Haynes’ Latest: Pelicans, Collins, Blazers, Celtics, VanVleet
The Pelicans are among the teams to reach out to the Hawks about forward John Collins, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. Haynes hears from sources that those discussions were merely preliminary, however.
A report earlier this month stated that Atlanta had previously pitched the idea of a Collins trade involving Trey Murphy and one of New Orleans’ many first-round picks. It’s unclear whether the Pelicans are open to that sort of package — if so, they would need to add more outgoing salary, with Devonte’ Graham looking like a prime candidate to be dealt.
According to Haynes, the Hawks remain comfortable with the idea of keeping Collins on their roster beyond the trade deadline if they don’t get an offer they like.
Here’s more from Haynes:
- The Trail Blazers are “intensely engrossed” in seeking further upgrades for their roster and are open to listening to a wide variety of ideas, league sources tell Bleacher Report. Portland has struggled since getting off to a hot start, but remains focused on making the playoffs this season and has no plans to tank, Haynes adds.
- The Celtics are in the market for another frontcourt player and will try to add a big man in the buyout market if they’re unable to trade for one at the deadline, Haynes writes. Boston isn’t necessarily seeking an impact player, but Robert Williams has dealt with injuries in the past year and Al Horford is 36 years old, so the team would like a reliable insurance policy.
- Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet has parted with his representatives at Par-Lay Sports & Entertainment and will hire a new agent soon, league sources tell Haynes. The timing of the move is noteworthy, since VanVleet is likely headed for unrestricted free agency this summer and has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate.
Clippers Rumors: Mann, Lowry, VanVleet, Hartenstein, Covington, Kawhi
As the Clippers explore the trade market for potential backcourt or frontcourt upgrades, they continue to rebuff inquiries on fourth-year guard Terance Mann, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack story.
Entering the season, the decision on the Clippers’ starting point guard came down to Reggie Jackson vs. John Wall, but with Jackson’s role cut back and Wall injured, it’s Mann who has started the club’s last nine games at point guard.
One team source who spoke to Law Murray of The Athletic suggested that there’s a belief Mann could be the Clippers’ starting point guard beyond this season. However, it’s unclear how enthusiastic head coach Tyronn Lue is about using Mann in that role. As Murray explains, Lue views Mann as more of a small forward and barely used him in some first-half games. The Clippers’ coach also likes having a more traditional point guard in his rotation, Murray adds.
Here’s more on the Clippers:
- In an article focused on the Clippers’ need to upgrade their roster, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer identifies Heat point guard Kyle Lowry, Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet, and Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein as some of the players L.A. has interest in. Lowry and VanVleet won a championship with Kawhi Leonard, while Hartenstein had the best season of his NBA career a year ago with the Clips.
- According to Murray, there’s a sense that Lue would like to replace Robert Covington with a more reliable center, while the front office would like the team to find a way to make a “long lineup” (which includes Covington) work. Murray suggests the trade deadline may represent a “demarcation point” between Lue and the front office on Covington’s future in Los Angeles.
- While this should come as no surprise, a team source confirms to Murray that the Clippers haven’t given any consideration to trading Leonard.
- Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com explores whether or not the frequent absences of Leonard and Paul George from the Clippers’ lineup has created a sense of frustration within the organization due to the club’s inability to establish any chemistry or consistency.
Lakers Rumors: Hachimura, Reddish, Beverley, Bogdanovic
The Lakers and Wizards discussed the Rui Hachimura trade for several days before reaching an agreement, with the level of draft compensation serving as the primary sticking point, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Lakers were originally exploring the trade market to see what they could get for Kendrick Nunn and two second-round picks, and could have landed Knicks forward Cam Reddish for such a package. However, Los Angeles preferred Hachimura and ultimately reached a compromise with the Wizards – who originally sought a first-round pick for the former lottery selection – by adding a third second-rounder.
Hachimura is expected to command an eight-figure annual salary as a free agent, sources tell Buha, and Fischer has heard similar rumblings, writing that the current expectation is that the forward’s price will be around $10MM per year. That figure could increase though if Hachimura emerges as the Lakers’ third-best player behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis down the stretch though, Fischer acknowledges.
Either way, if the Lakers hope to re-sign Hachimura, which sounds like the plan, his new deal will significantly cut into the cap room they’ll be able to create this summer.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- It’s unclear if Hachimura will start immediately, but the expectation is that he’ll be part of the starting five once he gets acclimated and the rotation is settled, Buha writes. The former Wizards forward could make his Lakers debut as early as Wednesday, tweets Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
- With Davis on track to return in the near future, the Lakers want to continue evaluating their roster to determine whether to use their remaining assets to make a minor or major roster upgrade, according to Buha. While the team is willing to do something more substantial, the most likely move at this point is dealing Patrick Beverley and a lottery-protected first-round pick for a wing or frontcourt player, Buha adds.
- Although the Lakers continue to be frequently linked to Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic, there’s a gap between how the two sides view his value. League sources tell Buha that Detroit is seeking at least an unprotected first-round pick, while L.A. is thus far only willing to give up a lottery-protected first-rounder.
- In a column for The Los Angeles Times, Woike says the acquisition of Hachimura is a smart, sensible move for the Lakers, even if it’s not a blockbuster. Zach Kram of The Ringer is underwhelmed by the move, arguing that Hachimura is a “single-dimensional scorer” and a subpar defender who won’t move the needle on L.A.’s playoff chances.
Wizards Rumors: Kuzma, Porzingis, Carey, Barton, Hachimura
The Wizards‘ willingness to trade Rui Hachimura reflects their increased confidence that they’ll be able to re-sign Kyle Kuzma as a free agent in the summer, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack story.
According to Stein, Washington has been telling rival teams that it plans to re-sign both Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis, who also has a player option for 2023/24 that he may decline. Porzingis likes his situation in D.C., Stein adds, so if he does turn down his option, it sounds like he’d be open to a new deal with the Wizards.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports has heard similar rumblings on Kuzma, reporting that the Wizards have told inquiring teams like the Suns and Hawks that the veteran forward isn’t available for trade.
Still, even if Kuzma isn’t going anywhere, Washington seems likely to make at least one more trade before the February 9 deadline, Fischer writes. The team wants to open up a spot on its 15-man roster to promote Jordan Goodwin from his two-way contract, and center Vernon Carey Jr. is considered a trade candidate, according to Fischer, who adds that rival executives are also keeping an eye on Will Barton as a possible buyout candidate if he remains in D.C. through the deadline.
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- One source tells Stein that Hachimura requested a trade before he was dealt to Los Angeles, which the 24-year-old didn’t deny over the weekend.
- Three-team discussions involving the Suns, Bucks, and Wizards helped set the price for the Lakers to acquire Hachimura, according to Fischer (Twitter link), who reports that those three clubs discussed a concept that would have sent Hachimura to Phoenix, Jae Crowder to Milwaukee, and three second-round picks and matching salaries to Washington. The Wizards ultimately decided they preferred the deal with L.A.
- In columns reacting to the Hachimura trade, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post questioned the Wizards’ plan and direction following their latest move, while David Aldridge of The Athletic referred to the deal as a “salvage operation” rather than a win for president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard. “Not impactful, but better than letting your No. 9 pick walk for nothing,” a league executive said in a text message to Aldridge. “Not a championship move. Not a playoff move. Maybe a play-in move.”
- As Josh Robbins of The Athletic notes in a column on the trade, the Wizards generated a $6.26MM traded player exception in the swap for Hachimura’s outgoing salary, since they were able to take Nunn’s $5.25MM salary into an existing trade exception created at last season’s deadline. Washington will have until January 23, 2024 to use the newly created TPE.
Jazz Notes: Olynyk, Trade Talks, Sexton, Agbaji
Jazz center Kelly Olynyk, who has missed the team’s last six games due to a left ankle sprain, was a partial participant in practice on Thursday after beginning on-court work on Wednesday, tweets Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. Olynyk still has a little ways to go before he’s cleared to return to action though — Larsen said on Friday night that the big man isn’t expected to play for the next week.
Here’s more out of Utah:
- Although the Hawks turned down a Jazz trade proposal that would have sent Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Atlanta for John Collins and a first-round pick, the expectation is that those two teams will resume their conversations closer to the trade deadline, sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic. Utah is expected to engage in plenty of trade discussions with teams around the league and will consider any deal that would be good for the franchise, whether that means buying or selling, Jones adds.
- In case you missed it, Marc Stein reported earlier today that the Jazz will likely be open to listening to inquiries on anyone except Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler. In her own trade deadline primer, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News expresses a belief that Collin Sexton belongs with Markkanen and Kessler in that group of players who are highly unlikely to be dealt this season.
- In a separate story for The Deseret News, Todd explores the developmental process that the Jazz rookies have been going through in their first NBA season, noting that No. 14 overall pick Ochai Agbaji has been earning more playing time as of late. Agbaji has put up more than four points just once in his last five outings, but the Jazz have outscored opponents by 41 points in his 111 minutes during that stretch.
Five Candidates For Promotions From Two-Way Contracts
Players who signed two-way contracts before the NBA’s regular season got underway are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their teams’ 82 games, while players who filled two-way slots after the season began are eligible for even fewer games — the two-way games limit is prorated, so a player who signed halfway through the regular season could be active for up to 25 contests.
On top of that, players on two-way contracts aren’t eligible to play in the postseason, so once they reach their 50-game regular season limit, their seasons are essentially over at the NBA level.
However, there’s a way to get around those restrictions. If a two-way player has outperformed his contract and his team doesn’t want to lose his services once he’s active for his 50th game, that team can simply promote him to its standard 15-man roster.
Teams have the ability to unilaterally convert a two-way contract into a standard, rest-of-season deal worth the players’ minimum salary. If the player is open to it, he can also negotiate a multiyear contract with his team as part of his promotion to the 15-man roster.
Last season, 20 players were converted from two-way deals to standard contracts after the NBA regular season began. It hasn’t happened at all since opening night this season, but it’s just a matter of time until that changes.
Here are five prime candidates to receive promotions sooner or later:
Jordan Goodwin, G (Wizards)
Multiple reporters, including Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, and Ava Wallace of The Washington Post, have indicated that the Wizards would like to promote Goodwin. The second-year guard has been a solid rotation piece in D.C., averaging 6.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.7 APG with a .397 3PT%, but he’s rapidly approaching his 50-game limit.
According to Robbins (Twitter link), since he has already been active for 44 games, Goodwin is actually being assigned to the G League’s Capital City Go-Go on Saturday as the Wizards try to preserve his availability.
The Wizards don’t currently have an available 15-man roster spot, but it sounds like opening one up will be a priority at the trade deadline. Unfortunately for Goodwin, Washington has 10 games between now and February 9, so he may have to be inactive for some of them as the team attempts to make room for him.
Anthony Lamb, F (Warriors)
Unlike the Wizards, the Warriors do have a spot available on their 15-man roster for Lamb, but there’s no rush to promote him until he has exhausted his two-way games limit. Golden State may also want to keep that roster spot open through the trade deadline to maximize the team’s flexibility in trade talks and on the buyout market.
It should be just a matter of time until Lamb gets bumped to the main roster though. In 38 games for the defending champions, he has averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.1 minutes per night, emerging as a trusted rotation player for head coach Steve Kerr, who has used Lamb more than a few reserves expected to have bigger roles.
Golden State’s other two-way player, Ty Jerome, is putting up a sparkling .503/.407/.963 shooting line this season through 28 appearances and is making his own case for a promotion.
Orlando Robinson, C (Heat)
Robinson, a rookie big man out of Fresno State, has surpassed Dewayne Dedmon in the Heat’s rotation in recent weeks as Bam Adebayo‘s primary backup at center. In his modest role, he has averaged 4.8 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 15.1 MPG.
Because he signed his two-way deal with Miami in December, Robinson is limited to 35 active games, rather than 50, so his limit is fast approaching. But the Heat are right up against the luxury tax and won’t be able to sign a 15th man while staying below the tax line until March unless they shed a little salary in a trade deadline deal.
At this point, Robinson seems like the favorite to fill that 15th roster spot, but if the Heat’s cap situation remains unchanged, he’ll probably have to wait until later in the season.
Moses Brown, C (Clippers)
Given the Clippers’ lack of depth at center, Brown has often served as the de facto backup behind starter Ivica Zubac, appearing in 33 games so far.
The 23-year-old is only logging 7.9 minutes per night, but he’s making the most of his limited action, averaging 4.3 PPG and 3.7 RPG. L.A. has a +5.1 net rating when he’s on the court, the second-best mark on the team behind Kawhi Leonard.
Brown isn’t likely to be part of the Clippers’ playoff rotation, and may not see many minutes down the stretch at all if the club adds a veteran big man via trade or the buyout market. Still, there’s an open spot on the 15-man roster — if that spot remains open and Brown continues to play the role he has so far this season, he’s the logical candidate to fill it.
Duane Washington, G (Suns)
Washington didn’t see much action in Phoenix during the first month of the season, but with injuries taking a toll on the Suns’ roster, he has gotten the chance to play regular minutes in recent weeks.
While Washington’s performance has been up and down, the highs have been impressive. In three separate games within the last month, he has made at least five 3-pointers and scored at least 21 points. Since December 20, he’s knocking down 38.1% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
When the Suns are at full strength, it’s difficult to imagine Washington being part of the regular rotation, but the team only has 14 players on full-season contracts, so the door is open for him to claim the 15th spot. It may come down to what Phoenix does at the trade deadline and whether the team envisions a relationship with Saben Lee beyond his two 10-day contracts.
Stein’s Latest: Gordon, Bucks, Jazz, Washington, Crowder, More
The Bucks, who surrendered four second-round pick for Nikola Mirotic at the 2019 trade deadline, are exploring a similar approach as they pursue Rockets wing Eric Gordon, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack article. According to Stein, Milwaukee has pitched four second-rounders to Houston in various trade scenarios involving Gordon, but the Rockets remain focused on getting a first-rounder.
One report over a month ago suggested the Bucks were offering up four second-round picks in a three-team scenario that would send Gordon to Phoenix and Jae Crowder to Milwaukee, which makes more sense from a salary-matching perspective. Acquiring Gordon, whose cap hit is $19.57MM, would be tricky for a Bucks team that doesn’t have any highly paid trade candidates.
Milwaukee’s five players earning eight-digit salaries (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis) are crucial contributors, so any trade package would likely have to start with Grayson Allen, who is making $8.5MM.
Adding George Hill ($4MM) and Jordan Nwora ($3MM) to Allen would still leave the Bucks about $75K short of the outgoing salary required to take back Gordon, meaning they would have to get creative if they hope to land the veteran shooting guard.
Here’s more from Stein:
- There’s a “rising belief” around the NBA that the Jazz will be open to listening on any players on their roster besides Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler at the trade deadline, says Stein. Previous reports, including one from Stein, have indicated Utah would be hesitant to move Jordan Clarkson.
- The Hornets‘ interest in re-signing restricted free-agent-to-be P.J. Washington appears to have risen significantly since last summer, according to Stein. Miles Bridges‘ uncertain NBA future following an alleged domestic violence incident presumably factors into Charlotte’s increased interest in Washington, Stein notes.
- Given that Jae Crowder‘s time away from the Suns is approaching the four-month mark, his potential trade suitors have questions about how long it would take him to get acclimated and to get his conditioning back to 100% if he eventually reports to a team this season, Stein writes.
- Stein also confirms a couple previously reported rumors, writing that Spurs center Jakob Poeltl is expected to seek approximately $20MM per year in free agency this summer and noting that the Heat are among the possible trade suitors for Knicks forward Cam Reddish. Shams Charania of The Athletic cited $20MM as a number to watch for Poeltl, while Ian Begley of SNY.tv has mentioned Miami’s interest in Reddish.
Lakers Notes: Davis, Walker, Reaves, Trade Market
After ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on Friday that Anthony Davis could be back in action at some point next week, a series of other reporters confirmed that news, including Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Mark Medina of NBA.com (Twitter link), and Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times.
The general consensus among those reporters is that if everything proceeds according to plan with Davis’ recovery from a foot injury and he remains pain-free, he could play as early as Tuesday or Wednesday in one of the Lakers’ home games. However, a return next Saturday in Boston for the start of the team’s five-game road trip may be the safer bet.
According to Woike, the Lakers have to share an official timeline for Davis’ recovery, with head coach Darvin Ham telling reporters on Friday only that the big man would go through a “1-on-0” workout on Saturday as he ramps up toward group practices with contact.
“We’ve maintained throughout the process there’s no timeline.” Ham said before the team’s win over Memphis. “And we’re just throwing different things at him.”
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Injured wing Lonnie Walker (knee), who is due to be reevaluated on Saturday, appears to be getting close to a return and is being classified as day-to-day, according to Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
- Lakers guard Austin Reaves isn’t as close as Walker to making it back on the court. The plan is for Reaves to be reevaluated late next week, Ham said on Friday (link via Woike).
- The Lakers are one of many potential buyers around the NBA who are hoping that more sellers will emerge and begin to engage more seriously in trade discussions starting next week, Wojnarowski said in an appearance on ESPN’s NBA Countdown (YouTube video link). “I don’t think there’s any big, big deals for the Lakers out there, but I do think they’re going to be active around the edges to try to improve this team,” Woj said.
Suns Sign Saben Lee To Second 10-Day Deal
JANUARY 21: As expected, the Suns have signed Lee to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release.
JANUARY 20: Saben Lee‘s first 10-day contract with the Suns hasn’t technically expired yet, but it will do so before Saturday’s game, so he’ll need to be re-signed if the team wants him available for that contest — and beyond. That’s expected to happen, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), who says Lee is on track to ink a second 10-day deal with Phoenix.
Lee, 23, has been the only 10-day signee so far this season to immediately step into a regular role upon joining his new team. The former second-round pick has averaged 11.3 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game during four appearances with the Suns.
Lee’s best game came on Thursday, when he played a season-high 29 minutes, scoring 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and dishing six assists in a Phoenix victory.
Assuming Lee officially signs a new contract with the Suns on Saturday, his contract would run through January 30, making him eligible to play in the club’s next six games. As was the case on his first 10-day deal, he would earn approximately $106K for his 10 days of work, as our chart shows.
After his second 10-day contract expires, Lee wouldn’t be able to sign a third with the Suns, so the team would have to either sign him for the rest of the season or let him walk.
Cash Sent, Received In NBA Trades For 2022/23
During each NBA league year, teams face limits on the amount of cash they can send out and receive in trades. Once they reach those limits, they’re no longer permitted to include cash in a deal until the following league year.
For the 2022/23 NBA season, the limit is $6,363,000. If a team is including cash in a deal, the minimum amount required is $110,000.
The limits on sending and receiving cash are separate and aren’t dependent on one another, so if a team sends out $6,363,000 in one trade, then receives $6,363,000 in another, they aren’t back to square one — they’ve reached both limits for the season and can’t make another deal that includes cash.
Adding cash to a deal can serve multiple purposes. It can be a sweetener to encourage a team to make a deal in the first place – like when a club acquires a second-round pick in exchange for cash, or sends out an unwanted contract along with cash – or it can be a necessity to meet CBA requirements.
For instance, when the Suns agreed to acquire Jock Landale from the Hawks this past summer, Atlanta essentially just wanted to clear a roster spot, but had to receive something in the deal. So Phoenix sent Atlanta $110K, the minimum amount that can change hands in any trade involving cash.
We’ll use the space below to track each team’s cash sent and received in trades for the 2022/23 season, updating the info as necessary leading up to the 2023 trade deadline and for the first part of the 2023 offseason next June. These totals will reset once the ’23/24 league year begins next July.
Note: Data from ESPN’s Bobby Marks was used in the creation of this post.
Atlanta Hawks
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,253,000
- Received $110,000 from Suns.
Boston Celtics
- Cash available to send: $4,863,000
- Sent $1,500,000 to Spurs.
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Brooklyn Nets
- Cash available to send: $2,423,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Charlotte Hornets
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $5,363,000
- Received $1,000,000 from Clippers.
Chicago Bulls
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Dallas Mavericks
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Denver Nuggets
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Detroit Pistons
- Cash available to send: $4,610,362
- Sent $1,752,638 to Jazz.
- Cash available to receive: $4,363,000
- Received $2,000,000 from Knicks.
Golden State Warriors
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Sent unknown amount to Wizards.
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Houston Rockets
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $0
- Received $6,363,000 from Thunder.
Indiana Pacers
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $640,000
Los Angeles Clippers
- Cash available to send: $5,363,000
- Sent $1,000,000 to Hornets.
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Los Angeles Lakers
- Cash available to send: $0
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Memphis Grizzlies
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Miami Heat
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,253,000
- Received $110,000 from Spurs.
Milwaukee Bucks
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Sent unknown amount to Magic.
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
New Orleans Pelicans
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
New York Knicks
- Cash available to send: $4,363,000
- Sent $2,000,000 to Pistons.
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Cash available to send: $0
- Sent $6,363,000 to Rockets.
- Cash available to receive: $5,363,000
- Received $1,000,000 from Suns.
Orlando Magic
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $4,363,000
Philadelphia 76ers
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Phoenix Suns
- Cash available to send: $5,253,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Portland Trail Blazers
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Sacramento Kings
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $3,783,000
- Received $2,580,000 from Nets.
San Antonio Spurs
- Cash available to send: $6,253,000
- Sent $110,000 to Heat.
- Cash available to receive: $4,863,000
- Received $1,500,000 from Celtics.
Toronto Raptors
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
Utah Jazz
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $4,610,362
- Received $1,752,638 from Pistons.
Washington Wizards
- Cash available to send: $6,363,000
- Cash available to receive: $6,363,000
- Received unknown amount from Warriors.