for further chatter about the Duke product on the path to the draft.
Nuggets Hitting Panic Button?
Is it time for the Denver Nuggets to blow everything up?
The team already lacks in a key leadership position after a 30-win season despite the front office's best efforts to build for the future each year.
Now, it seems the front office wants to start over again, or it's at least an option, as Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com captures: "As the Nuggets explore which coach should lead the team into the future, they are also weighing the notion of blowing up the team and starting over with a group that may buy into what the Nuggets are trying to build in a better way."
It gets worse.
Kyler goes on to note star guard Ty Lawson's lack of buying in with the long-term plan. This makes a trade seem likely, sure, but it also hurts the value the team could receive in return with widespread knowledge of his potential wanting out.
Star big man Kenneth Faried is yet another question mark, as Kyler hints the Nuggets didn't want to hit him with the contract extension he signed last year: "Sources say this was more about locking in the asset and hoping the relationship would turn around. Faried, much like Lawson, wasn’t happy with the direction of the franchise but took the money anyway."
So what to do? Hope to mend both relationships with a strong draft, highlighted by the No. 7 pick, and also make additions during free agency? Or self-destruct and ship away the roster's two best players?
There's no easy answer, and both offer a gigantic amount of risk. The only sure thing? There will be plenty of suitors for both stars.
Ty Lawson Suitor Emerges
Take the Dallas Mavericks, for example.
With Rajon Rondo on his way out, the team needs another point to run the offense, one still hoping to contend for a title thanks to a solid core of Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler.
Hence why ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon hears of potential interest in Lawson:
Here's the rub—since everyone knows of the issues in Denver, the Mavericks want to swoop in and land a bargain deal.
It would be quite the coup, too. Lawson is still just 27 years old and last year posted 15.2 points, 9.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game on average and would seem sure to buy into Dallas' plans to contend for a title.
While perhaps not a "frontburner target," the interest makes sense and so does the fit. If the Nuggets blow up, watch for the Mavericks to perhaps step in and catch some of the fallout.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
