The NBA season is just around the corner and this year some notable names could come up as trade targets for teams, as players like DeMarcus Cousins, Markieff Morris, Kenneth Faried, Jamal Crawford, Jose Calderon, Ricky Rubio, Brandon Jennings, Eric Bledsoe and Nick Young could end up on the trading block.
The summer trade season did not see any major blockbusters, but players like Roy Hibbert and Lance Stephenson could make major impacts for their teams in Los Angeles. David Lee was moved to the Celtics from the Warriors, but many of the top names that came up like Cousins, Crawford, Calderon and Morris have all remained with their teams. Cousins came up in rumors near the NBA draft connected to the Lakers, but the Kings did not come that close to making a deal, although the sides reportedly exchanged a framework.
Morris has been disgruntled for most of the summer after his twin brother was traded and while he has publicly demanded a trade, the Arizona Republic reports that the Suns don not "not intend to trade" Morris. According to Suns beat writer Paul Coro, the Suns are hoping that newly signed veteran Tyson Chandler can help smooth things over with Morris. John Gambadoro at Arizona Sports wrote this summer that the situation could get "ugly" with Morris if he remains unhappy in camp. Morris has already been fined by the NBA for asking for a trade in public in the media.
Jamal Crawford has come up multiple times in trade reports this summer, with the Cavaliers, Miami Heat and NY Knicks all expressing interest. Frank Isola at the New York Daily News reported that the Knicks showed interest in Crawford earlier in August, but the Clippers and the team did not come close to making a deal at that time. Doc Rivers spoke about the Crawford situation to Thebeast980.com and said that the team "absolutely" plans on keeping Crawford.
Check here for more on potential trades this season with Crawford, Morris, Cousins, Calderon, Rubio, Young and Jennings and more on reports on those potential trade deals from earlier this summer. Here is a look from Pro Basketball Talk on players who could be on the TRADE BLOCK this season.
Crawford has come up in trade talks because he is in the final year of his contract and due to the fact that the Clippers made so many moves in the offseason. The team signed Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, Pablo Prigioni and Wesley Johnson while also adding Stephenson and that could mean a reduced role for Crawford. Depending on how the bench rotation develops, Crawford could be a trade target at the deadline this winter.
Jose Calderon could be a potential trade target with the Knicks, as the team shopped the point guard last season but could not find a deal they liked. Isola reported that if the Knicks pushed for Crawford, Calderon would be the likely player to be offered in a trade. The team has Langston Galloway and Jerian Grant at point guard and keeping Calderon would give the team a veteran presence. Brandon Jennings also could be a target at the deadline once he is healthy.
Nick Young was shopped by the Lakers this summer as well, but the team did not find a deal they liked and pulled him off the trade block. According to the Orange County Register, the Lakers will keep Young for now, but with Lou Williams signed in the offseason, Young could be a target at the trade deadline. According to Fox Sports, the Knicks showed interest in Ricky Rubio as well this summer, but no deal came close to happening. The Wolves have Andre Miller, Zach LaVine and Tyus Jones and could afford to move Rubio with that depth.