Clippers, Magic Discuss Channing Frye Trade
11:34pm: The Clippers have yet to commit to any deal on this front, as Wojnarowski hears, and they’re expected to stand pat and sign a D-League big man instead, according to Vertical colleague Marc J. Spears (Twitter links). That gives the Cavs a strong chance to swoop in and nab Frye, Wojnarowski says.
WEDNESDAY, 8:15am: The Magic would move Stephenson elsewhere if they acquire him, sources tell TNT’s David Aldridge. That suggests the team would trade him rather than waive him.
7:37pm: The Clippers are discussing a bigger deal involving Stephenson’s contract, which has placed talks with Orlando temporarily on hold, Wojnarowski reports (Twitter links). Stephenson would be waived if acquired by the Magic, the scribe notes.
7:21pm: The Clippers would send Lance Stephenson, C.J. Wilcox and possibly a second-rounder to Orlando in return, Wojnarowski relays (Twitter links). Los Angeles is also engaged in talks with another team regarding Stephenson, which puts any trade with Orlando on hold temporarily, the Vertical scribe adds. There are also a number of teams interested in Frye, including the Cavaliers, Wojnarowski also notes (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 7:16pm: The Clippers and Magic are closing in on agreement that would send power forward Channing Frye to Los Angeles, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reports (Twitter link). It is unclear who or what would be heading to Orlando in return for the veteran stretch-four.
The Magic have been trying to trade Frye, according to an earlier report from Marc Stein of ESPN.com, who suggested the effort to find a taker for the 32-year-old would accelerate now that the team has traded Tobias Harris, Frye’s cousin, to the Pistons for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings. Frye is making more than $8.193MM this season, with about $7.8MM coming next season and $7.4MM in 2017/18, the final year of his deal.
The 32-year-old has disappointed since Orlando signed him to a four year deal during the summer of 2014. He has appeared in 44 games this season, including 29 as a starter, and is averaging just 5.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17.1 minutes per night. His career averages are 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist, and Frye owns a career slash line of .438/.387/.820.
Kings Interested In Iman Shumpert
10:27am: The would-be deal to send Shumpert to Sacramento is losing steam, Jones hears (on Twitter).
8:20am: The Kings would like to trade with the Cavaliers for Iman Shumpert, reports Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee, who indicates that the teams are working off of a proposal that would have Ben McLemore and Kosta Koufos going to Cleveland and Timofey Mozgov joining Shumpert on the Kings. Shumpert was unlikely to be traded as of late Wednesday, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reported, but McLemore and Koufos are reportedly of interest to the Cavs. Cleveland has apparently explored trading Mozgov but met with rejection on that front from Sacramento.
McLemore and Koufos are also part of a deal the Kings are apparently discussing with Chicago involving Pau Gasol. Both Sacramento and Cleveland are working on multiple fronts, and its unclear how much of a priority either side is making the other. The Kings-Cavs proposal would be a money-saver for Cleveland, since Shumpert’s salary of almost $8.989MM and Mozgov’s $4.95MM pay totals about $3.1MM more than the combined salaries of Koufos ($7.7MM) and McLemore (close to $3.157MM).
The Cavs would save many times that amount in projected luxury tax penalties. However, it would be a wash in terms of long-term salary commitments, since Mozgov is the only one on an expiring deal. Shumpert is fresh off signing a four-year, $40MM deal in the offseason, at about the same time Koufos landed a four-year, $32.879MM contract with Sacramento. McLemore is in year three of a four-year rookie scale contract and the Kings are reportedly “desperate” to find him a new home as they work with his camp to find a trade partner.
And-Ones: Johnson, Celtics, Pelicans, Lee
The Cavaliers think would-be post-buyout target Joe Johnson wants to stay in Brooklyn and that he’ll seek to sign an extension with the Nets, a source told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. People around Johnson say he won’t take a buyout, tweets Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
- The Celtics are willing to trade the unprotected 2016 first-round pick they have coming their way from the Nets if it would shake Blake Griffin loose from the Clippers, sources tell Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. However, Boston wouldn’t deal the pick for either Kevin Love or Al Horford, Bulpett hears.
- The Pelicans shopped Eric Gordon and Omer Asik, but they haven’t found much interest, sources tell John Reid of The Times Picayune. New Orleans reportedly offered Gordon and Alonzo Gee to the Kings for Rudy Gay earlier this season, and the Pelicans apparently had talks with the Cavs that involved Asik after making him available in December.
- The Grizzlies shipped $542,714 cash to the Hornets as part of the Courtney Lee trade, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reveals.
- Jameer Nelson is running out of alternatives to season-ending surgery on a severely sprained left wrist, but he’ll continue to try to play for the time being after receiving an injection meant to ease the pain he’s feeling, as Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post details. He missed the Nuggets‘ last six games before the All-Star break.
- The Bulls were interested in Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer earlier this season, but the Rockets rebuffed their entreaties, reports Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com (Twitter link).
- The Pistons would love to make one more move before the trade deadline, GM Jeff Bower said today in an appearance on WDFN-AM radio, notes Rod Beard of The Detroit News (Twitter link). The team is reportedly scanning the market for veteran guards, but Bower said the Pistons are looking at the options available at every position and added that coach/executive Stan Van Gundy has confidence in Steve Blake as the team’s backup point guard, Beard also relays (on Twitter).
- The Grizzlies recalled James Ennis from the team’s D-League affiliate in Iowa, the team announced today. Ennis has appeared in 15 games with the Energy, averaging 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per night. He has played in 10 games for Memphis, averaging 1.3 points in 3.6 minutes.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Atlantic Notes: Teague, Schröder, Embiid, Knicks
The Sixers may plan a last-second attempt to acquire Jeff Teague or Dennis Schröder from the Hawks, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. A source told Pompey that Philadelphia front office could make an “11th-hour” call to the Hawks on Thursday to remind them of the Sixers’ interest. Pompey cautions that it will probably take Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel to get either of the point guards, and Philly’s front office would rather keep both until it knows the status of 2014 draftee Joel Embiid, who has yet to play an NBA game. However, a report emerged tonight that the Sixers are “gauging interest” in Okafor. “I think you always have to be aware of what the market is for acquiring something or considering a trade,” said chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo. “But we are not actively looking to do deals.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Embiid has traveled to Qatar for “a kick-start to the next phase” of his rehab process, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. He is working on his surgically repaired foot with doctors at Aspetar, which calls itself “the world’s leading specialized orthopedic and sports medicine hospital.” Embiid’s visit will include evaluation, consultation and meetings with specialists.
- Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis was happy to be called “untouchable” in trade talks by team president Phil Jackson, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork. Porzingis said he would like to remain in New York for his entire career.
- Interim coach Kurt Rambis said the Knicks front office hasn’t asked his opinion on any possible deals Begley also relays (Twitter link).
- The Nets won’t rush to make a deal before the deadline, owner Mikhail Prokhorov said, as NetsDaily notes. “If we have some small, good pieces, maybe we can do something,” Prokhorov said. “But we are [being] very passive because we’re not in a hurry. We have a long-term vision.”
- The Rockets asked for Jonas Valanciunas when they unsuccessfully approached the Raptors about a Dwight Howard trade, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. Such a deal would have required Toronto to relinquish much more to make the salaries match.
- The Celtics would give up more for Kevin Love than they would for Al Horford, but the Cavs and Hawks are expected to continue to demand more than Boston is willing to relinquish for either, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Cavaliers Interested In Ryan Anderson
10:27pm: The Wizards have talked with the Pelicans about acquiring Anderson, but prefer to pursue Kevin Durant rather than pay Anderson in free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. Anderson is expected to attract a salary starting at $16MM-$18MM when he hits the market this summer, and Washington would rather chase Durant without having to worry about Anderson.
Wojnarowski also reports that the Pistons and Pelicans had “serious talks” about Anderson before Detroit opted to trade for Tobias Harris on Tuesday. Detroit was interested in a larger deal with the Magic that included Evan Fournier, but Orlando wanted to keep him.
3:39pm: The Cavaliers are talking to the Pelicans about power forward Ryan Anderson, tweets Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. He adds that a three-team deal that includes Kevin Love is still possible. Cleveland has “strong interest” in acquiring Anderson, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports.
The Pelicans are motivated to move Anderson because they aren’t sure if they can keep him once he enters free agency this summer. New Orleans expects Anderson to receive an offer with a starting salary in the neighborhood of $16MM-$18MM. The Heat, Kings, Wizards and Pistons are among the teams rumored to have interest in Anderson, although Detroit may have pulled out after Tuesday’s trade for Tobias Harris.
If Love is included in a deal, it will end a tumultuous season and a half with the Cavaliers. After being acquired from Minnesota in a 2014 trade, Love was supposed to be part of a new Big Three in Cleveland, but the fit was never as smooth as expected. He posted scoring and rebounding totals that were far behind his numbers with the Wolves.
Anderson, an eight-year veteran stretch forward, is averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 51 games with New Orleans. His salary is $8.5MM this season, while Love is making $19.5MM in the second season of a five-year max deal, so if they’re both involved in the same trade, some work will need to be done to match salaries.
Cavs Expected To Keep Love, Shumpert, Varejao
Despite a flurry of last-minute trade rumors, the most likely outcome is that Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert and Anderson Varejao all stay with Cleveland past the deadline, according to Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal. Lloyd adds that a minor deal is possible to improve the back end of the Cavs’ rotation.
That would be a blow to the Celtics’ dreams of adding Love in a rumored three-way deal with the Pelicans. It would also mean that Varejao isn’t headed to Orlando in exchange for Channing Frye, perhaps clearing the way for the Magic to ship Frye to the Clippers.
Lloyd writes that the Cavaliers want to take another shot at winning a title with Love and are reluctant to give up Shumpert, who is the team’s best perimeter defender. They have been trying for most of the season to find a taker for Varejao, who still has two years and nearly $19MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract, but have been turned down repeatedly.
Lloyd confirms Cleveland’s interest in Frye, who spent time with Cavs GM David Griffin in Phoenix, but the writer believes other teams can put together better offers. The Cavaliers also have payroll concerns, already facing about $170MM in salary and luxury tax penalties.
Cavaliers Consider Trading Anderson Varejao
9:43pm: The Magic aren’t interested in taking on Varejao’s contract, but they are thinking about sending Frye to Cleveland for a trade exception, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers have a $10.5MM exception — enough to absorb Frye’s $8.2MM salary — they got from trading Brendan Haywood to the Blazers last summer. However, the Cavs don’t want to add Frye unless they can offload Varejao somehow, Wojnarowski writes.
Orlando is growing tired of waiting for a decision from the Clippers, who say they need until Thursday morning to decide whether to give up Lance Stephenson, C.J. Wilcox and a second-round pick in exchange for Frye, Wojnarowski reports.
Varejao still has two years and nearly $19MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Wojnarowski confirms that Cleveland is looking for a teams with cap space like Philadelphia or Portland to take Varejao in a three-team deal. The third team could expect to get cash and draft picks in return. If the Cavaliers were to take on Frye’s contract without getting rid of Varejao’s, it would push their estimated luxury tax bill from $61MM to nearly $96MM.
L.A. has been looking at other trades to get rid of Stephenson’s contract, which pays him $9MM this year and $9.4MM next season, Wojnarowski reports. If the Orlando deal goes through, the Magic are expected to waive or trade him.
7:04pm: The Magic don’t plan to accept Cleveland’s offer of Varejao for Frye, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
6:17pm: Cleveland has offered Varejao to Orlando in exchange for stretch four Channing Frye, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Cavaliers are hoping to trump reported trade talks between the Magic and Clippers.
4:17pm: The Cavaliers are considering a deal involving veteran power forward Anderson Varejao, tweets Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. He mentions the Blazers and Sixers as possible trade partners.
Varejao has been with Cleveland for his entire 12-year NBA career. He has appeared in just 31 games this season and is averaging 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10 minutes of playing time.
Varejao is signed through the 2017/18 season. He makes $9,638,554 this year and is due to get $10,361,446 in 2016/17, but only $9,361,446 of that is guaranteed. His $10MM salary for 2017/18 is non-guaranteed, but he will receive a $4.5MM guarantee if he is on a roster through August 1st of next year. Varejao’s contract includes a 5% trade kicker.
A Varejao deal could be connected to a rumored swap for the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson that Isola also reported. Only the Blazers have enough cap room to take on Varejao without worrying about the league’s salary-matching rules.
Clippers Also Have Interest In Ryan Anderson
The Clippers would like to be part of the Ryan Anderson sweepstakes, tweets Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times. However, L.A. is hampered in its pursuit because its next tradeable first-round draft pick isn’t until 2019.
Several teams have expressed interest in the Pelicans’ free-agent-to-be power forward, with the latest being the Cavaliers. A three-way deal that would send Kevin Love to the Celtics is also being discussed. The Heat, Kings, Wizards and Pistons have also been mentioned as suitors.
The Clippers are known to be in the market for a stretch four, and were reportedly close Tuesday to acquiring Channing Frye from the Magic. Since then, Cleveland has offered Anderson Varejao to Orlando in an attempt to get Frye, but the Magic apparently plan to reject that deal.
Celtics Could Get Love In Rumored Anderson Deal
The Celtics’ desire to add Kevin Love could get a boost from the Cavaliers’ interest in Ryan Anderson, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. He hears from a source that Boston could wind up with Love as part of a three-team deal with Cleveland and New Orleans.
The potential deal is “very fragile,” but Love will wind up in Boston if it goes through, Blakely writes, adding that the Celtics have been trying for weeks to convince the Cavaliers to give up Love, and that Boston has been pursuing a third team to make the trade work. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is determined to find a star and sees Love as his best opportunity in years, according to Blakely.
The possibility of a three-team deal was mentioned by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News when he tweeted about the Cavs’ interest in Anderson earlier today. Anderson averages 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, but the Pelicans are concerned that they won’t be able to re-sign him in free agency this summer. Anderson is making $8.5MM this season, while Love’s salary is $19.5MM, so several other players will have to be included to make the proposed deal possible.
Central Notes: Augustin, Carter-Williams, Harris
The Pistons are a bit thin in their backcourt after today’s trade of Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova to the Magic in exchange for combo forward Tobias Harris, Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com writes. As a result of the trade Detroit is now combing the market for a veteran guard it can add to its rotation, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports relays (via Twitter). Some potential targets for the Pistons include Thunder point guard D.J. Augustin, Kings playmaker Darren Collison and Mo Williams of the Cavaliers, Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press notes (Twitter links).
Here’s the latest from the Central Division:
- Bucks point guard Michael Carter-Williams has been told by the team that he will not be traded prior to Thursday’s deadline, Marc J. Spears of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports tweets. The 24-year-old, who is said to be “undeniably gettable,” was also told the same thing by the Sixers last season prior to being shipped to Milwaukee, Spears notes, so he’s likely to take any assurances with a grain of salt.
- Cavs superstar LeBron James believes he and his teammates need to tune out outside distractions and criticism and focus on the task at hand if the team is to make strides during the second half of the season, Marla Ridenour of The Akron Beacon Journal writes. “There’s so much talk about what we should be, we should do this, we shouldn’t do that. The only thing that matters is what we come together and talk about and how we prepare every single night and our coaching staff putting us in position to win,” James told Ridenour.
- The Pistons are excited by the athleticism and versatility that Harris will provide them, David Mayo of MLive relays.
- Orlando likely could have netted a better return if it had waited to deal Harris until this summer, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post opines in his examination of the Harris/Jennings/Ilyasova trade. The scribe notes that the trade was a big win for the Pistons, who now possess a solid core of players who are 25 years of age or younger to build around, and though Orlando did receive the veterans it craved, unless this deal was the first in a series of trades, it failed to improve the Magic as a team, Bontemps concludes.