The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching, and so are the rumors surrounding the association's best big men.
DeAndre Jordan, the Los Angeles Clippers' all-star center and the league's second-best rebounder, has been long rumored to be targeted by the Cleveland Cavaliers front office in exchange for backup center, Tristan Thompson.
Thompson, who started at center during the Cavs' past three title runs, has now been relegated to the bench for ex-Boston Celtic, Jae Crowder.
While the Thompson–Jordan trade rumor is old news because of the Cavs' defensive struggles, a pair of Kentucky alum stars were recently added to the rumor mill.
New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis and Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns are now officially part of the trade deadline rumor.
Michael Scotto, Senior NBA Writer of Basketball Insider, reported via Twitter that the team interested in Towns was the Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, Davis' name has been connected to the reigning NBA champion, the Golden State Warriors.
While seemingly far-fetched to happen before the trade deadline, given the Warriors' NBA-best record, Tim Kawakami, editor-in-chief of The Athletic Bay Area, wrote in his column that it's a possibility for next season. While it may sound difficult, Kawakami pointed out that the price of Davis, whose contract runs until 2021, will come at the price of reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, and Stephen Curry's fellow splash brother, Klay Thompson.
It seems unlikely for the Warriors to part ways with two all-stars the Warriors drafted, the contracts of Thompson and Green may be enough reasons to pull it off. Thompson is expected to command big money after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2019. The same goes for Green after 2020.
While these superstar big men headline the rumor mill, a glut of solid young big men have generated even more buzz around the league.
Nikola Mirotic of the Chicago Bulls, Derrick Favors of the Utah Jazz, Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic, Julius Randle, and Larry Nance Jr. of the Los Angeles Lakers add to what has been a big men-centric rumor mill.
