NBA Rumors: Buzz Surrounding Dwyane Wade, Possible Jeremy Evans Trade and More
Most of the NBA's biggest free-agency dominoes have fallen this summer, but there's still some more action left to go.
The Golden State Warriors are the undisputed winners of the offseason so far, agreeing to a deal with superstar forward Kevin Durant. They've also signed a few title-chasing veterans for much less than the market has dictated.
Everyone else is merely trying to play catch-up now that their title odds are essentially nonexistent, but let's check in with a few of the most recent trade and free-agency rumors.
It's hard to picture Dwyane Wade wearing anything but a Miami Heat uniform on an NBA court. The 12-time All-Star has been with the team since being drafted in 2003 and has helped them to three championships.
If a recent report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst is any indication though, we may be seeing the 34-year-old shooting guard in another jersey this fall. Windhorst said Wade is seeking a two-year deal that gives him approximately $50 million, but the Heat's offer stands at just $40 million over the same time period.
Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald also reported that the Heat and Wade are “not on great terms” and cited “ugly” as a common descriptor of the situation.
According to Windhorst, the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls are also in talks with Wade. Denver specifically has submitted an offer for two years and more than $50 million, though the fit with the Nuggets is questionable. The team already has Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Malik Beasley poised to take up plenty of minutes at the shooting guard position.
Windhorst added that the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers, two other teams at one point interested in Wade’s services, have lost their footing to sign the future Hall of Famer, with Cleveland still being a dark horse option. Miami and Chicago remain the best roster fits for the veteran of the teams in the running.
Jeremy Evans
Jeremy Evans is one of the least prominent NBA Slam Dunk Contest champions in the event’s history, but he continues to find a roster spot every season. The 28-year-old combo forward sat at the end of the Dallas Mavericks’ bench last season, but ESPN’s Marc Stein says the team is planning to trade him.
This is presumably a move to create space for Dallas’ planned Dirk Nowitzki signing. Some other team should be able to use Evans’, though. Remember, he’s the owner of one of the best plays in NBA history, as Canis Hoopus' Key Sang reminded us on Twitter.
It’s always been a bit of a mystery why Evans’ past teams (the Utah Jazz and Mavericks) haven’t played him more. He has a career average of just 10.5 minutes per game, but his per-36 minute numbers have actually been quite solid—12.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.7 blocks and 56.8 percent shooting from the field.
Any team in need of some athleticism in the front court would be wise to take a flier on the veteran forward. Evans isn’t the most skilled player, but he’ll hustle on both ends and wreak some havoc with his length and leaping ability.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s failure to bring back Durant could have some residual consequences. According to Turner Sports Analyst David Aldridge, Russell Westbrook doesn’t want to commit to a long-term future in Oklahoma City.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe added Tuesday that “Presti doesn't want to trade Westbrook, but if he feels backed into a corner, he will chase young players and draft picks.”
If it feels more and more like the superstar point guard is unhappy with the Thunder, then the team would be wise to swap him for some significant pieces before he leaves the team for nothing in free agency next summer. The squad already has several intriguing young pieces (Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, Enes Kanter Domantas Sabonis, Cameron Payne, and potentially Dion Waiters), and they would get more in a potential Westbrook trade.
However, superstars greatly increase any team’s chances at a title, so the Thunder should do their best to keep Westbrook happy this summer and in the upcoming season.
