- Philadelphia could swoop in and steal Marcus Smart from a division rival
- Lakers want to add center depth with Christian Wood on the mend
- Proposed Jimmy Butler dark horse could shake up the Southeast Divisio
The NBA has rarely been as competitive as it is right now. We truly don't know which teams are "favorites," with a few exceptions. Boston has the obvious upper hand in the East, but Philadelphia and New York are in hot pursuit. The West has between 12 or 13 teams that, in a "normal" season, would project comfortably as postseason teams.
To add to the on-court intrigue, there are plenty of NBA rumors percolating behind the scenes. Big names are on trade watch, contenders are desperately trying to one-up one another, and bad teams are sagging for Flagg
That said, here is the latest scuttlebutt that demands your attention.
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NBA Rumors: 76ers could swipe Marcus Smart from Knicks on trade front
The Philadelphia 76ers put together the most complete and productive offseason in the NBA, acquiring Paul George and revamping the supporting cast in what could end up as Daryl Morey's crowning accomplishment. The Sixers aren't done yet, though. Morey is always on the prowl for in-season upgrades and Philadelphia is going for the championship, no holds barred.
Meanwhile, the Sixers' primary competition comes from within the Atlantic Division — the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Boston is the reigning champ, while New York spent its offseason stockpiling talent in unexpected fashion.
The Knicks were recently connected to a highly intriguing trade target — Memphis Grizzlies (and former Celtics) point guard Marcus Smart.
The rare DPOY winner on the perimeter, Smart would just make the Knicks a tougher out. So, what if the Sixers take the plunge instead? Philadelphia has the salaries to match and enough draft capital to pique Memphis' interest. It's unclear why the Grizzlies would be inclined to trade Smart at this juncture, but as a midseason target should Memphis start slow, Smart is sure to drum up a market.
From Nicolas Kyle Pring of The Sixer Sense:
"Next to Tyrese Maxey, [Smart] can help lighten his load defensively while also serving as a secondary playmaker. His relatively meager shooting splits are also offset by the fact that he's not a shy trigger man and more than makes up for it with his hustle and intangibles."
Smart would become an instant fan favorite in Philadelphia. The 3s fall often enough to keep him useful on offense, especially with his improvement as a playmaker in recent years. His defense, however, is the calling card. Smart can adequately defend 1-5 in a lot of matchups and he's going to generate turnovers with his activity level and physicality at the point of attack.
Philadelphia landing Smart is great on its own. Stealing him out from under the Knicks would be even sweeter.
NBA Rumors: Lakers want to add center after Christian Wood injury
The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with injuries to Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt early in training camp, which complicates the frontcourt depth chart behind Anthony Davis. It didn't take long for JJ Redick to win over the Lakers locker room and fanbase, but relying on Jaxson Hayes and two-way big man Christian Koloko is risky business. The Lakers need somebody to keep the defense afloat when Davis sits.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, adding a center has become a priority for the Lakers front office.
"Not sure exactly when that will take place, but they have started looking into the marketplace."