NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Suns Want Pau Gasol?
Updated15 Dec 2021
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The Phoenix Suns have emerged as a potential trade suitor for Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, according to sources close to the process.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns, among the options being weighed as part of their well-chronicled desire to acquire an established player as they make an unexpected playoff push this season, have been exploring the feasibility of trading for the Lakers’ four-time All-Star.
One option for the Suns, by virtue of their $5.6 million in available salary-cap space, is swapping the expiring contract of injured big man Emeka Okafor for Gasol, even though Okafor’s $14.5 million salary this season falls well shy of Gasol’s $19.3 million.
The Phoenix Suns have made it clear that they want to be buyers and new general manager Ryan McDonough has reportedly been pursuing an All-Star talent.
If Pau Gasol is the best player he can land prior to the deadline, he’ll likely pull the trigger.
This deal would work for both teams since the Suns would get a veteran to help them in win-now mode while the Lakers would get the expiring, insured contract of Emeka Okafor and possibly another young asset or first-round draft pick to help them as they rebuild.
The Suns will likely talk with every team in the NBA in the coming weeks to see what else is out there, but this is certainly a possibility.
Entering the weekend, an NBA D-League team source told DLeagueDigest.com that Kevin Murphy might be the next NBA Call-Up from the Idaho Stampede. After dropping 85 points against the Los Angeles D-Fenders this weekend, perhaps Murphy is NBA Call-Up worthy?
Murphy is no stranger to the NBA D-League, before joining the Idaho Stampede this season, Murphy played in 11 games with the Reno Bighorns on assignment from the Utah Jazz last year. He averaged 13.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists with the Bighorns.
via Gino Pilato of DLeagueDigest.com
Kevin Murphy did his pre-draft training at IMG Basketball in Bradenton, FL, and he received interest from many NBA teams prior to being drafted by the Utah Jazz.
Teams could be resurfacing now, looking to call Murphy up from the D-League.
Murphy is averaging 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 32.2 minutes through 11 games with the Stampede.
This season, there have been 16 call-ups from the D-League, including significant contributors like Kendall Marshall, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Manny Harris.
Looks like Sasha Vujacic will sign 10 day contract with Clippers Monday now
Sasha Vujacic will meet team in Denver and will be ready to play Monday night against Nuggets, sources.
This isn’t a big surprise, considering the Clippers have been very active in adding players this season. They have signed Stephen Jackson, Maalik Wayns and Darius Morris on 10-day contracts and waived all three. They also added Hedo Turkoglu for the remainder of the season.
The Clippers expressed interest in Vujacic earlier in the season and finally decided to add the sharpshooting free agent now.
Vujacic’s last NBA stint was with the Nets in 2010-11. In 56 games with the Nets, Vujacic averaged a career-high 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
During the lockout, he signed a two-year deal with Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Basketball League. He had been trying to return to the NBA for some time and has finally been given a shot by L.A.
