NBA Rumors: Latest on Michael Carter-Williams Trade, J.R. Smith Free Agency

Need a break from football? Let’s talk NBA rumors.

With the regular season quickly approaching, the grapevine is more raisin-like as teams have mostly solidified their rosters by now.

But all of them haven’t.

Some trade rumblings are floating around the Milwaukee Bucks, and J.R. Smith remains unsigned. We’ll look into both situations below.

Michael Carter-Williams

On Friday, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that the Bucks offered Michael Carter-Williams to the Sacramento Kings for shooting guard Ben McLemore. Stein added that they “will continue to probe for potential deals after the Kings rebuffed that pitch for 2013’s No. 7 overall pick.”

One day prior, fellow ESPN insider Zach Lowe shared a similar sentiment, writing Milwaukee is “open to moving either Greg Monroe or Michael Carter-Williams in the right deal, league sources say.”

MCW was sidelined with a hip injury from February 29 until the end of last season. In his absence, Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded as an electrifying 6’11” force as the Bucks’ floor general.

“Point Giannis,” ladies and gentlemen:

And again:

The Greek Freak put up 19.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, 1.5 steals and 2.9 turnovers while shooting 51.4 percent from the field in 36.3 minutes during the 23-game stretch.

His emergence as an uber-dynamic backcourt weapon makes it plausible for the Bucks to shop Carter-Williams. But on Friday, the same day Stein’s report came out, head coach Jason Kidd defended the 2014 Rookie of the Year on SiriusXM NBA Radio (h/t HoopsHype):

Rumors are just part of this business. We’re happy with Michael (Carter-Williams). He’s had a …

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