It’s around that time of the year when teams begin to fully understand who they are and where they are (not) going. The contenders monitor those middle-of-the-pack teams and begin to ask around. The pretenders start unloading players in hopes of netting assets that will help them down the road. Finally, the teams that are stuck in mediocrity end up staying put because they don’t know what to make of themselves.
Nevertheless, there are fake trades galore and an abundance of rumors to dive into. Here are the ones taking over the headlines in recent days.
All odds via Tipico Sportsbook
Pacers Looking to Rebuild
Shoutout to the Indiana Pacers for recognizing that being mediocre every season gets them absolutely nowhere. The roster construction is odd, their core has run its course and the front office is ready to embrace a rebuild. Let’s talk about it.
Sources: The Indiana Pacers are moving toward rebuild, receptive to trade talks centered on Caris LeVert and either Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner.
Story with @bkravitz at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/2bGjubFtWe
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 7, 2021
Myles Turner
Potential Fits – Warriors, Celtics, Knicks
In a world with no Rudy Gibert, Myles Turner is arguably the league’s best defensive big man. He gets some recognition for his brilliance, but the fact that he plays for a mostly irrelevant Indiana team doesn’t do him any favors. He uses his length well and is good enough laterally to get away with guarding some fours from time to time as well.
And of course, the cherry on top is that Turner has evolved with the game and become a modern NBA big. He’s shooting and making threes at the highest and most efficient rate of his career, making him a fit in nearly every offense. Teams hoping to make a deep run should look into acquiring Turner.
Domantas Sabonis
Potential Fits – Wizards, Mavericks, Warriors
Most would agree that Sabonis is the best player on the Pacers, but he’s got even more to offer if put in a better situation. In theory, Turner’s floor-spacing isn’t supposed to hinder Sabonis’ ability to operate offensively, but the combo is slightly awkward and unsatisfying. Add to that how new coach Rick Carlisle’s offense is cutting down on Domantas’ usage and you’re left wanting a bit more from the two-time all-star.
Sabonis, with +30000 MVP odds at Tipico, is a multi-dimensional scorer and gifted passer who raises the ceiling of any offense. And to get the most out of him I’d probably avoid pairing him with another big.
Caris LeVert
Potential Fits – Mavericks, Cavaliers, Nuggets
The Caris LeVert experiment in Indiana somewhat got off the ground but never fully. He spent the better part of his first season on the sidelines after a mass was found on his kidney but made his return to the court later in the season and put up career-best numbers.
Injuries are once again the story of the current season for LeVert. The drafting of Chris Duarte is also making for a logjam at the position.
Caris is who he is at this point; a ball-in-hands, microwave type of bucket-getter that is probably best suited for a team that needs help scoring.
Portland NOT Rebuilding
You know how I mentioned the Pacers being able to see the writing on the wall? Well, perhaps there is an invisible ink-filled wall over in Portland.
The Blazers keep doing the same ole thing every season and insisting on running it back with a core that continues to come up short. They’re currently out of the playoff picture and +105 odds at Tipico to find their way in.
I thought their firing of Neil Olshey signaled the team’s willingness to start blowing this thing up. NOPE.
Blazers’ interim GM Joe Cronin says “I was built for this.”
“This” is not a rebuild. It’s not tweaking around the margins. And it’s not keeping the status quo. “This” is enhancing the roster into a winner. A look at the man who will reshape the roster. https://t.co/Jd29rszGiY
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) December 10, 2021
How can the Blazers “enhance” the roster? It starts with moving a centerpiece.
Damian Lillard and his +8000 MVP odds are reportedly off the market, rightfully so. And the next player in line is his backcourt running mate.
CJ McCollum
I’ve spent the last two offseasons anticipating a McCollum trade, but it just hasn’t happened. And with each passing season, the veteran guard grows a little older, faces another injury and (maybe) loses a little value. CJ is still a great scorer that has had some really good individual season as of late until injuries enter the fold.
The obvious trade involves Ben Simmons, but there’s likely more out there. We’ll have to see what impact McCollum’s recently diagnosed collapsed lung has on his future.
Ben Simmons + Kyrie Irving Speculation
I group these two together because these are guys that haven’t stepped foot on an NBA court this season for their respective teams. They also have no intention of doing so, for different reasons.
Ben Simmons
Potential Fits – Trail Blazers, Timberwolves
Ben Simmons’ relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers has soured dating back to this past offseason. Simmons and the organization just aren’t on the same page, and it doesn’t seem like they will be.
There have been trades linking him everywhere, including the aforementioned Trail Blazers. A trade to Brooklyn for Kyrie seems like it would’ve already happened by now if it was a thing.
I think that the weird happenings of the past few months, alongside the role that holdout is playing, have clouded our interpretation of Simmons’ game. He’s still an amazing defensive player that can do a lot of good things on offense. He’ll do wonders for his future team.
ESPN reporting with @ZachLowe_NBA: Philadelphia's trade conversations on Ben Simmons gathering momentum in recent days. More teams engaged, more two and three-way deal structure talks ongoing as 76ers try to land a Top 25 player for Simmons.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2021
Kyrie Irving
Potential Fits – Everywhere?
“Speculation” is the exact word to use here. Nobody really knows what’s going on between Kyrie and the Nets, but it seems like there’s no fairytale ending for the two parties.
While the Nets remain in first place out east and have +250 odds to win the championship, Kyrie would put them over the top. They know that, and it’s hard to imagine they let him go for minimal returns. However, if Irving really isn’t going to play this season, shouldn’t the Nets take what they can get in order to capitalize on this championship window that they have?
It will be an interesting few months leading up to the trade deadline.
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