NBA News and Trade Rumors: Top 3 Players Who Might be Traded During the 2016-17 Season
The NBA 2016-17 season is fast approaching, and most teams are near completion when it comes to their rosters. At this point in the off-season, trades are unlikely to happen. That's because coaches are more likely to get a feel for their current squad as the season starts, and make decisions from there.
In other words, teams will evaluate their current roster at the start of the season. As games progress, coaches will have a better idea about their team's weaknesses, strengths, needs, as well as learn more about other teams and their players.
Despite this, rumors still abound and many experts and regular fans speculate that the following players will be traded within the 2016-17 regular season.
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1. Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves is one of the most talented point guards in the league. He is a true facilitator, averaging 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game. At only 25 years old, Rubio has not even reached his peak yet (theoretically speaking) and is poised to have more dominating seasons in a couple of years.
However, Rubio made it to the trade rumor mill when, given the recent moves by the Timberwolves franchise, the team seems to be in rebuilding mode, with the team's future pinned on young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.
The Timberwolves also took Kris Dunn, a point guard, for their 5th overall draft pick. Rubio will definitely mentor Dunn, and it seems that Dunn will eventually replace Rubio in the starting point guard position in the future.
2. Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez is the Brooklyn Nets' best player. Last season, the 7-foot center averaged 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. However, given the position that the Nets are in now, trading Brook Lopez might be their best chance to improve as a team.
Many believe that the current talent in the Nets roster simply isn't enough to get them into playoff contention, and they have to wait until 2019 to have their own pick. Three more years to rebuild is such a long time.
One remedy that Brooklyn thought of was to sign restricted free agents Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson. Unfortunately for the Nets, both players' previous teams matched their offer, so both players stayed in their original teams.
The Nets have a few trade options for Brook Lopez which seem to be win-win situations. One is a trade with the Celtics. Celtics will get Lopez, who will add an offensive front court to a team already loaded with offensive talent. In exchange, the Nets will get back their two picks for 2017 and 2018.
3. Nerlens Noel
The Philadelphia 76ers is loaded with young talent in the front court position. You have players like Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and the latest number one overall draft pick, Ben Simmons.
The 76ers will have time to evaluate which players to keep and which to trade, but rumors have been pointing to Nerlens Noel as the one most likely to leave the team.
One notable team that is interested in getting Noel is no less than the 2016 NBA Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rumors say that the Cavs are willing to give up Kevin Love in exchange for Noel, a younger, more athletic, better defender than Kevin Love, who was struggled to fit in with the Cavs roster these past two seasons.
