The Charlotte Bobcats, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns are reportedly interested in trading for Philadelphia 76ers swingman Evan Turner. Moving Turner before the NBA trade deadline, however, may not happen.
Philadelphia is making a strong push to trade Turner before the NBA's Feb. 20 deadline. Charlotte is one of the teams interested in the 25-year-old, according to the Charlotte Observer, but the talks appear to be exploratory at this point.
"The Philadelphia 76ers are open to trading forward Evan Turner and the Charlotte Bobcats have looked into acquiring him, an NBA source confirmed," Rick Bonnell of the Observer wrote on Monday. "... Nothing about the Bobcats' interest appears imminent to making a deal."
The 76ers are looking to net a first-round draft pick for Turner, and the Bobcats could have as many as three first-round picks in the 2014 draft to use in a trade.
Oklahoma City and Phoenix also expressed interest in Turner, according to Sporting News. Like Charlotte, though, no trade appears imminent with either team.
One holdup with any trade for Turner is his contract situation. Turner becomes a restricted free agent in the summer, but all indications point to new 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie not re-signing him. Hinkie and Turner's agent didn't even discuss a contract extension earlier in the season, according to Sporting News.
"It wouldn't be smart to give up assets for a player you think you can just sign on your own in July," one general manager told Sporting News. "If you don't need to trade anything away to get him, then why would you?"
Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in 2010, is averaging a career-high 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season.
