NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Jamal Crawford and Potential Draft Moves
The 2015 NBA draft is rapidly approaching, as is the start of free agency. So it comes as no surprise that rumors from across the league are swirling as to potential trades that could take place in the near future.
Among the many teams aiming to make a splash this summer is the one that just came up short in the NBA Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are dangling center Brendan Haywood and would be open to dealing the No. 24 pick in the draft in hopes of landing another guard to add to their backcourt, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
"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 Cavs have tested the market in swapping Haywood either for a player or a future draft pick, sources said. On their wish list is a facilitating guard they can bring in to either back up or play alongside Kyrie Irving. The Cavs have a number of free agents, including backup point guard Matthew Dellavedova and starting shooting guard Iman Shumpert.
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As stated in the report, Haywood’s contract should be attractive for other NBA teams looking to bolster their salary-cap situations before the start of free agency.
According to Windhorst, the $10.5 million that Haywood is scheduled to earn in 2015-16 is not guaranteed so long as whichever team that acquires him cuts him before Aug. 2.
NBA free agency is set to begin on July 1.
The Cavs have a major need for depth in the backcourt, which was made apparent during the Finals when they lost Kyrie Irving for the series.
Dellavedova followed up his 20-point effort in a Game 3 victory against the Golden State Warriors with a mere 16 points in the last three games of the series and had almost as many assists as turnovers overall in the Finals (16-15).
Shumpert shot just 26 percent from the field en route to averaging 6.5 points in the Finals, compared to 9.1 points per game in the playoffs before that.
With Haywood’s expiring contract and the 24th pick in the draft, the Cavs should be able to acquire some much-needed help.
Clippers Shopping Crawford?
The Los Angeles Clippers just made a big-time splash by acquiring Lance Stephenson from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for forwards Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.
Apparently, the Clippers could be on the verge of making yet another deal.
According to Arash Markazi of ESPN.com, the Clippers have been dangling veteran Jamal Crawford and second-year player C.J. Wilcox in their pursuit of Wilson Chandler from the Denver Nuggets:
"The Clippers are also exploring trade options for Jamal Crawford, according to sources, and one possibility is trading Crawford and C.J. Wilcox, the team’s 2014 first round pick, to the Denver Nuggets for Wilson Chandler. The Clippers inquired about Chandler last season but nothing materialized.
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Averaging 17 points per game and connecting on 36 percent of his three-pointers, Crawford has been the Clippers' top three-point shooter for the past three seasons, even considering this past year when he averaged the lowest three-point field-goal percentage (33 percent) in his time with the team.
In addition, swapping the 28-year-old Chandler for the 35-year-old Crawford provides the Clippers with a youth infusion, and what they would lose in points (Chandler averaged 13.9 points per game for the Nuggets in the 2014-15 season), they'd seemingly make up in rebounds (6.1).
According to Markazi, the Clippers attempted to acquire Chandler last season, so it makes sense that the team is re-engaging in these trade talks. Chandler could give the Clippers another strong wing defender, which is important particularly in the playoffs.
With the addition of Stephenson and potentially Chandler, the Clippers become that much more formidable on the defensive end of the court.
Lakers, Celtics Trying to Move Out of Late Draft Spots
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics pick at Nos. 27 and 28, respectively, in the upcoming NBA draft. Both teams, however, could find themselves in a different position by Thursday night.
According to Kyler, the Lakers and Celtics are attempting to part ways with their late first-round picks in what would be salary-cap-saving maneuvers.
The Lakers are likely setting their sights on creating enough salary-cap space to extend max contracts to at least two players. Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders predicts some of the league's top-caliber free agents will command annual salaries between $15 and $18 million.
Per Kyler, the Lakers currently have $22 million to use this summer.
The Celtics would be aiming to improve their cap situation as well. They could also be using their additional first-rounder to make a splash in a trade.
According to Joe Kotoch of Sheridan Hoops, the Celtics are being proactive in trying to improve their draft positions and perhaps land a lottery pick. Kotoch reported the team has been in talks with the New York Knicks that would involve multiple first-round picks.
Boston holds the Nos. 16 and 28 picks in the NBA draft.
So whether the Celtics are looking to improve their salary-cap situation prior to the start of free agency or land one of their coveted draft targets, it appears that both their first-round picks are in play.
