NBA Rumors: Latest on Monta Ellis Trade, Russell Westbrook and More

The Chicago Bulls won an NBA Summer League title Monday, concluding a thrilling week and throwing the full force of the NBA right back into the rumors realm.

Other than Denzel Valentine showing the organization it didn’t need to go into win-now mode, the league provided a strong example as to the importance of depth in the NBA.

Most rumors this time of year deal with such depth pieces—at least most years. This isn’t most years, though, where the shining exception is Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who still has to deal with the aftermath of Kevin Durant taking his ball and going elsewhere.

Here’s a look at the hottest items on the market.

Monta Ellis on the Move?

The Indiana Pacers have quietly had one of the better offseasons around, adding Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young to a Paul George-led core.

Subtractions aren’t out of the question, though.

According to Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler, the team shopped around shooting guard Monta Ellis:

Was told they shopped Monta Ellis but found little interest… https://t.co/LwClAdGdqQ

— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) July 18, 2016

With a backcourt featuring names such as Teague and Rodney Stuckey, it’s no wonder the team wouldn’t mind moving the 30-year-old Ellis. It’s a cash situation more than anything, with Ellis representing a cap hit north of $10 million in each of the next three seasons, per Spotrac.

Also unsurprising is the apparent lack of interest. Ellis suffered a rapid drop in productivity last season, averaging 13.8 points on 42.7 percent shooting. In comparable minutes with the Dallas Mavericks the year before, he went for 18.9 on 44.5, respectively.

Indiana’s selling point will have to be Ellis’ ability in the right situation. The front office might have to give up more than it would prefer …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com