NBA trade news: Ryan Anderson being shopped as Kent Bazemore, JR Smith targeted
THE HOUSTON ROCKETS are attempting to offload Ryan Anderson and strengthen their perimeter offense with the acquisition of Atlanta Hawks man Kent Bazemore – but JR Smith also remains on the shortlist.
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That is the claim of ESPN’s NBA expert Zach Lowe, who discussed the move with guest Royce Young on the latest edition of the Lowe Post podcast.
“The package would be Ryan Anderson and their first-round pick,” Lowe said.
“Ryan Anderson has two years at around $21m-a-pop, or something like that, and [Kent] Bazemore has two years at around $18m or $19m – he’s a better player.
“They will say ‘hey, the salaries are about the same. You’re taking on a little more, is the 29th pick enough?’
“I think they’ll kick that around. I think they’ve talked to the Heat.
“The Heat are kicking a lot of tyres, I can’t figure out what they’re trying to do but I can see Tyler Johnson for the same package. One guy is a better fit [to play] the Warriors, one guy is not. Is our first-round pick, to a team that is out a future first-round pick, good enough?
“I’ve heard they’ve kicked the tyres on JR Smith – how about that? That would be good.”
Anderson’s contract is widely regarded as one of the worst in the league, currently due to pay the 31-year-old an eye-watering $20m-a-year for the next two seasons.
Former Pelicans man Anderson fell out of the rotation in Houston towards the end of the season and played just 95 minutes in the postseason, down from 336 minutes the season before.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey is hoping to add more depth on the wing after the departures of Luc Mbah A Moute and Trevor Ariza during free agency – and fans think he would be on to a winner with the acquisition of 29-year-old Bazemore.
“Bazemore for Anderson and a pick is just perfect,” read one comment on social media site Reddit.
“If Atlanta wants to tank, taking Anderson is basically like us handing over the spot for the #1 overall.”
Another said: “Rockets can play some deadly small-ball this year.”