NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Updates Around the Association

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?