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NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Surrounding Kevin Love, Nene and More
July 5, 2015
Some rumors never die.
For example, Kevin Love, who creates a flood of he’s-going-to-leave gossip every time he steps foot outside of Ohio, could still be on the move after agreeing to a five-year, $110 million extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Other rumors are a bit more out of the blue, such as those meant to clear cap space or those involving former folk heroes.
Let’s take a look at one of each.
Jeremy Lin to the Mavs?
Here’s the folk hero.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks could be looking to bring in Jeremy Lin:
With Monta Ellis now an Indiana Pacer, the Mavs need help at guard. J.J. Barea, who was the primary backup in Big D last year, is rumored to be a desired piece, per ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon:
Now, as MacMahon points out, Lin might get more money elsewhere. The New York Knicks would probably be a team willing to go above market value. But for a player looking to jump-start his career after several disappointing seasons, few other teams (if any) would give him the chance to play big minutes on a playoff contender.
Plus, running alongside DeAndre Jordan is any point guard’s dream given that virtually anything Lin lobs up would be hammered home with authority.
This move would make sense for both sides, with the Mavs getting point guard depth and Lin getting a shot to play himself into a bigger payday a summer or two from now.
Wizards Looking to Deal Nene
The grass is always greener, it seems.
After losing a valuable veteran voice in Paul Pierce this summer, the Washington Wizards are looking to add former Pacers big man David West. How are they doing it? By shopping Nene, per Stein:
Nene is heading into the final year of his contract, which makes that $13 million more digestible for potential suitors. Perhaps the Phoenix Suns, who cleaned house to make room for a guy who never came (LaMarcus Aldridge), would be in play here.
Whichever team potentially lands Nene would receive a solid veteran big whose headache of a contract won’t be a problem in 2016-17.
The price wouldn’t be too steep, either, being that Washington is trying to "shop” him. That usually means the team would be willing to take less than what he’s really worth.
Gotta Love the Drama
The saga continues.
According to a report from Sean Deveney of Sporting News, the Love-Cavs relationship might not be as concrete as we might think:
Executives around the league told Sporting News on Wednesday that Love eventually could wind up back on the trading block, but the Cavs needed to re-sign him rather than risk losing him for nothing in return. Thompson deserves a starting spot, and the Cavs are confident that, eventually, a smaller lineup with Thompson at center and Love at power forward will work.
But if not? “Maybe in February or in the summer, you could see Love being talked about,” one league executive said. “If he stays healthy next year, that is what is most important. If he plays 75 games or so, then he is still going to have a lot of value, even if his numbers are not great. So it is still a chance for them to get assets going forward and if you gave up the No. 1 pick, you need to be able get something that will help long-term.”
Interesting.
It really never ends with Love, for whatever that is worth. From Cleveland’s side, the move makes sense down the line, even though it might hump the team up at the moment, with Tristan Thompson and LeBron James still in need of new deals.
But giving up Andrew Wiggins for a one-year rental would shine a poor reflection on the organization. Even if the Cavaliers trade Love a year from now, as referenced in Deveney’s report, they’ll still be getting more than nothing.