The NBA’s Feb. 19 Trade Deadline is less than a week away and with the league convening in New York for all-star weekend, expect a lot of buzz to emerge.
In the meantime, here’s what’s already rumoured to be cooking.
Dragic on the table for a first-rounder
The Skinny: According to Milwaukee Bucks beat writer Gery Woelfel, the Phoenix Suns are willing to part with Goran Dragic for a first-round pick.
Analysis: While it’s true that Dragic is on an expiring deal, and the Suns did just sign Eric Bledsoe to a long-term contract and acquire another talented point guard in Isaiah Thomas, it still doesn’t make sense that Phoenix would want to part with their best player when they’re clinging to the eighth seed in a very tight Western Conference playoff race.
On the other hand, the team rumoured to be the most interested in Dragic is the Houston Rockets, who have a first-round pick in this year’s draft that could fall in the lottery depending on how the New Orleans Pelicans finish—in other words, it’s conceivable the Suns could pull the trigger on such a deal.
The Arron Afflalo Sweepstakes
The Skinny: ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne is reporting that the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings have all begun Arron Afflalo-related discussions with the Denver Nuggets.
Analysis: The Nuggets look like they’re shutting down shop for the season and want to get as much value for as many of their players as possible. Afflalo could be a good fit for a contender looking for a three-and-D wing. The biggest obstacle to any potential deal is likely Afflalo’s $7.9-million player option for next year, which may be scaring off teams that would only want him as a rental for a playoff push.
Kanter wants out of Utah
The Skinny: Fourth-year Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter has reportedly asked to be traded, citing frustration over empty promises of increased playing time.
Analysis: Kanter has a point when it comes to his playing time—he averages just 20.4 minutes per game—but that’s what happens when your teammates have been Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert. Kanter’s per-36 minute numbers are good (16.5 points and 10.4 rebounds for his career), which should draw healthy interest if his expiring rookie deal hasn’t already.
The biggest knock to his trade value is that he offers no rim protection, despite his six-foot-11, 245-pound frame. For his career, Kanter only averages 0.4 blocks per game, and this season he’s allowing opponents to shoot 57.5 percent at the rim, an inexcusable figure given his physical attributes.
Magic make Nicholson available
The Skinny: The Orlando Magic are working with 2012 No. 19 pick and Mississauga, Ont., native Andrew Nicholson and his agent to find the Canadian big man a new home, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
Analysis: This feels like the Magic doing Nicholson a favour more than being dissatisfied with what he can bring to the table. With the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Channing Frye, Kyle O’Quinn, Maurice Harkless and injured rookie Aaron Gordon already on the roster, Orlando simply has too much front-court depth for Nicholson to have much of a shot to play.
It’s unclear what exactly the Magic can get for the third-year player, since he’s still an unknown commodity due to how little floor time he’s seen, but Orlando needs to address point guard depth moving forward, so look for them to dangle Nicholson for something along the lines of a third point man.