NBA Rumors: Analyzing League's Top Trade Candidates
Thursday 3 p.m. ET marks the NBA trade deadline. In a proactive move, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the frenzy and sent their former star player Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons before the rumor mill hit full steam. Will we see more big names on the move?
Typically, teams know where they stand in February. Clubs sitting far outside the playoff picture become sellers, or as fans say, "embrace the tank."
Organizations that intend to push for the postseason consider acquiring assets as short-term rentals, if they're on expiring contracts, as well as long-term solutions to roster voids.
There's much discussion about the Cleveland Cavaliers' struggles, and the talk likely permeated through the walls at the Boston Celtics headquarters.
Despite holding first place in the Eastern Conference, will the Celtics add another offensive cog to fuel a push to the NBA Finals?
Though the Western Conference looks like a two-team race between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, a pair of playoff teams hope to strengthen their rosters with upgrades in the backcourt.
Boston Celtics Targeting Tyreke Evans, Lou Williams
The Celtics signed big man Greg Monroe to bolster the frontcourt, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, but team brass remains active near the deadline in an attempt to acquire another shooter off the bench to push this club over the top in the spring.
According to Washington Post reporter Tim Bontemps, president of basketball operations and general manager Danny Ainge has Clippers sharpshooter Lou Williams and Memphis Grizzlies' versatile scorer Tyreke Evans on his radar:
"According to two Western Conference sources, the Celts are still in pursuit of Lou Williams and Tyreke Evans. They have had discussions regarding others, but those two appear to be the main targets as the C’s look to add scoring off the bench."
Though he's not officially on an All-Star squad, Williams has put himself in the conversation with career-highs in points (23.4) and assists (5.2) per game this season, primarily coming off the bench. He's also seventh in three-point field goals made with 142 for the season.
The 31-year-old would lighten the load on point guard Kyrie Irving, who's missed the last three games with a quad contusion.
Evans offers similar benefits as a pure scorer and ball distributor. He's averaging 19.5 points and five assists per contest. The Grizzlies have held him out of action for the past three outings with intentions to deal him near the deadline. After battling injuries over the past few campaigns, the 2009 No. 4 overall pick has put together the most productive year since his rookie term.
Both Celtics targets would join the roster on expiring deals, which allows the front office to run a trial on their fit in the rotation. Boston lists as one of two teams that holds opponents to fewer than 100 points per game. More firepower would strengthen a threat to the Cavaliers' three-year run as conference champions.
Avery Bradley on the Move Again?
The Pistons finalized a deal that sent guard Avery Bradley, forward Tobias Harris and center Boban Marjanovic to the Clippers in exchange for Griffin, Willie Reed and Brice Johnson on Wednesday.
Among the three Clippers acquisitions, Bradley shouldn't unpack and find a comfort zone in Los Angeles. The front office may entertain offers from a serious suitor in the Western Conference, per Bontemps:
"Sources say the Thunder have expressed interest in Bradley, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers Monday by the Pistons in the blockbuster deal that sent Blake Griffin to Detroit."
A potential deal makes sense for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost an above average defender in Andre Roberson for the season with a ruptured patella tendon.
Like the Celtics, Oklahoma City can lock down its opponent defensively, listing in the top eight in points allowed per game. Bradley would further strengthen that area and add scoring to the shooting guard spot, something the team didn't have in Roberson.
This season, Bradley has struggled to find his stroke, converting approximately 41 percent of his field-goal attempts, but he's hitting about 38 percent from three-point range.
The eighth-year guard should see plenty open-shot opportunities playing alongside Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, who all command significant focus on the offensive end.
Denver Nuggets Show Serious Interest in Darren Collison
The Denver Nuggets list eighth in the West, and they're hoping to hold on to the spot unlike the previous season, when the Portland Trail Blazers pushed them out of the playoff picture down the stretch.
The Nuggets anticipate forward Paul Millsap (wrist surgery) returning to action some time after the All-Star break. They're also eyeing an asset who can help the second unit at point guard, per USA Today reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt:
"But Denver will likely make a move of its own before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, as the Nuggets are known to be shopping for a veteran point guard who could allow Will Barton to return to his super sixth man role. According to two people with knowledge of the situation, they have serious interest in the Indiana Pacers’ Darren Collison (12.8 points, 5.3 assists per game as a starter) but have, thus far, been rebuffed."
After starting in 107 games in his first two years with the Nuggets, guard Emmanuel Mudiay has experienced a significant drop in minutes, averaging 17.9 per contest during the current season.
Clearly outside of the rotation, it's no surprise Denver seeks an upgrade. Though, as the report suggests, the Indiana Pacers don't seem eager to part ways with their first-unit floor general.
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