What are the latest trade rumors and reports from around the NBA? Time to find out.
The 2015-16 NBA regular season is rapidly approaching its midway point. All-Star Weekend isn’t far behind and, for all 30 teams, that means the most important date of the year has nearly arrived.
The 2016 NBA Trade Deadline is scheduled for Thursday, February 18 at 3 p.m. ET.
With roughly six weeks remaining before that vital time, general managers are beginning to weigh their options. There have been talks for months, already, but only a select few rumors have led to anything coming about.
Having made it to January, the stories that can be found along the rumor mill are suddenly increasing in significance and legitimacy. Not everything you read will come to fruition, but every story could have significant implications.
The question, what are the latest trade rumors from around the NBA?
Next: Hearing the Rumors
Brandon Jennings Hopes to Stay in Detroit
Thus far in 2015-16, few players have been involved in more trade rumors than Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings. Freshly returned from a torn achilles tendon, many have questioned whether or not Jennings and Reggie Jackson can coexist in a backcourt.
According to David Mayo of MLive.com, Jennings is hoping to finish the 2015-16 NBA regular season in Detroit.
"Just as many folks in Detroit won’t want to see a trade happen — including Jennings, when asked whether he thinks he will finish the season here. “We’ll see,” he said. “I don’t know. I hope so. So we’ll see…. “I can’t really get away from (the rumors) because it’s all on my Twitter feed every time I tweet something,” Jennings said. “But it’s rumors. It’s something that I’m not worried about. I just want to play basketball and I’m just blessed to be healthy again.”"
The rumors will not subside until he’s either traded or the deadline passes.
Jennings was the catalyst to what was becoming an unbelievable turnaround in 2014-15. After opening the year at 5-23, the southpaw playmaker led the Pistons to 12 wins in their next 15 games before suffering the previously alluded to season-ending injury.
Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy was noncommittal about Jennings’ future in Detroit, but expressed that he has plans for the 26-year-old for as long as he’s there.
"”Our plan, right now, is that Brandon can help us make a playoff push, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Van Gundy said. “That’s our plan right now. If something happens in the next five weeks, we’ll look at it. But right now, he’s a very good player who can help us, and that’s the only way we’re looking at him.”"
Marc Berman of The New York Post reaffirmed the New York Knicks’ interest in acquiring Jennings’ services on January 3.
Jennings is four NBA games into his return, which is too small of a sample size for most executives to confidently pursue a deal. Achilles injuries can forever alter careers, and while he is 26 years old, the jury is still out for Jennings’ return.
The question is, will Van Gundy allow Jennings to hit free agency in 2016 instead of trading him for some form of value?
Next: Calm Before the Storm?
Brooklyn Nets: Patient on the Trade Front
The Brooklyn Nets were dealt a crushing blow when starting point guard Jarrett Jack was diagnosed with a torn ACL. Jack, who was averaging a career-best 7.2 assists per game, will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 NBA season.
According to Mike Mazzeo of ESPN, Nets general manager Billy King will allow his current point guards to prove themselves before pursuing a trade.
"Nets GM Billy King says the team plans to apply for the disabled player exception in light of Jarrett Jack’s season-ending injury. However, King wants to give reserves Shane Larkin and Donald Sloan a chance to play, as there are no point guards out there on the market who “move the needle.”"
Shane Larkin and Donald Sloan aren’t exactly rising stars, but it’s never too late for a breakout season.
Whether it’s an attempt to acquire talent or create financial flexibility, the Nets are expected to be active on the trade front. Brooklyn is 10-24 in a resurgent Eastern Conference, which makes it closer to the No. 1 selection in the 2016 NBA Draft it does the playoffs.
The issue, of course, is that the the Nets don’t have a first-round draft pick in 2016.
The Boston Celtics will receive Brooklyn’s unprotected first-round selection this coming June. In other words, whether Brooklyn wins the No. 1 overall draft pick or somehow gets to No. 30, Boston will receive it.
Thus, if King can trade for a talent who, “Moves the needle,” it’s hard to imagine him passing up the opportunity to do so.
Next: A Forgotten Asset
Chris Kaman is Available
Chris Kaman is being regarded as a positive influence on the Portland Trail Blazers’ youth movement. Despite his value as a veteran voice in the locker room, he isn’t guaranteed to remain in Portland throughout the remainder of the 2015-16 NBA season.
According to Jason Quick of CSN Northwest, Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey is open to the possibility of moving Kaman in a trade.
"He agreed to the role, in exchange for the Blazers picking up his $5 million option, during a summer phone conversation with Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations. That agreement also came with a caveat: If an opportunity presented itself to improve the Blazers, Olshey said he would trade Kaman."
Kaman is not only aware of that possibility, but went as far as admitting that he thinks about it with the February 18 trade deadline looming.
"“I think about it,’’ Kaman said. “I know it’s a high possibility. If he gets a good opportunity for the team, I get traded.’’"
Kaman is an interesting trade option.
The 33-year-old is in the final year of his two-year, $9,816,000 contract with the Trail Blazers. He’s making $5,016,000 in 2015-16, which is an expiring salary that could have significant value on the trade market.
If Olshey finds Portland a player who would improve the future of the organization, Kaman could be ideal compensation.
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Financially, his expiring contract creates flexibility for whichever team he finishes with. On the court, he’s a former All-Star who averaged 8.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 offensive boards and 0.7 blocks in 18.9 minutes on 51.5 percent shooting from the field in 2014-15,
For perspective, that translates to per 36 averages of 16.4 points, 12.5 rebounds, offensive 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks—numbers that would have value to any team in the NBA.
Next: Trade on the Horizon?
Dennis Schröder is Untouchable—For Now
Dennis Schröder took the sports world by surprise when he told reporters that he would consider other teams if he weren’t starting by the end of the 2015-16 NBA season. Thus, a rational belief was created that the Atlanta Hawks could trade the outspoken point guard by year’s end.
According to Steve Kyler of BasketballInsiders.com, that won’t happen.
Zero... was told highly doubtful Hawks do anything with Dennis in-season, may address in the off-season. https://t.co/GNAe7hP7f5
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) January 5, 2016
So much for all of that.
It’s still possible that Atlanta will deal Schröder, specifically if he becomes a distraction in the locker room. That’s yet to transpire, which is reason enough to trust that Kyler’s report is accurate to the desires and direction of the Hawks.
It’s simply worth pondering how Schröder fits into the future of the organization.
There’s common speculation that the Hawks are a go-to scorer away from making the leap. Al Horford and Paul Millsap have made multiple All-Star Game appearances, and both Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague joined them in 2015, but Atlanta is No. 23 in field goal percentage on pullups and No. 27 in points via isolation plays.
It’s not as though a team should strive to run those plays with consistency, but having a player who excels when their number is called is vital for a championship push.
Schröder could be that player. He could also be the player traded to acquire such a contributor.
Next: A Fractured Relationship
Marcus Morris on Brother Markieff: He Wants Out of Phoenix
Markieff Morris and the Phoenix Suns have effectively reached the end of their working relationship. Morris has received a vast number of healthy scratches, which is a safe way to determine that a player has fallen out of favor.
According to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press, Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris believes his brother wants out of Phoenix.
"“One thing about Keef is he’s always positive,” Marcus said. “Some stuff might happen a little, but he’s always positive. He’s still looking to get out of there, still looking to go somewhere else. Right now he has to be a pro and continue to take care of his business on and off the court.”"
There aren’t many sources better than a player’s twin brother.
Morris’ departure from Phoenix would catch no one by surprise; instead, it’d fall in line with the general expectations. Morris is still a very valuable player, but his falling out with Jeff Hornacek and the Suns organization has been well-documented.
Generally speaking, that leads to a decision to part ways. Nothing has been done yet, but Morris wants out of town and it stands to reason that the Suns are pursuing a similar outcome.
Suns owner Robert Sarver recently went as far as telling Dan Bickley of AZCentral.com that Morris is the perfect embodiment of the issues with the millennial culture and its sense of entitlement.
"“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said, when reached by The Republic via phone, regarding personality clashing and dysfunction within locker rooms. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason, and he can’t seem to recover from it.”"
Seeing as Morris has been involved in trade rumors since the beginning of the 2015-16 NBA season, it stands to reason that a change is coming.
Morris still has value to a team, no matter how messy a situation it is in Phoenix. Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reported in December that the New Orleans Pelicans were willing to trade Ryan Anderson to Phoenix in order to acquire Morris’ services.
Related Story: Markieff Morris isn't the only Phoenix Suns player worth trading for
Regardless of whether or not he’s dealt, if any player should be traded, it seems like Morris is the one.