NBA Rumors: Analyzing Trade Buzz for LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan and More

The NBA's annual free-agent extravaganza has officially begun with a slew of deals already taking place, but there will be a lot of moves and rumors that continue long after the calendar flips to July 2 and beyond. 

With more money coming to the league next season as new television deals go into effect, the way player contracts get structured and how long they are will be one of the key stories to watch this summer. It's why short-term deals with option years could be more prevalent than ever. 

Yet there are still players who want to get paid right away, which is their right, and could lead to some interesting maneuvering from teams with things such as sign-and-trades or deals now to clear money for future years with as much flexibility as possible. 

However things end up shaking out, here are the latest trade rumblings from around the NBA in the midst of free-agent chaos. 

Portland Won't Sign-and-Trade Aldridge

It's not a secret that the Portland Trail Blazers are going to lose LaMarcus Aldridge this summer. ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chris Broussard reported on June 25 that a source close to the star forward said "he's gone."

The only question is how Aldridge will depart the Trail Blazers, though that mystery appears to be ending. Jabari Young of Comcast SportsNet Northwest reported the team isn't going to help him get more money with a sign-and-trade deal:

"

Though some around the NBA feel a sign-and-trade would make sense for the Blazers, as they can possibly get some assets if Aldridge leaves, the team is showing no interest in discussing such a move. If teams want his services, they'll have to make their own way to create cap space to sign Aldridge.

"

Aldridge certainly isn't hurting for suitors. He's already had a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers that ESPN's Ramona Shelburne reported went "really well." In that same ESPN report, the 29-year-old met with Houston after that and is still scheduled to visit with San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, Toronto and Atlanta. 

The Blazers could use a sign-and-trade to their advantage to get something in return for Aldridge, instead of just letting him walk away. It's a tactic that gets used often with the most recent marquee example being when Cleveland did that deal with LeBron James after he signed with Miami in 2010. 

Of course, given that most of Aldridge's suitors are from the Western Conference, Portland's front office may be hoping his deal creates cap casualties and problems for his new home that help the Trail Blazers in the short and long term. 

It's an unusual game that general managers play this time of year, so don't underestimate the potential for vindictiveness along the way. 

DeMar DeRozan Pricing Himself Out of Toronto?

Ned Dishman/Getty Images

One player who is really excited at the prospect of increasing salaries next season is DeMar DeRozan, who could be pricing himself out of Toronto. 

According to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri may entertain trading DeRozan soon.

"Ujiri also could swing a deal involving part of his core," Wolstat wrote. "Whispers continue to circulate that DeMar DeRozan’s camp will be after the new mid-max (a whopping $25.3 million) a year from now, and there is no way the Raptors will be comfortable footing that bid."

That's a large chunk of change to give a shooting guard who has shot less than 43 percent from the floor each of the last two years and offers nothing from three-point range (27 percent). Yet during the same two-year stretch, he's scored over 20 points per game. 

That's a dangerous combination, as it shows DeRozan is shooting more than ever while hitting lower percentages. Yet because of how salaries are going to be structured next season, some team may end up giving him close to what he wants. 

The Raptors, who have built a solid nucleus and already added to it by giving DeMarre Carroll $60 million over four years, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, are trying to rise in the Eastern Conference after winning the Atlantic Division last season. 

DeRozan is a two-way player, ranking very well in various defensive metrics, including being worth three defensive win shares in 2013-14, per Basketball-Reference.com. That does give him leverage in contract discussions, but the Raptors are right to be skittish about him being worth $25 million. 

Lakers Fielding Trade Offers

Juan Ocampo/Getty Images

In addition to their meeting with Aldridge on Wednesday, the Lakers are taking steps to clear additional cap space by trading their own players. 

According to Shelburne, the Lakers' front office tried to find interest in players such as Ryan Kelly and Nick Young:

As for what Los Angeles' big-picture thinking is in making calls about Kelly and Young, Shelburne added it's specifically designed with the cap in mind:

Kelly and Young are due to make around $6.9 million combined this season, per HoopsHype, and finding ways to clear money would allow them to potentially make a bigger splash in free agency. 

It's no surprise the market for Kelly and Young doesn't seem to be there, as Kelly shot less than 34 percent from the field. Young is a decent three-point shooter, hitting 36.8 percent last season, but with two guaranteed years left on his contract, that skill doesn't look quite as attractive. 

Credit the Lakers for not wasting time and waiting for things to happen around them, but their only real play seems to be offering whatever they can to free agents now and hope something sticks.