NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz From Around the League

The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching.

And as that February 18 deadline continues to draw closer, rumors throughout the Association are going to rampant. Many of these will end up being nothing more than smokescreens started by teams to throw others off or drive up prices, but as we saw during last year’s wild deadline, there are also plenty of rumors that will turn out to truly have legs.

Separating the legitimate from the deceptive can be difficult sometimes, but it’s still worth taking a look at all the gossip that’s floating around the league.

You can click through to see the latest rumors on Jeff Teague, Victor Oladipo, Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins.

Jeff Teague for Victor Oladipo?

Although the Hawks sit in fourth place in the East, they are in the middle of a seven-team log-jam that doesn’t appear capable of catching the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors.

According to a report from ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz and Brian Windhorst, management has “conceded internally that unless Atlanta can recapture the magic of last season’s run … this season’s team is a fringe contender.” As such, it’s willing to part with Jeff Teague, who was an All-Star last year:

The Hawks have been gauging the market for point guard Teague, who has started 345 games for Atlanta over the past four and a half seasons. Sources say the Indiana Pacers have made inquiries and have dangled guard George Hill as a possible swap. The Magic are also potential suitors for Teague, sources confirmed.

The New York Daily News’ Frank Isola has a similar report with extra details:

That would be a nice move for the Hawks, as a pairing of Dennis Schroder, who appears ready to be a starting PG in this league and has at times out-played Teague this year, and Victor Oladipo would make up one of the most exciting young backcourts in the NBA.

Of course, it would unlikely be a straight-up 1-for-1 swamp. Oladipo is four years younger than Teague, he’s a better defender, he can play both guard positions and he’s under team control for longer, becoming a restricted free agent in 2017, while Teague hits the open market that same year.

While Scott Skiles has at times oddly messed with Oladipo’s minutes, Orlando would would need more to give up one of the best young combo guards in the NBA.

Magic “Swinging for the Fences”

Rob Hennigan appears intent on making a splash in the next week. In addition to the rumored talks with Atlanta, the Magic are reportedly engaging with the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler:

The assumption there is that the Magic are inquiring about Blake Griffin, whose name has been frequently coming up in trade talk.

In order to get a player of Griffin’s stature, the Magic would likely have to give up two players from their stable of young studs–Oladipo, Mario Hezonja, Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon–as well as draft picks. It’s undoubtedly a lot to give up.

Still, Griffin was making his case as the league’s best power forward before getting injured this season, and he doesn’t become a free agent until 2018. Under-30 superstars with two-plus years left on their contract aren’t the kind of players who are often available, and this would certainly qualify as “swinging for the fence” for Hennigan and the Magic.

Cousins Not Going Anywhere

Things aren’t pretty in Sacramento right now, with head coach George Karl reportedly losing his locker room but still being kept around.

One of the more disgruntled players has been DeMarcus Cousins, and as a result, you can expect the ultra-talented big man to be at the center of trade talks over the next week. According to Sporting News’ Sean Deveney, though, those rumors won’t develop into anything:

But sources told Sporting News that a trade of Cousins has not been seriously considered by general manager Vlade Divac or owner Vivek Ranadive and that it would take a mega-offer for that to change before next week’s deadline. Even then, it’s a tremendous longshot.

There isn’t a team on this planet that wouldn’t want to have Cousins, even with his questions about his immaturity. You can bet plenty of GM’s will see just how firm the Kings are holding, but it doesn’t like anything will happen on this front.

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