In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:
Is Baron Davis close to signing with any team in the D-League and have there been any teams that have been interested in bringing him aboard? — Ryan
HR: Despite many fans wanting to see it happen, I don’t see Baron Davis making a return to the NBA this season as a player. All signs point to it not happening. Davis cleared D-League waivers last week after going unclaimed by the league’s 19 teams. In other words, that means no team thought he was worth burning a waiver for. More recently, and perhaps more perplexing, Davis has declined offers from D-League teams wanting him to practice for them. At this point, Davis would still have to sign with a D-League team, play well enough to warrant interest from the NBA and then have a team with flexibility and a need to sign him. There has been little to suggest any of that will happen.
From Minnesota’s perspective, does a trade of Kevin Martin and Tyus Jones to the Bulls for Pau Gasol and Cameron Bairstow hold any appeal? — Mark
HR: The trade you proposed would work from a financial standpoint, but I don’t see the Bulls adding a player like Martin by subtracting Gasol. In other words, if the Bulls are going to make a move with the thought of competing this season, which acquiring Martin would signal, I don’t think they give up Gasol, even though they might lose him this summer (if he opts out). Gasol is making only $7.4MM this season, so he still holds significant trade value. I think if anyone on the Bulls is traded, it is going to be Taj Gibson because the Bulls have depth at that position.
What do you think of this Cavs and Rockets trade: Kevin Love and Timofey Mozgov for Dwight Howard? Or Ty Lawson, Corey Brewer and Terrence Jones for Love? — Dorian
HR: The Cavs seem like the league’s most dysfunctional yet functional team of all time and you want to add Dwight Howard to the mix? It’s not going to happen. Ditto for Lawson. I love the idea of a blockbuster like this, but I don’t see these two teams blowing up their respective rosters months before each prepare for the playoffs (Yes, I think the Rockets will make the playoffs as they’re currently constructed). Just to answer the question in a more thorough way, the deal involving Love and Mozgov would work from a financial standpoint, but reports have indicated that no potential deals are imminent regarding Mozgov.
Howard on the Cavs makes sense from a basketball standpoint, but I agree, adding Dwight’s personality isn’t the smartest thing to do.