Interpreting NBA Rumors Columns: A Reader’s Guide
We help you understand the subtext of what is being said (and not said) this deadline season. Plus, a Corey Kispert dunk attempt gone wrong and more.
OPENING TIP
Good morning! As the trade deadline approaches, we have our first significant trade of the season:
(You’d think from Knicks’ fans reactions that they’d just traded for vintage Bernard King rather than one of the least efficient off the dribble shooters in the NBA. Moving on...)
The Reddish trade may be the first “real” trade of deadline season, but it certainly won’t be the last. Fortunately for us, the approaching deadline heralds not just more trade activity, but also more trade rumor columns. These columns, from the likes of Shams Charania, Sam Amick, Adrian Wojnaroski, and others, are sources of endless fascination.
Like a James Joyce novel (okay, not exactly like a Joyce novel), good rumor columns operate on several levels. The base level is delivery of red meat: the author’s reporting of actual rumors he has heard. As we’ve written before, NBA free agency has in some ways usurped the actual playing of games in terms of fan interest, so speculating on who’s going where feeds the fantasy GM in all of us. The next level delves into reactions from “league sources” about the rumors; from those, we can more easily discern who is leaking, and which rumors are more or less likely. In the third level, the column’s author doles out favors, often serving as a mouthpiece for an agent or a team official to get their agenda in print. For example, Woj hosts random players (Cody Zeller!) on his podcast to do favors for those players’ agents.
To unpack this a little more, we thought we’d take some of our favorite excerpts from recent columns by Shams, Sam Amick, and Jake Fischer and unpack the subtext of who is saying what.
Amick: …Accurate or not, this years-long pattern of [Ben] Simmons struggling with confidence issues on the floor is seen by some interested teams as a separate matter from the mental-health struggles that he has cited as his reason for staying off it. In terms of Simmons’ eventual availability with a new team, the message has been sent that he would be ready to play after a few weeks of intensified conditioning and court action.
Rival teams’ assistant GMs: Ben may be terrified during the end of games, but that isn’t why he isn’t playing. He just hates Doc and Daryl.
Rich Paul: Yeah, he’s totally faking this mental health thing, but you can’t expect him to actually stay in shape while doing so can you?
Amick: There’s this subplot to the Simmons situation, too: As if the uncertainty that would come with taking on his massive deal isn’t enough, sources say the Sixers have been attempting to attach forward Tobias Harris and his sizable contract in possible Simmons deals with multiple teams (including Atlanta and Sacramento).
Travis Schlenk and Monte McNair: Can you believe Daryl is trying to dump fucking Tobias on us? What kind of collars does he think we wear? Find a new slant, Daryl.
Daryl Morey: As I learned trolling Boston bars as a 22-year-old, it only takes one ‘Yes’ to make up for 100 ‘No’s.
Fischer: Finding any deal that includes Harris, though, would take quite a bit of cap gymnastics. As the Lakers have found with Russell Westbrook, there aren't many players in the NBA who make north of $30 million and are available for trade.
John Wall seems entrenched in Houston… And while Kevin Love entered this season open to trade scenarios, the veteran has played an integral reserve role during Cleveland's surprise season…
Other GMs: Who could he get for Tobias? Uhhhhhh… well, if you really want a name, I could see him getting John W—
Morey [interrupting]: No chance in hell. No chance in hell. We would need four first round picks to move Tobias. He’s an outstanding value on that contract.
Shams: The Hawks are an emerging potential landing spot for Simmons, whose Defensive Player of the Year-caliber play would surely elevate one of the league’s bottom five defenses. In scanning the Hawks’ roster, it’s obvious John Collins — who signed a five-year, $125 million deal in restricted free agency last offseason — and Cam Reddish are among the players who could acquiesce a package for Simmons.
Ben Simmons: Rich, are you kidding me with these Sacramento and Indianapolis rumors? Get me somewhere where I can be a young socialite.
Rich Paul: Atlanta it is! Let me call Shams. But looking at their cap sheet to actually figure out a plausible fake trade is way too hard, so I won’t bother doing that.
Shams: I have no specific intelligence on who the Hawks are offering.
Editors: “…Acquiesce a package for Simmons” ??? You know what, fuck it, leave it in there. Everyone will realize it’s him, not us.
Fischer: Philadelphia brass, sources told B/R, is still optimistic that Simmons may even be willing to return to game action in that event, although league personnel familiar with Simmons' side believe he has no interest in ever wearing a Sixers uniform again.
Daryl Morey: Jake, tell them Simmons is going to play again. We need the leverage. Print that. Or I’ll never call you back again.
Other GMs: AYFKM?
Rich Paul: Which part of “mental health issues” did you misunderstand?
Amick: Yet while the Kings have made no secret of their desire to finally break their league-long playoff drought, which dates to 2006, it’s not a singular goal for the front office, which is led by second-year general manager Monte McNair. The long-term outlook and a chance for sustained success is still priority No. 1, but the state of affairs has grown bad enough that — as I reported last week — any and all Kings players are up for discussion (yes, even De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton). It doesn’t hurt that the Kings have all of their first-round draft picks, either.
Vivek Ranadive: We must make the playoffs! Monte, have you tried a full court press?
Monte McNair: We’ll put that on the list, Vivek. [Grumbling, under his breath] Can you believe this fucking guy? Why won’t he let me tank? I might as well trade for Simmons since otherwise he’s firing me next year anyway…
Fischer: The Lakers have little trade flexibility, but that hasn't stopped Los Angeles from exploring various potential deals. Rob Pelinka's front office has only Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn as non-minimum players with tangible trade value… But the Lakers have called rival teams to assess the trade value of DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard and Kent Bazemore, sources said.
Other GMs: We didn’t bother calling him back.
Shams: Isaiah Thomas cleared health and safety protocols and is now eligible to sign with any team. Thomas has played five games over two 10-day contracts this season with the Lakers and Mavericks, showing the burst and scoring ability that made him a two-time All-Star. In his one game for Dallas, Thomas scored six points and dished four assists in 13 minutes, showing elevation on his jump shot.
Bernie Lee: Shams, if you can print something complimentary about Isaiah Thomas, I’ll have another bottle of Lafite-Rothschild ‘82 headed your way.
Shams: Several playoff teams are pursuing Pistons star forward Jerami Grant: The Wizards, Knicks, Blazers and Lakers among others, sources said… Detroit will have a vast group of suitors for the 27-year-old. Grant, who is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $112 million this offseason, is one of the most sought-after players this trade season.
Mike Kneisley: Shams, this is Wizards GM Tommy Shepherd. I can’t wait to trade for Jerami Grant and give him a gigantic extension. My only fear is that one of a vast group of other GMs beats me out for him. Also, that agent Mike Kneisley is really smart and handsome. I think he’s been working out.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Failed dunk alert! Corey Kispert, if only your athleticism matched your handsomeness…
AT THE BUZZER
Anthony Slater on what makes the Warriors defense tick (The Athletic, $)
Soccer investors turning to developmental clubs (Sportico via Yahoo)
Vecenie grades the Cam Reddish trade (The Athletic, $)
If the Clippers trade Serge Ibaka, they save $40 million in luxury taxes (Bobby Marks via Reddit)
Sportsbooks get fleeced on Draymond’s 5 second appearance (ESPN)