NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Heading into Free Agency
The NBA finals are over. The 2017 draft has passed. Even the NBA awards have come and gone—congratulations to Russell Westbrook for winning MVP honors, by the way. You wouldn't be blamed if you thought the NBA was heading to the shelf until the fall.
Well, it isn't. Not by a long shot.
In fact, the NBA offseason is just starting to ramp up. Teams cannot officially begin signing players until July 6, but they can begin reaching verbal agreements with them on July 1. That's Saturday, if you're keeping track, which means some major overhauls are right around the corner.
Of course, the NBA, which is growing closer to being a year-round attraction, isn't going to let you catch your breath. Between now and the start of free agency, the basketball world is going to be flooded with trade rumors.
We're going to examine the latest ones here.
Carmelo Doesn't Want to Leave New York
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson has looked into trading budding star Kristaps Porzingis, though he hasn't found an enticing deal yet. Presumably, Jackson would take just about any deal if he could trade away aging star Carmelo Anthony and the $54 million he's owed over the next two years.
Jackson and the Knicks can't trade away Anthony, though, unless the 33-year-old agrees to a deal. This is because Anthony is one of those veteran stars possessing a no-trade clause. There might be certain deals Anthony could sign off on, but it's beginning to look like he's determined to stay in New York.
As Frank Isola of the New York Daily News explained, Anthony would prefer to stay close to his son in New York and is no longer as interested in joining certain teams:
"Carmelo is no longer enamored with playing in Los Angeles if it means having to be away from his son for an extended period of time. Anthony, according to the same source, was toying with the idea of orchestrating a move to either Philadelphia or Washington, which would keep him close to New York. However, Anthony's mindset now is to stay in New York and play for the Knicks... even though Jackson doesn't want him."
If the Knicks want to rid themselves of Anthony, their only option may be to buy out his contract. This would allow Anthony to pick his next destination via free agency, which, again, is right around the corner.
Timberwolves Looking to Move Rubio
The Minnesota Timberwolves scored big on draft day by acquiring star guard Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls. Butler joins a solid core group, and he could forge a legitimate contender with Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns and Ricky Rubio.
Well, Rubio might not be part of the group once all is said and done. According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, Minnesota is looking to trade Rubio in an effort to acquire more shooting:
On one hand, this strategy makes a ton of sense. The Timberwolves don't have an elite three-point shooter on their roster, and Rubio is pretty bad from almost any spot on the floor. Rubio topped 40 percent shooting from the floor for the first time in his career this past season, however.
On the other hand, Minnesota doesn't have an obvious replacement for Rubio, who is a solid distributor. It would make just as much sense to keep Rubio around as someone who can run the floor and get the ball to Butler, Towns and Wiggins in space.
Of course, with the draft over and one major trade already in the books, trading Rubio is the only option the team has if it's hoping to add another significant piece outside of free agency.
Minnesota isn't exactly a marquee destination for free agents either.
Plenty of Teams Interested in George
The Indiana Pacers didn't move Paul George before the end of the draft, but this doesn't mean they aren't going to get a deal done in the near future. Plenty of teams appear to be interested in the star forward, even if he's only under contract for one more season.
According to Marc Stein and Chris Haynes of ESPN.com, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked into a three-way deal for George before the draft that would have involved Kevin Love and the Denver Nuggets. Per Stein and Haynes, the Cavaliers aren't about to give up on their chase for George in the wake of the draft.
According to Stein and Haynes, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are also interested in pursuing George. Mike Wells of ESPN.com reported shortly after the draft that the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics had also expressed interest in George.
Washington standout John Wall is one guy who would be thrilled if the Wizards landed George:
"I am talking to some guys—Paul," Wall said Monday, per Marc J. Spears of ESPN's The Undefeated. "I know his ultimate goal of where he wants to be. I'm trying to see if we can make something happen."
George has informed the Pacers that he intends to opt out of his contract next offseason and hit free agency. If Indiana is looking to get something in return for him before then, the team should have little trouble doing so.
