The Clippers are looking for point guard help and have interest in acquiring Mike Conley from the Jazz, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack column. After a strong start, Utah has fallen to 10th in the West at 22-24 and there’s a growing belief around the league that the team may try to sell off some of its veteran assets, according to Stein.
Conley has remained effective at age 35, averaging 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 34 games while shooting 38% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. The Clippers will be without John Wall for at least two weeks with an abdominal strain, and Reggie Jackson was recently demoted out of his starting spot. Conley is making $22.68MM this year and has a $14.32MM guarantee on his $24.36MM salary for 2023/24.
League sources tell Stein that the Clippers are also seeking another big man to back up Ivica Zubac, who is averaging a career-high 29.1 minutes per game.
Stein shares more trade rumors from around the league:
- The Cavaliers have considered a three-way trade to acquire Malik Beasley from the Jazz and send the Hawks‘ John Collins to Utah. Stein reported in November that the Jazz had interest in Collins, but he states that a deal is being held up because the team is asking Atlanta for extra draft compensation for taking on Collins, who still has three full seasons remaining on his five-year, $125MM contract. Stein cites Caris LeVert, who has an $18.8MM expiring deal, as the most likely Cavalier to be involved in the rumored trade.
- The Wizards are denying that they have interest in moving Kyle Kuzma, with sources telling Stein that the team plans to meet Kuzma’s asking price after he turns down his player option for next season. Stein states that many league executives believe Kuzma would like to move on from Washington, but he cautions that rumor may be coming from teams that are hoping to sign him.
- Stein confirms a recent report from Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports that the Heat have expressed interest in Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell, who has an expiring $31.4MM contract. However, the Wolves would likely have to take back Kyle Lowry unless another team can be added to the trade, and Minnesota doesn’t want to take on Lowry’s contract.
- Kemba Walker, who was waived by the Mavericks prior to the leaguewide salary guarantee date, is focused on finding another NBA opportunity. Stein says a weekend report in Italy that Walker was close to signing with Olimpia Milano was mistaken.
Wow, I cannot believe the return for Collins has gotten so bad, Atlanta now has to include assets just to get him off the roster.
Honestly, they really should have tried to go after Ben Simmons when they had the chance. At least, he’d be a player with alot of upside, but then also one with a solid floor as well.
Plus, if you add Simmons to their currently constructed starters, it could be one heck of a group.
There could also be a rotation where you have:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Dejounte Murray
SF: DeAndre Hunter
PF: Ben Simmons
C: Onyeka Okungwu/Clint Capela
That could be a very lethal mix defensively, but one still with some offensive fire power, OR:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Dejounte Murray
SF: Bogdan Bogdanovic
PF: DeAndre Hunter
C: Ben Simmons
As a small ball five, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Either way, it’s a moot point now, and it sounds like the Hawks have backed themselves into a corner…
Shame on them because it isn’t like John Collins is some bad player or something. Poor guy, has been having to play surrounded by nothing but rumors of how the team doesn’t want him…
Before anyone says, we’ll he should just get over it and ball until he’s traded, maybe so, but I am pretty sure it would negatively impact most people’s performance.
Imagine you’re on a very close knit team, and you’re supposed to be the co-captain, yet you’re constantly hearing non-stop, consistent rumors that the captain and your boss both want you transferred out. Knowing a transfer would force you and your family to have to immediately packup and move to whichever facility they decide and it could be anywhere across the country.
Imagine confronting those same people, and yet they smile in your face and tell you they love you and want you there, yet you’re hearing from other companies how they’re actively trying to ship you out. You never knowing whether today could be your last day, whether you’re going to have to move next week, never having any sense of where you truly stand.
This place is supposed to be like your second family, yet you cannot trust a word they tell you anymore. They’re the only work family you’ve ever known since college, and it is always where you imagined you’d retire.
You’ve practically grown up in this establishment, and it’s all you know, it’s how you’ve identified yourself over the past almost a decade or so.
You mean to tell me this wouldn’t impact your performance whatsoever!?! I HIGHLY DOUBT IT, especially with how sensitive most people are these days..
It maybe shouldn’t impact your performance, as it is just business at the end of the day, but it severely impacts your personal life, your family, and all the close relationships you’ve once had are now reduced to mostly awkward encounters..
I know I’d try my best to just ball, and say eff them, but at the same time, if one of the main guys that supposedly wants me out is my “team leader” and point guard, it would be really hard to cohesively work together with him without any issues whether it is intentional or not.
John Collins has gotten a bad rap from alot of fans here recently, but I’d say to use some perspective before piling on and judging the man. Imagine yourself in his shoes, if you even can, and I bet you will quickly see how difficult it would be to perform to your best abilities in such a toxic environment…
I also don’t get the Collins ‘hate’.
It’s best for Collins to land on a team who can best utilize his role-player skill-set e.g. HEAT, has always had issues giving up offensive boards, etc ……. he’d be a good fit with Bam. Dunno if Duncan/Jovic entices the HAWKS, probably not.
SPURS, JAZZ, HORNETS, etc can be good landing spots as well.
Wait, you think he should be on a team that could utilize his skills?
Interesting take. I was thinking he would be best suited for a team where his skills wouldn’t be utilized.
You sound and look confused.
You are what is known as a try-hard.
The all-caps thing you do when you write out team names is adorable.
Now that I think of it though, you’re probably right. It would be best for Collins to go to a team that could utilize his skills. Took me a while to wrap my head around that.
You missed out the “role-player skill-set” part of my post, which makes a whole lot of difference.
You’re confused. Lay off the pipe some.
Try working for a change.
Looks like someone is a tad sensitive.
Yes, people who make fun of you online are unemployed crackheads.You got it all figured out.
I like that caps thing you do.
It shows how different and creative you are.
You are welcome.
Is everything you do derivative?
Get your own material “Mike Honcho”
Now Atlanta has to attach a pick to collins to get rid of him.
Hawks thought they had something special going on a few years back and doubled down..
They don’t.
Thanks for letting us know.
You are welcome.
Needing a 1 for Collins is fake. They could give up Collons and Holiday for Kevin Love right now if all they wanted to do was get rid of Collins. Same with Indiana, Indy would take Collins and give back a big exception.
It’s a fake trade. How does Beasley to Cavs, Collins to Utah, Levert to Atlanta work? What use does Atlanta get from Levert. He’s basically Murray if Murray was worse at everything.
Atlanta would have to have something coming back good to give up a pick. Like a player on a great deal like Vanderbilt but they have Capela and Oneka, so Vando would be to redundant as another non shooter.
Where is Sankara to shoot this ATL giving picks to get rid of Collins stuff down?
Agree with everything, even more with the Sankara part LoL.
Collins hasn’t took a leap as a lot of people thought, me included, but he is still an ok player to be your 3rd/4rd best player on a fringe contender team.
Maybe something will happen closer to the deadline. I can see at least the Jazz making a move or two. Not sure if they still are clinging to Conley’s leadership, at this point. Might want to consider giving him a chance to win a title. Same with Rudy Gay.
Collins to the Bulls would make sense if they are coughing up a pick too.
Not sure what would go back to ATL, seems best match would be Vucevic, meaning they get an expiring.
If Landry Fields gives picks to give away Collins for an expiring then he is the worse GM in the NBA. The Clippers (Roco) exist could care less about fiscal responsibility. The Mavs, Cavs (Love or Levert plus filler), Indy (Jalen Smith plus pure space), San Antonio, Heat (Robinson), Kings (Barnes).
Maybe the Bucks could offer Middleton, Allen and Nwora for Kuzma
Lakers need to find a way to get Lowry and a 2023 First from a lottery team
Lakers can find a way to take John Collins contract and a 2023 first round pick too
I like DLo more than Conley
Jazz would demand a 2028 First from Clippers because Some Clippers are overpaid
Future
Love the idea of the clippers adding a new PG.
Reggie is a solid back up, Wall has had a slow start coming from from his huge lay off. The likes of Powell, Morris, Kennard are all good role players but in order for them to be taken serious I think they need a upgrade.
Here some ideas:
1. Terry Rozier for Luke Kennard and John Wall
Hornets get a solid young shooter to be the SG next to Ball. Think he’d be a terrific fit as and deserves a try as a starter. Wall would be a good back up and could help Ball work on his game.
For the Clippers, Terry would be a great 3rd option playing off PG and Kawhi and is solid defensively. Morris at the 4, Zubac at the 5. Norman Powell as that sixth man off the bench along with Reggie, RoCo and Batum. Leaving them to just add a back for Zu. Tristan Thompson or Dwight Powell should be their targets as current free agents.
2. Kyle Lowry and a second for Marcus Morris and John Wall
Heat finally add a PF in Morris and John Wall would also be a solid fit and replacement for Lowry. Clippers get Lowry who won a championship with Kawhi in Toronto. I don’t think it’s as good as the deal above but could be pushed by Kawhi as his ideal choice.
Think Terry would be my target he would be a terrific fit