When the Thunder and Heat discussed a potential Danilo Gallinari trade leading up to last week’s deadline, James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Kendrick Nunn, and draft compensation were among the various assets that came up in talks, league sources tell Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report. Miami reportedly wanted to extend Gallinari’s contract as part of a deal, but couldn’t agree to terms with his camp, which is one main reason the trade didn’t happen.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote last week that he believed the Heat could’ve acquired Gallinari without surrendering any of their young players like Nunn. So even though his name came up in discussions, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Thunder would have insisted on his inclusion, depending on what other pieces were involved.
While Gallinari remained with the Thunder for this season, Scotto suggests the Heat and Knicks could be among his potential suitors this summer. Miami clearly has interest, and created some cap flexibility for 2020/21 by moving Johnson and Dion Waiters last week. New York, meanwhile, will have cap space and is hiring veteran CAA agent Leon Rose as its new president of basketball operations. Gallinari is a CAA client.
Here are a few more noteworthy tidbits from Scotto’s look at the post-deadline landscape:
- The Knicks and Pacers discussed a possible Marcus Morris trade. According to Scotto, a package that featured Aaron Holiday, Doug McDermott, and T.J. Leaf was “briefly kicked around,” but didn’t end up going far.
- McDermott’s name also came up in discussions about a potential Pacers trade with the Bucks involving Ersan Ilyasova, says Scotto. It’s not known which team initiated those talks.
- Before the Cavaliers traded for Andre Drummond, they called the Pacers to ask about Myles Turner‘s availability, per Scotto. Indiana has remained firm on keeping Turner, though many executives expect the team to eventually break up its Turner/Domantas Sabonis frontcourt.
- The Nuggets discussed the possibility of trading Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, and Juan Hernangomez as part of a package for Bulls guard Zach LaVine or Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, sources tell Scotto. New Orleans set a very high asking price for Holiday, while LaVine was said to be “off-limits” for Chicago, so Denver didn’t get far on either front.
Blowing their cap flexibility on Gallinari would be a very Knicks thing to do.
There probably won’t be too many big deals made this summer.
Even the Knicks will be saving up for 2021 with all the big prizes.
Was a good move for the Heat to no give up Nunn, draft compensation, and lock up their cap space again on Gallo.
Heat are going a really really good job this year surprising lots of people and the only bad thing they had was Johnson and Waiters contracts that they have now managed to get off the books. They also got back Iggy and Crowder who a re solid players and add even more depth. Unfortunately Winslow has to go but I think his ceiling as a defensive playmaking SF wasn’t exactly very high. Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn and those guys have basically come from no where and look really promising so overall think it was great work from the front office
Miami missed on Butler first chance too, before suddenly getting him.
That Knicks-Pacers trade for Marcus Morris sounds horrible compared to the actual trade they made. As a Knicks fan, I’m amazed they didn’t take it.
Yeah that trade just looks like they helped the Clippers win it all and barely got anything back in return.
Don’t worry, they got that amazing pick swap with the Clippers that they’ll definitely use haha. How hard do you think the Clippers laughed when the Knicks asked for that? Um, sure, yeah you can have that pick swap in 2021. In what world would the Knicks pick be worse than the Clippers in the first round in a few seasons?
You missed the point of the comment but ok
The Pacers trading Aaron Holiday and Doug McDermott for a rental in Marcus Morris would’ve been dumb unless they knew they were gonna be able to resign Morris but I doubt he would have wanted to stay in Indy. Plus Holidays upside seems to be high. The Pacers will be happy they didn’t make this trade as long as Holiday shows improvements which I think he will. Although I see U the Pacers want a guy like Morris. He’s a glue guy and brings toughness to a team and the Pacers needs a guy like that. They’ve lost that ever since Lance left and That didn’t do too bad at being the glue guy last year but that didn’t work out too well either.
Holiday and McD had to be a package bandied about by Mills. It is NOT a better package than what the Knicks got. Holiday is 3rd string that they buried by doing the Brogden S&T, and with McConnell as well. McD is an expensive one position backup.
I agree the package they received is better if and only if they draft players that make significant impacts. Bcuz although A. Holiday is coming off the bench be it 2nd or 3rd string he averages 10ppg on a team with a crowded back court which means he makes some kind of positive impact but it may be better for the Knicks to collect on picks and take their chances in the upcoming drafts.
Knicks prob balked at getting more medium players before paying off their existing ones. At least there’s confirmation that they went after Morris– a little.