The NBA trade rumors are starting to heat up, with more and more possibly deals being reported.
Check out the latest buzz below.
Possible Targets for Stephenson
Lance Stephenson is now the biggest subject of trade rumors, after Zach Lowe of Grantland said the Hornets “have been aggressive making trade calls.”
“The Hornets are searching for upgrades on the wing and at power forward, per those sources, and they are willing to talk turkey on basically anyone other than Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson. Free agents signed this past offseason can’t be traded until December 15, and few would be surprised if the Hornets make and take calls on Lance Stephenson ahead of that trigger date,” he said.
Lowe named a number of players in his report--including Randy Foye of the Denver Nuggets, Jeff Green of the Boston Celtics, and Corey Brewer of the Minnesota Timberwolves--but missed one possible trade.
Lakers Nation says that the Lakers could trade big man Jordan Hill for Stephenson.
“It’s possible the Lakers could dangle Jordan Hill as trade bait, but neither player can be dealt until Dec. 15 with Stephenson and Hill both signing new deals last summer. Hill is having a breakout year with the Lakers with impressive numbers across the board. The veteran forward/center is averaging a career-high 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game,” it said.
“Hill is currently leading the league in offensive rebounds along with Tyson Chandler at 4.1 per game. Losing Hill would be a costly blow for the Lakers in the frontcourt and on the glass, but it might be worth the risk for an upgrade at small forward.”
Henderson Also on the Block
The Hornets’ Gerald Henderson is also on the block.
“Been hearing from executives for a few weeks that Henderson is available,” reported Sam Amick of USA Today.
Henderson’s $6 million per-year contract could be easier to move than Stephenson’s.
But his decreased production could make him a no-go in a number of spots.
After averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game last season--and shooting .433 from field goal range, and .348 from 3-point range--Henderson is down to 10.8 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, and while his field goal percentage is similar his 3-point shooting is down to .273 percent.
Pelicans Looking to Deal
The New Orleans Pelicans are also in the market, reported Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.
The Pelicans are doing okay at 8-8 but need a boost in order to compete in the tough Western Conference.
The team has a number of trade options, but it would be hard not to disrupt the core that includes Anthony Davis, Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, and Ryan Anderson.
Kennedy, who noted the Pelicans waived Darius Miller and Patric Young to open roster spots, said the Pelicans “are being aggressive” in trade talks.
“They have a lot of issues right now,” Kennedy said. “Their defense is really bad right now, even though they have Davis. They’re 22nd in the league in defense. He’s averaging the most blocks per game and the fourth-most steals per game, and yet they still can’t stop anyone. That really tells you how bad this perimeter defense has been.”
Davis is playing great on offense, but pretty much everyone else has been inconsistent.
“The biggest issue is their depth. Guys who wouldn’t be rotation players on most teams, yet they’re relying on all of those guys. There’s a huge drop-off past their best six players.”
“I think they could try to make a trade kind of like the Toronto Raptors did with Rudy Gay, where they traded away one star player and got significant depth back. They got Graevies Vasquez, Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson.”
Two potential trade players are Anderson and Evans, and one trade partner is the Denver Nuggets. “They have a lot of quality veterans,” Kennedy said. “They’re struggling, too, and they could be looking to make a move as well.”
