The NBA trade deadline is coming up and that means rumors will continue to fly until the 3 pm deadline for transactions and Danny Granger could be a target, as the San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Wizards and Knicks all are possible fits for an Indiana Pacers deal at the deadline.
The rumors talk has not been too hot on Granger coming into Thursday, but that could change and this comes after many felt he was a player that definitely could be traded this season. Here is a look back on earlier rumors to see how things are shaping up now.
The Indiana Pacers are the best team in the NBA and only on that squad could the return of a former All-Star create issues, but with Danny Granger looking to finally come back from an injury on Friday, rumors are starting to percolate about the possibility of a trade and some teams that fit include the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls.
The Indiana Pacers feel that they have a championship roster after making it to the Eastern conference finals and losing to the Miami Heat in seven games and after doing it all without star Danny Granger, the team may decide to trade him this offseason and continue with the roster intact from last year. Here is a look back on some of the trade talk and rumors leading into the season and the deadline. Some stats and other pieces are not updated.
Granger is coming back after dealing with chronic knee issues and he has been out for this entire season so far after playing in just five games last year and according to ESPN.com, he is expecting to play on Friday night when the team takes on the Charlotte Bobcats. Granger was out for the first 21 games and with him missing from the lineup last season, the Pacers made it to the eastern conference finals against the Miami Heat.
Granger missed nearly the whole season while dealing with knee issues and the Pacers were able to win their division without him, giving Lance Stephenson a chance to shine, which he did against the Miami Heat in the playoffs and also against the Knicks. The Pacers are already dealing with tough choices ahead with Paul George and an extension and as the Lakers try to chase him, it will be even more important for the team to sign him to a nice deal and that could mean the end for Granger. Last season he averaged less than six points while playing in just five games and that is a far cry from the three straight seasons of averaging 20 points or more from 2008 to 2011, including his average of 25 during the 2008-09 season.
Two years ago Granger averaged 20.5 points per game and he hits from three at a nearly 40 percent clip for his career, so teams could be getting a consistent shooter as well if they deal for him. The Knicks of course are terrible right now and could shake things up with a move, but right now that won't happen with the way the team is playing and now the Pacers must see what they have in Granger and how much he will be able to contribute this season.
Granger missed basically the whole season while dealing with knee injuries and played in just five games, leaving Lance Stephenson to improve mightily and the team had its best season in years while making it to the Eastern conference finals. Granger will be coming back from two serious knee injuries and while he said that he expects to be in the starting lineup when next season picks up, head coach Frank Vogel responded that he "probably" will, which isn't always a ringing endorsement.
The team has shown it is willing to let the younger players get minutes and head coach Frank Vogel already said that Granger's starting spot is not guaranteed after he missed all of last season and Stephenson developed. George Hill is a prime piece of that puzzle and according to Pro Basketball Talk, he decided to leave the USA basketball team minicamp at the last minute due to a scheduling issue and that might hamper him joining back up going forward, something Hill said that he understood.