NBA Rumors: Rounding Up Trade Rumblings Surrounding Stars and Draft Picks
When it comes to the Association, it's the time of year major names such as DeMarcus Cousins slip to the NBA trade rumor mill.
Call it the nature of the beast—most teams use this odd period between the Finals and the NBA draft to better a roster, or at least make an attempt by putting out feelers for major trades.
Whether it's dumping a superstar, going all-in to net one or blowing up a team to begin rebuilding, there's no shortage of rumblings as each franchise plays the game of rumor poker in the hopes of being where the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are right now.
Here's a look at the latest.
Detroit Dumping Draft Pick?
Maybe the Detroit Pistons are just sick of the No. 8.
After all, the franchise calls itself owner of the selection in three of the last five years, with Brandon Knight the pick in 2011 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope the lucky prospect in 2013.
It's impossible to know which way the front office leans this year, but it figures to be help to complement the backcourt, which is why ESPN.com's Chard Ford mocks Croatia native Mario Hezonja to the franchise in his latest offering.
Within, though, he reveals a small nugget—the team continues to shop the pick:
"The Pistons' pick is being shopped around, though Detroit might be better off just holding onto it," Ford wrote.
It's an approach sure to make a bit of sense to some, but it seems an eye-of-the-beholder situation.
On one hand, a major splash in the Eastern Conference might be enough to produce a playoff berth. On the other, though, with so many teams (such as the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks) employing long-term rebuilds, the Pistons may want to do the same with a bit of a young roster.
Either way, the Pistons are now in the limelight as one of the major players to watch.
Nuking the Nets?
It sounds as if the Brooklyn Nets have a hand frozen above the self-destruct button.
Winning just 38 games last year and resting in an iffy financial situation can provoke such a reaction from any team, but especially one with a few fading veterans the team can perhaps flip into future assets.
According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, there's a theory the Nets would like to move on from veterans Joe Johnson and Deron Williams.
Kyler notes the team may have to dangle big man Mason Plumlee in talks to unload Williams: "There was a sense that the Nets might be willing to move Mason Plumlee in a deal to shed Williams, but sources say anything involving Plumlee would have to return a draft pick or a promising young player to get much consideration."
It makes sense the Nets would want a respectable return for Plumlee, the 25-year-old forward who showed steady improvement as a sophomore last year, averaging 8.7 points and 6.2 boards per game.
While moving on from Johnson and Williams makes sense, it's important to note general manager Billy King won't just unload talent due to dollar signs.
King spoke with Newsday on the matter (via Sports Illustrated): "That's just the goal. How realistic? It may not be. If we end up being over the tax, so be it. We're not going to jeopardize our roster, jeopardize the team just to be under the tax. If a decision is made to make the team better then we'll do that."
There isn't a strict translation for any of the above. If the right deal comes along, one can expect the Nets to get younger, but if not, it doesn't sound like the front office will prove desperate for a transaction.
It's a budding situation worth looking at.
Celtics Gunning for DeMarcus Cousins?
For years, the globe has watched as the Boston Celtics rebuild, gather assets and sit quietly with their hands folded in the background behind major rebuilding names such as the Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers.
Now the team may strike when folks least expect it.
Per Greg Dickerson of CSNNE.com, the Celtics continue to have an eye on Cousins, the Sacramento Kings big man:
As most teams should, of course. Cousins is 24 and just posted averages of 24.1 points, 12.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as one of the league's top big men, not to mention he posted a player efficiency rating of 25.29, per ESPN.com.
Cousins is a natural fit in Boston, where the lone notable big men are Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk. It's not hard to see how the team could pull off the blockbuster trade, either, something WEEI.com's Ben Rohrbach touched on last week:
"As old friend Paul Flannery discussed on Zach Lowe’s Grantland podcast, any conversation between Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro and Celtics president Danny Ainge would start with Marcus Smart and wouldn’t end there. A swap of Smart, Jared Sullinger and Gerald Wallace’s expiring contract works in ESPN’s trade machine, but the beauty of the C’s cache of first-round picks and wealth of cap space may allow Ainge to pry the superstar from Sacramento without giving up his point guard of the future, as he did with Rajon Rondo in his pursuit of Kevin Garnett.
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Of course, surrendering Marcus Smart would hurt in a big way provided his presence as a franchise building block, but it might prove a necessary evil if it means bringing on a guy who could still take the crown as the league's best big man.
Either way, the fact the Celtics have a supposed interest and the obvious resources to pull off such a maneuver should both strike fear into the rest of the league and entertain fans, as a sleeping juggernaut seems armed and ready to scrape its way back to the top.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
