Chris Mannix of SI.com is among the latest reporters to weigh in this week on the Clippers‘ search for a center. According to Mannix, Los Angeles’ coaching staff has some concerns about the team’s rebounding. We heard on Monday that the Clips are also wary of facing star centers like Rudy Gobert or Nikola Jokic in the postseason.
Sources tell Mannix that there’s some interest within the Clippers’ front office in Tristan Thompson, whom the Cavaliers have put on the trade block. Mannix also names disgruntled Kings big man Dewayne Dedmon as a possible target, though he cautions that Dedmon wouldn’t be a preferred option for L.A.
The Clippers have Maurice Harkless‘ $11MM+ expiring contract available to use as a salary-matching piece for a trade target earning an eight-figure salary, but the team will have to be careful about how it fires that bullet. Acquiring a pricey center like Thompson or Dedmon using Harkless’ deal could take the team out of the market for a wing in the same salary range, such as Marcus Morris or Robert Covington.
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- The Heat have told teams that Tyler Herro is unavailable at this time, according to Mannix. If Miami wants to do something major, Herro would likely be the first player a potential trade partner asks about, but the Heat have no interest in moving him.
- The Bulls have received some trade feelers for Zach LaVine, but a source tells Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link) that the 24-year-old is “off-limits.” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Zach Lowe said essentially the same thing on a podcast this week.
- Teams are calling the Spurs to ask about Jakob Poeltl, but the asking price is believed to be too high, tweets Jabari Young of CNBC. Poeltl will be a restricted free agent at season’s end, so it’s possible San Antonio will lower its price by Thursday if the big man isn’t in the team’s long-term plans.
- Nuggets power forward Juan Hernangomez is among the players of interest for the Rockets, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Denver is reportedly seeking a second-round pick for Hernangomez.
No Bulls player should be “off limits”. If you can get a better return than what you sent out then do it. That would be how an adequate front office would operate.
Agreed, Lavine could fetch some good return now and the Bulls have a very mediocre roster, no where close to competitive.
Harkless would miss the playoffs, but he could show off on the Cavs and get a raise. TT would make Harrell expendable after the year, which may be necessary… depends on what the FO thinks. Is losing Harkless worth the upgrade?– TT would blend with the new stars better.
I bet they buy Harkless out after the trade
If you got picks and players for LaVine it would still be the same morons evaluating the players, making the picks and coaching them. So, what’s it really matter?
May the road rise with you.
LOL
Poeltl should b in the spurs future plans .. not in the trade market..
Poeltl is really good, so not surprised that teams have inquired on him. Just wish Pop felt the same way and played him more than 14-15 minutes a game
I’d be surprised if the Clips used their ammo to upgrade C from Zubac/Harrell to guys like TT or, worse, DD. Are these significant upgrades relative to checking the guys they say they’re worried about? I still expect that they’ll make their 1st available to the Knicks for Morris.