NBA Trade Rumors for 2016-17 Season: Russell to Bucks, Bledsoe, Knight to Celtics, Olynyk to Sixers
As the NBA regular season draws near, trade rumors continue to hit sports news. Here are the latest.
1. D'Angelo Russell to Milwaukee Bucks
A recent rumor suggests that D'Angelo Russell of the Los Angeles Lakers will be traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Jabari Parker and Greg Monroe.
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Most trade rumors are just plain speculations, and some, including this one, have a very small chance of being realized. The problem with a Russell trade to the Bucks is that the salary cap restrictions might get in the way. Specifically, Greg Monroe and Jabari Parker earn a total of $22.5 million this season, and Russell earns $5.3 million.
D'Angelo Russell averaged 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in his rookie year last season. Parker, on the other hand, averaged 16.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
2. Eric Bledsoe or Brandon Knight to Boston Celtics
Phoenix Suns currently has three guards who are vying for the starting position. These are Brandon Knight, Devin Booker and Eric Bledsoe.
One can say that there is a log jam in the back court for the Suns. As such, rumors have sufficed that the team will trade one of its point guards. For now, Ryan McDonough, Suns GM, said that the three are competing for the starting spot; "It is going to be an open competition going up to training camp, we haven't predetermined anything."
If a trade is considered, it is likely that Booker will be spared since he is the youngest among the three and will be given time to improve within the organization.
Phoenix can trade with the Boston Celtics; a team with a lot of young, athletic and high-potential players to offer. A sample trade scenario that works within the cap rules of NBA involves Eric Bledsoe and Tyson Chandler moving to the Celtics in exchange for Avery Bradley, Jaylen Brown and Amir Johnson.
Jaylen Brown, in particular, will help the Suns get some depth in the small forward position. Bradley will also be a great addition to the guard position due to his excellent defense.
3. Kelly Olynyk to Philadelphia 76ers
Sportsrageous reports a rumored trade between Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. In this trade, Kelly Olynyk will have a new spot in the Sixers roster, while Nerlens Noel will move to Boston.
Nerlens Noel has this to say about the logjam in the Sixers front court: "I don't see a way it's working. It's just a logjam. You've got three talented centers that can play 30-plus minutes a night and three centers can't play 30 minutes a night. That's that."
If the rumored trade gets realized, this might appease Noel and the questions he's had over the big man-filled roster of his current team. While it may seem that the trade won't solve the logjam, since Olynyk is also a big man, Olynyk does have range and can shoot from beyond the arc. That helps space the floor for the Sixers.
Nerlens Noel will also help the Celtics with his defensive prowess at the front court position. Boston did have some problems on the defensive end, and adding Noel could be more than enough to solve that problem.
