NBA trade rumors are now more interesting than free agent rumors with the top free agents off the board.
Kevin Love, Amare Stoudemire, and Rajon Rando are three of the top targets for teams looking to deal.
Love particularly is known to want to be moved and the Minnesota Timberwolves thus want to move him to get something in return before he becomes a free agent next summer.
Check out the latest buzz below:
Kevin Love
Love started being connected to the Cleveland Cavaliers after the LeBron James announcement, with Marc Stein of ESPN saying that Love is “intrigued” by the idea.
Stein gave an update over the weekend: “Sources say KLove remains ‘intrigued’ by chance to join LeBron with Cavs. I’m told Wolves, though, still asking for off-limits Andrew Wiggins.”
It seems that the Timberwolves want a lot for Love and aren’t willing to deal with the Cavs unless Wiggins, the No. 1 draft pick, is part of the deal.
Another team linked to Love, the Golden State Warriors, are reportedly unwilling to give up Klay Thompson, another deal breaker.
“Lots telling me Wolves HAVE to move Love now. All I can say is they don’t see it that way. No Klay. No Wiggins. No Love. Period,” reported Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press.
On Tuesday, he reported that Flip Saunders of Minnesota and the Warriors’ GM Bob Myers were seen talking on Sunday.
“It’s not clear if GSW has changed its position on Klay. But the sides are at least talking about things again after hitting a wall,” he said. “Wouldn’t say there’s anything imminent between GSW and Wolves for Love. Just notable that talks have re-opened. There is no question that deals this summer have pushed Klay’s value sky high. Sounds like both Warriors and Wolves realize that.”
For now, the reported new Big 3 of James, Kyrie Irving, and Love isn’t happening.
Klay Thompson
The Warriors seem more and more likely to keep Thompson, even with the signing of Shaun Livingston.
In addition to the new information from Krawcyznski, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News shared updates on the situation recently.
“Multiple sources indicate that Steve Kerr wants to coach this roster the way it is, especially Klay Thompson paired with Curry,” he said.
“Second NBA source: The Warriors have no plans to offer Klay Thompson to Minnesota, even if CLE comes in aggressively for Kevin Love.”
Amare Stoudemire
It’s no secret the New York Knicks would love to get rid of Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani, but the team hasn’t been able to find any teams willing to take either one.
The best likelihood seemed to be the Philadelphia 76ers, a team known for being willing to take on big contracts, but a deal seems less likely as time goes on.
A source close to Stoudemire told Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report that a trade with the Sixers is probably not going to happen.
On the other hand, the Sixers could use Stoudemire to help mentor both Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.
DeJuan Blair, Kris Humphries
The Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics completed a sign-and-trade, in which the former acquired Kris Humphries.
Humphries averaged 8.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for Boston last season. The Wizards were able to acquire him through the $8.5 million trade exception it acquired in the three-team deal that included sending Trevor Ariza to the Houston Rockets.
Humphries contract will reportedly be three years and $13 million.
Humphries will be the first big man off the bench for the Wizards, and will likely need to fill in at starting power forward for Nene in some games because Nene gets hurt a lot.
The Wizards also still acquired DeJuan Blair, bolstering the frontcourt even more.
After reports that the Wizards and Dallas Mavericks were discussing a sign-and-trade, Blair told fans via Twitter on Wednesday: “DC!”
With Nene, Marcin Gortat, Humphries, Blair, and Drew Gooden, the Wizards big man rotation is looking strong.
Paul Pierce was also signed to start at small forward, while Martell Webster and Otto Porter will come off the bench.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets went for LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh and ended up with Trevor Ariza.
The team also dealt Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik, and lost Chandler Parsons when it declined to match the Mavericks offer sheet.
Now that the top free agents are off the board, the team is looking to trade.
The Rockets haven’t really been connected to Love, but Stein of ESPN said that they'll “try to work their way into the mix” for the forward.
He also expects the Rockets to pursue Rondo of the Boston Celtics, who will become a free agent next summer and could be traded at any point.
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