Bradley Beal remains content to stay in Washington, and the Wizards don’t appear headed for a major deal before Thursday’s deadline, according to Ava Wallace of The Washington Post. There’s no sense of panic even though the team has dropped to 13th place in the East after losing eight of its past 10 games, with one rival executive saying Washington’s front office is “operating as if they’ve got time on their hands.”
The Wizards aren’t considered a definite buyer or seller heading into the deadline, Wallace adds. Washington is just three-and-a-half games out of the 10th spot, and Davis Bertans is expected to return from a calf strain in about two weeks. The team could use a third scorer and an upgrade on defense, but there’s no urgency to get anything done right away.
“We’ve got some young players that need experience, and when you (also) have some high-level players on your team, it’s a fine line,” coach Scott Brooks said. “You have to find the sweet spot. I think we’re doing a fairly good job. We’d like to have some more wins. A lot of the things that’s happened to us, we can’t control. … (General manager Tommy Sheppard) is going to look. … If there’s something out there, we’re definitely going to look.”
There’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Magic forward Aaron Gordon is very likely to be traded by the deadline, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link). Orlando will listen to offers for Gordon and the Celtics will be in the mix, adds Woj, who expects the Magic and Raptors to “set the tone” for this year’s trade deadline.
- The Nets will try to move injured guard Spencer Dinwiddie, but they don’t want to take on any guaranteed salary past this season, Wojnarowski said in a trade deadline discussion hosted by Rod Perez on Twitter Spaces (hat tip to NetsDaily). The Nets are also focused on Cavaliers center Andre Drummond and Pelicans guard J.J. Redick in the buyout market, according to Woj, along with Heat forward Maurice Harkless.
- In his podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated that the Nets are interested in acquiring Raptors forward Norman Powell. Windhorst doesn’t expect the Nets to pursue Spurs big man LaMarcus Aldridge if he gets bought out, suggesting there’s not a need for Aldridge after adding Blake Griffin.
- With Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert still recovering from a 2019 stroke, his 23-year-old son Grant Gilbert could eventually be in line to run the team, according to Jason Lloyd and Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The younger Gilbert is already in the organization as director of content and brand strategy.
Heat should target Westbrook or Wall and future Firsts
They need future picks
Why would the Wizards or Rockets trade future firsts to them?
I think he meant separately. Like they should target Westbrook or Wall. They should also target future 1sts. At least that is how I interpreted it.
What about Dinwiddie for George Hill?
Nets are expecting to attach a single 2nd round pick to Dinwiddie and get back a contributor without taking on salary for next year. Quite a trick if they can pull it off. A non-playoff team without cap space?
Can’t believe the rumors about Dinwiddie. It’s extremely low. Why would Nets even consider them. If he can moved next yr in a sign n trade. Nets own his Bird rights. They have his 5.7 mill injury exception to sign a BO player. He’s a 2way player who put up
21 n 7 as a starter. Those stats rank among top 10.
He’s worth a 1st rd pick imo. So if his value is this low. Why aren’t Knicks grabbing him up. Noel andPayton shore up their D for a title run. And we’ll even throw in a 2023 1st rd pick top 16 protected. Let’s go
Dinwiddie and RJ make a serious backcourt. Plus he’s a young vet who knows the perils of playing in NYC.
Absolutely agree with most of what you are saying, but my Nets bias is preventing me from completely agreeing with you. (Net fan since Buck Williams days, not a bandwagoner.) I think you’ve seen my trade proposal where the Knicks get Drummond and the Nets get McGee to help the Cavs clear roster space for the players they’ll have to take from the Knicks.
Luke — can the DPE for Dinwiddie be used in a trade sending him out? (Meaning use it to acquire an expiring “matching-salary” contract and then create a new larger TPE for sending out Dinwiddie.)
Good question. I’d have to re-read that rule in the CBA, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be permitted — even if there’s nothing in writing explicitly preventing it, I think the NBA would frown upon it.
Gordon isn’t going to help the Celtics. The team needs a true alpha that Tatum respects. That said would like to see Ainge try to swing a deal for Beal using Brown, Nesmith, and a 1st.
Ashame singe ain’t got the guts to do that.