NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz Around Brendan Haywood Trade, 76ers' Draft Plans, More
The 2015 NBA Finals are in the books, and we’re officially less than one week away from the draft.
As Thursday night nears, talks are heating up around the league about potential trades. Yet again, there are some familiar names and some familiar teams being mentioned.
The Cleveland Cavaliers just came up short against the Golden State Warriors in the Finals and have already shifted their focus to the offseason. Perhaps their next biggest move could come in the draft.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, the Cavaliers have been shopping around center Brendan Haywood along with the No. 24 pick in the upcoming draft. Haywood’s value comes in the form of his contract, which is not guaranteed for the 2015-16 season, and he could be enticing for teams that want to shed salary in time for the start of free agency.
Windhorst wrote: "Days after the end of the Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers are working on upgrading their roster by shopping the potentially valuable contract of Brendan Haywood, and—in some cases—offering it along with the 24th overall pick in Thursday's draft, sources told ESPN.com."
The Cavaliers are seeking to receive either a player or future draft pick in exchange for Haywood, per Windhorst, and "on their wish list is a facilitating guard to back up or play alongside Kyrie Irving."
Adding more intrigue to the report, this would mean a potential divorce between the Cavs’ current backcourt contributors, Matthew Dellavedova and Iman Shumpert.
After dropping 20 points in the Cavaliers' Game 3 victory against Golden State, Dellavedova scored 16 over the final three games (all losses) and finished the Finals with a 16-15 ratio of assists to turnovers.
Shumpert, whom the team acquired along with J.R. Smith in a trade with the New York Knicks, averaged 9.1 points per game in the playoffs but only 6.5 points in the Finals. He also shot 26 percent from the field compared to his 41 percent mark during the regular season.
As Cleveland aims to upgrade its backcourt, teams could show a high level of interest in Haywood and his expiring contract. Haywood’s $10.5 million deal is not guaranteed for next season if he’s waived by Aug. 2.
An expiring contract and the 24th overall pick in the NBA draft are seemingly attractive commodities.
Porzingis a Possibility for the Sixers at No. 3?
For quite some time, it seemed inevitable that Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell were the consensus top three in the NBA draft. Not so fast.
According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, the Philadelphia 76ers are leaning toward drafting Kristaps Porzingis. Even though the Sixers have a wealth of frontcourt depth, Ford reported the team considers Porzingis “the best player on the board” ahead of Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay:
"We've been hearing both Mudiay and Russell's name here for months. But over the past few weeks multiple sources around the league suspect that Sam Hinkie may actually be leaning toward Porzingis. He's an odd fit given the Sixers abundance of big men (though news that Joel Embiid's foot hasn't healed may change the fit analysis). But Hinkie has always drafted based on the best player available strategy. He doesn't draft for need. So while the team needs Mudiay or Russell more, if he believes Porzingis is the best player on the board, so be it.
"
Ford also reported that the link between the 76ers and their interest in Porzingis could just be a smoke screen in order to push the Orlando Magic to trade up and nab the Latvian power forward.
This most certainly adds some drama and more intrigue to the top of the draft beyond the first two picks. Will the Sixers draft the best player available or for need, and will the Magic sweep in and move up a slot to land their target?
Porzingis’ stock has rapidly been rising over the past few weeks, according to Ken Berger of CBS.
Marc Stein of ESPN reported that Porzingis was even considered as an option for the Los Angeles Lakers, who pick second.
As far as whether the 76ers are just trying to make the Magic sweat, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported the team plans to draft whomever it deems the best player available: “But the Sixers have publicly stated they'll take the best player available over need. That would, in some people's eyes, leave the door open to adding Porzingis.”
It sounds like there’s a lot more that needs to be sorted out before Thursday night. The No. 3 pick certainly is a lot more of a mystery now than a month ago.
Hornets Could Move Down, Target Oubre and Hunter
Now that the Charlotte Hornets have dealt Lance Stephenson to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Matt Barnes and Spencer Hawes, the team has a need for a new shooting guard.
Among the two prospects the Hornets are eyeing in the upcoming draft are R.J. Hunter and Kelly Oubre, according to Ford, and they may consider moving back from the No. 9 slot in order to land their top targets.
Among the potential trade partners the Hornets could make a deal with are the Boston Celtics, per Ford.
"The Hornets also really like both Kelly Oubre and R.J. Hunter. I'm told they'll explore options to trade back into the mid to late teens if they can land a valuable veteran as well for the No. 9 pick. One team to watch in that scenario? Boston. They've been exploring moving up for a while and would especially be thrilled if Willie Cauley-Stein was still on the board.
"
The Celtics have been consistently mentioned as a team looking to improve their position in time for the upcoming NBA draft.
According to Joe Kotoch of Sheridan Hoops, the Celtics are “the most aggressive” team at this time as they continue to try to move up from the No. 16 overall pick.
Per Kotoch, the Celtics have engaged in trade talks with the Knicks (No. 4) and Nuggets (No. 7) in an effort to find a big man, most notably Porzingis or Willie Cauley-Stein.
"The Boston Celtics are the most aggressive team in talks right now, exploring ways to move up in the draft. GM Danny Ainge is loaded with picks and wants to make a splash. Watch for a possible deal with the Knicks involving multiple first-rounds. If that falls through, I think Ainge targets a move to No. 7 with Denver. I am hearing the Celtics’ target in a possible trade up would be Porzingis, but they also are very intrigued by Willie Cauley-Stein as they lack a rim protector in their stable of bigs.
"
Both Cauley-Stein and Porzingis fit the bill as far as the Celtics’ needs go. Power forward Brandon Bass is an impending free agent, as is Jonas Jerebko, according to HoopsHype.
The Celtics have long been linked to Cauley-Stein. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England previously reported there are “growing signs” that the Celtics have interest in Willie Cauley-Stein but would have to move up in the draft to land the former Kentucky star.
If Cauley-Stein is still on the board when the Hornets are on the clock, it appears as if the Celtics could try to make a splash.
By moving into the top 10, the Celtics could put themselves in a position to select either Cauley-Stein or another top big man, depending on who is still on the board. Either way, the Celtics continually find themselves in these types of conversations.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
