NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Pelicans Trading Evans?
Pelicans open to moving Tyreke Evans? … Patrick Beverley set to return … Executives believe Rajon Rondo will be traded
Check out our breakdown of the biggest rumors of the day in our NBA Rumor Round-Up. For more rumors and news, check out Basketball Insiders’ headlines, which are constantly being updated.
The Pelicans signed Tyreke Evans this past summer to a four-year, $44 million free-agent deal and then added veteran PG Jrue Holiday via a trade with the Sixers to join Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis. But all the moves haven’t exactly clicked. In fact, they’ve backfired, with New Orleans losing 13 of its last 17 games after starting out 11-10. The front office’s take? Team execs are saying at least those are assets that can be moved. Davis and Holiday are the keepers.
It’s no surprise that the New Orleans Pelicans are open to moving Eric Gordon, as he has been rumored to be available for quite some time.
On the other hand, it is somewhat shocking that the Pelicans may already want to part ways with Tyreke Evans, just months after giving him a four-year deal worth $44 million. This season, Evans has been the team’s sixth man, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists, and he’s had one of the more efficient seasons of his career.
However, if New Orleans believes that Evans hasn’t fit in with their other pieces, it’s possible that they’re ready to move on (although general managers rarely admit to mistakes that quickly). Earlier this season, Evans talked to me about finally being in a stable position and having some security. If this report is accurate, that may not be the case.
The least surprising part of this article? The last sentence. New Orleans seems to have their big man and point guard of the future in Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.
»In Related: New Orleans Pelicans Salary Page
Within a month of suffering a fractured hand, Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley will return to the lineup against Portland on Monday, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Beverley, who was injured on Dec. 23, has been practicing with the Rockets this week and the team trainers cleared him to return to the court on Monday, sources said.
This is excellent news for the Rockets, as Beverley has emerged as a vital part of their team.
He improves Houston’s defense and physicality, while strengthening the Rockets’ bench since either he or Jeremy Lin will return to the second unit.
This season, Beverley has averaged averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 25 games.
»In Related: Are the Houston Rockets Contenders?
More than a few GMs around the league expect [Rajon] Rondo to be on the move, if not at the trading deadline next month, then maybe in June at draft time.
With one more season to go on his contract, at $13 million, Rondo is still viewed as a top-five point guard. Between [Danny] Ainge’s deals with the Nets and Clippers and other moves, the Celtics now have 17 potential draft picks over the next five seasons. Some will be used for their drafts, but others are likely to be included as sweeteners in deals for established players.
Rondo probably isn’t going to accept a role in a rebuilding situation with a rookie coach, Brad Stevens, so look for Ainge to try to move him to the West, with Phoenix and Houston seen as two potential destinations.
The Celtics started their rebuilding process when they traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and moving Rajon Rondo seems to be the logical next step. Rondo will turn 28 years old next month, which means he doesn’t fit into Boston’s long-term plan, and he’s a free agent after next season. It’s highly unlikely that Rondo would re-sign with Boston given their current rebuild, and that’s assuming that Boston would even want to re-sign Rondo.
A trade seems inevitable – the question is, when will it happen? If Rondo plays well between now and the Feb. 20 trade deadline, it’s very possible that Rondo’s days with the Celtics could be numbered. By returning in mid-January, Rondo gave the Celtics plenty of time for Danny Ainge for showcase him and work the phones. If Ainge isn’t satisfied with the offers that he’s receiving, he could let Rondo finish the season in Boston to improve his trade value and erase concerns about his health. Then, the Celtics could make a move around the draft. It’s no surprise that other executives believe that Rondo will be moved – the writing seems to be on the wall.
»In Related: Boston Celtics Salary Page
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