Trade Rumors: Knicks, Holiday, Lakers, Bulls, Warriors
Although the Knicks remains interested in D’Angelo Russell, he’s far from the only point guard the team is eyeing as the trade deadline nears. One player the Knicks has inquired on, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, is Pacers guard Aaron Holiday.
As Berman notes, the Knicks liked Holiday in the 2018 draft, working him out that year. Now in his second season, Holiday has built on a promising rookie season. He’s averaging 10.2 PPG and 3.5 APG with a .420 3PT% in 47 games (23.3 MPG) for the Pacers.
Acquiring Holiday won’t be easy for the Knicks, despite Indiana’s crowded backcourt. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported earlier in the week that the Pacers could probably acquire a first-round pick in exchange for Holiday, but haven’t shown any real interest in moving him.
Here are a few more trade rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- On ESPN’s trade deadline special on Wednesday, Zach Lowe suggested that Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Thunder guard Dennis Schroder are among the players the Lakers have inquired on as they look to add a play-maker (Twitter link via Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype). Their conversation with Oklahoma City on Schroder didn’t get very far, since OKC’s asking price is high, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN. I imagine that’s the case with Brooklyn and Dinwiddie as well.
- Lakers guard Alex Caruso is drawing some trade interest, with multiple teams inquiring about his availability, league sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
- The Bulls have received some trade calls today on Denzel Valentine, but nothing of substance, a source tells Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). Cowley adds that the Thaddeus Young market is “surprisingly quiet,” though Chicago thinks it could pick up as the deadline nears.
- The Warriors might not be done after last night’s trade with Philadelphia. Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report hears that Golden State has shopped both Kevon Looney and Jacob Evans for tax reasons. The Dubs are still slightly above the tax after moving three minimum-salary players in trades this season.
Hoops Rumors’ 2020 NBA Trade Deadline Primer
It hasn’t been a particularly busy season for NBA trades so far, but we’re seeing signs of life from the trade market this week.
Andre Iguodala is on the move, and Danilo Gallinari appears likely to join him in Miami; the Sixers added a pair of solid depth pieces; Dewayne Dedmon‘s trade request was granted; and the Hawks, Rockets, Timberwolves, and Nuggets gave us one of the league’s most complicated trades in years, a 12-player deal headlined by Clint Capela and Robert Covington.
With just five-and-a-half hours to go until the 2020 trade deadline arrives at 2:00pm central time, there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Will title contenders like the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks fortify their rosters? How many more 2020 first-round picks will change hands? And will any big-name trade candidates like Jrue Holiday, D’Angelo Russell, Kevin Love, or Andre Drummond end up being moved?
We’ll be keeping tabs on all the latest news and rumors all day long on Hoops Rumors, leading up to 2:00pm.
In the meantime, here are some of our features and trackers to help you prepare for today’s action:
- Trades completed so far during the 2019/20 season
- Note: The Heat‘s deal for Iguodala (and possibly Gallinari) isn’t listed here yet because the full details of that trade are still unreported.
- Analysis on trade candidates from around the NBA
- Current NBA roster counts
- Players with the ability to veto trades
- Players with trade kickers
- Players who are ineligible to be traded
- Teams with traded player exceptions available
- Hoops Rumors Glossary: Explaining the traded player exception
- Teams with disabled player exceptions available
- Traded 2020 first round picks
- Traded 2020 second round picks
- Players whose draft rights are held by NBA teams
- Cash sent and received in NBA trades in 2019/20
Hawks Waive Nene
The Hawks have officially requested waivers on Nene, announcing the move in a press release a day after they acquired him from Houston in a four-team, 12-player trade.
Nene, 37, re-signed with the Rockets last summer after averaging 3.6 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 42 games (13.0 MPG) in 2018/19. Although he got a two-year deal from Houston, it was a complicated, incentive-heavy contract that was only guaranteed for about $2.56MM. The terms of the contract, which were designed to make him a trade chip, made it a virtual certainty that he wouldn’t play much, if at all, this season. He has yet to appear in a game.
Unfortunately for the Rockets, the NBA ruled that only the guaranteed portion of Nene’s contract could be counted for salary-matching purposes, reducing his trade value. However, the team still ended up moving him in the sprawling four-way deal that also sent Clint Capela to Atlanta.
Nene would be eligible to sign with any team except the Rockets once he clears waivers and reaches free agency on Saturday. He dealt with an adductor strain earlier in the season, so it’s not clear if he’s healthy enough to contribute at this point.
With Nene off the roster, the Hawks now have an opening on their 15-man squad. They’ll create another one when they officially send Jabari Parker and Alex Len to Sacramento for Dewayne Dedmon. While more deals could be coming for Atlanta, I’d expect the team to use the last spot or two on its roster to audition some players on 10-day contracts going forward.
Heat Aim To Extend Danilo Gallinari As Part Of Trade
Having already agreed to a contract extension with Andre Iguodala as part of the trade that will send him from the Grizzlies to the Heat, Miami is looking to do the same with Danilo Gallinari, who is expected to be acquired from the Thunder in a three-team trade, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, the Heat and Gallinari’s reps were working overnight on a possible extension.
As we detailed late on Wednesday night, the exact terms of the trade that will send Iguodala and Gallinari to Miami remain unclear. We know the Grizzlies are acquiring Justise Winslow, but no other pieces have been confirmed. The belief is that Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill would be involved, likely heading to Oklahoma City. James Johnson and Dion Waiters are among the other rumored outgoing pieces for Miami and would presumably both end up in Memphis. Draft compensation would also be involved.
Assuming the three teams reach a trade agreement, Gallinari would be eligible to sign a new contract with the Heat that extends his current deal by two additional years, with 5% annual raises. Typically, veteran extension rules are less restrictive, but extend-and-trade rules limit new deals to three total years (including the current season) and modest raises.
Based on his current $22.62MM salary, Gallinari could receive as much as $23.75MM for 2020/21 and $24.88MM in 2021/22. However, as Woj notes, the Heat’s desire to preserve cap room for the 2021 offseason may complicate matters. Miami’s extension with Iguodala features a non-guaranteed team option for that ’21/22 season, allowing the team to maintain flexibility. It’s not clear if Gallinari would be on board with a similar arrangement.
As cap expert Albert Nahmad details (via Twitter), the Heat currently project to have more than $50MM+ in cap room for 2021, assuming Iguodala’s option is turned down. A pricey guaranteed salary for Gallinari would compromise the club’s ability to create a maximum-salary slot unless contracts are stretched.
It will be interesting to see how creative Miami gets — Nahmad points out (via Twitter) that using a descending salary structure or making that 2021/22 partially guaranteed could help the team stay somewhat flexible.
Kings Intend To Retain Bogdanovic Through Deadline
A report two weeks ago suggested the Kings were unlikely to move Bogdan Bogdanovic at this year’s deadline, but his name has continued to surface in trade rumors since then. Now, with just hours to go until the 2020 deadline arrives, James Ham of NBC Sports California reports more definitively that Sacramento intends to hang onto Bogdanovic.
When the Kings agreed to send Dewayne Dedmon to the Hawks on Wednesday night, it helped create some extra flexibility for the team moving forward. Dedmon has a guaranteed $13.3MM salary for next season, while incoming players Alex Len and Jabari Parker could both reach the open market — Len is on an expiring contract, while Parker has a $6.5MM player option. Even if Parker exercises that option, Sacramento will have saved $6.8MM for 2020/21 in the swap.
A source with knowledge of the Kings’ plans tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that the Dedmon deal was made in part with Bogdanovic’s future in mind. Marc Stein of The New York Times referred to re-signing Bogdanovic as a “major motivation” for that trade with the Hawks, adding (via Twitter) that Sacramento is now optimistic it has the flexibility necessary to work out a new deal directly with the RFA-to-be or match any offer sheet.
Bogdanovic, is having arguably his best year as a pro, averaging a career-best 14.6 PPG to go along with 3.3 APG, a .437 FG%, and a .378 3PT%. The third-year swingman has the ability to handle multiple positions, playing on or off the ball, and drawn interest from a number of teams around the NBA, including the Lakers, Sixers, and Hornets.
Ham has previously suggested that Bogdanovic’s price tag could be in the $15-18MM range. As Amick points out, trading Dedmon means the Kings could go all the way up to $20MM+ if necessary and still not be at risk of entering tax territory. Amick also notes that the trades being made by Atlanta and Memphis this week figure to significantly reduce their cap room for the offseason, perhaps reducing the odds that one of those rebuilding clubs makes a run at Bogdanovic.
Wolves, Hawks, Rockets, Nuggets Complete Four-Team Trade
FEBRUARY 5: The trade is now official, with Twitter announcements from the Rockets, Timberwolves and Nuggets confirming the deal. Atlanta also formally waived Chandler Parsons to accommodate the trade, as detailed earlier.
FEBRUARY 4: The Timberwolves, Hawks, Rockets, and Nuggets are in agreement on a massive four-team trade, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported (via Twitter) that the four clubs were close to reaching a deal, while Woj says (via Twitter) the players involved are now being informed.
According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Charania (Twitter links), Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link), and Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link), the trade looks like this:
- Robert Covington, Jordan Bell, and Golden State’s second-round pick (from Atlanta) to Houston.
- Clint Capela and Nene to Atlanta.
- Malik Beasley, Juan Hernangomez, Evan Turner, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Brooklyn’s 2020 first-round pick (from Atlanta) to Minnesota.
- Gerald Green, Keita Bates-Diop, Shabazz Napier, Noah Vonleh, and Houston’s 2020 first-round pick to Denver.
There have been rumors for the last several days suggesting that a trade like this one could be in play. An earlier variation had the Warriors in Denver’s place, with the Wolves pursuing D’Angelo Russell, but Golden State backed off those talks earlier on Tuesday, leaving Minnesota, Houston, and Atlanta to work out a new agreement.
Let’s break down how the deal will impact each team…
Houston Rockets:
Daryl Morey‘s group has long been on the lookout for an upgrade on the wing, and they’ll get their man in Covington, a three-and-D specialist who is on a team-friendly contract that’s worth $11.3MM this season and runs through 2021/22.
The Rockets gave up two valuable assets in Capela and their 2020 first-round pick to bring in Covington, Bell, and a second-round pick. By moving Nene and Green in the deal, the team will also move well below the luxury-tax line, which would be a favorable outcome for ownership — while Tilman Fertitta has claimed to have signed off on the club being a taxpayer, it looks like this could be the second straight season that the Rockets sneak out of the tax at the deadline.
On the other hand, as Wojnarowski points out (via Twitter), the structure of the deal would allow Houston to take back up to another $12MM in salary. So until the trade is made official, there’s a window for the Rockets to potentially expand it even further to include another team and player, assuming they find a suitable target, agree on compensation, and are willing to go back into the tax. That won’t be easy, however.
While Bell could play some minutes at the five, the Rockets will remain on the lookout for a more reliable replacement for Capela, either via a trade or on the buyout market, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Houston’s go-to lineup will feature P.J. Tucker at center, but the team still wants a more traditional big to match up with star bigs in the playoffs, notes Tim MacMahon of ESPN (via Twitter).
MacMahon also adds (via Twitter) that Green, who is likely out for the season with a broken foot, had the ability to veto his inclusion in this trade, but won’t do so.
The move will reduce the Rockets’ roster count to 13 players on standard contracts, so the team will have two weeks to get back up to the NBA’s required minimum of 14 players.
Denver Nuggets:
The Nuggets were said to be seeking a first-round pick for Beasley and a second-round pick for Hernangomez, their two restricted-free-agents-to-be. They won’t quite meet that asking price, but they’ll at least get the first-rounder they were looking for, acquiring Houston’s 2020 pick in the deal.
In addition to sending out Beasley and Hernangomez, Denver also moved Vanderbilt and will bring back four players: Green, Bates-Diop, Napier, and Vonleh. The team had an open spot on its 15-man roster, so no one will have to be waived, though MacMahon reports (via Twitter) that Green is expected to be cut after the trade is official, once again opening up that last roster spot.
As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski observes (via Twitter), Napier and Vonleh are capable of playing rotation minutes and providing depth off the bench for the Nuggets. Bates-Diop will probably be further down on the depth chart. Napier and Vonleh will be unrestricted free agents at season’s end, while KBD has a non-guaranteed minimum salary for 2020/21.
Having previously traded away their own 2020 first-round selection for Jerami Grant, the Nuggets can get back into this year’s draft with Houston’s first-rounder. Of course, with Wojnarowski suggesting Denver will continue to be active before Thursday’s deadline, that pick could theoretically be flipped in another move.
Atlanta Hawks:
The Hawks have been linked to several centers over the course of the season, reportedly expressing interest in Andre Drummond, Steven Adams, and Dewayne Dedmon, among others. In recent days, the club appeared to be zeroing in on Capela, a big man whose rim-running ability will complement Trae Young on offense and whose rim-protecting ability could help bail out Young on defense.
Atlanta will surrender Turner’s expiring contract, Brooklyn’s lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick, and an extra future second-round pick in order to lock up Capela. The move will give the Hawks some cost certainty in the middle — Capela, who has a $14.9MM cap hit in 2019/20, has three more years and about $51.3MM left on his contract after this season. He won’t be eligible for free agency until the summer of 2023.
Acquiring a center now rather than waiting until the summer and trying to land one in free agency will give the Hawks the opportunity to evaluate how Capela looks next to big man John Collins. A heel injury is currently nagging Capela, but it’s not believed to be an issue that jeopardizes the rest of his season.
A 2017 first-round pick, Collins will be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2020 offseason. If he meshes with Capela down the stretch, Atlanta would likely be more willing to invest heavily long-term in Collins, who is expected to seek the max or something close to it.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the Hawks are currently carrying 15 players, so they’ll have to waive or trade someone in order to take back both Capela and Nene for Turner, even if they intend to eventually release Nene.
Minnesota Timberwolves:
Although the Timberwolves probably would have preferred to get the Warriors involved in this deal to acquire Russell, they’ll get a handful of intriguing assets in exchange for Covington and several low-cost role players (Bell, Bates-Diop, Napier, and Vonleh).
Beasley and Hernangomez will both be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, which will give the Wolves the chance to match any offer sheet they sign. Neither player had been great this season in Denver, as a crowded depth chart pushed them out of the rotation at times, but they both had solid seasons in 2018/19.
Beasley averaged 11.3 PPG with a .474/.402/.848 shooting line in 81 games (23.2 MPG) a year ago, while Hernangomez averaged 5.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG on .439/.365/.767 shooting in 70 games (19.4 MPG). The Nuggets explored contract extensions last fall with both players, reportedly offering Beasley $30MM over three years, but they didn’t reach a deal with either one. Now the Wolves will have the opportunity to evaluate them during the season’s final two months and decide whether they’re part of the franchise’s long-term plans.
In addition to acquiring those two Denver players – and a little-used project in Vanderbilt – the Timberwolves take on Turner’s $18.6MM expiring contract, generating some extra cap flexibility for the 2020 offseason by moving off Covington’s guaranteed money. They also secured Brooklyn’s lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick, which could end up at No. 15 or 16 if the Nets hang onto a playoff spot this spring.
This move doesn’t necessarily affect the Wolves’ plans to revisit a Russell trade with the Warriors, though like Allen Crabbe, Turner can’t be aggregated with another player in a deadline deal to match D-Lo’s salary. That Brooklyn first-round pick figures to be one of the assets Minnesota dangles in any offer for Russell.
Like Houston, Minnesota will have two openings on its 15-man roster once this trade is finalized, and will have up to two weeks to get back up to 14 players, the league’s required minimum.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Clippers, Lakers Pursuing Marcus Morris
Reports earlier today suggested that the Knicks are expected to move Marcus Morris before Thursday’s trade deadline — it’s just a matter of where.
Los Angeles is one potential landing spot for Morris, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link via Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints), who said today that the Clippers and Lakers are competing for the veteran forward. As Woj pointed out, if either L.A. team lands Morris, it would have the added bonus of keeping him away from a top rival.
Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times provides some additional info on those talks, tweeting that the Knicks are interested in Kyle Kuzma in talks with the Lakers and Landry Shamet in talks with the Clippers. Kuzma is the more attainable player of the two — the Clips are unwilling to part with Shamet, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
While the Clippers have a logical salary-matching piece in Maurice Harkless, the Lakers’ path to absorbing Morris’ $15MM salary is less straightforward. A three- or four-player package of lower-cost guys could work, but Turner suggests in his tweet that the teams may be discussing Danny Green. The Knicks would want to flip Green to another team, according to Turner. For what it’s worth, I’d be pretty surprised if the Lakers are willing to move both Kuzma and Green for Morris alone.
Meanwhile, Marcus Morris may be the more sought-after twin, but his brother Markieff Morris is also drawing interest from contenders, including the Lakers and Clippers, reports Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (via Twitter).
O’Connor (Twitter link) names the Bucks, Sixers, Celtics, and Rockets as other clubs that have interest in Markieff. The Pistons’ forward hasn’t had the type of season his brother has, but wouldn’t cost as much in terms of a trade package and has a modest $3.2MM cap hit.
Amick’s Latest: Rockets, Len, D-Lo, Bogdanovic, Pistons
The Rockets remain on the lookout for a center who can help the team fill the hole that will be created when Clint Capela is officially sent to Atlanta, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic. According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic (via Twitter), Houston is moving closer to a deal for a center and is in talks with a pair of Eastern Conference teams.
Both Amick and Iko indicate the Rockets have shown a willingness to take on some “bad” salary if it helps them acquire an asset or two.
Once the four-team trade involving Capela is officially complete, Houston will have limited flexibility to acquire a center or absorb an unwanted contract. However, until that point, the Rockets could try to fold a separate trade into that four-team deal, which would allow them to take back up to $12MM+ in additional salary (up to $5.8MM before reaching the tax line).
Alex Len is one potential fit for the Rockets, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic, who suggests that the Hawks would want at least a second-round pick for Len. Since Atlanta is already part of the Rockets’ four-team trade, this could be simpler than bringing a fifth club. But I wonder if the Hawks would want to get back the 2024 second-rounder they’re sending to the Rockets in addition to acquiring a separate second-rounder for Len.
Here’s more from Amick and Hollinger:
- A source confirmed to Amick that the Knicks continue to pursue D’Angelo Russell, but said none of New York’s offers have been “even remotely appealing” to the Warriors.
- Kings swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic is generating “serious” interest, but a source says the Kings are still happy to keep Bogdanovic and attempt to re-sign him in free agency, according to Amick. As of this afternoon, Sacramento wasn’t discussing a Kyle Kuzma deal with the Lakers, but many teams around the NBA have registered interest in Bogdanovic, including the Sixers and Hornets, Amick notes.
- The Pistons are “open for business” and willing to discuss just about anyone, per Amick and Hollinger. However, a source with knowledge of the situation downplayed the idea that Derrick Rose will be moved before the deadline.
- The Magic are unlikely to do anything too significant, but remain in the market for “good, young perimeter help,” says Hollinger.
Heat’s Leonard, Winslow Out Through All-Star Break
The Heat announced today that Meyers Leonard (sprained left ankle) and Justise Winslow (lower back bone bruise) will be sidelined for the team’s full five-game road trip leading up to the All-Star Game, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Leonard and Winslow didn’t travel with the team on the road trip, which begins in Los Angeles against the Clippers tonight and runs through next Wednesday in Utah. The earliest either Leonard or Winslow could return would be on February 20 in Atlanta, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be ready to go at that point.
Tyler Herro is also dealing with a sore right ankle and was in a walking boot during Wednesday’s shootaround, says Winderman. Still, head coach Erik Spoelstra thinks the rookie could return to action during Miami’s five-game road trip.
“That’s the hope, but we’ll be smart about it,” Spoelstra said. “Right now, we’re just giving him rest and treatment, trying to protect him from himself. … He really wants to be out there and he was able to grind through it for the last 10 days. But we want to take care of this right now and make sure it doesn’t become anything more.”
Leonard had started every game for the Heat this season, while Herro has been one of the club’s most-used players off the bench, so the team will have to rely on its depth during the next few games. Kelly Olynyk and James Johnson are among the candidates to see more frontcourt minutes. On the wing, Derrick Jones figures to play an increased role and Dion Waiters could get another look.
Knicks Rumors: Russell, Morris, Trier, Caruso, Ujiri
The Knicks continue to pursue Warriors point guard D’Angelo Russell with the trade deadline 24 hours away, according to Newsday’s Steve Popper and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).
Reports earlier in the week had revealed the Knicks’ interest in Russell. However, those stories were published prior to Steve Mills‘ ouster from the front office, so it wasn’t clear if the remaining group – led by interim head of basketball operations Scott Perry – would continue to go after the fifth-year guard.
While today’s reports confirm that the Knicks remain interested in Russell, Charania hears that New York’s proposed package haven’t been enough to close the gap and meet Golden State’s asking price.
As we noted last night when we checked in on the Timberwolves’ pursuit of Russell, the Warriors were said to be seeking at least one of Minnesota’s own unprotected first-round picks — preferably in 2021, which is expected to be a strong draft than 2020. The Wolves were reportedly dangling Brooklyn’s lottery-protected 2020 first-round selection and their own protected ’20 first-rounder as part of their offer.
Presumably, the Warriors will be seeking at least one unprotected Knicks first-rounder in talks with New York. However, there’s no consensus within the Knicks’ front office on the team’s willingness to give up first-rounders to land D-Lo, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Newsday’s Steve Popper (Twitter link) is hearing that Marcus Morris will be moved before the deadline. Marc Stein of The New York Times conveys a similar sentiment, tweeting that the Knicks know they can trade Morris and now it’s just a matter of where.
- In addition to touching base about Kyle Kuzma, the Knicks and Lakers have also discussed Allonzo Trier and Alex Caruso, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Those talks took place before Mills’ ouster and didn’t advance, sources tell Begley.
- According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Knicks owner James Dolan would like to move fairly quickly on the team’s front office search, possibly so there’s a new president in place for a head coaching search in the spring.
- An in-season search would reduce the likelihood of the Knicks landing Raptors president Masai Ujiri, Berman notes. However, a source suggests to Berman that might be okay with Dolan, who values loyalty and may not want to push Ujiri to break his contract in Toronto. Dolan may also been wary of Ujiri using the Knicks for leverage in extension talks with the Raptors, the source tells Berman.
- Within a separate SNY.tv article examining possible front office targets for the Knicks, Begley writes that R.C. Buford (Spurs) and Kevin Pritchard (Pacers) aren’t realistic options. Both executives are on long-term deals and Buford has a CEO title in San Antonio.
- Recently hired by the Knicks as a brand consultant, Steve Stoute is a “prominent voice” within the organization right now, according to Popper (Twitter link), who says Stoute is involved in the front office search.