National Basketball Association
3 days ago
The NBA trade season is upon us, and the rumor mill is already roaring.
From now until the trade deadline on Feb. 9, we’ll be tracking the most notable rumors from the league’s most trusted sources.
JANUARY
Lakers pick up Rui Hachimura from Wizards
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Los Angeles is beefing up its frontcourt, reportedly bringing in the 24-year-old Hachimura from Washington. In exchange, the Lakers will send the Wizards guard Kendrick Nunn and multiple second-round picks, according to The Athletic.
Hachimura is averaging 13 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8% from the field this season. He spent four seasons with the Wizards after being the No. 9 pick overall out of Gonzaga.
He is a restricted free agent this summer. ESPN reported that the Lakers inded to sign him to an extension.
Multiple teams want Cam Reddish
NBA writer Marc Stein reported that the Dallas Mavericks have joined the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers as teams that are interested in acquiring Reddish from the New York Knicks. Stein notes that the Knicks seek a second-round draft pick for Reddish and are “angling” to acquire Reggie Bullock from the Mavericks. Bullock played for the Knicks in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
Reddish, 23, has appeared in just 20 games this season.
Dončić wants to see upgrades
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Dallas superstar Luka Dončić is hoping the Mavericks can make a move to upgrade their roster before the trade deadline.
“Sources said Doncic, who hasn’t shown a desire to be involved in personnel matters in the past, has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the Feb. 9 trade deadline,” MacMahon wrote.
Dončić is leading the NBA in scoring (33.8) as of Wednesday, Jan. 18. The Mavs’ second-leading scorer is Christian Wood (18.3).
Wolves, Clippers want Conley
Mike Conley Jr. is in the crosshairs off both the Timberwolves and LA Clippers, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
LA is willing to part ways with John Wall in hopes of landing Conley, Charania revealed.
Two first-round picks for Jakob Poeltl? According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, that’s San Antonio’s asking price for the 27-year old big man.
Poeltl is averaging 12.3 points (63.4% shooting) and 9.4 rebounds this season.
Raptors eyeing young big men, wing
In addition to Poeltl, the Toronto Raptors are keeping an eye on Phoenix’s Deandre Ayton and Indiana’s Myles Turner, according to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer.
Ayton has been scuffling with the Suns and coach Monty Williams dating back to last season, and Turner has been the subject of trade rumors for well over a year.
Teams want Pistons‘ pieces
According to James L. Edwards of The Athletic, Miami, Denver and Dallas are looking to land Detroit’s Nerlens Noel.
In addition, teams are beginning to kick the tires on Pistons wing Saadiq Bey. The 23-year-old had a breakout campaign last season, but was moved to a reserve role in November of this season.
Cavs interested in Bojan Bogdanović
The Cavaliers are “suitors” for Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanović, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. The Pistons’ price for Bogdanović is set at a first-roud pick and a young player with upside.
Gary Trent Jr. is available
Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. is reportedly available though it’s unclear what it would cost to get him. Trent Jr. signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Raptors in 2021 and has a player option for the 2023-24 season.
According to Yahoo’s Jake Fischer, the Raptors would be interested in acquiring Charlotte’s Jalen McDaniels.
Mavericks are fans of Zach LaVine
According to a report from ESPN, people that hold “prominent positions” within the Dallas Mavericks’ organization are fans of Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine. LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million max contract extension with the Bulls in July and therefore can’t be traded until Jan. 15.
John Collins to Utah?
The Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks reportedly discussed a three-team deal that would have sent Hawks forward John Collins to Utah. However, the deal fell apart due to a disagreement with draft compensation — the Hawks wanted multiple first-round picks for the 25-year-old forward.
In the proposed deal, the Suns would have received Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt and the Hawks would have received Jae Crowder and other players to make the salaries work.
Kyle Kuzma is ‘gettable’
Kyle Kuzma, who’s in the midst of a career season with the Wizards, is reportedly “gettable” before the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Kuzma, 27, will be a free agent after this season.
DECEMBER
DeMar DeRozan staying put?
DeRozan took to social media to discredit claims that he has requested a trade and wants out of Chicago. The 33-year-old is averaging 25.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists on 50.8% shooting this season.
A family affair
Trae Young reportedly got into a spat with head coach Nate McMillan that resulted in the 24-year-old getting benched, leading to rumors that the two-time All-Star wanted out of Atlanta and that he’s on the brink of demanding a trade. That isn’t the case, according to Young’s father, who said, “Trae doesn’t talk to other teams. He’s busy trying to win in Atlanta.”
Interest in Buddy Hield growing
Rival teams have expressed interest in the Pacers shooting guard this season, per The Athletic. Hield, 30, has been averaging 17.4 points and 4.7 rebounds, while shooting 39.7% from 3 this season.
Lakers want to keep Russell Westbrook?
A Westbrook trade is “increasingly unlikely” due to his recent uptick in production, according to a report from The Athletic. In his last 10 games for the Lakers, Westbrook has averaged 14.1 points, 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds off the bench. Westbrook is the only reserve in the league averaging at least 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Los Angeles still superstar hunting?
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha also reported that in a perfect world, if the likes of Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal became available, the Lakers — like nearly every other team in the league — would aim to land one of the superstars. Arguably a more realistic idea would be what Zach Lowe discussed on his “The Lowe Post” podcast, saying that the Lakers have had “internal discussions” about landing Demar Derozan or Nikola Vucevic from Chicago.
Kyle Kuzma is a hot commodity
Wizards forward Kuzma is a trade deadline target for the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns, according to a report from The Athletic. The Hawks appear to pose the biggest threat, as the report said the Wizards have “seriously discussed a potential deal” for John Collins, whose name has been on the trade block for years. The Lakers have also reportedly inquired about Kuzma, who they sent to Washington in the Westbrook deal before the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
This week, Kuzma spoke to FOX Sports’ Melissa Rohlin about his time in L.A., saying he wished he got the “fairer end of the stick” with the Lakers.
Knicks having fire sale
The Knicks have made Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier, Cam Reddish and Immanuel Quickley available in trade talks, according to a report from Yahoo Sports. The Lakers were mentioned as a team that’s been involved in discussions for both Fournier and Reddish. Reddish is represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who also represents Lakers superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Pistons want first for Bojan Bogdanović
As a highly-productive veteran on a very bad Pistons team, Bogdanović is naturally a target for teams at the trade deadline. However, if a team wants him, it will have to surrender a first-round pick just to get the conversation started, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Sixers dangling Tobias Harris
In what feels like an annual NBA trade deadline tradition at this point, the Philadelphia 76ers have discussed Harris with rival teams, according to a report from The Athletic. Harris, who signed a five-year, $180 million contract to remain in Philadelphia in 2019, is averaging 17 points on a respectable 48.4% shooting from the field and 40.4% shooting from behind the arc. He’s owed $36.7 million this season.
What’s up with Jae Crowder?
Crowder continues to sit out as the Suns work to find him a new home. The Milwaukee Bucks nearly acquired the 32-year-old forward, according to a report from Bleacher Report, but the deal never crossed the finish line. The Warriors, Heat, Hawks and Lakers are also said to be interested.
Rockets shopping young, veteran pieces
Houston is continuing to do its due diligence on veteran guard Eric Gordon, searching for a pick in exchange for the longtime reserve bucket-getter, according to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus. The Rockets are also poised to listen to offers for 21-year-old forward KJ Martin, who would like a more prominent role in Houston or elsewhere, per Pincus’ sources.
Teams want Raptors to blow it up
According to Pincus, “Rival teams are hopeful the Raptors will fall off and focus on building a new core around second-year forward Scottie Barnes. The number of teams interested in their players is too long to list.” That list includes Pascal Siakam, O.G. Anunoby, Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr.
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