NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on Brandon Knight, Jahlil Okafor and More
The NBA rumor mill always picks up near the end of November—the mid-December flurry awaits, and it doesn't have anything to do with snow.
December 15 marks the date teams in the Association can begin wheeling and dealing players acquired in free agency. Now this isn't teams giving up on big-name free agents right away. At least not usually.
Usually, this is a time that teams see the financial side of things open up because more names become eligible for trade. These small chess pieces could always lead to bigger moves, especially with big fish such as the Boston Celtics always on the prowl for a deal.
Below, let's take an early look at some of the more notable rumblings making the rounds, as fans begin to catch back up with a market starting to spin its wheels.
Celtics Still on the Hunt
Anyone familiar with the happenings around the NBA had to know the Celtics would get a mention near the December trade fiesta, should it occur at all.
Celtics president Danny Ainge doesn't shy away from the fact he has one of the league's best stockpiles of future assets. His team has been involved in more rumors than some entire leagues generate over the course of a season. Add the assets to a president willing to deal and a historic locale such as Boston, and it all makes sense.
Of course, Ainge burnt the anarchists when he elected to actually use three first-round picks a year ago, even spending a pick on a guy named Guerschon Yabusele. Alas, the disappointment hasn't stopped some from thinking Ainge might strike a deal soon, as the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett explained:
"From all indications speaking to team sources around the league, Danny Ainge is still after the major trades the C’s president of basketball operations knows are needed. And no doubt he’s loving each story calling the 2017 draft one of the deepest and most talent-laden in many years, understanding that such talk could raise the value of the Nets’ pick that can be theirs.
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This sort of rumor has more legs than usual because the Celtics started the season 10-7, with big-name acquisition Al Horford only appearing in seven games over that span. Isaiah Thomas has put on a show with 26.0 points per game, but nobody else has surpassed the 18-point barrier.
For a team that surprisingly made the postseason last year, this is a step back. Boston has a clear hole at power forward, and getting a forward who can help play in front of the rookie Jaylen Brown would make some sense if the Celtics want to win now.
As always with Ainge, the right deal has to come along. But his shipping away a familiar face with draft picks perhaps holding more value than they will down the road seems more likely.
Brandon Knight Stays on the Mill
Similar to the Celtics, Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight is one of the most common features of the trade block.
Phoenix has itself to thank for the situation with other names such as Eric Bledsoe, Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker clogging the backcourt.
Knight, 24, only played in 11 and 52 games over his past two seasons and over the first 18 games of this year managed 24.6 minutes per game, lowest of his career. He's fading in the rotation, which doesn't do wonders for his trade value.
After noting Suns general manager Ryan McDonough swears a move for Knight isn't imminent, ESPN.com's Marc Stein said others around the league think otherwise.
"None of that, however, has stopped interested rivals from believing that the struggling Knight—who started two games this week with TJ Warren out but mostly comes off the bench for the Suns—will be made available," Stein wrote.
It seems obvious enough, with Knight boasting a cap hit of more than $13 million over his next three seasons before hitting free agency in 2020, per Spotrac. Would-be trade partners wouldn't necessarily give up much for such a financial situation, but at least one team out there might fancy itself a locale able to get more out of a younger player.
After all, Knight posted career highs of 19.6 points and 5.1 rebounds last year over 52 games. Should the Suns get something similar from him again, he'll be a major person of interest on the block and help the team unclog a key spot.
Jahlil Okafor-76ers Questions Remain
Someday, the Philadelphia 76ers might possibly, perhaps, just maybe deal one of their big men.
The most notable name is Jahlil Okafor, especially with Joel Embiid playing out of his mind and leading the team in scoring at 18.2 points per game. It is Okafor or Nerlens Noel, with the 76ers looking like the opposite of the Celtics or Suns when it comes to where the roster has stacked talent.
Okafor, the No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, seems like the likeliest to move because he boasts the most upside, but unlike Embiid, hasn't shown enough for the 76ers to want to keep him around.
Except according to Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler, the 76ers sound like they want to trade Noel or nothing at all:
It's not hard to see why. Noel, the No. 6 pick in the 2013 NBA draft, still boasts plenty of upside for a team looking for a project. He just hasn't been the healthiest. This is the 76ers trying to have their cake and eat it too, by keeping the two most proven players in Embiid and Okafor, while dangling a player with plenty of upside to improve elsewhere.
The crazy part? It might work. Odd injury history or not, many teams wouldn't mind taking a gamble on a former top-10 pick who is still 22 years old and can hold down the paint on his own.
But given how picky the 76ers are about who they want to trade, it is safe to presume the front office takes the same approach to the asking price. With the league knowing the 76ers would probably like to make a move, the team will remain in a holding pattern until it caves a bit in the demands department.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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