NBA Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
The NBA trade rumor mill is always working overtime, churning out delicious morsels for fans and the media to latch onto. Speculation, anonymous reports and endless wishes swirl across the league’s landscape. In a league where stars mean everything, where those stars play will determine who wins championships.
Two factors help to not only spread the smoke signals of NBA trade rumors but to stoke the flames behind them. The first is that today’s NBA is an impatient one, with stars expected to start winning at a young age and front offices expected to produce results on a fast turnaround. That means that teams who a few decades ago would have had years to grow together are instead shuffled and swapped in an attempt to change the franchise fortunes.
Trade rumors for many of the NBA’s superstars are swirling with a vengeance. Which rumors are just smoke, and which ones are truly fire?
The league is also at an all-time peak of player agency, with stars deciding where they want to be and, to a large extent, when. That means we aren’t only speculating on what teams could decide to trade a star player, but which players will decide to tell their teams they want out. From Anthony Davis to James Harden, players are dictating when and how they leave town.
With just a few teams left alive in the NBA playoffs, the rest of the league is sitting at home evaluating their rosters. As league executives begin intermingling at the NBA Draft Combine and pro days the trade conversations start happening.
Teams with players outside of a team’s core on guaranteed contracts are often frequent participants in those rumors. The Golden State Warriors are in win-now mode, and therefore Andrew Wiggins and James Wiseman are frequent participants in trade rumors. Portland needs to mix things up around Damian Lillard, and therefore CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic are being tossed around.
Pascal Siakam has been mentioned as a player available for the right package as the Toronto Raptors teeter on the edge of a rebuild. The Utah Jazz might need to move someone to change up the roster, whether that is Joe Ingles or Derrick Favors. The Los Angeles Lakers are always a frequent participant in trade rumors.
Above the various levels of player in most trade rumors, a few star players in the league are being speculated about in a more insistent way. There is plenty of smoke surrounding these stars, fanned both by teams and by the players themselves. Which situations are just smoke, and which ones have a burning fire underneath driving them towards another team?
brought into the light</a>, which Olshey and the Blazers’ PR team tried to sweep under the rug at Billups’ introductory press conference.</p>
<p>All of this lead to a <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://sports.yahoo.com/sources-coaching-process-inability-to-build-title-contending-roster-may-push-damian-lillard-out-of-portland-203407770.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Haynes story</a>, likely sourced by Damian Lillard himself, that stated the situation — PR blunder, fan backlash, and overall team quality — could drive Lillard out the door. This was quite the revelation for a player who has been the epitome of team loyalty, the guy held up as the example of a star who sticks with it.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="5 teams who could trade for Damian Lillard" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/30/portland-trail-blazers-damian-lillard-6/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 5 teams who could trade for Damian Lillard </a> </div>
</div>
<p>A major problem for Portland, if it did need to trade Lillard, is that it is hard to find a team that would be an acceptable landing spot for Lillard (it would be another bad look to trade him to a rebuilding team) that can send back enough value for a top-10 player under a long-term contract.</p>
<p>They likely won’t need to, at least not yet. Prior to the allegations against Billups being brought back up, Lillard was a supporter of Billups and the hire. They will likely connect and build a positive relationship, things will quiet down, and Lillard and the team will get back to work.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Smoke</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Ben SImmons </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431076" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-431076 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1154,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324294166.jpeg" alt="NBA " width="1600" height="1154" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294166.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324294166-768x554.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Playing smoke or fire: Ben Simmons</h2>
<p>The term “superstar” is unfairly applied here, but by objective metrics, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/simmobe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Ben Simmons</a> is undeniably a star player. In just four seasons he has made three All-Star teams, was an All-NBA player in 2019-20, made two All-Defense First Teams and was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year just this past season.</p>
<p>The problem is that for all of his strengths, Simmons has a glaring flaw: he cannot, and will not, shoot. He refuses to take 3-pointers, eschews most kinds of jumpers from anywhere on the court, and not only shoots free throws poorly but changes his game inside to avoid the possibility of being fouled. This came to a head in the playoffs when he avoided an open dunk to pass away the ball to a teammate in traffic.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="5 teams that could trade for Ben Simmons" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/24/philadelphia-76ers-trade-ben-simmons/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/24/philadelphia-76ers-trade-ben-simmons/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 5 teams that could trade for Ben Simmons </a> </div>
</div>
<p>Failing in front of a national audience is incredibly damaging to a player’s popular reputation, and it’s easy to write Simmons off as a worthless player. Yet while his greatest flaw was amplified by the crucible of the playoffs and the difficulties of playing alongside a post-up center, Simmons is still a highly positive player whose weaknesses could be mitigated in the right situation.</p>
<p>It’s up to the Philadelphia front office to find that situation and extract fair value for Simmons because it has become clear he and Embiid are not built to elevate each other’s games but instead often hinder one another. Once the 76ers find the right deal they will most likely pull the trigger. The odds of Simmons playing another game for the 76ers is less than 30 percent.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Fire</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Donovan Mitchell </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431804" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-431804 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1324079961.jpeg" alt="NBA " width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324079961.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1324079961-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Playing smoke or fire: Donovan Mitchell</h2>
<p>Last spring the entire world shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a trigger point in the minds of many sports fans is the canceling of an NBA game due to Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive. In the aftermath of that scary night, it was reported that <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mitchdo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Donovan Mitchell</a> had also tested positive, and was upset with Gobert about it.</p>
<p>By the time basketball resumed in the NBA Bubble stories were written about how the two star players had patched things up. Then in the second half of this past season, Mitchell was rehabbing an ankle injury and friction built up between him and the Jazz medical staff, culminating in Mitchell missing Game 1 of their opening-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.</p>
<p>Mitchell would return and the Jazz would go on to win six games in a row before the LA Clippers found their small-ball gear and won four straight of their own to knock out the Jazz. That left the team to not only consider their on-court loss but contemplate some of the interpersonal drama from the past two years.</p>
<p>Could that lead to Mitchell deciding he wants a fresh start in a new place? He is without much leverage as he starts a brand-new extension for at least four seasons. Yet star players who want to leave often get what they want. Therefore the Jazz have to determine what Mitchell wants and help convince him of a future continuing to compete with the Jazz.</p>
<p>The whispers of Mitchell being unhappy are not loud, and nowhere near as explicit as with Damian Lillard. He seems to have a good relationship with new minority owner Dwyane Wade. This situation could trend downwards, but for now, it seems like more of a “the Jazz shouldn’t get comfortable” moment than anything more.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Smoke</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Bradley Beal </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431803" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-431803 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1318518277.jpeg" alt="NBA " width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318518277.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1318518277-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Playing smoke or fire: Bradley Beal</h2>
<p>Have you ever been tending a fire when it begins to rain? At first, the rain doesn’t seem to affect the fire, but over time the cold drops begin to choke out the fire. The wood starts to get damp, the temperature drops, and the fire struggles to stay alive. Yet, even if the flames go out, it takes a long time for the burning embers to give up, always ready to flare up and bring the fire to life once more.</p>
<p>That has been the story of the trade rumors surrounding <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bealbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Bradley Beal</a>. The star guard, who finished second in the league in scoring this year, has spoken publicly about his commitment to the Washington Wizards multiple times. He put his money where his mouth is by inking an extension with the organization, extending his contract through next season with a player option after that. The front office has given no indication they are looking into trade packages for Beal.</p>
<p>Yet this fire will not die, in large part because we have seen this movie before. Star player outside of the major glamour markets is balling out for a team that isn’t winning at the highest levels. The front office makes a mixed-bag of moves around them that aren’t enough to move the needle, and there is no obvious path forward. In these situations, the star player either leaves in free agency or requests a trade. We know how this goes.</p>
<p>As such the embers are still there, no matter how much Beal and the Washington front office rain on the fire. Sometime soon, whether this summer or at the trade deadline, they will roar back to life as the Wizards and Beal consider what the next steps are.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Wet smoke</strong></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Zion Williamson </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_431802" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-431802 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1313904427.jpeg" alt="NBA " width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313904427.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1313904427-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Playing smoke or fire: Zion Williamson</h2>
<p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/willizi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Zion Williamson</a> is the perfect star player, incredible on the court and endlessly charismatic off of it. When Zion talks basketball media and fans are drawn in to listen, with his charming smile and fun demeanor pulling everyone into his orbit. In the same way that non-NBA fans knew the names “Kobe” and “LeBron” they probably already have heard “Zion.”</p>
<p>It was during one such exchange that Williamson dropped a few lines that caused New Orleans fans’ smiles to turn upside down. When asked about playing in Madison Square Garden Williamson flashed that smile, called New York the “mecca of basketball” and said the atmosphere was amazing. He said that (outside of New Orleans) New York was his favorite place to play.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">*throws Molotov cocktail onto the timeline* <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://t.co/8pIeG2x4G5">pic.twitter.com/8pIeG2x4G5
<p>— Kazeem Famuyide aka Trillian Harris. (@Kazeem) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://twitter.com/Kazeem/status/1383893107628863488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 18, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>There are also faint rumblings, whispers of whispers, that Williamson has been unhappy with how some things are run in New Orleans, including the medical staff. The organization overhauled that staff after last season. With a star as big as Zion, the team will understandably be making it their top priority to make him want to stay in The Big Easy and stop lusting after The Big Apple.</p>
<p>Yet Williamson clearly loves the big stage, and his gushing about Madison Square Garden was as obvious as a middle-school kid talking about his crush. Too many people are talking about the “possibility” that Williamson might want out that there has to be something causing them.</p>
<p>Just two years into his time in the league and with the Pelicans, Williamson is not going anywhere just now. The question is whether these sparks start to grow into something more, or if the organization can hire a new coach, make changes to the roster and set Williamson up for the kind of success that makes him feel he can win in New Orleans. For now, this isn’t a fire, but it certainly could become one.</p>
<p><strong>Verdict: Legitimate sparks</strong></p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball goes first in 2020 NBA Redraft" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/29/nba-draft-lamelo-ball-2020-redraft/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/05/nba-smoke-fire-superstar-trade-rumors/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/29/nba-draft-lamelo-ball-2020-redraft/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Draft: LaMelo Ball goes first in 2020 NBA Redraft </a> </div>
</div>
<p> </p><!—pageview_candidate—>">