Trade rumors in the NBA are a funny thing.
A source in the NBA could mean a variety of things. If it’s not made up by an NBA writer to get clicks, the information could have came from a variety of places, including from a(n):
- Agent
- Disgruntled current or former NBA team employee
- A concerted and intentional funnel of information leak to the media from a team (usually through their PR; more prevalent with certain teams, especially those where you can see all of the credentialed media stating the same thing).
- Current or former NBA players (while the relationships with media exist, players typically are out of the loop when it comes to the front office plans; ie when you hear Zach LaVine connected to Miami, it’s probably Zach LaVine or his camp saying he wants to go to Miami rather than something substantial from the Heat).
Even when you hear reputable media personalities pass along information, you have to question the source. Where did they get this piece of information? Why did they get it?
With the offseason here for the majority of NBA teams, we’d like to pass along some of the trade rumors we believe to be true and from reputable sources:
Sixers Rumors
The Sixers ownership “very much approved” of the trade that sent Jared McCain, per Jake Fischer (via The Stein Line), adding that it wasn’t the final straw for Daryl Morey in Philadelphia.
- When you look at the financial motives for the organization, you can understand they needed to get under the tax; Not taking someone back (with salary) was no doubt done with the financials in mind (one of numerous trade deadlines that have been a plus from a financial standpoint in Philadelphia).
- You can also understand why they wouldn’t dismiss Nick Nurse. Are they really going to pay multiple coaches?
- We should note that we are a business-oriented site, so we’re not hating on Philadelphia’s financial plans.
There is widespread belief that the team would be better off reseting their roster around Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, Fischer continues.
Trading Joel Embiid might not happen this offseason because the team may have to attach an asset because of Embiid’s contract.
- This one really depends on a few factors.
- Yes, the team has shifted it’s messaging toward Maxey and VJ being the answer for quite some time now.
- Whether or not Embiid is moved this summer might have to do more with the future of the NBA’s disabled player insurance policy because assuming, Joel remains covered, there’s no shortage of teams that would take a chance on him with the safety net of potential future financial savings via insurance paying large portions of his contract when he sits out.
- Our guess:
- The Trail Blazers seem like a fit if Embiid is moved.
- The Lakers could also be one, assuming they move on from LeBron James, though Los Angeles could entail the team believing that with a different health plan, they could find different results for Embiid (the Lakers did get two straight months of healthy peak-Anthony Davis previously in his career).
- Don’t rule out the Sixers keeping Embiid and then using the stretch provision to waive his salary over multiple future seasons.
More NBA Rumors
- For months, sources like ESPN and more recently, Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic, have repeated that the Lakers need and plan to build around Luka Doncic. Amick and Woike writes that the Lakers don’t view simply running it back with a “mostly similar” roster as an option.
- Numerous sources have indicated that the Lakers have interest in continuing the relationship with LeBron James. As we previously passed along, it might come with a caveat. James isn’t expected to have the same power in the franchise he once had and whether or not he accepts that situation may determine if he continues to play in Los Angeles.
- The Lakers have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo and The Athletic recently reported that any trade would involved Austin Reaves. ESPN pegged Giannis as a possible addition months ago when it wrote a piece on the Lakers and it seemed like another example of more noise than substance with regards to the Greek Freak heading to Los Angeles.
- There has been a lot of rumblings about LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers.
