The NBA offseason is moving towards the end of the summer and trade rumors have continued for many players and names like Marcus Aldridge, Klay Thompson, Marc Gasol, Al Jefferson, Luis Scola, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Love could be potential targets for teams this season, as they are set to hit free agency or can hit the market in 2015 and teams like the NY Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets or Miami Heat could look to deal.
Aldridge is one of the top players to watch, as he is coming into the last year of his contract and while he has been offered a max deal, things could change by next year. According to ESPN.com, Aldridge has said that he wants to stay in Portland, but that he also wants the maximum amount he can get and that means waiting things out until he is a free agent after next season. The team offered a max contract extension and this comes after reports last year that Aldridge wanted out and could be traded.
Marc Gasol is another option and he is a target for the NY Knicks as a free agent next year according it the NY Post. Gasol will be a target this season after averaging 14 points and seven rebounds and he has won a defensive player of the year award. The Knicks went after his brother this offseason and now they could go after Gasol this year in a deal or next year if he makes it to the free agent market. The team needs more players to pair with Anthony and Gasol could be perfect.
Klay Thompson has come up quite a bit, as he has been the main piece in the middle of the Kevin Love trade talks. The Warriors do not want to give him up, while the Timberwolves will not deal Love without him. Thompson is one of the best young players on the market and he will be a main target if the Warriors continue to want to pull off the Kevin Love trade this year. Thompson is not a free agent next year, but he is a main name that will come up. Al Jefferson and Luis Scola are free agents after next season and they could be targets at the deadline as well. Rondo and Love will get the most attention, but there are some major names that could be traded ahead of next year.
The Blazers made a playoff run and that is one reason why he wants to stay and he also sees the direction of the franchise with star Damian Lillard. The Blazers can only offer so much and they want to keep Aldridge as he enters the last year of a five year deal worth $65 million. Aldridge is about to be 30 and he is ready for a massive deal and the team can give him a five-year, $108 million extension. The team also will have to sign Lillard eventually, but they have seen how good Aldridge can be, especially after he put up back to back 40 point games in the playoffs last season. Aldridge had his best season last year and had 23 points and 11 rebounds per game while also factoring into the MVP discussion.