The NBA preseason wraps up tonight, and as a result, rosters around the league are starting to take shape. However, there are also a few notable trade rumors floating around in advance of the new season. Here are the latest NBA rumors you need to know:
Cavs open to trading Shumpert?
Iman Shumpert has been a key defensive piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers since he was traded there in the middle of the 2014-15 season, but he may not stay in Cleveland all season. According to ESPN's Zach Lowe, the Cavs are open to trading Shumpert to lower their tax number:
Keep an eye on Iman Shumpert. Several teams, including Minnesota, have inquired about his availability in the past few weeks and gotten the impression Cleveland is ready to talk, according to several league sources. The Cavs won't salary-dump Shump for nothing, but given their tax situation, cutting payroll by a few million promises exponential savings.
Shumpert is in the second year of a four-year, $40 million deal he signed with the Cavs last offseason. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 24.4 minutes per game last season.
Celtics may trade Bradley
The Boston Celtics are hoping to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference after signing Al Horford this offseason, but they're still hoping to make another trade or big signing to add another superstar. As such, the team may trade Avery Bradley this season to help save cap space, reports Lowe:
The clock is quietly ticking. Cheapo deals for Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas expire after next season. If Boston lands their big fish before then, they'll pay what it takes to keep them -- assuming at least one remains after the Great Theoretical Celtics Megatrade. If the C's can't find their match, they face a dilemma: Pay those guys something like $50 million combined annually and lock into a team that might top out at 50-ish wins, or deal one of them at next season's deadline -- if not before. Remember: Both are blocking younger lottery picks.
If the Celtics conclude this season's team can't make real playoff noise, Bradley becomes a sneaky interesting trade piece even though Danny Ainge loves him. (Thomas is indispensable; Boston has no one else who can skitter into the teeth of enemy defenses.)
Bradley, a noted defender, averaged 15.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season.
Aldridge denies trade rumors
A report surfaced earlier this week that the San Antonio Spurs were looking to trade All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, but he went on the Jim Rome Show and denied those rumors:
"I talk to [coach Gregg Popovich] daily and he's always telling me that I'm doing great," Aldridge said. "[I'm] trying to be a more of a leader. He's put me in positions where I can be more of a leader. As long as the guys here aren't saying bad things to me. All my teammates have said nothing but great things to me.
"We made history last year [by going 40-1 at home, matching an NBA record]. They've incorporated me into the family. Try to make me one of the big pieces. I'm winning. Of course I'm happy. That's why I don't buy into the rumors. I feel like I do my job here and I feel like I've done everything that they've asked. That's why I haven't bought into the rumors."
Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million with the Spurs last offseason. He averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season, as well as 21.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
Back to the NBA Newsfeed