The race for Goran Dragic heats up, the surprising availability of Jamal Crawford and more from the NBA rumor mill.
Since news spread that point guard Goran Dragic told the Phoenix Suns he has no intention of re-signing in the offseason, a flurry of suitors have lined up. According to the latest rumblings, the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets are among those actively pursuing Dragic.
When Dragic told the Suns of his intentions Tuesday, he reportedly gave them a list of possible destinations that included the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. None of those teams are in the mix for a title, however, and the race for services has expanded to include a wide number of clubs.
The Kings appear to be one of the primary teams going after Dragic, and Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears reports the team wants him "bad." Sacramento currently starts Darren Collison at point guard after running current Suns backup Isaiah Thomas out of town, so Dragic would signal a massive upgrade for the position as it transitions to new coach George Karl.
Dragic's massive contract demands reportedly wouldn't be an issue for the Kings, either. Spears says the team could move Jason Thompson and former first-round pick Nik Stauskas eventually in order to free space for a max offer, which would allow the Kings to move forward with a core featuring Dragic, wing Rudy Gay and All-Star big man DeMarcus Cousins.
Two other teams that have surfaced as top contenders for Dragic are Indiana and Boston. The Celtics traded their star point guard, Rajon Rondo, earlier in the season but could be ready to replace him with a new big name. The Celtics currently have a young backcourt led by Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart and could prefer to expedite the rebuilding process by bringing in a veteran player like Dragic. The Pacers, meanwhile, are still figuring out whether to make a run for the playoffs, and could bolster that effort by bringing in the Suns guard.
One final suitor is Houston. CBS Sports reports that the team is "aggressively pursuing a deal" for Dragic, and could potentially center the return around young guard Patrick Beverley. The Rockets can offer Dragic a chance to win now, but it would put him back into a crowded rotation on a team that doesn't have a ton of financial flexibility. Given that Dragic largely appears to be aiming for a big contract, it's unsurprising that the report says Houston isn't among the short list of teams the point guard wants. Dragic also surely remembers how the Rockets didn't re-sign him two years ago, choosing Jeremy Lin instead.
There's also always the possibility that Phoenix tries to keep Dragic and trade Thomas instead, although USA Today reports Dragic likely wants out either way. For now, expect the rumors to continue rolling in hot and heavy over the next 24-plus hours.
Kings want Arron Afflalo
The Kings aren't just pursuing Dragic to improve their backcourt. Sacramento also has its eyes on Denver Nuggets shooting guard Arron Afflalo as a chief target, according to CBS Sports' Ken Berger. Acquiring Afflalo would require a "significant asset," but could be worth it as the team seeks upgrades for its new coaching staff.
Afflalo, who played for Karl's Nuggets in the past, is considered one of the top players available on the market. A solid defensive guard who can knock down shots, he would be a strong fit for a Sacramento team that could use some defense and spacing to support Cousins and Gay.
The team is reportedly dangling Stauskas, the No. 8 pick from the 2014 draft, as a carrot to draw teams in, but the report notes that some teams are puzzled by the idea of trading the rookie for a possible rental. Afflalo has a player option for next season but seems likely to decline it in favor of pursuing a long-term deal.
Jamal Crawford available
It appears a Jamal Crawford deal is on the table for the Los Angeles Clippers this week. While a trade isn't imminent, ESPN's Arash Markazi reports that Crawford is not "untouchable" and could be included in trade talks before the deadline.
This is somewhat surprising news, given that the Clippers are still contenders and Crawford is one of the best bench scorers in the league. At 34 years old, he's seen a dip in his efficiency -- 39 percent from the field, 33 percent from three -- but he's still averaging over 21 points per 36 minutes and would be difficult to replace using guys already on the roster.
Maybe Los Angeles has something interesting in the works that would allow it to ship off Crawford without missing his offensive flair, but any suitor would likely need to make an impressive offer. The Clippers don't need to trade Crawford, after all, and it's not often you see a contender trading away talented veterans.
Bucks interested in Enes Kanter
If the Utah Jazz decide to pull the trigger on an Enes Kanter deal before the deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks are expected be to be top suitors, according to Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today.
Kanter, a restricted free agent in the offseason, reportedly asked to be traded recently after growing his frustrated with his role on the team. A former top draft pick, Kanter was supposed to be a cornerstone for the team but has been stuck sharing playing time with Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert and Trevor Booker in a crowded frontcourt.
With the 22-year-old "sharing his frustrations with anyone who asks," the Jazz are weighing whether to move on from the talented center and commit further to Favors and Gobert. The Bucks, who are in the midst of buying Larry Sanders out his lucrative deal, appear to be one of the top options.
Zillgill and Amick say that Milwaukee head coach Jason Kidd is a big fan of Kanter, partially because he "had a front-row seat to some of Kanter's best games in the past two seasons." If the Bucks are willing to make a tempting offer, the Jazz could have a fit.
Reggie Jackson likely to be moved
Rival teams expect the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade young guard Reggie Jackson before the deadline, per CBS Sports. One possible suitor could be the Bucks, who seemingly have been active in a number of discussions in recent days given the number of reports tied to them.
Jackson has played quite well at times for OKC over the past couple years, but struggled to establish a steady role under coach Scott Brooks. When the team acquired Dion Waiters from the Cavaliers earlier this season, the writing was on the wall for Jackson, and now rumors are swirling that the two sides are preparing to move on.
Part of why Jackson is so available is his status as an upcoming restricted free agent. Oklahoma City would likely have to pay a significant tax bill in order to retain Jackson long-term, and that's generally not something ownership has indicated it will do.
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