NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Tyson Chandler, Eric Bledsoe and More
We're still assessing the results of the 2015 NBA draft, and we're also bracing for what will likely be a very active free-agency period, but let's not forget about the potential trades that are also prevalent at this time of year.
While owners and general managers continue to analyze their respective rosters, we'll presumably see more players put on the trade block. This is due to a variety of reasons. Some teams need to clear out cap space, others must adjust depth due to new acquisitions and a few will just look to go in a different direction.
Before any of these trades come to fruition, they begin as rumors. So, while what's expected to be a crazy offseason continues, let's take a look at some notable gossip regarding potential trade scenarios from around the Web.
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Tyson Chandler Sign-and-Trade?
Many trade rumors at this time of year have contingencies attached, and this situation is one such example. The Dallas Mavericks aren't openly shopping Tyson Chandler; however, if they acquire a coveted free agent, they may be forced to move the center. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders tweeted this explanation:
Both Chandler and DeAndre Jordan put up nice numbers last season, each averaging a double-double; however, Jordan has been much stronger in the boards and has found plenty of success despite playing on a star-studded Los Angeles Clippers squad.
In fact, the Clippers' star power may be part of the problem for Jordan, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, as Jordan is looking for a bigger role. While the Mavericks have Dirk Nowitzki in the fold, if they move Chandler, Jordan may get that increased role he desires.
So, who is interested in Chandler if a sign-and-trade becomes available? Well, that would be none other than the Clippers, according to a tweet from ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne:
We could have a case of these two squads simply swapping centers for the upcoming season.
Eric Bledsoe on the Move?
The Phoenix Suns have a very crowded backcourt, and they may be looking to move some assets as a result. Like the Chandler situation, the possibility of Phoenix trading Eric Bledsoe comes with a contingency—the Suns must first strike a deal with Brandon Knight. ESPN's Mark Stein tweeted the details:
Well, that appears to be happening, as Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal-Times reported the point guard will be signing a five-year, $70 million contract with the team. Once that deal is finalized, expect Bledsoe to be on the move shortly thereafter.
Certainly there will be interest in Bledsoe. After all, he's coming off a highly productive season in which he averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor. So, who is interested? According to Sean Deveney of Sporting News, that would be the Sacramento Kings:
"The Kings, one source said, are expected to express interest in Bledsoe. While Sacramento has been buried in rumors involving center DeMarcus Cousins, a league executive said the Kings have been far more focused on improving the point guard position. The Kings started Darren Collison at the position, but would like to move him into a backup role. And if Sacramento keeps Cousins, bringing in his former Kentucky teammate and good friend surely would help to keep him happy.
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Deveney pretty much sums up the situation there. Darren Collison did play well at point guard last season, averaging 16.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor, but the Kings would be getting a far more explosive player in Bledsoe—not to mention their backcourt depth would be incredible.
Lakers Dumping Contracts?
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be major players this offseason. This could very well be Kobe Bryant's final season in the NBA, and the Lakers would love to do nothing more than send the future Hall of Famer off with a title. However, contending will require much more than simply getting healthy. They must add assets.
In order for the Lakers to add pieces to the puzzle and move from a gutter-dweller to a contender, they need to offload any dead weight. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweeted that's exactly what the team is looking to do:
So, now that we know what the team's plans are, we're left with this burning question: Which players are they targeting? Wojnarowski tweeted that information as well:
As of now, we can only speculate which current members of the Lakers will be shopped; however, there have been rumors circulating around Nick Young for quite some time now. Here's a look back at a tweet from Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:
Young fell out of favor with head coach Byron Scott last season, and injuries held him to just 42 appearances. However, he's still a dynamic player and should draw interest at the right price.
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.jpg?w=600 "Offseason Moves for Every Team 👉")