With the 2016-17 NBA regular season just a week away, we’re already bracing for the tide that is NBA trade rumors. It seems one or more star players are shopped every year, with guys like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and others grading the NBA rumor mill over the last few years.카지노사이트
As it turns out, Love was traded two years ago, Durant walked in free agency and the Thunder made sure to lock up Westbrook ahead of free agency next summer.
Other NBA stars could be dangled in trades or actually want out of their current situations, though, and while few names are as big as Westbrook or KD, there could still be some massive NBA trades coming our way this year.
Let’s take a look at some recent buzz and the general landscape as we pinpoint the biggest NBA stars that could be on the move this season:
Rudy Gay, F, Sacramento Kings
Rudy Gay let it be known earlier this summer that he wasn’t going to commit to the dysfunctional Sacramento Kings beyond this season, by informing the team he intended to opt out of his contract after this season.
With the Kings going nowhere and the versatile Gay very much in his prime, it’s understandable that he’d prefer to spend his best years in a winning environment. That’s one reason why NBA trade rumors involving the Kings and Miami Heat are heating up, with reports suggesting a deal containing Gay and Darren Collison for Goran Dragic could be in the works.
While nothing is imminent, this could be a fantastic trade for both sides. Dragic probably wouldn’t mind a change of scenery after signing a massive deal to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, only to see Bosh’s career cut short by blood clots and D-Wade flee for Chicago.
Dragic wouldn’t necessarily be placed in a winning situation in Sac-town, but he’d have a solid coach in Dave Joerger and playing with DeMarcus Cousins could be appealing.
For Miami, Dragic is an aging asset that could land them a versatile swingman in Gay, as well as a starting caliber point guard in Collison.
Overall, the Heat would be getting better on paper here, as a team robbed to two stars would get one and still have a solid point guard option. This would have the Kings getting rid of a distraction and going in the right direction, too, but Sacramento would probably still be 1-2 moves away from being a legit playoff contender.
This is the first concrete Rudy Gay trade rumor going on, and it’s fair to say it won’t be the last. One way or another, Gay is not long for Sacramento and a deal should get done early in the year – if not before the regular season starts.
LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, San Antonio Spurs
An even bigger name already in the midst of NBA trade rumors is Spurs big man, LaMarcus Aldridge. While it’s a little out of character and goes against the entire reason why he headed home to Texas, there are whispers that Ridge doesn’t love the idea of playing second fiddle to Kawhi Leonard.
There are even reports that Aldridge wanted out before the end of last year and that his presence has become a distraction. That, and it seems like he simply isn’t as good of a fit as the franchise initially thought he’d be:
This is really hard to believe, but it does come from tied in sources and could have some merit.
If that’s the case, the Spurs could quickly make Ridge available in trade talks and see about getting something of value, rather than watching him opt out a season from now.
Ridge is still a double-double beast that is in his prime and would garner loads of interest if it’s made known that his threats to demand a trade are real. If so, competing teams that are looking for one more big piece like the Mavericks and Celtics could rise up as trade partners.바카라사이트
Ricky Rubio, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Ricky Rubio trade rumors continue to be prevalent, especially with the Wolves drafting elite combo guard Kris Dunn near the top of the 2016 NBA Draft. Dunn is a superior defender compared to Rubio and on paper offers better shooting and more stability as an offensive weapon.
Dunn has been slow to prove himself during the preseason, but he is looking like the future at the point guard position and that may render Rubio expendable. The Timberwolves claim to believe both players can share the court together, but even if that’s true, how long can it actually hold up?
The reality is that Rubio costs a ton of money, Dunn will eventually demand serious playing time and of the two, only one has a future as a natural shooter. With Dunn providing more upside and costing less in the interim, it’ll make much more sense for the Wolves to try to trade Rubio.
Tyreke Evans, G/F, New Orleans Pelicans
The Pellies can’t do much about an injured Tyreke Evans right now, but as soon as this guy gets healthy and proves he’s an asset again, they need to cut their losses and get rid of him for whatever they can get back.
There is no denying Evans is a fine talent with explosiveness and versatility for days, but he hasn’t worked out at all in terms of staying healthy and helping the Pelicans get wins. New Orleans has already started rebuilding around Anthony Davis by drafting Buddy Hield and signing new free agents, while casting Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon aside should be further writing on the wall.
Evans still has value somewhere when healthy, but it probably won’t be in New Orleans for much longer.
Chris Paul, PG, Los Angeles Clippers
I don’t believe the Clippers actually want to trade away CP3, who continues to be one of the top point guards in the league. However, they may have a choice to make between him opting out after this season, or losing free agent big man Blake Griffin.
It’s still possible the Clippers pick Paul or find a way to keep both, but if forced to make a decision, how can they keep a guy who will be 32 next year over one of the most versatile young talents in the NBA?
At that point they would simply have to embrace the fact that they’re not close to winning a title yet and keep Griffin, while starting over at the point. Hopefully both players stick in Lob City and the Clippers can add the pieces to compete at a higher level with the Golden State Warriors, but should Paul be made available, half the league should come calling.
Nerlens Noel and/or Jahlil Okafor, F, Philadelphia 76ers
These are without a doubt two of the biggest NBA trade candidates this year, as they both spent most of the past summer seeing their names in countless NBA trade rumors.
Not only do the Sixers prefer more diverse talents like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric, but Okafor has been a total headcase and Noel is really only useful on defense.
While both of these players are fairly one-dimensional, they still hold tremendous value given their particular strengths and could still flourish if they find themselves in the right situation. Given all the talent the Sixers have going into the 2016-17 season, it’s almost a certainty we see one of these guys traded – if not both.
Greg Monroe, F/C, Milwaukee Bucks
Right up there with Rudy Gay as a guy that is absolutely getting traded in the near future, is Moose. Monroe can still be a very effective scorer and he can rebound, but he has not been a good fit for the Bucks and leaves a ton to be desired on defense.
The Bucks may hold onto him for now, as they need his offense in the wake of the Khris Middleton injury, but it really should only be a matter of time before they find the right taker.
Brook Lopez, C, Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn has had an extreme fire sale over the years, as they’ve worked hard to gain back assets and young talent, while also shedding disruptive players and heavy salaries.
Lopez is still a star talent and useful player, but he’s had foot injuries and it’s fair to wonder if he’s ever going to really carry Brooklyn to new heights. If the Nets realize that probably isn’t the case, they should think long and hard about accepting the next good deal that comes their way.
This is a team that has shed the salaries of Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Jarrett Jack and even traded away would’be “core” guy, Thaddeus Young. No player is untouchable for the Nets, who are in a full-fledged rebuild.
Tyson Chandler, C, Phoenix Suns
Chandler needs to be moved simply to allow the Suns to improve. Not only is he wasting away on a team that isn’t remotely close to contending, but he’s also potentially stunting the growth of some tantalizing big men on Phoenix’s roster.
Alex Len should be starting at the five spot for the Suns, while rookie big me Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss were also drafted this year to eventually earn big roles. With Len flashing his two-way upside last year and Chriss stepping up during preseason play, the Suns could see the writing on the wall and look to deal Chandler early in the season.
While Chandler doesn’t really have a clear spot with the Suns anymore when you look at it realistically, the aging big man still provides starter talent as a rebounder and shot-blocker. Numerous teams could use his size and length for a playoff run.온라인카지노