NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Gossip Surrounding Ty Lawson, Nick Young and More
We're at the point in the offseason where the NBA's free-agent market has become close to bone dry, as players have been gobbled up by teams in need. That has now paved the way for some last-minute roster alterations via trade.
There are plenty of reasons why trades are prevalent at this time. A team is looking to acquire a player to add some depth to a weak position after whiffing in free agency, a squad is looking to offload a salary to get back under the cap, or a franchise is simply trying to deal a player who doesn't quite fit with its direction for the future. Whatever the case may be, we should expect to see a few deals before the upcoming season.
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That said, some new rumors have surfaced regarding players whose names have been the focus of trade speculation this summer. So as the offseason progresses, let's take a glance at some of the latest buzz from trusted sources around the Web.
The Denver Nuggets have been looking to offload Ty Lawson for a while now. The team attempted to deal him during its fire sale at the trade deadline last season, but to no avail. Well, he's remained the focus of trade talk ever since, but a new development could hinder the team's chances of ever dealing the guard.
Lawson was just arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence for the second time in a span of six months Tuesday in Los Angeles. That kind of red flag could make it difficult for the Nuggets to trade Lawson, as other teams won't want to take on that kind of baggage.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reported the latest on a potential Lawson deal:
"The Nuggets were asking for a first-round pick and a young player for Lawson in trade talks just days prior to his latest arrest, one league source said. Even prior to Lawson's latest arrest, there was little to no interest from teams, another source said."
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports shared his thoughts on Twitter:
Lawson's had a productive career in Denver, and he averaged 15.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the floor with the team last season. Although after the Nuggets drafted Emmanuel Mudiay and brought in veteran Jameer Nelson, it's tough to speculate where Lawson fits with the team going forward.
Nick Young
Speaking of players who have been the subject of trade talks for a while now, the Los Angeles Lakers made it known earlier in the offseason they intended to shop Nick Young. The swingman has been productive for the Lakers, but he's also been inconsistent and is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he averaged 13.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the floor.
According to Bill Oram of the Orange County Register, the Lakers' efforts to trade Young fell short:
We'll see where Young fits with the team going forward. The Lakers made a bevy of offseason moves and have a squad that looks far different from last season's team. Small forward is one of the weaker positions on the roster, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Young resume his role as a scorer off the bench.
After all, general manager Mitch Kupchak already had pegged Young as a key player for the coming season as recently as last week, via a tweet from Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times:
The early portion of the season will be telling for Young's future in Los Angeles. If he can turn things around, he'll likely stick around as the team's sixth man for the long haul. However, if things don't begin well, we could be revisiting this discussion prior to the trade deadline.
Danilo Gallinari
Apparently, Lawson isn't the only Denver player whose name has been linked to trade talks of late, as Danilo Gallinari has been the center of discussions between the Nuggets and Boston Celtics. However, unlike Lawson, Denver isn't openly looking to deal the 6'10" small forward. Instead, it was the Celtics that approached the Nuggets about a potential deal, according to a report from Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald:
"Multiple sources have told the Herald that the Celtics approached Denver about trading for 6-foot-10 forward Danilo Gallinari. Though the talks didn't get far, sources have indicated that discussions could easily be revived as the Nuggets continue to determine who they are open to dealing. Denver management is said to be divided over its desired course of action.
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Gallinari is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40.1 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent from downtown. The Nuggets do have some players capable of stepping into Gallinari's role should he depart via a trade; however, the team will sorely miss his size.
Boston, on the other hand, has a backcourt logjam but needs help up front. The team is also looking to acquire a sizable short-term contract, and Gallinari's is perfect, as he's owed just north of $11.5 million in what will be the final year of his current deal.
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