NBA Trade Rumors: Examining Top Gossip on 2016 Deadline Day
Time for negotiation is running out as front offices put the final touches on deals before the 2016 NBA trade deadline.
Squads have until 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to complete any moves, regardless of whether a player has been on the block for an hour or there have been speculations since September. This often leads to a lot of drama and sometimes panic as a team tries to improve for a playoff push.
Regardless of the motives, there will likely be a bunch of action in the final few hours before the deadline. Here are a few notable players who could be on the move before time runs out.
Ryan Anderson, New Orleans Pelicans
Even with Anthony Davis putting up big numbers, the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled this year to a 20-33 record. With Ryan Anderson a free agent at the end of the season and possessing value to other teams, he becomes an obvious trade candidate.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported the organization is "pushing hard" to trade the forward, but he also outlined one of the problems with a top suitor:
"The Pelicans are struggling to get back significant value in a trade for Anderson. Washington has talked with New Orleans on a deal, sources said, but paying Anderson the $16 million-plus he can get on the market this summer would preclude the Wizards from clearing the max salary space it needs to pursue Kevin Durant.
"
On the plus side, there are plenty of other teams interested in bringing in the 27-year-old forward. An average of 16.7 points per game while shooting 38.3 percent from three-point range certainly gets the attention of contenders.
Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times reported the Los Angeles Clippers are interested:
The same goes for the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
There is no question Anderson can help one of these teams with his ability to stretch the floor offensively. He has proven himself as an asset off the bench, and he can be a game-changing player in the postseason. The issue is who will be willing to give up a draft pick or something valuable in order to get him.
While the Pelicans might be desperate to get rid of him, the amount of suitors could ensure New Orleans leaves with something instead of letting him walk for nothing.
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
Few would have expected the Chicago Bulls to be in seller mode at this point of the year, but a 27-25 record and tons of injuries have altered the outlook for 2016. As a result, the team is now considering dealing away one of its best players.
Chris Mannix of The Vertical explained the latest with Pau Gasol:
The All-Star is averaging 17 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this year, always one of the most consistent producers in the NBA. Few likely expected him to be dealt several weeks ago, but even earlier in the month, Gasol knew what this business was like, per Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago:
While Chicago might not get equal value for a player of this caliber, the move makes sense for a team unlikely to contend for a title this season. The 35-year-old player has two years remaining on his contract but appears likely to opt out after this year, meaning there is no guarantee he stays with the Bulls after the summer. Even if he does, it will likely cost quite a bit to keep someone at the tail end of his career.
Although a trade might be giving up on the season, it will also be the best move to help the future if the organization gets any legitimate assets.
From the other perspective, the list of suitors isn't fully known, but there is no denying Gasol can bring a lot to a contending team. Jorge Sedano of ESPN Radio had high praise for the forward:
There aren't too many other members from last week's All-Star Game on the block, so you can imagine the race to acquire Gasol will heat up quickly.
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
Like Anderson, Jeff Teague is a player who already has a wide variety of teams interested in making a move.
ESPN's Zach Lowe explained that while Al Horford might not be on the move for the Atlanta Hawks, Teague could be:
"A Jeff Teague deal is more likely, with the Bucks, Jazz, Nets, Knicks and perhaps even the Magic kicking the tires. The Bucks chased Teague in free agency three years ago, and they remain unconvinced that Michael Carter-Williams, coming off the bench again, is the long-term answer, league sources say.
"
The problem with the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks as possibilities is the fact neither have much to offer the Hawks in a deal. The Knicks reportedly made a push for the point guard last month, but "they just didn’t have the pieces to make it happen," a source told Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Not much has changed in this department over the past few weeks. The players are either not being traded (Kristaps Porzingis) or not worth much (Jose Calderon).
The most interesting team of this group might be the Utah Jazz, who moved into playoff contention by grabbing the No. 8 spot before the All-Star break. Adding Teague with his scoring, passing and postseason experience could be the missing piece for the stretch run.
Meanwhile, Utah has quality young players Atlanta might be interested in, such as Trey Lyles, Alec Burks, Trey Burke and Rodney Hood. The Jazz might want to keep the core together for the future, or they can acquire a front-line starter at point guard. It would be a big risk but possibly worth pulling the trigger.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for year-round sports analysis.
