I figured I'd start this thread since we are about 10 days away from the NBA Trade Deadline ( which is on Thursday 2/19 at 3pm EST / 12pm PST ).
I will re-post what Shade posted in the Random Thoughts thread:
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nb...for-a-big-man/
More speculation:
http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index....l_blazers.html
Please feel free to post whatever you come across that may seem relevant. The hope is that the rumor is actually legit or at least is from Woj or someone respectable ( as opposed to some kid that is blogging about what they heard from the Hot Dog vendor at the Arena ).
I will re-post what Shade posted in the Random Thoughts thread:
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nb...for-a-big-man/
The Raptors are one of several teams sniffing around for a roster upgrade, specifically at the power forward spot. A few names continue to surface around league sources when talking about Toronto, the biggest being Indiana’s David West, the next is Chicago’s Taj Gibson, then Denver’s Kenneth Faried and then there is a long list of B and C tier names that Toronto might consider at the deadline if all else fails.
http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index....l_blazers.html
Rounding up the latest trade rumors the Internet has to offer as the Thursday, Feb. 19 NBA trade deadline approaches:
• Sean Deveney of the Sporting News has 15 known inhabitants of the trading block, including Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson:
Gibson's name has been connected to much of the league over the last few months, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Phoenix to Detroit to Portland.
In recent weeks, he has not played with the type of energy for which he has been known, and there has been speculation that he is frustrated with the addition of Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol (though his playing time has not changed much). Gibson still has two years and $17.4 million on his deal, which is a problem in moving him.
And former Blazers guard Mo Williams:
Williams is on a one-year contract, and though he is 32 years old, he still has some value as a backup guard with experience. He had a 52-point game earlier in the year, and that certainly got the attention of GMs around the league, but he remains useful as a 20-minute-per-game guy on a playoff team.
The Wolves would be open to moving Williams, but given his manageable salary and their young backcourt, they're not desperate to make a deal.
Deveney also lists "Phoenix and Portland are possible destinations" for Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass.
• Wilson Chandler is a name that has been linked with the Blazers in recent rumors and Basketball Insider's Alex Kennedy writes that the Denver Nuggets are still seeking a first-round pick in exchange for the forward:
A number of teams have expressed interest in Wilson Chandler, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. It's believed that Denver wants a first-round pick back in any deal involving Chandler.
The Clippers have been looking for help on the wing (they even tried to trade for Jeff Green before he landed with the Memphis Grizzlies), so it's no surprise that they're interested in Chandler. It's unclear what they're offering, as they don't have many trade assets.
The Blazers like Chandler and believe he would bolster their roster for a playoff push.
...
Chandler is attractive to teams since he's playing well - averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds - and his contract is a bargain. He's set to earn just $7,171,662 next year and only $2 million of that is guaranteed. Denver knows that he's coveted and won't trade him for the sake of trading him. They want a nice offer in return, and could wait until the summer if they feel like they could get more for him then.
• With Thabo Sefolosha out for 6-8 weeks with a calf injury, will the Atlanta Hawks look to make a move? Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explores:
"For us to be open to improving the group and adding more depth, with Thabo healthy or without Thabo healthy or without Thabo having this injury, it's kind of the same mindset," coach Mike Budenolzer said. "We really like our group. You are hesitant to do anything. There is a little more opportunity for a six- to eight-week window but I don't think it changes much if at all."
Budenholzer admitted that disrupting the chemistry of a team that just had a 19-game win streak end and has won 33 of the past 36 games is a concern.
"Those kinds of conversations are part of the debate and the collaboration," he said. "We are fortunate to have such good chemistry and have such good guys that we are very protective of that and respective of that."
In the meantime, Budenholzer said to expect more minutes for Kent Bazemore. The offseason acquisition, along with Sefolosha, was brought in for his defensive ability. Bazemore started two games recently that Carroll missed with a left Achilles strain.
• Nets GM Billy King said earlier this week Brooklyn is not in any rush to make a move, despite earlier reports they are looking to dump the salaries of Brook Lopez and Deron Williams. Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com:
"I would say more now, we're not making phone calls, phone calls are coming in, and we're evaluating things, but right now I want to see this group play," King said Monday night during a pregame show segment on the team's official website.
"I still have confidence in this group that they can get the job done, get us in the playoffs. So right now we're going to see how we can finish up going into the All-Star break, and then go in and we have a week after that to the deadline, and if a deal makes sense we'll do it, but we're not going to just make a trade to make a trade."
The Nets (18-28) have lost four straight and 12 of 14. But given that they play in the Eastern Conference and are just 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot, there is more than enough time left to make up that ground.
• Sean Deveney of the Sporting News has 15 known inhabitants of the trading block, including Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson:
Gibson's name has been connected to much of the league over the last few months, from Los Angeles to Toronto to Phoenix to Detroit to Portland.
In recent weeks, he has not played with the type of energy for which he has been known, and there has been speculation that he is frustrated with the addition of Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol (though his playing time has not changed much). Gibson still has two years and $17.4 million on his deal, which is a problem in moving him.
And former Blazers guard Mo Williams:
Williams is on a one-year contract, and though he is 32 years old, he still has some value as a backup guard with experience. He had a 52-point game earlier in the year, and that certainly got the attention of GMs around the league, but he remains useful as a 20-minute-per-game guy on a playoff team.
The Wolves would be open to moving Williams, but given his manageable salary and their young backcourt, they're not desperate to make a deal.
Deveney also lists "Phoenix and Portland are possible destinations" for Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass.
• Wilson Chandler is a name that has been linked with the Blazers in recent rumors and Basketball Insider's Alex Kennedy writes that the Denver Nuggets are still seeking a first-round pick in exchange for the forward:
A number of teams have expressed interest in Wilson Chandler, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. It's believed that Denver wants a first-round pick back in any deal involving Chandler.
The Clippers have been looking for help on the wing (they even tried to trade for Jeff Green before he landed with the Memphis Grizzlies), so it's no surprise that they're interested in Chandler. It's unclear what they're offering, as they don't have many trade assets.
The Blazers like Chandler and believe he would bolster their roster for a playoff push.
...
Chandler is attractive to teams since he's playing well - averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds - and his contract is a bargain. He's set to earn just $7,171,662 next year and only $2 million of that is guaranteed. Denver knows that he's coveted and won't trade him for the sake of trading him. They want a nice offer in return, and could wait until the summer if they feel like they could get more for him then.
• With Thabo Sefolosha out for 6-8 weeks with a calf injury, will the Atlanta Hawks look to make a move? Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explores:
"For us to be open to improving the group and adding more depth, with Thabo healthy or without Thabo healthy or without Thabo having this injury, it's kind of the same mindset," coach Mike Budenolzer said. "We really like our group. You are hesitant to do anything. There is a little more opportunity for a six- to eight-week window but I don't think it changes much if at all."
Budenholzer admitted that disrupting the chemistry of a team that just had a 19-game win streak end and has won 33 of the past 36 games is a concern.
"Those kinds of conversations are part of the debate and the collaboration," he said. "We are fortunate to have such good chemistry and have such good guys that we are very protective of that and respective of that."
In the meantime, Budenholzer said to expect more minutes for Kent Bazemore. The offseason acquisition, along with Sefolosha, was brought in for his defensive ability. Bazemore started two games recently that Carroll missed with a left Achilles strain.
• Nets GM Billy King said earlier this week Brooklyn is not in any rush to make a move, despite earlier reports they are looking to dump the salaries of Brook Lopez and Deron Williams. Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com:
"I would say more now, we're not making phone calls, phone calls are coming in, and we're evaluating things, but right now I want to see this group play," King said Monday night during a pregame show segment on the team's official website.
"I still have confidence in this group that they can get the job done, get us in the playoffs. So right now we're going to see how we can finish up going into the All-Star break, and then go in and we have a week after that to the deadline, and if a deal makes sense we'll do it, but we're not going to just make a trade to make a trade."
The Nets (18-28) have lost four straight and 12 of 14. But given that they play in the Eastern Conference and are just 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot, there is more than enough time left to make up that ground.
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