NBA Trade Rumors: Marc Gasol, Carmelo Anthony, Kenneth Faried Involved In Latest 2017 Speculation

The best NBA free agents are off the market, and the top names involved in trade rumors have been dealt. That, however, doesn’t mean that All-Star players are done switching teams.

Marc Gasol is the latest player to find himself in the news, following a report that the Boston Celtics could still look to make a trade. Even though Paul George and Jimmy Butler, who the Celtics tried to acquire, have already been dealt, Boston might try to turn some of their assets into another star player.

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Two league executives have told The Vertical’s Chris Mannix to keep an eye on the Memphis Grizzlies’ starting center. That doesn’t mean the two sides have engaged in trade discussions as of yet, but it seems like both the Grizzlies and Celtics could benefit from a deal.

Despite seven straight playoff appearances, Memphis is not a championship contender. They would get swept in a series against the Golden State Warriors, and there is a significant gap between the Grizzlies and both the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. After pairing George with Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder appear to have separated themselves from the Grizzlies, as well.

Memphis lost Zach Randolph to the Sacramento Kings in free agency. Gasol is 32 years old, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them try to trade the big man for younger pieces that can potentially help them win in a few years.

It’s unknown what Boston would be willing to give up in order to acquire Gasol. The price tag could be relatively high, and the Celtics didn’t meet the Indiana Pacers’ asking price before George was traded for 50 cents on the dollar.

But with young players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and plenty of first-round picks in the next few seasons, Boston has what it takes to land the next All-Star that becomes available. They have established themselves as clearly the biggest challengers to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with the addition of Gordon Hayward, though the team’s roster isn’t currently good enough to win a championship.

Carmelo Anthony can be had through a trade after making the 2017 Eastern Conference All-Star team, and Boston has assets that the New York Knicks would like in return. The Celtics, however, might not want to part with a high draft choice for New York’s aging star.

Anthony has a no-trade clause, and he’s maintained that he hopes to stay in the Big Apple. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported that Anthony would accept a trade to either the Cavaliers or Houston Rockets, though both teams have little to offer New York.

The best way to get Anthony to either Houston or Cleveland would probably be through a three-team trade. The Denver Nuggets have been involved in potential three-team talks with the Cavaliers this offseason, and they might end up getting a trade done before the summer ends.

Before George was sent to Oklahoma City, one scenario discussed involved Kevin Love going to Denver with George and Kenneth Faried going to Cleveland. That trade obviously is off the table at the moment, but the possibility of Faried being dealt appears to be very much alive.

Denver made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason by signing Paul Millsap. The Nuggets have a logjam at the power forward position, making Faried expendable.

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Faried has battled injuries in recent years, and he put up the worst numbers of his career in 2016-2017 with averages of 9.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. At just 27 years old with a little more than $26 million left on the final two years of his contract, Faried can be considered a bargain, especially when looking at the amount of money that’s being spent on average players under the new salary cap.

The Nuggets have already made one deal, sending Danilo Gallinari to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a three-team sign-and-trade.