Report: Bobcats 'Absolutely Serious' About Pursuing A Trade For Evan Turner
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Leave it to Michael Jordan, NBA owner, to take what we no longer want.
According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the Charlotte Bobcats are "absolutely serious" about pursuing a trade for Evan Turner, citing multiple league sources.
Turner's name has been linked in trade rumors to the Bobcats, the Spurs (gasp!), the Thunder, the Suns, and many others.
Lowe points out the ability for the Sixers to take on more salary than they send out, because they're so far under the salary cap. This is important, because it means they can take on a big expiring contract in exchange for either Turner or Hawes, in addition to the draft pick or young player they'd undoubtedly want as well.
"The Clippers would seem to be the prime candidate. They're only about $2 million over the tax, and they could get under it by dumping a veteran player such as Jared Dudley or Willie Green, plus Reggie Bullock as the cost of doing business. You could expand this into a bigger money thing involving Hawes, given the Clips' glaring need for a third competent big, but adding extra complications is always dicey," Lowe writes. "The Lakers probably can't get under the tax, but they could at least use Philly to reduce their tax bill if the Sixers can find a single thing of value on the Lakers' barren roster. Bottom line: Philly is a lock to be super-active in the next week."
Though the notion of Evan Turner being a reason the Sixers may win "too many" games this year has quieted with the last week in Sixers basketball (losses to the Lakers and Celtics, and obliteration by the Clippers and Warriors), he's still worth more off the team than he is on it. Any fear that Turner or Hawes will be on the team after the NBA's trade deadline (2/20) seems unwarranted.
Here's to hoping.
