Previous reports have indicated that the Suns and Clippers are interested in point guards, and they have been the two most active teams looking for help at the position, sources tell Matt Moore of Action Network.
At least one report indicated that the Heat aren’t actively shopping Kyle Lowry, but that hasn’t stopped rival teams from calling to check in on him, Moore writes.
Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer wrote last week that the Clippers are interested in Lowry and Fred VanVleet, and their names are not a coincidence. According to Moore, Kawhi Leonard “has made it clear” that he would welcome backcourt help, and the three players were teammates when the Raptors won the championship in 2019.
Moore believes VanVleet is more likely to be on the move than Lowry due to his age and contract situation. VanVleet, who turns 29 next month, is expected to decline his player option and hit free agency in 2023. Lowry, on the other hand, turns 37 in March and is owed $29.7MM in 2023/24.
As for the Suns, they’ve been looking more at reserves than starters. His name hasn’t come up in trade talks, according to Moore, but rival executives are keeping a close eye on Chris Paul‘s situation in Phoenix in case new owner Mat Ishbia decides to go in a different direction — Paul turns 38 in May.
Moore says Bulls guard Alex Caruso might be the most difficult guard on the market to acquire, as his contract, age, and versatility hold a lot of appeal. Nearly a dozen teams are thought to have “serious interest” in Caruso, but some have already pulled out of talks with Chicago due to a high asking price.
Here are several more trade rumors from Moore:
- If the Spurs trade Jakob Poeltl, Moore believes it will come right before the deadline. Rival executives are skeptical San Antonio will be able to get two first-rounders for the veteran center.
- While Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic is reportedly available, Moore writes that Portland will only move him for an upgrade at the position.
- Multiple teams have inquired on Timberwolves center Naz Reid, but evidently Minnesota didn’t like the offers. Moore hears the Wolves are going to hang onto the 23-year-old and will try to sign him to a contract extension.
- The Hornets have set a pretty high bar in talks regarding Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee. They’re looking for a first-rounder in exchange for either player, according to Moore.
- The Mavericks are open to discussing their wing players in an effort to upgrade the roster, but they might also look to shed long-term money. Keep an eye on the Jazz, says Moore, as they could offer “short-term upgrades on expiring contracts” to fulfill both of those desires.
- Moore classifies the Pelicans as a team “unlikely to make moves,” though they are interested in wing help. Sources tell Moore the Hawks are unlikely to trade John Collins, as the new front office regime appears to value him more than the previous one did.
- The Nuggets are looking for a “playoff-ready wing who can defend” for guard Bones Hyland, but have only received “lowball offers” thus far. Moore believes they’re unlikely to make a deal. However, sources tell Mike Singer of The Denver Post that the Nuggets “believe they have traction on potentially acquiring a first-round pick” for the 22-year-old. Singer also reports that the Nuggets are looking for players on “cost-controlled” contracts similar to Hyland’s, who is in the second year of his rookie scale deal.
Why GMs are playing lowball offer for Reid and Hyland?
Now it’s January, not April
Clippers like Fred VanVleet
Good
Trade Jusuf Nurkic to upgrade the roster
Good
Reject the lowball offers for Naz Reid
Good
Trade Finnie Smith to upgrade
Good
Reject the lowball offers for Hyland
Good
The Clippers should get Rozier over VanVleet.
Clippers: Rozier, Plumlee, & Kai Jones
Hornets: Kennard, Wall, Covington
This would also free up Charlotte’s front court and give the Clippers the size they need.
Must be a Clipper fan for that trade. None of the players going to Hornets are better than Rozier and Plumlee. Would need for the clippers to add on a few draft picks.
In what world would any competent GM want Rozier over Fred?
A world with a GM who wants a player who can push the ball and be a third scoring option. He also has three years left on his deal.
The only thing you said that Rozier has over Fred is the contract.
DEN was smart to try, but I’m not surprised that they’ve hit the wall where they have. One of the hardest things to procure at the deadline is a playoff ready wing that can defend. One of the easiest is a middling FRP in the coming draft.
I’d take the FRP, but only if I could flip it with something else to get that wing. Hyland alone is never going to yield much more than that FRP. He’s a favorite of the 2k’ers, but his ceiling on a serious basketball team is pretty much limited to the chuck and duck role he’s currently playing. But just removing him from the depth chart now for a middling FRP this summer wouldn’t be an attractive option for a legitimate contender.
Bones Hyland always kills the Jazz. History suggests that those players quite often end up on the Jazz’s roster. Lol
Could do a Vando for Bones trade. Although, the Jazz would then need to get rid of another guard. Could do Beasley and filler for Smith and filler?
I’d have to watch more film to see if these are actual fits for all teams involved. Thoughts?
Mentioned it a couple times but I think Terry Rozier is perfect for the Clippers. Think FVV is much more likely due to the fact Kawhi is pushing for it and he’s won a championship with Fred in Toronto not to mention he’s also actively being shopped by the raptors. However in terms of fit I think Terry could be even better.
The package I would make is
Terry Rozier for Luke Kennard, John Wall and a second round pick.
Although it’s not the first round pick that’s apparently the asking price it is a draft pick, a good young player and a cheap but good role playing vet.
That said you get Terry then the teams depth charts looks something like
Terry PG Kawhi Morris and Zubac
Reggie Powell RoCo Batum ….
(Meaning you need a back up centre)
Think Terry fits perfectly as the third choice score and ball handler beside PG and Kawhi. He’s got a great bag of moves and ways to hurt defenders. He can also operate as a floor spacer or simply finishing at the rim through traffic. He’s also a solid defender when locked in and proven to get better in the playoffs when games really count.
It also suits his team mates. Marcus Morris suits being a 4th scoring option and it’ll allow him to be a better defender. Reggie suits leading the second unit, Norman suits being the go to scorer for the bench and then you have two solid 3 and D vets in the forward spots. All your missing is a back up 5, and funnily enough you create an extra roster space in the deal by giving up 2 players for 1. That’s where I would then likely add Tristan Thompson who’s a current FA. Hard working and somewhat reliable centre who’s also won a title and knows what it takes.
For the hornets I think they take that deal. Luke Kennard is one of the best shooters in the league and you can play him as a starter or off the bench. He’d pair really well with LaMelo who likes to beat his guy and dish out wild passes to the shooters. If the team drafts in a SG, then you can simply have Kennard come from the bench and he will still light teams up from outside.
John Wall being a North Carolina native returning home is also a cool story. Think his veteran presence and former accomplishments would give him alot of respect in the building and he could be a leader for them. He could teach Melo a lot, he could help Bouknight, think he’d do a lot for the culture.
Overall I think it’s a great move in theory for both sides whosever as I said earlier I think FVV will be more likelier
Good trade. I can see it happening. I would try to get a rim protector for the Clippers as a backup 5, more than Tristán. But overall, it’s good. Rozier requires less assets than FVV, and I think would mesh Better. Fred’s price Tag would decimate the Clippers’ draft capital, young players (Boston Jr. can shoot and is a very tall SG) and/or bench
Denver wants a playoff ready wing, and the Raps may be willing to move FVV. Bones for Gary Trent? Nuggets get their wing, Raps get their PG for the future. Makes the decision to deal Fred easier with someone in place.
VanVleet will stay, and OG will go
What’s the opposite of OG? GO! Har har lol
FVV doesn’t seem consistent enough to be a top 1-2 on a team. Siakim can be a solid 2nd player.
Raptors desperately need that 4th quarter closer they miss with Kawhi gone. DeRozan was kinda that guy, but doesn’t seem to be that guy this year.
There aren’t that many great closers in the NBA right now. Could argue for various players with top records, but beyond that…
Morris to clippers
Wall is back in DC
For Plumlee, I gather from this report, they’d rather get a future first rounder than a previous one. I thought the Nets would’ve been a good suitor but they don’t have any near-term future first rounders. I suggested Curry, who’s from Charlotte, and Sharpe, who’s a recent first rounder that has the ability to develop, for Plumlee and Thor to even out the financials. They may be more interested in Cam Thomas than Sharpe, but I don’t see the Nets doing that. Charlotte could ask for another asset in the deal I suggested. The Nets have a former first rounder stashed in Europe that has been one of the top centers over there. Nikola Milutinov is 28 and is about to finish his contract with CSKA Moscow. I could see the Nets giving him a chance to make the team next year if he’s not traded.