The NBA trade market has been slow this summer, but players like DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Ty Lawson, Ryan Anderson and Rudy Gay could be potential deadline targets this year, as teams like NY Knicks, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets and Clippers all could be interested in making deals.
Cousins has been one of the most talked about players this summer when it comes to trades, but the Sacramento Kings have been reluctant to deal the center. According to Jason Jones the Sacramento Bee, the idea of a Cousins trade "remains on the table" and the relationship between Cousins and head coach George Karl has "not been resolved" yet. Vice president of basketball and franchise operations Vlade Divac has been leaning against a Cousins trade, but things could change depending on how this season goes in Sacramento.
Eric Bledsoe has come up in trade rumors this summer and he is a player to watch this season for the Phoenix Suns. The team signed Brandon Knight to a new contract in free agent for five years and $70 million and that could push the team to deal Bledsoe eventually. According to the Sporting News, Sean Deveney reported that the team offered a deal with Bledsoe to the Knicks during the NBA draft. The team could look at trading Bledsoe after dealing Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas last season as the Suns try and rebuild.
The Celtics could be a future option for either Cousins or Bledsoe, as the Boston Globe reports that the team could get two max player in 2016 with over $50 million in cap space. There are free agents on the market, but if the Celtics miss on those players, expect them to look at trades instead. Marc Stein at ESPN reported during the season that the Celtics would "try to pry" Cousins from the Kings and that deal could come up again down the line.
Earlier in the offseason it was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo Sports that Karl wanted to push a trade for Cousins, which was against the wishes of the front office and owner Vivek Ranadivé. The Lakers and the Kings reportedly "discussed a framework" for a trade involving Cousins, but the deal did not come close to happening. The Kings likely wanted Julius Randle and/or D'Angelo Russell in a deal for Cousins and that was something the Lakers did not want to do.
Check here for more on the potential for the Kings in trading Cousins and his rumored interest from the Lakers and his relationship with George Karl. Check here for more on Eric Bledsoe and potential interest along with Ryan Anderson, Ty Lawson and Rudy Gay this year in trades.
There were also reports earlier in the offseason that Karl was pushing the Kings to trade Cousins for Kenneth Faired and/or Ty Lawson with the Nuggets. Chris Broussard of ESPN reported the news on that, but wrote that "ownership" would not allow for the deal. The Kings are likely out on Lawson after signing Rajon Rondo. The Kings are desperate to get competitive this season and trading Cousins could be an option if things go south again.
Ty Lawson, Ryan Anderson and Rudy Gay are also potential trade options at the deadline this year, with Lawson likely getting moved from the Nuggets. The team drafted Emmanuel Mudiay and that could mean the end of his run in Denver. The Kings may look at moving Gay at the deadline if they don't trade Cousins, as they have signed Omri Casspi, Marco Belinelli and Rondo to deals this offseason.
