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NBA Rumors: Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings, And New Orleans Pelicans Could Make Moves

By Pete Camarillo
Published on: 10:25 PST, Nov 13, 2016

We are about 10 games into the NBA regular season, and NBA rumors keep heating up. The New Orleans Pelicans (1-9), Sacramento Kings (4-7), and Denver Nuggets (3-6) are all franchises in the NBA rumor mill.

If the playoffs began today, all three teams would be on the outside looking in. Hence, rumors surface as they look for moves to change their course in the standings.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari could be on the move, according to Bleacher Report. The report points out that Denver wants to space the floor with Gallinari, which has led Denver to place Nikola Jokic or Jusuf Nurkic on the bench.

Both Jokic and Nurkic are young big men who could benefit from more playing time. However, they can not get those minutes when Gallinari plays the power forward position.

Either way, Gallinari is no stranger to the trade market. According to The Ringer, the Nuggets have resisted multiple trade offers for Gallinari over the past two years.

Check out Gallinari’s jam from the other night in the video below.

The 28-year-old Gallinari is averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 36 minutes per game this season. A contender would value his scoring, range, versatility and athleticism.

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are not new to NBA rumors, either. Franchise center DeMarcus Cousins may or may not be available, according to Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck.

Otherwise, forward Omri Casspi denied he requested a trade, per Hoops Rumors. Media outlets reported that Casspi wanted out of Sacramento, but Casspi sent CSNBayArea a text saying there was zero truth to those rumors.

Under new Kings coach Dave Joerger, Casspi has seen his playing time get cut in half. Newcomers Matt Barnes, Anthony Tolliver, and Garrett Temple have moved ahead of him in the rotation.

Casspi, 28, played in six of the team’s 11 games. He is averaging 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per night. The forward started in 21 games last season before a head coaching change and injuries caused him to slip down the depth chart.

Further, 2015 sixth overall pick Willie Cauley-Stein also faces uncertainty with his future in Sacramento. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported that the Kings are open to moving Cauley-Stein, per Hoops Rumors.

The second-year player has also seen his minutes cut under Joerger. Cauley-Stein averaged 21.4 minutes per game last year, but he is averaging 14.5 minutes per game this NBA season. Additionally, he did not see the floor at all twice this season.

However, CSN California reports that the Kings will keep their 2016 first-round pick because he is one of their best defenders.

The 23-year-old center is averaging 4.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest.

Kings players Rudy Gay, Kosta Kouros, and Ben McLemore have also been mentioned as potential trade targets. Clearly, the Kings are a team to watch as more NBA rumors surface.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are another team rumored to consider making a change. However, their move would be a little different than a trade.

Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry could get fired in a matter of days, per Hoops Rumors. The Pelicans have won only one game this season. Gentry signed a four-year, $13.75 million contract in 2014. His team finished 12th in the Western Conference with a 30-52 overall record last season.

Firing Gentry could prevent another year outside of the NBA playoffs.

Nonetheless, New Orleans should also welcome back point guard Jrue Holiday next week.

The guard has not played this NBA season, as he spent the early part of his season caring for his wife, who underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Holiday could return next Friday against the Portland Trailblazers, via Hoops Rumors. Holiday could help the Pelicans turn their season around. He averaged 16.8 points, and 6.0 assists last season.

Will Holiday have a new head coach when he returns? Like all of the NBA rumors, it remains to be seen.

[Featured Image by David Zalubowski/AP Images]

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