NBA Draft Rumors: Last-Minute Whispers Surrounding 2015 Draft
The NBA draft rumor mill remains fluid heading into Thursday night, with reports begetting counter reports at a rate that's typically saved for political elections.
But because we never know which pieces of speculation will lead to actual news, they all wind up deserving of coverage. From the Knicks' scatterbrained plot at No. 4 to teams desperately floating veteran pieces to move up to whatever is happening in Sacramento, we at the very least have a highly variant rumor mill.
With only one day remaining to speculate before Adam Silver steps to the podium, it's time to get all the bullets out of the chamber—and fast. Here is a look at the latest gallivant around the rumor mill, specifically highlighting a few noteworthy trades that could go down.
Nets 'Unlikely' to Make Plumlee Deal?
The NBA remains rich with unintentional comedy. Each team ostensibly has the same long-term goal: win an NBA championship. The way it goes about that goal can either have the outer perfection of Richard Linklater or be an M. Night Shyamalan train wreck.
The Nets remain in full Shyamalan mode. Their all-in push for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson is the gift that keeps on giving—to other teams. The Atlanta Hawks, which finished with the second-best record in basketball, will pick 15th thanks to the still-as-yet-unexplained decision to offer pick-swapping rights. The Boston Celtics owns every potentially good Nets pick from now until infinity.
While it's clear the whole Hipster Ubuntu era blew up in their face, the Nets have been offered opportunities to rid themselves of some onerous contracts—specifically, Deron Williams. The Sacramento Kings were willing to take on the declining point guard's massive deal last season. The Kings had but just one request: Give us Mason Plumlee.
You know how this story ends. Brooklyn declined, Sacramento backed away from talks and the Nets eventually traded for Thaddeus Young, who took Plumlee's starting job. Now Brooklyn is shopping around its once-untouchable asset. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News reported last week that the team was looking to move up in the draft and was floating Plumlee as bait.
Recent scuttlebutt has the Nets keeping Plumlee if they can't land a first-round selection, per ESPN's Marc Stein. All of it merely adds to the hilarity of the situation.
The Nets probably should trade Plumlee if they can package him with No. 29 and wind up in the 15-20 range. Plumlee is a high-energy backup big who can do cool things athletically, but he isn't a good defender or polished offensive player. But when you look back at the rewards Plumlee could have reaped, it's just another piece of hilarious asset mismanagement.
Celtics Floated Mega Package to Sixers for No. 3, Noel?
Sometimes NBA teams agree to trades that would look hilariously lopsided in NBA 2K. That pales in comparison to some of the things that are offered behind the scenes. Some offers are so bad that they would force me to reconsider whether human communication is even worthwhile anymore.
Take, for instance, discussions the Celtics recently had with the Sixers. Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated reported Boston tried to move up to No. 3, packaging Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk and an unidentified player with No. 16. That, I suppose, would be a borderline reasonable trade, albeit one I would still decline unless a future unprotected first-round pick was—
—Wait, what? The Sixers wanted No. 3 and Nerlens Noel? The athletic, shot-blocking defensive maven who is a better player than Smart or Olynyk? Was there a plot of tropical land involved too?
That, objectively speaking, is an insane trade offer. Sam Hinkie has done quite a few questionable things during his Philly tenure, but going down as a mark in an obvious all-time fleecing won't be one. Fischer followed up by reporting the Sixers "were not interested from the beginning."
There really isn't much analysis necessary here beyond creative ways I could express incredulity. That trade was like offering a Spam sandwich for filet mignon. It was like someone offering you a pair of bootleg mixed CDs for the Beatles vinyl collection. It was swapping out your breakfast bacon for breakfast kale.
OK, moving on before I transition into a simile that gets me fired.
Bucks Looking to Move Up, Dangling Henson?
The Bucks were one of the NBA's most pleasant surprises, making the playoffs a year after posting the league's worst record. That came despite losing No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker after only 25 games and making a questionable midseason trade that brought in Michael Carter-Williams.
With Parker's trajectory in question as he recovers from an ACL tear, the Bucks could use extra top-end talent. Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reported Milwaukee is trying to do just that by dangling John Henson with the No. 17 pick to move up Thursday. Woelfel said the team is even willing to consider adding the 2016 Los Angeles Clippers pick they acquired in the Jared Dudley trade.
This means one thing: The Bucks really love someone in the mid-lottery. It'd be a major surprise if that player was not Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein.
The 7-footer is the platonic ideal of what Jason Kidd wants in his defensive system. He's a long, athletic big who can adequately defend all five positions, a vital trait in Kidd's hyperactive trapping scheme. The very bottom of Cauley-Stein's NBA potential is being a taller, longer Larry Sanders—a player who would have thrived under Kidd if it wasn't for off-the-court issues.
Adding Henson, a lanky center who does well in limited minutes, only highlights the desired plan even more. It'll be interesting to see whether a team is willing to take the Bucks up on their offer. Henson, plus a future first—even if it's in the mid-20s—is a pretty good haul for only moving back eight to 10 spots required for Milwaukee to grab WCS.
Around the League
- Michael Scotto of the Associated Press reported the Knicks will not move out of the top 10 unless the deal involves a talented young player and another pick. This puts a cap on what teams could potentially match with New York but not an unexpected one. The Knicks still want to take advantage of their high-lottery standing and prefer finding a two-for-one deal rather than settling for a guy they don't love at No. 4.
- Fischer reported Anthony Bennett could be headed to Boston along with two second-round picks (No. 31 and No. 36) in exchange for the No. 28 pick. This would be a salary dump, as it's more valuable to have the top pick in the second round and the non-guaranteed salary structure that comes with it than No. 28.
- Grantland's Zach Lowe reported the Warriors will not give up two draft picks to shed David Lee's salary. They are floating No. 30, which is pretty small compensation for covering Lee's $15.5 million cap charge. Look for a buyout with offset language between now and July 1.
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