NBA Rumors: Buzz on Possible Jarrett Jack Trade, Nicolas Batum and More
'Tis the (off)season, folks.
Rumors are flowing like the rivers of ancient Babylon. There’s more gossip about which free agent likes which team (and vice versa) than in a high school hallway. Everyone has a different “source.”
It’s invigorating.
Let’s take a look at a few rumblings—one about a free agent, one about a potential trade and one about a possible comeback.
Nicolas Batum
Charlotte Hornets forward Nicolas Batum poured in a career-high 14.9 points per game on 42.6 percent shooting this year.
It was his first with Buzz City after the Portland Trail Blazers traded him last summer.
The Hornets want him back. According to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com on Monday, the French forward is their “top priority.”
That doesn’t mean it will be easy, though. Re-upping with Batum could cost Charlotte point guard Jeremy Lin, who had a breakout year in 2015-16.
According to Marcus Thompson II of the Mercury News, the Golden State Warriors might pursue Batum if they lose out on superstar Kevin Durant.
Further complicating matters, Broussard reported Tuesday that the Los Angeles Lakers also have their eyes on Batum:
Staying in Charlotte is appealing to Batum based on his comfort level, but Los Angeles could help him build his brand. As one of the few French players in the league, he has international appeal.
Golden State, on the other hand, would provide the clearest road to a title.
It will be a tough call, but the smart money is on Batum staying put. The Hornets have made it clear he’s their guy—despite having other notable players such as Lin hit the market at the same time.
The home team always seems to have the advantage in situations like these. Charlotte is hoping that’s the case here.
Jarrett Jack
The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly moving on from Jarrett Jack.
On Tuesday, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported that the 32-year-old “has played his final game for the organization.” If Brooklyn can’t trade him by Thursday—when his contract becomes guaranteed—the team will waive him.
Jack tore his ACL on Jan. 2 but started all 32 games he played before that. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from downtown.
Brooklyn used Jack as a starter, but he’s much better suited as a backup. For the majority of his career, he has been an off-the-bench, score-first spark plug.
It’s possible that a team such as the New York Knicks could take a flier on Jack. Brooklyn’s in-state rivals don’t have a point guard behind Derrick Rose, so team president Phil Jackson will be searching for a second-stringer.
Jack is no Stephen Curry, but he can score in bunches. It’s worth thinking about for New York.
Here’s more from Woj on how a potential deal could take place:
"A motivation for teams to trade for Jack would be the chance to shed an unwanted contract and then waive Jack – salary-cap relief. For a deal to make sense for the Nets – instead of simply absorbing the savings on the partial guarantee of Jack's deal – another team would have to send a player that Brooklyn would find useful.
"
It’s unclear what the market will be for Jack, but it can’t be great if this report came out. If the Nets were sure they could get some value for Jack, the idea of waiving him wouldn’t have leaked.
What the…?
On Tuesday night, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that NBA journeyman Stephen Jackson, who last played nine games in 2013-14, is trying to make a comeback:
Some of Jackson’s best years came with the “We Believe” Warriors in the mid-2000s. In 2006-07, he helped the No. 8-seeded Dubs knock off the top-seeded 67-15 Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Jackson averaged 22.8 points, 6.2 boards and 5.7 assists in the series.
On Feb. 25, Jackson said he thought that team could defeat the 2015-16 Warriors, who set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins.
Jackson will never play these Warriors, so technically he’ll never beat them.
He might as well try to join them, right?
