NBA Rumors: Latest on Possible Jahlil Okafor Trade and More
It might seem like the most notable transactions of the NBA offseason have come and gone.
Looks deceive, though. Whether it's free agents or via trade, major notable franchises could still make moves, and the rumors market reflects the fact with absolute certainty.
Take the New York Knicks. Not content with adding Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and others, the Knicks are a rebuilding, formerly sleeping team capable of making another move to improve.
The same applies to a team like the Boston Celtics, a team with the most publicized assets in the league and a front office always looking to wheel and deal. Unlike the Knicks, the Celtics sit in position of luxury coming off a playoff appearance.
Here's a look at rumors capable of coming to fruition and keeping the wild offseason alive.
Knicks Target Center?
The Knicks might have Noah on board, but it doesn't mean team president Phil Jackson won't add more talent to the position when he can.
Few quality centers remain on the market, both in free agency and via trade. One, though, is both affordable and offers intriguing upside. According to reporter Sam Amico, the Knicks will target Greg Monroe of the Milwaukee Bucks.
"The Knicks are among the teams with an interest in available Bucks center Greg Monroe, league sources have told Amico Hoops," Amico wrote. "The Knicks would likely need a third team to help facilitate a trade for Monroe and more likely would need to wait until at least December, sources said."
Not a blockbuster name by any means, albeit one making plenty of sense. Monroe posted averages of 15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last year with the Bucks and is 26 years old.
The only problem with Monroe is his contract. The No. 7 pick in 2010 has a cap hit of $17 million or more in each of the next two years, per Spotrac. It's a lot for the Knicks to inhale given the potential desire to chase bigger names.
It makes the interest a tad odd, though the Knicks have to know the 31-year-old Noah won't last forever, and hinging future hopes on a developmental prospect such as Guillermo Hernangomez wouldn't be wise.
This one might not happen right away. Regardless, it's something to keep an eye on as Jackson continues to work his master plan.
Dion Waiters Update
Does anyone want Dion Waiters?
Sounds like a mean question on first pass. But the Syracuse product is a guy who came off the board No. 4 in 2012 and is still just 24 years old yet hasn't had much luck finding a team this summer.
Granted, Waiters only averaged 9.8 points last season, but the Oklahoma City Thunder gave him an average of 27.6 minutes. On his career, Waiters averages 12.8 points on 41.1 percent shooting.
It's hard to say what gives. ESPN's Marc Stein revealed the Brooklyn Nets took a look, then a pass:
The Nets only have developing players such as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert at shooting guard, so adding Waiters would have made some sense.
Little has made sense about Waiters' summer so far. The Thunder rescinded a qualifying offer on him after adding Victor Oladipo, permitting him to become a restricted free agent. The Philadelphia 76ers, according to sources who spoke with Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, don't view him as a good fit due to off-court reasons pertaining to the locale near Waiters' hometown.
Waiters is too young and boasts too much upside to sit on the market for too long. Then again, similar logic has chased him throughout this process. The team willing to pick him up and end it will settle as one to watch.
Boston-Philadelphia Deal Falling Apart?
Given the number of times the fit and rumors have come up, it only seems right the Celtics go ahead and strike a deal with the 76ers for Jahlil Okafor.
CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely revealed the deal is the most likely one for the Celtics, a team with a president in Danny Ainge who won't sell away his entire franchise for a chance at a Russell Westbrook or Blake Griffin.
And Okafor is more realistic. He's at a position of need for the Celtics, is only 20 years old and over the course of his rookie season averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. It's why Blakely confirmed the two sides talked about the deal during the draft.
But it might be time to pump the brakes on even this ordeal.
Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald put it in rather blunt fashion: "It's possible the Celtics and Philadelphia could revisit talks for Jahlil Okafor, but, according to sources, those talks appear to have grown 'stale.'"
Fair enough—these talks have likely been off and on since the draft, if not before it. There's only so much for the two sides to say and offer.
Really, both sides not wanting to do the move makes sense. The 76ers have a potential star on their hands who has plenty of room to grow. The Celtics aren't so desperate for help the team can justify gutting the roster and Okafor's off-court issues—well-documented by Pompey above and part of the reason the team might not want Waiters—mean the Celtics will only do a deal at their price point.
Maybe the two sides can still work something out. But this late in the game, there's only so much left to say.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
