With the young NBA season already containing two trades; it appears many more will be on the way in the near future. A few notes regarding potential trades and other league notes:
- Zaza Pachulia will be out at least four weeks with a broken right foot, the Bucks announced today. With so many injured players, Grantland’s Zach Lowe cautions the team against making a trade to help the team stay competitive, even though owner Herb Kohl is averse to tanking (Twitter links).
- The injuries have presented a few of the Bucks‘ younger players with a chance to impress, and they’ve taken advantage, as Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examines. Coach Larry Drew admits that they might steal minutes from more established players when they return.
- With the loss of Tyreke Evans in addition to already injured Anthony Davis and Greg Stiemsma, Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune warns Pelicans fans that the future is bleak. Smith also points out that the apparent decrease in future wins will do very little for the Pelicans since they will likely not own their first round draft pick next summer.
- Following the season ending injury to Quincy Pondexter, the Grizzlies told the Commercial Appeal’s Ronald Tillery (via Twitter) they will not add a player that will “stunt” rookie Jamaal Franklin‘s fair shot at the rotation.
- While some have said the Kings are the “losers” of the Rudy Gay trade, Sam Amick of USA Today points out (via Twitter) the Kings may have more to lose. If the Kings improve this season’s record too much, they run the risk of losing their 2014 first round pick to the Cavaliers. The pick is protected and will stay in Sacramento if in the top 12 picks but would go to Cleveland as payment for the J.J. Hickson trade if it falls outside the top 12.
- The Kings may also risk losing their new stadium plans if a group of taxpayers have their way. Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee reports if city residents obtain 40,000 signatures by tomorrow the proposed $258MM city subsidy will have to be placed on next June’s ballot.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com details (ESPN Insider piece) the eleven most interesting trade targets after the Rudy Gay trade. The list includes Paul Millsap, Luol Deng, Dion Waiters, Greg Monroe, Omer Asik, Zach Randolph, Iman Shumpert, Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.