NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Celtics, Marcin Gortat and More
When it comes to NBA trade rumors, folks want to know where Russell Westbrook seems headed.
The answer is nowhere, as the Oklahoma City Thunder have told teams he isn't available, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.
See? Easy. In all seriousness, a Westbrook trade will likely come out of nowhere, and if it does, it figures to occur at the deadline next season.
Right now, other possibilities intrigue more thanks to arguably better odds that something happens. And when those potential deals include the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and more, it's certainly worth a deeper dive.
Wizards Trade?
While a bit left behind in the hype department thanks to bigger franchises and names, the Washington Wizards look like a major trade candidate.
After all, the team has starting center Marcin Gortat on board but also decided at the start of July to bring on center Ian Mahinmi on a deal worth $64 million, according to the Washington Post's Tim Bontemps.
Something has to give, right? Maybe not, according to CSN Mid-Atlantic's J. Michael: "Multiple league sources, as late as Friday night, told CSNMidAtlantic.com that it’s not in the cards to make a move with the 6'11" center because of Ian Mahinmi’s signing (four years, $64 million). Of course, it's never safe to say never but as for now that appears to be the case."
Still, it sounds like a lot of cash to blow in a league transferring more toward a small-ball approach. Mahinmi is 29 years old and a great rim protector, whereas Gortat is 32 and would fetch a nice price on the open market, especially if a contending team wants help.
Gortat has spent the last three seasons in Washington and last year posted averages of 13.5 points and 9.9 rebounds. He's not showing much in the way of slowing, but if the Wizards think they can get comparable numbers from Mahinmi, striking a deal to improve on a core trio of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Markieff Morris isn't the worst idea.
Carmelo Anthony Content?
One player folks seem to have let get lost in the Westbrook and Kevin Durant hype?
Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony has never come right out and demanded a trade, instead stressing time and again he wants to remain with the New York Knicks. But it's important to remember he's 32 years old and wants to compete for a title.
Which is why team president Phil Jackson revealed Anthony was a part of the free-agency process after a meeting revealed Anthony wants the team in win-now mode.
Jackson did what he does, trading for Derrick Rose and largely turning over the roster with new faces such as Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings, Courtney Lee and more. And according to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the moves have squashed any potential rifts between the Knicks and Anthony:
"The good news for the Knicks regarding the massive roster trauma under Jackson is Anthony finally appears happy. No longer is there innuendo of wanting out this summer. There was speculation following his exit meeting with Jackson in mid-April that Anthony would ask for a new home by the time he convened in Vegas for the Olympics if Jackson struck out in free agency.
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Crisis avoided. The current core in New York doesn't suggest title contention by any means and largely hinges on everyone's ability to stay healthy, not to mention the continued rapid development of Kristaps Porzingis.
Still, Anthony isn't out of his prime for a few more years, and if he's content with the job done right now, it means he sees strong potential for growth over the next season and change. Add a few more quality-of-life improvements, and Jackson could be on to something here.
Celtics Update
The Celtics are an impossible team to predict with president Danny Ainge at the controls.
Take the latest draft for example. Ainge acquired a stockpile of assets and looked poised to make a major splash before settling for head-scratchers such as Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic. Then there was the whole missing out on Durant thing.
Despite the recent huge misses (hindsight could view the draft picks differently, at least), it's interesting to see the Celtics widely hailed as a speculated destination for someone such as Westbrook.
As noted by folks in the know who chatted with CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely, though, the Celtics seem like a team ready to hit on a major surprise as opposed to conventional wisdom:
"A third league official said Ainge is doing what he always does this time of year -- biding his time, waiting for an opportunity to snare the biggest fish that “no one sees coming.”
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“I have no idea who that big fish is,” the executive told CSNNE.com. “But Danny knows there have to be certain circumstances in play that make guys available who wouldn’t be if you just went by talent.”
A different person who spoke with Blakely said there's still a chance the Celtics do a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jahlil Okafor, but again, that might be too predictable at this point for Ainge.
It's hard to speculate on a guy “no one sees coming” and even harder when one takes into account the recent whiffs when the globe expected major moves from the Celtics. Maybe the Chicago Bulls shock and wind up shipping away Jimmy Butler. Or maybe the Cleveland Cavaliers throw in the towel on Kevin Love. Hard to say.
Alas, this latest offering keeps the intrigue high around the Celtics, and the rest of the NBA will keep Ainge's wealth of assets and desire to make a splash in mind.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
