Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Suns, Thunder talking Gortat deal?
By Nick Borges
UPDATE: Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic clarified his earlier report of a rumored Phoenix-Oklahoma City trade that would send Marcin Gortat and P.J. Tucker to the Thunder and Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb and a first-round pick to the Suns.
"I mentioned All-Star break talk of a Perkins/Lamb/pick-Gortat/Tucker swap. Apparently, that was a league rumor but not actual team talks," Coro tweeted.
It's unclear how serious either team is about making this deal, but given Coro's update we have to believe it may not be as likely as it may have seemed earlier this morning.
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There has been some talk that Oklahoma City wants to deal Eric Maynor which hasn't gone far. Now we get word from Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic that the team might be looking to move Kendrick Perkins to the Phoenix Suns.
Coro writes: "Another source said there was All-Star break talk of Oklahoma City exploring Marcin Gortat and P.J. Tucker for Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb and a first-round pick."
The Suns currently have about $6.44 million in salary cap room, however they will likely only bring back players with expiring contracts to preserve their 2013-14 cap room.
Gortat has one more year and $7.72 million on his deal, while Tucker's 2013-14 minimum salary is not guaranteed.
Perkins is owed $17.63 million over the last two years of his contract. Lamb is in year one of his rookie-scale deal.
The Thunder are eager to deal Perkins as it would reduce their tax bill starting in 2013-14.
