Trade Rumors: Lowry, Knicks, Ball, Suns, Nuggets
Kyle Lowry‘s future is the focus around the NBA right now, Shams Charania said on Stadium’s live trade deadline show on Twitter.
According to Charania, the Raptors remain seriously engaged with the Heat and Lakers, having been offered packages headed by Duncan Robinson (Miami) or Dennis Schröder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (L.A.). Toronto is pushing for the inclusion of Tyler Herro or Talen Horton-Tucker in any deal with the Heat or Lakers, says Charania.
Charania adds that the Heat are believed to be Lowry’s preferred destination.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Knicks have remained engaged with the Pelicans today about a possible Lonzo Ball trade, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv. New York is also receiving inquiries on center Mitchell Robinson, according to Begley, though it’s not clear if the team is open at all to moving Robinson.
- As of earlier this afternoon, the Suns weren’t close to making any deals, and all signs pointed to them standing pat at the deadline, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
- The Nuggets are likely done dealing after agreeing to trades for Aaron Gordon and JaVale McGee, tweets Mike Singer of The Denver Post.
Trade Rumors: Lowry, Rondo, Ball, Markkanen, Young, Green
The clock is ticking on the trade deadline, with less than 90 minutes to go. Here are a few tidbits about possible last-minute deals:
- ESPN is reporting that the Sixers have dropped their pursuit of Kyle Lowry after trading for George Hill, but the Heat are still trying to acquire the Raptors‘ point guard, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. A source tells Jackson the Lakers and Clippers have also contacted Toronto about Lowry.
- The Clippers have asked the Hawks about point guard Rajon Rondo, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN (Twitter link from Mirjam Swanson of The Southern California News Group). L.A. was interested in signing Rondo in free agency, but he opted for a two-year, $15MM deal with Atlanta.
- After acquiring All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from the Magic, the Bulls are trying to shake up their roster ever further, tweets K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. Chicago is still talking to the Pelicans about Lonzo Ball, but New Orleans wants more than Lauri Markkanen in return. The Bulls used a lot of their draft capital in the Vucevic deal.
- Offers for Thaddeus Young haven’t improved enough for the Bulls to consider moving him, tweets Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
- The Warriors could be a possible destination for Sixers guard Danny Green, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).
Bulls Acquire Troy Brown In Multiplayer Trade
3:00pm: The trade has been expanded to include the Celtics as well. The full details can be found right here.
11:32am: The Wizards will send Troy Brown and Moritz Wagner to the Bulls in exchange for Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchison, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Washington will create a $2.1MM trade exception in the deal, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN.
Brown, 21, was the 15th pick in the 2018 draft, but he has appeared in just 21 games this year, averaging 4.3 PPG. Brown is under contract for $5.2MM next season and will be extension-eligible this offseason. Wagner, 23, who has a $2.2MM expiring contract, was a part-time starter in Washington, averaging 7.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 25 games.
Since the Wizards declined Wagner’s team option for 2021/22, Chicago won’t be able to offer him a starting salary this offseason higher than what that option would have been worth ($3.89MM).
Gafford, a second-year big man, has a $1.8MM non-guaranteed salary for next season. He’s averaging 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 31 games. Hutchison, also a first-round pick in 2018, has appeared in just seven games this year. He will make $4MM next season and will also be eligible for an extension this offseason.
Lakers, Heat, Sixers Remain Engaged In Kyle Lowry Talks
The Raptors remain “seriously” engaged with the Lakers, Heat, and Sixers in trade discussions involving point guard Kyle Lowry, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Miami and Philadelphia have long been mentioned as suitors for the veteran guard, but the Lakers are a more recent addition to the Lowry sweepstakes. Charania’s report comes on the heels of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggesting on Wednesday that the Lakers are a team to watch on the Lowry front.
While the NBA’s two biggest national news-breakers have the Lakers in the mix for Lowry, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst expressed some skepticism today on First Take this morning, suggesting that the Lakers rumors may be a smokescreen to get the Heat and 76ers to improve their offers, as RealGM relays. Windhorst also said that, as of Wednesday, the Raptors hadn’t been all that impressed by the offers on the table for the six-time All-Star.
“They’re basically negotiating with only two teams, with Miami and Philadelphia,” Windhorst said, per RealGM. “From what I can glean from people I’ve talked to, neither one of them are putting the premium, premium package they can offer for Kyle Lowry and that’s frustrated the Raptors a little bit.”
Of course, while the Raptors may feel as if they’re being low-balled, that’s a matter of perspective. League sources who spoke to Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link) said Toronto’s asking prices for Lowry and Norman Powell are “huge.” Since those two Raptors vets are considered two of the top options on the trade market, the market may not really get moving until there’s resolution on one or both of them, Schultz explains.
Celtics Rumors: Gordon, Nesmith, Smart, Langford, More
The Celtics and Nuggets continue to lead the Aaron Gordon sweepstakes, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, who reports that the Magic forward would welcome the opportunity to play for either team, or for the Trail Blazers.
While one Wednesday report suggested that Denver had taken the lead as the frontrunner to land Gordon, the Celtics continue to pursue the veteran forward, with John Collins and Harrison Barnes looking to be increasingly less likely targets, Weiss writes.
Weiss suggests that the Timberwolves appear to be falling back in the race to land Gordon, but all indications are that the Magic will continue talks right up until the deadline.
According to Weiss, the Celtics’ desire package for Gordon would be Aaron Nesmith and a first-round pick, giving Orlando the opportunity to create a sizeable traded player exception. However, the team will likely need to up that offer, either by including another first-rounder or by expanding the trade to include Marcus Smart and Evan Fournier.
Here’s more from Weiss on the Celtics:
- While Romeo Langford was mentioned on Wednesday along with Nesmith as a candidate to be an outgoing piece in a Gordon trade, Weiss says the former Hoosiers guard doesn’t have much value due to his injury history and the fact that he was already a “polarizing” prospect entering the 2019 draft. As such, it doesn’t make much sense for the Celtics to sell low on him. Nesmith has more trade value, as Weiss notes.
- Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye haven’t been included in any trade packages that have “advanced to a serious stage,” sources tell Weiss.
- One league source speculated to Weiss that there’s a chance the Celtics could do something more complex involving Gordon, like sending Smart to Orlando and trading draft capital to New Orleans for Lonzo Ball. However, that sounds like a longer shot.
- Tristan Thompson has been frequently mentioned as a trade candidate, and there’s been some frustration that his on-court impact has been modest, per Weiss. However, Thompson is close with Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, and even if there’s been some frustration with his production, it hasn’t become “animosity” by any means.
Western Notes: Oubre, Okogie, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Lakers
Veteran forward Kelly Oubre looks like the Warriors‘ top trade candidate, and he certainly didn’t hurt his value in his last game before the deadline, putting up 24 points and 10 rebounds on Tuesday in a loss to Philadelphia. With today’s deadline looming, head coach Steve Kerr praised Oubre for the way he has taken the trade rumors in stride, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes.
“I love Kelly,” Kerr said. “He’s a pro. We’ve talked a lot about his circumstances, being a free agent, having his name tossed around. It’s not an easy position to be in. But this is how it works. This is the NBA. He’s got an expiring deal, plays a position of need for a lot of teams. He’s athletic and long. He’s coveted. He’s definitely coveted. So his name is naturally going to be out there. He’s done a great job of handling everything. He’s really professional and poised and practical. So we’ll see what happens.”
Slater says he gets the sense that the Warriors want to be able to do something with Oubre’s salary slot in future seasons, as opposed to just letting him walk for nothing this offseason and not being able to replace him due to their cap situation. It remains to be seen whether that means ultimately investing in a longer-term agreement with Oubre or flipping him for another player today.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Timberwolves forward Josh Okogie entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Wednesday night, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link). It’s unclear how long Okogie will have to remain in the protocols before being cleared.
- Mark Giannotto of The Memphis Commercial Appeal believes the Grizzlies need to make a big roster move at some point, but thinks it’s more likely to happen in the offseason or further down the road than at today’s deadline.
- Today’s trade deadline may be the most revealing pivot point for the Pelicans under the direction of head of basketball operations David Griffin, says Scott Kuschner of NOLA.com. In particular, the club’s decision on Lonzo Ball will provide a strong hint of the way in which New Orleans wants to build its roster around Zion Williamson.
- Some members of the Lakers organization are expected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine this week, sources tell Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. More teams are starting to get access to vaccinations, including New Orleans, Atlanta, Portland, and – most recently – the Heat (Twitter link via Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel).
Raptors Notes: Lowry, Powell, Siakam, Nurse
After helping the Raptors snap their nine-game losing streak on Wednesday with a blowout win over Denver, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry admitted that it was a “weird” feeling not knowing if it was his last game with the franchise, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. Lowry is prepared for the possibility of being traded later today, on his 35th birthday.
“Whatever will be will be, honestly,” Lowry said, per Lewenberg. “That’s the truth.
“I don’t know (what I want to happen). I wish I could give you (an answer), but at the end of the day, I’m gonna (make) a decision and work it out and if something happens, it happens — if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Everything happens for a reason. I personally, right now, I don’t really put too much thought into it. My agent is really good at his job and (is having) a lot of decisions, he’ll look at it and help facilitate that decision.”
According to Lewenberg, the odds of Lowry being traded seemed slim earlier this month. Sources tell TSN.ca that the Raptors were still telling teams last week that they didn’t intend to move him and that Lowry and his reps expected to finish the season with the club. That has changed in recent days, as Toronto has become more willing to listen to inquiries and offers for the six-time All-Star, who could be the biggest name on the move in the next seven hours.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Norman Powell, the Raptors’ other top trade candidate, said that his preference would be to remain with Toronto, but he acknowledged that anything could happen, as Lewenberg relays. “My roots are here,” Powell said. “I’ve given everything to the franchise. Obviously I want to stay here. I’m not out looking for other teams to go play for. I’m solely focused on this season, being with the team and hopefully being able to finish out the season with them. But I understand that it’s a business.” Lewenberg and other reporters have suggested that Powell is very likely to be dealt today.
- Appearing on ESPN’s Bart & Hahn Show (video link), Brian Windhorst said he believes the Raptors will essentially control the trade deadline, since Lowry and Powell are two of the top players available. Teams chasing one or both of those two may want resolution before moving onto other targets.
- The Raptors’ dominant win over Denver on Wednesday showed how much upside the current group still has, but it was probably too little, too late to change the team’s approach to the deadline, writes Blake Murphy of The Athletic.
- Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca provided some additional details on the confrontation between Pascal Siakam and head coach Nick Nurse that may result in a $50K fine for the Raptors forward. Grange describes Siakam’s outburst toward Nurse as one that crossed lines and included “words beyond standard cursing.” However, there’s no indication that it will lead to anything drastic involving Siakam at the trade deadline, Grange notes.
- The Raptors denied a report that Siakam had been fined $50K, saying possible discipline was still being discussed internally. But since those team penalties aren’t made public, we may never know for sure whether or not Toronto fines Siakam, according to Grange, who says the club has concerns about the way the report on that fine and another recent Shams Charania report – which blamed a COVID-19 outbreak on the coaching staff not following proper masking guidelines – have surfaced.
Fischer’s Latest: Gordon, Vucevic, Lowry, Redick, Ball, DeRozan
On the eve of the trade deadline, the Nuggets have become the favorites to pry Aaron Gordon away from the Magic, league sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Denver’s offer would include guard Gary Harris, a first-round pick, and either R.J. Hampton, Zeke Nnaji or Bol Bol.
Although the Nuggets seem to have the momentum, the Celtics are still “very engaged” in the process, according to Fischer. Boston’s proposed deal has involved Marcus Smart and a first-rounder, and it’s possible that a second first-round pick and the Celtics’ $28.5MM traded player exception could be used as well, with Evan Fournier also headed to Boston, says Fischer. Previous reports indicated that the C’s were looking to keep Smart out of the deal, offering a younger player in his place.
The Timberwolves, Rockets and Trail Blazers all remain interested in acquiring Gordon too.
Fischer passes on a few more trade rumors as the deadline draws near:
- The Celtics are one of the few teams to express interest in trading for center Nikola Vucevic, but the Magic are putting a much higher price on him than Gordon. Orlando is asking for multiple first-round picks and a player who fits with their young core. Fischer expects Vucevic to stay with the Magic.
- The Clippers, Lakers, Sixers and Heat are all still pursuing Kyle Lowry, but the Raptors‘ high price tag may prevent a deal from getting done. Fischer believes Philadelphia would have to offer two players from the group of Danny Green, Seth Curry and Tyrese Maxey, while Miami would need to part with Goran Dragic, another large salary and either Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson or Tyler Herro. Both Los Angeles teams are limited by their lack of available draft picks.
- J.J. Redick appears headed for a buyout as the Pelicans haven’t found a team willing to offer draft picks or prospects in return for the veteran guard. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report suggests a return to the Sixers is possible or maybe a reunion with former teammate Chris Paul on the Suns.
- The Knicks are interested in Lonzo Ball and have the cap space to keep him in free agency, Pincus adds. The price could be Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox and possibly the Mavericks’ 2021 first-round pick.
- Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan is also high on the Knicks‘ wish list, states A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report.
Bulls Notes: Young, White, Temple, Ball
Thaddeus Young would be a valuable veteran addition for any contender, but teammate Zach LaVine hopes the Bulls decide to keep him, writes Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. Young’s name has been in the rumor mill for several weeks as Chicago remains on the edge of playoff contention at 19-24. LaVine would prefer to see Young help his current team in the postseason.
“We all understand his value and how good he is and what a championship or high-rising playoff team could get out of him,” LaVine said. “… Obviously, I want him here. I think he helps me and helps the team tremendously. But obviously if something were to happen you just want the best situation for a guy like that.”
Young has been a locker room leader and a productive bench presence in his 14th NBA season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and a career-high 4.4 assists per game. He has avoided any public speculation about what might happen before Thursday’s deadline.
“As long as I’m here, I’m here to do a job and that’s my focus, is to do the job that I’m here to do, which is help these young guys and continue to play as hard as I can each and every night and help try to continue to win,” Young said. “Haven’t really worried too much about the trade situation or haven’t discussed it, not talked about it. Nor do I really even care to talk about it. If it happens, it happens, I understand it’s a part of the business, and I understand how the business works.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Coby White doesn’t appear to have benefited from his recent move to a reserve role, notes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. The second-year guard posted negative plus-minus ratings in his last three games, but he could move back into the starting lineup if the Bulls opt to trade Tomas Satoransky.
- Garrett Temple was active tonight after sitting out the past six games with a sprained left ankle, Cowley adds in the same story. “I think he’s progressed pretty well,’’ coach Billy Donovan said. “You know, with the limited practice that we had he got a workout in, some (Tuesday). And then he was able to do quite a bit more (Wednesday). So he feels actually pretty good.”
- The Pelicans‘ asking price for Lonzo Ball may be too high for the Bulls, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago states in a mailbag column. Although Chicago has been rumored as a possible destination for Ball, New Orleans is asking for a first-round pick in return, which Johnson doesn’t believe Chicago’s new front office is willing to part with.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander To Miss Time With Plantar Fasciitis
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be out for an extended time with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, tweets Bryan Keating of KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.
“I don’t want to use long-term because it’s vague, but it’s not day to day,” coach Mark Daigneault told reporters. “It’s going to be a more significant amount of time than day to day. This one is an injury that we need to now take a look at.”
Daigneault described the injury as “a little bit more cumulative,” rather than something that happened on one play (video link). He added that the extent of the injury was just discovered today. He noted that Gilgeous-Alexander is a “higher-minute player” and said the condition is a result of wear and tear on the foot.
“I think he walked in this morning and that’s when we started to kinda unpack it,” Daigneault said. “I don’t have a ton of detail on it to be honest with you. It’s happened pretty quickly today.”
Daigneault said the team was hoping to avoid this type of injury by aggressively resting players. He pointed out that players are coming off a short offseason after participating in the restart last summer, and they’re facing a shorter-than-normal break once this season ends.
Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a star since being traded to Oklahoma City in the summer of 2019. He’s averaging a career-high 23.7 points per game this year and shooting 41.8% from three-point range.