NBA Rumors: Rounding Up Latest Trade, 2018 Draft and Free-Agent Chatter
Nothing stops the NBA rumor mill from operating all year round. The NBA playoffs are in the conference-final stage, and the draft lottery is set to take place on Tuesday, but rumors keep flying from all different directions.
Here's a look at a couple of recent ones as the NBA gears up for a big Tuesday (the lottery will be followed by Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers).
Collin Sexton and the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have an outside shot at landing a top-three pick in this year's NBA draft, but the chances are the pingpong balls won't fall their way, leaving to them pick later.
That still leaves the Knicks with a good opportunity to take a solid player who can contribute immediately, such as Alabama guard Collin Sexton, who averaged 19.2 points per game in his one year in Tuscaloosa.
Per Marc Berman of The New York Post, "one NBA source close to the Knicks brain trust told The Post they must decide if the Alabama guard is an unquestioned upgrade over what they already have in Frank Ntilikina, Emmanuel Mudiay and Trey Burke."
Mudiay did not fare well after a midseason trade, notably shooting just 36.8 percent from the field. On the other hand, Burke seemed to find his niche in his last 15 games, averaging 16.9 points and 6.2 assists per night, according to Basketball Reference. Ntilikina, the team's 2017 first-round draft pick, struggled offensively throughout the season but started to turn it around at the tail end of his rookie campaign.
While it's unclear if (or how much) of an upgrade Sexton would be, it is clear that the Knicks need more help at guard. The team has experienced too much inconsistency in the backcourt over the years, and it would help to pick a young player in the hope that he locks a position down for a decade-plus. Sexton could be that person to solidify the backcourt.
Philadelphia Looking For a Superstar Forward?
The Philadelphia 76ers completed a big stage of The Process this season by winning 52 games and making the conference semifinals. Now the team's goal is to take the next step and make the conference finals (or perhaps the NBA Finals) next year.
They'll likely need to add another piece or two to make that happen, though. The good news is they have cap space and are an attractive landing spot for free agents given the team's success and upward trajectory. It may be enticing for another player to look at Philadelphia and think he is the missing link to a title.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the 76ers are interested in acquiring a big-time free agent, and they are planning to pursue Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George.
Pompey also dropped this note about another superstar: "Don't be surprised if they also try to acquire San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard in a trade. Sources have said the Sixers have expressed interest in the two-time All-Star."
Leonard is the least likely addition of the three because the 76ers would need to acquire him via a trade as his contract runs through 2019. But George is a free agent this summer, and James will be as well if he opts out of his contract.
Although Philadelphia is an attractive landing spot, it's hard seeing James or George heading east unless the 76ers pull off an incredible sell. If James and George want to be in their original home states for the next stages of their careers, they'll be playing for the Cavs and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively, next year. Otherwise, other teams have a lot of cap space to burn, so Philadelphia would have considerable competition.
Regardless of whether or not the 76ers pull a big free-agent move off, they still should be set for a deep playoff run next year.
