NBA Rumors: Rounding Up Buzz on Key Free Agents, Draft Prospects
Anything and everything can make it into the NBA rumor mill in these nail-biting days ahead of the 2015 NBA draft.
Only during this period would buzz about Greg Oden catch headlines. There's also consistent whispers about how teams plan to act on draft day and how prospects continue to help or hinder their stock.
Heck, there's even unexpected chatter about a potential big-name free agent whom most shrugged off as a guy sure to re-up with his team.
Enjoy it while it lasts, fans. This is as active as the mill gets, thanks to the approach of the draft and free agency in a league where starting over is one offseason away. Here's a look at the most recent reveals.
Suitor for Greg Oden Revealed?
Remember Oden?
The 27-year-old center last suited up for the Miami Heat in the 2013-14 season, averaging 9.2 minutes as a rotational player.
It seems at least one NBA team may have an interest in bringing him back for a similar role—if not more. According to Shams Charania of RealGM, that team is the Memphis Grizzlies.
"The Memphis Grizzlies have explored center Greg Oden, expressing interest in the recent past with a workout in the spring, and will potentially bring in the former No. 1 overall NBA pick to a free-agent camp in June, league sources told RealGM," Charania wrote.
If you take a glance at Memphis' situation, it's not hard to see why the front office may have an interest in big men—Marc Gasol heads to free agency this offseason.
While it seems doubtful Gasol would leave, despite what are sure to be a few max offers, it never hurts for an organization to cover all the bases. Besides, if Gasol returns and Oden looks ready to hit the hardwood again, he may be an upgrade over Kosta Koufos.
While it's not the most head-turning rumor in the world, it's worth remembering Oden is out there, perhaps looking for a return. Memphis is just the first team to get in line.
Knicks Have Surprise Draft Plans?
It's never easy to figure out what in the world New York Knicks president Phil Jackson will do.
This can apply to how he uses players, where he'll eat dinner and even what he plans to do with the top-five selection in the upcoming draft.
Some figure Jackson has his eyes on a big man like Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns or perhaps a guard such as Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell.
According to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, it's all about Kentucky's Trey Lyles: "While Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein have garnered the most attention, the Knicks for months have been enamored with Trey Lyles, according to a team source. Lyles is a 6'10" forward out of Indianapolis who Phil Jackson sees as a good fit for the triangle offense."
It's an interesting and shocking turn of events, as the conventional wisdom points to a pair of big men and guards coming off the board in the first four picks—what most figure is a pretty exclusive club.
Hence why someone such as Basketball Insiders' Tommy Beer thinks this is about the Knicks wanting to trade the selection:
Maybe, but the Knicks and Lyles have a history, and he told SNY's Adam Zagoria he loved the chance to meet Jackson earlier this year: "It was cool. He came to one of our [Kentucky] practices earlier this year and just to be able to sit down and have a chance to be asked questions by one of the greatest coaches in basketball history was cool for me, and it was a good interview, I think."
Lyles isn't a bad prospect by any means—not after averaging 8.7 points, 5.2 boards and 1.1 assists as a freshman. He offers immense upside but just goes against the popular narrative.
Maybe it's what Jackson wants. Maybe he really likes Lyles. Either way, it's something to watch.
The Dwyane Wade Saga
Dwyane Wade isn't a free agent yet, but the word yet should give some folks pause.
Wade has a player option for the upcoming season, per Spotrac, but as recently as mid-April, there seemed to be rumblings his decision could go either way, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.
Now, though, it sounds like Wade and the Miami Heat front office are talking about an extension. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald provides an inside look:
"A Wade associate has told people that Wade would welcome a contract averaging $20 million annually over the next three years. If that's true, it would be understandable, considering the Year 13-15 pay ranges for [Tim] Duncan and [Dirk] Nowitzki. Wade's agent, Henry Thomas, politely declined to confirm that or anything regarding Wade's specific financial expectations.
"
Whoa, right? As Jackson points out, Wade's never made $20 million in a year—unlike others like Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant.
It seems like an odd time for the number to crop up with Wade being 33 years old and missing a minimum of 20 games in each of the past two seasons. Then again, he's the lifeblood of the franchise who made championship pushes possible, thanks to his low cap numbers in the past.
Besides, in 62 appearances last year, Wade still averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game with a 21.44 player efficiency rating, per ESPN.com, meaning he still has enough in the tank to help the team get to the postseason.
It's easy to see why the argument could go either way, which makes it one of the most interesting situations to watch as the offseason continues.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
