The Houston Rockets are looking more like potential trade partners with the Minnesota Timberwolves for forward Corey Brewer. What was once a two-team race to trade for Brewer between the Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers has dissipated into the Rockets leading in what could be a trade that commences shortly.
It seems that head coach David Blatt and the Cavaliers are more interested in acquiring a big man to bolster their paint more so than Anderson Varejao has now their interest in acquiring Brewer has dwindled. The need for defensive help has produced rumors of the Cavaliers trading for Indiana Pacers big man Roy Hibbert, Denver Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov and to provide help on the wing, Corey Brewer.
However as ESPN’s Marc Stein indicates, the Rockets are ready to fire the trigger on a trade for Brewer now, and are ahead of the pack due to their decisiveness.
Things are fluid, as always in trade talks, but latest word is Houston more likely than Cleveland as landing spot via trade for Corey Brewer
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 20, 2014
Rockets have made it clear they're ready to move NOW. Cavs said to be weighing whether to prioritize pursuing rim protector or wing depth
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 20, 2014
As they say, money talks and bulls*** walks, the Rockets don’t have as much need for Brewer on the defensive end as they’re currently ranked third in the league and giving up 99.6 points per 100 possessions. The Cavaliers on the other hand are ranked 18th, and are allowing 106.8 points.
Currently averaging 26.2 minutes with the Timberwolves, Brewer is playing his eighth season in the league at a steady pace after a season-ending injury in the 2008-09 season. He’s averaging 10.6 points and 3.4 rebounds with two steals and could be a very productive addition off the bench of a contending team.
The Rockets would prefer to be the chosen contending team. Adding Brewer to their already talented lineup appears to be a move solely motivated in increasing team depth. Brewer would be a nice backup for small forward Trevor Ariza, while granting head coach Kevin McHale the option to play more seasoned veterans instead of his young roster.
There’s not much validity to this rumor, neither team looks like they have the clear advantage. At first comparison between the Cavaliers and Rockets roster, Houston has better trade chips but if that was the single motivation behind the Timberwolves moving Brewer a deal would’ve probably been completed.
More so than a wing defender the Cavaliers need a rim protector. They’ve been hopeful in adding big men who have attractive statistics primarily in the opponents field goal percentage at the rim. Hibbert has the highest percentage (38.90) of players who’ve been considered trade bait for the Cavaliers, and it seems they’re unrelenting in their quest to find a more defensively sound big man.
However if the Cavs can’t pull of the trade they want general manager Chris Grant is still smart enough to pull the trigger on the trade he can get. This scenario smells of one team eager to trade and the other simply stalling. It’s unclear as to who is the favored trade partner for the Timberwolves, what is clear is that there’s a need for Brewer with either team.