Mannix’s Latest: G. Hill, Hornets, Hawks, Suns
The Cavaliers continue to engage the Kings about a possible George Hill trade, sources tell Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. However, the Cavs would like to include both J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in their package for Hill, and taking on multiple expensive non-expiring contracts doesn’t appeal to Sacramento. Meanwhile, the Kings are quietly looking to get a third team involved in a potential deal, according to Mannix.
Mannix’s latest trade rumor roundup features several more tidbits of interest related to Thursday’s deadline, so we’ll pass along the highlights…
- The future of GM Rich Cho in Charlotte is uncertain, which may complicate the Hornets‘ deadline plans. According to Mannix, there are rumblings about former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak being a candidate to join the Hornets’ front office in the offseason. Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times wrote last week that Kupchak is considered likely to be hired by an Eastern Conference team this summer.
- Some teams with interest in Marcus Smart view the Celtics‘ asking price of a first-round pick as “unrealistic,” says Mannix.
- The Hawks have made “everyone” available, and while much has been written about the club’s veteran trade candidates, second-year swingman Taurean Prince is another player who has drawn interest, according to Mannix.
- The Magic have shopped Mario Hezonja “hard” in recent days, per Mannix.
- According to Mannix, the Suns are willing to move veterans like Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley. Neither player’s contract is particularly team-friendly though, so it may be tough for Phoenix to find any value.
- The Clippers say they’re okay with holding onto DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams through the deadline, but rival clubs are skeptical, says Mannix.
Wizards Engaged In Marcin Gortat Trade Talks
The Wizards have explored the possibility of moving their starting center, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who hears from multiple sources that the club has engaged in trade discussions involving Marcin Gortat.
Windhorst reports that several teams have shown interest in Gortat, adding that the Wizards are looking to improve their roster in the short term without taking on additional money in the long term.
Gortat, who will turn 34 later this month, has seen his role reduced a little this season, averaging 26.3 minutes per contest, his lowest mark since joining the Wizards in 2013. However, he has remained productive, recording 8.9 PPG and 8.0 RPG with a .537 FG% in 53 games (all starts) so far in 2017/18. The big man’s contract pays him about $12.78MM this season and $13.57MM in 2018/19 before expiring in the summer of ’19.
While Windhorst doesn’t specify any trade targets for the Wizards, his ESPN colleague Zach Lowe reported this week that Washington is one club that has looked into the possibility of acquiring DeAndre Jordan. A trade for the Clippers center is probably a long shot, but Gortat would be one logical outgoing piece in such a deal, given his position and his salary.
Celtics, Nuggets, Sixers, Heat Remain In Mix For Evans
The Celtics, Nuggets, and Sixers appear to be the current frontrunners to acquire Tyreke Evans from the Grizzlies, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski, the Heat have also remained engaged on Evans.
Evans, 28, has been enjoying one of the best years of his NBA career in Memphis this season, averaging 19.5 PPG, 5.0 APG, and 5.0 RPG with a .458/.392/.799 shooting line so far. Based on his terrific production, the Grizzlies are said to be seeking a first-round pick in any deal and are currently holding Evans out of their lineup as they consider their options.
It makes sense that the Celtics, Nuggets, and Sixers would have a leg up on Miami in the pursuit of Evans, since the earliest first-rounder the Heat can trade is their 2023 pick. Denver still has all of its future first-round picks, while Boston and Philadelphia are owed at least one extra first-rounder in addition to holding all of their own. If the Heat want to make a play for Evans, their offer would likely have to include former lottery selection Justise Winslow.
While it remains to be seen what sort of package each team is willing to offer for Evans, Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link) hears that the Celtics’ reported hunt for a first-round pick in exchange for Marcus Smart is related to their interest in Evans and Lou Williams. Landing a first-rounder for Smart would allow the C’s to flip that pick – or their own first-rounder – to Memphis for Evans or to the Clippers for Williams, Stein notes.
For now though, the Celtics remain reluctant to include a first-round pick in an offer for a player on an expiring contract, preferring to save those selections for a “more seismic” deal, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, who classifies Boston’s interest in Williams as “lukewarm.”
Caron Butler Announces Retirement
Veteran NBA forward Caron Butler has announced his retirement as a player, publishing a piece today for The Players’ Tribune to confirm his decision.
“It’s been a great ride and truly a blessing,” Butler wrote. “But everything runs its course, even good things. Today, I’m retiring from the NBA.”
Butler, who will turn 38 next month, was selected by the Heat with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 draft and spent two years in Miami before being traded to the Lakers. The former UConn standout ultimately played for seven more NBA teams, joining the Wizards, Mavericks, Clippers, Bucks, Thunder, and Pistons before spending his last NBA season with the Kings in 2015/16.
In 881 career regular season games, Butler averaged 14.1 PPG and 5.0 RPG, racking up 12,430 points over the course of his 14 NBA seasons. The two-time All-Star also appeared in 65 postseason games, winning a title with the Mavericks in 2011, though he was unable to suit up for Dallas during those playoffs due to an injury.
After joining ESPN as a college basketball analyst in the fall, Butler said today in his Players’ Tribune article that he plans to remain involved in the game even though his days as a player are over.
“Playing in the NBA was a dream — I got to spend 16 years with all of these great teammates and coaches,” Butler wrote. “It was better than I ever could’ve imagined. I may be retiring from the game, but I’ll stay close to it. I’ll be around it in some form or another. “
Mavs Notes: Trade Talks, Collinsworth, Nowitzki
While plenty could change betwen now and Thursday, the Mavericks aren’t close to any deals at this point, a source tells Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. According to Sefko, if Dallas does get a trade done this week, it seems likely to happen at “the 11th hour.”
The Mavericks are keeping an eye out for deals that would allow them to add draft picks or promising young players, and are willing to take on some salary if necessary. However, as Sefko observes, the club clearly hasn’t received any offers it likes for Wesley Matthews or the team’s various expiring contracts. For his part, head coach Rick Carlisle doesn’t think the Mavs will do anything, though Sefko notes that’s what Carlisle always says.
“Every year, there’s a lot of talk and normally not a lot of activity,” Carlisle said. “I understand the interest in it. And it gets the wheel turning and you have pop-ups on your phone and speculation and I understand the importance of the interest. But the reality is there is a lot less bite than bark when it comes down to it.”
For what it’s worth, the Mavs acquired Nerlens Noel at last season’s deadline, but didn’t complete a February trade in any of the three years before that. Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Although Carlisle doesn’t expect the Mavs to make a deadline deal, he did confirm that the team is keeping an open roster spot this week for added flexibility in the event of a trade. If that opening isn’t filled by Thursday’s deadline, Kyle Collinsworth is a candidate to return to the squad. Sefko has the details.
- Allegiance and loyalty are important aspects of the Mavs’ culture, which can complicate matters as the club considers whether to trade veterans like J.J. Barea and Devin Harris, as Sefko writes for The Dallas Morning News. “To me, loyalty is being respectful of players, being honest with them — knowing that we will be there to provide help and support long after their careers are over,” owner Mark Cuban said. “As the Mavs rebuild, the decision process isn’t just about talent. It’s about culture, chemistry, effort and who the player is off the court and in the community. All are of huge importance to [the management team].”
- Dirk Nowitzki, who is in his 20th season with the Mavericks, isn’t playing the minutes or putting up the numbers he was in his prime. But Nowitzki is comfortable with his current role, helping the team work through its rebuilding process and transitioning to its next era, writes Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press.
Matthew Dellavedova Expected To Miss 3-4 Weeks
Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova has been diagnosed with a grade 3 right ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined for the next three or four weeks, league sources tell ESPN’s Chris Haynes. Dellavedova suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against Brooklyn.
Dellavedova, 27, has seen his minutes cut back during his second season in Milwaukee. After playing a career-high 26.1 MPG in 76 regular season contests a year ago, Dellavedova is averaging just 19.0 MPG this season, his lowest mark since his rookie season.
Still, Dellavedova had been serving as the Bucks’ primary backup point guard behind Eric Bledsoe, with his role growing in importance after Malcolm Brogdon went down with an injury of his own. Brogdon is expected to be sidelined until mid-to-late March due to a partially torn quad.
Assuming the Bucks don’t make a move before this week’s trade deadline to add some backcourt depth, the team figures to lean more heavily on Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokounmpo for primary ball-handling duties during Dellavedova’s absence, with bench guards like Jason Terry and/or Sean Kilpatrick perhaps seeing increased roles too.
Lowe’s Latest: Cavs, Jordan, Magic, Nuggets, Sixers
On Monday, we rounded up some of the highlights from a Lowe Post podcast featuring ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski. Late last night, Lowe published an extensive look at the trade market at ESPN.com, following up on some of the scuttlebutt he shared in that podcast. While there are a few repeated items with Lowe’s piece, he also has plenty of new notes for us as Thursday’s trade deadline approaches. Let’s dive in…
- Lowe views Marc Gasol as a target that would make sense for the Cavaliers if they’re willing to trade the Nets’ 2018 first-rounder. However, he notes that the Grizzlies seem satisfied to stand pat, and the two teams haven’t discussed Gasol. Rival executives also say that the Cavs continue to act as if they won’t trade the Brooklyn pick.
- Outside of the teams already known to have expressed interest in DeAndre Jordan – such as the Rockets, Bucks, and Trail Blazers – the Wizards are another club that has looked into the Clippers center, says Lowe. However, despite investigating the market for Jordan, Washington hasn’t gained any momentum toward a deal.
- Every Magic player except for Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac is “readily available,” sources tell Lowe. Most people around the league think that Elfrid Payton will be playing somewhere besides Orlando next season, Lowe adds.
- As Lowe observes, Nuggets may not be able to afford Will Barton‘s next contract, but the team appears okay with holding onto him through the deadline and risking losing him for nothing this summer. Denver also remains on the lookout for point guards, having kicked the tires on Pacers backup Cory Joseph, per Lowe. However, potential targets like Joseph and Garrett Temple may not be viable due to the guaranteed 2018/19 money on their contracts.
- The Sixers are approaching the trade deadline as buyers, but no longer have as many extra first-round draft picks as they’ve had in recent years, so they may only willing to dangle second-rounders, says Lowe.
- According to Lowe, the Timberwolves have been very cautious about discussing the 2018 first-rounder they’ll get from the Thunder, since they recognize they’ll need cheap players to fill out the roster as Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns get very expensive.
- The Warriors remain on the lookout for bench help — they inquired on Avery Bradley, but got nowhere, league sources tell Lowe.
- The Heat don’t appear to have traction on any major deals, according to Lowe.
Lakers’ Free Agency Focus Shifting To 2019?
The Lakers are recalibrating their free agency focus, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, who report that the L.A. front office is “looking through a longer lens” as it explores ways to upgrade the roster. Although the Lakers would still like to make a big splash in free agency, they may now be prioritizing the 2019 class over this summer’s group, per Shelburne and Wojnarowski.
Ever since Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka assumed control of personnel decisions in Los Angeles, the team’s desire to pursue free agents in 2018 has been no secret. During the 2017 offseason, the Lakers limited themselves to one-year deals for free agents so as not to cut into their potential cap room for the 2018/19 season.
However, as Shelburne and Wojnarowski detail, there’s still no guarantee that the Lakers will have enough cap space for two maximum-salary free agents this summer, and even if they do, no star players are viewed as locks to head west. The Pelicans are considered the frontrunners for DeMarcus Cousins, who is sidelined with an Achilles injury, while Paul George has hinted recently that he’s leaning toward sticking with the Thunder. And according to Shelburne and Woj, LeBron James is believed to be hesitant about the idea of joining the Lakers without another established star joining him.
The Lakers haven’t ruled out the possibility of landing a big-name player this July, but shifting their focus to the summer of 2019 would reduce the urgency to clear cap room right away. It would also give L.A.’s young prospects more time to develop into the type of players that would attract veteran stars. The 2019 free agent class includes several intriguing potential targets, with Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, and Jimmy Butler among the players expected to be up for new contracts.
While the Lakers could still end up moving players like Jordan Clarkson or Julius Randle this week in an effort to create more flexibility for July 2018, one league source suggested to Shelburne and Wojnarowski that the odds of a meaningful deal are “50-50 at best.” The Lakers have received some offers for Clarkson and Randle, but none of those offers would create significant cap space going forward and give them the sort of draft picks they’re seeking, sources tell ESPN.
Pacific Rumors: Warriors Needs, Mason, Ball, Hill
The Warriors’ top need is a shooting wing off the bench, and their most likely targets are Marco Belinelli of the Hawks and Tyreke Evans of the Grizzlies, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic opines. Patrick McCaw is the player Golden State will most likely move in order to get a wing who also has size and passing ability, Kawakami continues. Belinelli is on an expiring deal and Atlanta would have to believe in McCaw’s long-term ability enough to also take back Nick Young, Kawakami speculates. Evans would also be a rental and Golden State would probably have to pair McCaw with a first-round pick to get him, Kawakami adds.
In other developments around the Western Conference:
- Kings point guard Frank Mason will not play until after the All-Star break, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports. The rookie out of Kansas suffered a heel injury on December 31st. Mason, chosen with the 34th overall pick last June, has appeared in 29 games, averaging 7.6 PPG and 2.9 APG.
- Lakers rookie point guard Lonzo Ball was unable to ramp up his workouts last week without experiencing soreness in his sprained left knee, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register reports. His workouts never progressed to lateral movement or running close to full speed, Oram continues. Ball has missed the last 10 games.
- The Kings were close to dealing point guard George Hill to the Cavaliers but they won’t mind if he’s still on the roster beyond the trade deadline, Jones writes in a separate piece. Sacramento would have received Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert, and perhaps Derrick Rose, in return. The Kings would have to clear roster space to make that deal but their primary goals must be collecting picks, acquiring young talent and retaining financial flexibility, Jones continues. Hill has also endeared himself to the front office and the team’s young core despite losing his starting job, Jones adds.
- Trade rumors are weighing heavily on the minds of Clippers players, Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register relays. Coach Doc Rivers admits that trade talk has been a distraction. “Sometimes you go talk to a guy and the guy says, ‘Oh, I’m good,’ and that could mean he’s not good or good,” Rivers told Teaford. “You’ve got to read that. Sometimes it’s clear as day. I can tell you I’ve seen that over the last three or four days from a couple guys, and it’s obviously weighing on them.”
Rockets Explore Market For Ryan Anderson
The Rockets are exploring the market for power forward Ryan Anderson, ESPN Rockets Insider Kelly Iko tweets. This comes as no surprise, since Houston has been open to moving Anderson’s big contract since last summer. Anderson is making $19.6MM in the second year of his four-year contract and is owed $20.4MM and $21.3MM over the next two seasons.
Anderson was a hot commodity during the summer of 2016 in a league that covets stretch fours. But Houston seemingly experienced buyer’s remorse just months after signing him.
Anderson appeared in 72 games last season, averaging 13.6 PPG and 4.6 RPG. He has started 49 of 50 games this season but has seen his role in the offense shrink. He’s averaging 10.2 PPG, his lowest output since the 2009/10 season when he played for the Magic. He has been a bigger factor on the boards at 5.4 RPG.
He’s still shooting a solid 37.9% from long range and a majority of his shots have come from beyond the arc. He averages 5.6 3-point attempts per game, compared to 2.4 attempts inside the 3-point line.
Anderson’s name was prominently mentioned in trade talks this summer involving the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. One of the reasons New York turned down offers from Houston is that it wasn’t interested in taking on Anderson’s deal.
In order to move Anderson’s contract, the Rockets would likely have to part with at least one first-round pick. Last summer, teams were reportedly asking for two first-rounders from Houston in order to acquire his hefty contract.