Sixers, Nets Haven’t Engaged In Recent Trade Talks
Although a report on Friday stated that the Sixers intend to pursue James Harden prior to this week’s trade deadline and that the Nets are open to talking, it doesn’t sound as if any discussions have occurred between the two teams since then.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey reached out to Sean Marks of the Nets about a month ago to ask about Harden and was flatly turned down. That exchange it still the only direct communication between Morey and Marks this season, per ESPN’s duo.
Both Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report have also heard the two teams haven’t talked at all lately, with Pompey citing a source who referred to the conversation a month ago as “non-productive.”
Fischer suggests the Nets have no plans to discuss any Harden trade scenarios before Thursday’s trade deadline and Pompey hears from one source that Simmons won’t be traded until at least the draft. However, Wojnarowski and Shelburne aren’t yet closing the door on the possibility that the two teams will take this week, and neither is Pompey, who says Brooklyn and Philadelphia are going through third parties and back-channels to get information.
“It’s the most bizarre thing,” a source told Pompey. “It’s almost as if they are playing a game of cat and mouse … because of all the tampering [implications].”
Despite his assertion that the Nets have no plans to discuss Harden this week, Fischer does say there are people within the organization who have openly mentioned their interest in a swap involving Harden and Ben Simmons. Meanwhile, two people who have “significant history” with Harden believed he’s interested in the possibility of joining the Sixers, sources tell Wojnarowski and Shelburne.
Still, ESPN’s report suggests the two teams have a difference of opinions on which side has more leverage. According to Woj and Shelburne, the Sixers believe they shouldn’t have to add many assets to make a Simmons/Harden swap because the Nets risk losing their star guard for nothing in the offseason. But Brooklyn, recognizing all the talent and assets the capped-out Sixers may have to sacrifice to sign Harden outright this summer, would push for a significant package.
“Why would Brooklyn accept anything less now than the assets it would cost Philly to unload contracts and create the space this summer?” one GM said to ESPN.
Here are some more updates from ESPN, Bleacher Report, and The Philadelphia Inquirer on the Simmons/Harden situation:
- The Nets would want additional pieces besides Simmons in any deal for Harden, but Pompey says the Sixers aren’t willing to include Tyrese Maxey in any trade and view Matisse Thybulle as “close to untouchable.” When the two teams had a brief discussion last month, Philadelphia asked if Brooklyn was interested in Paul Reed and Isaiah Joe, says Pompey. According to Fischer, Reed and Joe are the two players most frequently mentioned by rival executives as possible 76ers trade candidates.
- Harden doesn’t currently have an agent, but he and manager Lorenzo McCloud are looking to hire representation, at least temporarily, with his free agency looming, according to Wojnarowski and Shelburne.
- Without an agent to talk to, the Nets have to rely on direct communication with Harden, which may be one reason why the team has had a hard time getting a read on his intentions. ESPN’s duo describes the partnership between the Nets and Harden as “murky,” noting that the former MVP has said he’s committed to the team, but his actions – including “private grousing” about Nets coaches, teammates, and the organization – have hinted otherwise. Pompey hears from sources that some people in the organization are “privately questioning (Harden’s) commitment to remaining in Brooklyn, and becoming frustrated with the uncertainty.”
- Although Kevin Durant wants Harden to stay in Brooklyn, he wants a committed Harden, according to Wojnarowski and Shelburne, who say Durant isn’t telling Nets ownership or management what they should do at the deadline. A source tells Pompey that key Brooklyn players wouldn’t be hugely disappointed if Harden is ultimately moved, due to uncertainty about his true feelings.
- Sources tell Fischer that some people around Simmons want him to return to the court for the Sixers if he’s not dealt at the deadline. However, multiple people associated with Simmons’ representation insist that’s not going to happen, Fischer writes.
- In trade discussions with the Hawks and Kings, the Sixers broached the idea of attaching Tobias Harris to Simmons, but they haven’t engaged in many talks about Harris beyond that, Fischer says. Multiple league sources who have spoken to Bleacher Report have speculated that the Thunder could be a willing trade partner if Philadelphia is motivated to get off of Harris’ contract.
2022 NBA Trade Deadline Preview: Southeast Division
With the NBA’s February 10 trade deadline around the corner, we’re taking a closer look at all 30 teams, breaking down their potential plans for the deadline and identifying their most likely trade candidates. We’re focusing today on the Southeast Division.
Atlanta Hawks
Trade deadline goals:
Following a second-half run that took them all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Hawks have been up and down so far in 2021/22.
Injuries and COVID-19 absences have hurt the team, but there’s also a sense that Atlanta could benefit from a consolidation trade, sending out two or three players – and possibly a draft pick or two – for an impact player who would complement Trae Young for years to come.
The Hawks may have kick-started that process by sending Cam Reddish to the Knicks for a protected first-round pick. As president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk observed after making that deal, Reddish wasn’t a player who would’ve appealed to every one of Atlanta’s potential trade partners, but any team would value an extra first-rounder. That pick from Charlotte (via New York) could be useful as a sweetener in a bigger subsequent move.
Finding a logical trade target is trickier. The Hawks have been linked to Ben Simmons and Jerami Grant, so it appears they’re focused on finding a player who can capably guard bigger forwards. But acquiring a player of that caliber – especially Simmons – could mean parting with John Collins. Atlanta may prefer to wait until that offseason to make a move that significant.
Top trade candidates:
Collins has been increasingly mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, though reports within the last few days have suggested that the Hawks are more likely to hang onto him through the deadline than to trade him in the next few days. Even if he stays put for the time being, Collins will probably continue to be the subject of trade rumors in the 2022 offseason and beyond, since Atlanta may prefer a more versatile, switchable power forward to pair with centers Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu.
If the Hawks want to bring back a player earning more than the mid-level without including Collins in the deal, Danilo Gallinari ($20.5MM) and Bogdan Bogdanovic ($18MM) are the most logical trade candidates. Their production has dipped since last season and both veterans have dealt with injuries.
Delon Wright ($8.5MM) and Lou Williams ($5MM) are on expiring contracts that could be useful for salary matching, though Wright has played an important role in the Hawks’ backcourt and Williams has the ability to veto a trade. Gorgui Dieng ($4MM) also has an expiring deal and has fallen out of the rotation since Christmas.
I’d count on Atlanta hanging onto Okongwu and De’Andre Hunter. Kevin Huerter could be included in certain deals, but his looming rookie scale extension will complicate the team’s ability to trade him due to the poison pill provision.
Charlotte Hornets
Trade deadline goals:
After having Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo man the middle for multiple seasons, the Hornets let both players go in the 2021 offseason and made a trade to bring in Mason Plumlee.
As Charlotte’s new starting center, Plumlee hasn’t been bad, but the position still represents the weak link for a lineup that’s pretty solid in the backcourt and on the wing. Upgrading the center spot will be the Hornets’ top priority heading into the deadline.
Myles Turner has long been considered a top target for Charlotte and now might be the time for the team to make a serious play for him. The Pacers appear more willing than ever to break up their frontcourt duo of Turner and Domantas Sabonis, and Turner’s foot injury may scare away other potential suitors who are more focused on this season than on 2022/23 and beyond.
If the asking price for Turner is too high or the Hornets are wary about the status of his foot, there are plenty of other options the team could pursue, including Christian Wood, Jusuf Nurkic, Richaun Holmes, Daniel Theis, and Nic Claxton.
Top trade candidates:
P.J. Washington‘s name has come up in trade rumors this season, which is interesting. He’s a really solid player, but he’ll be entering a contract year in 2022/23 and is playing a reduced role this season in Charlotte — after averaging 30+ minutes per game in his first two years in the NBA, Washington has averaged just 24.1 MPG in 2021/22.
If the Hornets are really willing to move Washington, that could open the door for them to make a meaningful upgrade at center. But even if they’re not, they’d have some intriguing young players to put in their offers. 2021 first-round picks James Bouknight and Kai Jones haven’t emerged as regular rotation players yet and shouldn’t be untouchable. JT Thor, Nick Richards, and Vernon Carey would have less value, but could also be in play.
Plumlee, who is earning about $9.2MM, would be a logical salary-matching piece in any deal involving a center. His $9.1MM salary for next season is only partially guaranteed for about $4.3MM.
The Hornets have already traded away their 2022 first-round pick, which is protected through 2025, so if they put a first-rounder in an offer, it will have to be one that’s still a few years out. Technically, they control the Pelicans’ lottery-protected 2022 first-rounder and could trade it, but that pick will turn into a pair of second-rounders if New Orleans doesn’t make the playoffs this spring.
Miami Heat
Trade deadline goals:
It could be a quiet deadline for the Heat, who will likely prioritize keeping all their stars healthy rather than on adding anyone new to their group. When Miami played in San Antonio on Thursday, it was the first time since November 27 that Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry were all on the court at the same time. Despite being plagued by the injury bug, the club remains firmly in the mix for the top seed in the East.
It’s not inconceivable that the Heat could make a significant move — they’ve been linked to Rockets big man Christian Wood and have reportedly explored a package centered around Duncan Robinson. However, Robinson’s three-point percentage has slipped this year and while his long-term contract is reasonable, it’s not especially team-friendly. It’ll be difficult for Miami to get an impact player back without attaching other assets to him — Houston would certainly want multiple additional pieces in any swap involving Wood.
Robinson is the only higher-salaried Heat player who can realistically be included in a deal, since Butler, Adebayo, Lowry, P.J. Tucker, and Tyler Herro are the only others earning more than the minimum.
With Markieff Morris‘ status up in the air, the Heat may try to acquire a backup power forward, but it won’t be a surprise if eventually promoting two-way player Caleb Martin to the 15-man roster is their most impactful roster move the rest of the way.
Top trade candidates:
Although Robinson’s 36.0% three-point rate is well below his career mark, his ability to stretch the floor and spread out opposing defenses is still an important part of Miami’s offensive attack. The Heat wouldn’t want to rely solely on Max Strus to fill that role on the wing, so if they do move Robinson, they’d want a reliable shooter in return.
If Robinson stays put, one or two minimum-salary players could be on the move in smaller deals. It wouldn’t take much for the Heat to part with KZ Okpala, who is in a contract year and still hasn’t become a regular. Rival clubs may also try to pry away Omer Yurtseven, who had some big games when Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon were unavailable, but has fallen out of the rotation since Miami’s top centers got healthy.
Miami has traded away its 2023 first-rounder, which is protected through 2025 before becoming unprotected in 2026. That means the Heat could conditionally offer their ’25 first-rounder in a trade, but there’s no guarantee it would actually change hands before 2028.
Orlando Magic
Trade deadline goals:
The Magic were the big seller at the 2021 trade deadline, acquiring a series of young prospects and draft picks in separate trades involving Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier.
Orlando’s trade chips this season aren’t as intriguing as they were last March, but the team’s goal will be the same. With no urgency to push for a playoff spot in the next year or two, the Magic will focus on the future, trying to pick up a few extra assets in exchange for veterans who aren’t in their long-term plans.
At 12-42, the Magic are in a tight race with the Pistons for the top spot in this year’s draft lottery standings, so they’ll be motivated to make moves that may hurt their on-court results in the short term.
Top trade candidates:
Veteran wings Terrence Ross and Gary Harris are the Magic’s top trade chips. Unfortunately, neither player is without his warts.
Ross’ $12.5MM cap hit this season and his $11.5MM salary for 2022/23 make him affordable and controllable, but his .311 3PT% this season is the worst of his career, dinging his value. Conversely, Harris is having a pretty solid bounce-back year, increasing his 3PT% to .385, but he’s a rental and his $20.5MM salary will be trickier for some teams to accommodate.
If the Magic can get a first-round pick for either Ross or Harris, it’d be a major win. They’ll likely have to settle for a return closer to what they got for Fournier (two second-rounders).
Besides Ross and Harris, there aren’t a ton of obvious trade candidates on Orlando’s roster. Robin Lopez has reportedly drawn a little interest, but the Magic may see more value in his locker-room leadership than in the late second-round pick they could potentially get for him. Michael Carter-Williams and E’Twaun Moore would be the types of veterans that could help a playoff team in a reserve role, but neither one has been healthy in months.
Mohamed Bamba is a wild card. The team’s rookie scale extension with Wendell Carter Jr. in the fall seemed to signal that Bamba’s days in Orlando were numbered, but he’s enjoyed a nice breakout year ahead of restricted free agency. He’ll probably draw trade interest, but the Magic may hang onto him until the offseason and then determine at that point whether they want to keep him. If they decide not to re-sign him, they still might be able to get something back in a sign-and-trade.
Washington Wizards
Trade deadline goals:
Things in D.C. looked pretty rosy less than three months ago — on November 16, the 10-3 Wizards controlled the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Since then, Washington has lost 25 of 39 games. The team now sits at 11th in the East, a game out of a play-in spot.
General manager Tommy Sheppard received a promotion and an extension on November 17, but he and his front office suddenly face a significant amount of pressure to make the right roster moves at the deadline to help the Wizards salvage their season.
It doesn’t appear that trading Bradley Beal, who can opt out of his contract this summer, is an option the Wizards are seriously considering, so the goal at the deadline will be to acquire players who fit nicely alongside the star guard and can perhaps help convince him that signing a long-term contract with the franchise this summer is the best course of action.
Domantas Sabonis and Jerami Grant have been among the players most frequently mentioned as the top targets on Washington’s wish list.
Top trade candidates:
If the Wizards really want to land a player like Sabonis or Grant, they’ll have to be willing to part with some of their young talent to make it happen. I’d expect that any deal for Grant would have to involve at least one of Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, or Corey Kispert. More than one of those three prospects would likely have to be included in a package for Sabonis.
Even if the Wizards would prefer to trade draft picks, their next few first-round selections are off the table — Washington owes its 2023 first-rounder to Houston, and that pick is protected through 2026, meaning the 2028 pick is the only one the team could unconditionally offer at this point.
A number of Wizards veterans are reportedly available via trade, including Montrezl Harrell, Thomas Bryant, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Davis Bertans. None of them would have much value on their own though. Dinwiddie and Bertans, in particular, could be tricky to move — they’re on pricey multiyear deals and haven’t played well this season.
Trail Blazers Trade Powell, Covington To Clippers
5:37pm: The trade is now official, Portland announced in a press release.
1:29pm: The Trail Blazers and Clippers have agreed to a trade that will send swingman Norman Powell and forward Robert Covington to Los Angeles in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and Detroit’s 2025 second-round pick, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links).
It’s a fascinating move for a Clippers team that is currently missing Kawhi Leonard (ACL) and Paul George (elbow). As we relayed this morning, there’s a belief that Leonard probably won’t return this season, while George’s recovery timeline remains up in the air.
However, there’s little reason for the Clippers to throw in the towel on this season. Despite its modest 27-27 record, the club is firmly in the play-in picture, holding the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Additionally, Los Angeles doesn’t control its own 2022 first-round pick, having sent it to Oklahoma City in the George trade, so there’s no incentive to finish in the lottery.
Powell is a talented scorer and shooter who is averaging a career-high 18.7 PPG in 40 games (33.3 MPG) this season, along with a .406 3PT%. His three-point rate has been at 39.9% or higher in each of the last four seasons. Covington, meanwhile, is more limited on offense and has been inconsistent as a shooter this season (.381 FG%, .343 3PT%), but is a versatile defender with plenty of postseason experience.
Powell, a Southern California native who will reunite with former Toronto teammates Leonard and Serge Ibaka, signed a five-year, $90MM contract with Portland in August, so the Clippers will control him for the long term. Covington will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but L.A. will have his Bird rights, allowing the team to go over the cap to re-sign him.
The Clips already project to be way over the luxury tax line next season, so the club may be reluctant to commit to Covington beyond 2021/22 without moving off another contract, such as Marcus Morris‘. That decision won’t have to be made for at least a few months though. In the meantime, this deal will increase L.A.’s projected tax bill this season by about $19MM, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The move will also open up a spot on the Clippers’ 15-man roster, potentially allowing them to promote Amir Coffey from his two-way contract. That had been a goal for the team as it approached the deadline, tweets Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
It looks at first glance like a modest return for the Blazers, but they’ll get a chance to take a flier on a young prospect in Johnson and will benefit financially from the move. According to Marks, the deal takes Portland out of tax territory for this season.
Moving off Powell’s long-term money and taking back Bledsoe’s pseudo-expiring contract (only $3.9MM of his $19.4MM salary next season is guaranteed) will give the Blazers more financial flexibility going forward and will create more room in the backcourt for emerging guard Anfernee Simons, who is in the midst of a breakout year and will be a restricted free agent in the offseason.
I wouldn’t expect Bledsoe to be part of the Blazers’ long-term plans, but Winslow could stick around beyond this season. He’s under contract for about $4.1MM in 2022/23. Johnson’s rookie contract runs through 2024/25.
Having parted ways with one of their leading scorers and one of their top defensive players, the Blazers will see their playoff odds for this season dip a little. The team currently holds a play-in spot, but only has a 1.5-game cushion on the 11th-place Pelicans and has an underwhelming record of 21-31.
Portland would send its 2022 first-rounder to Chicago if the pick lands outside of the lottery. Taking a longer-term view, the front office – led by interim general manager Joe Cronin – may actually prefer to miss the playoffs, since it would allow the team to keep that first-rounder and would give Damian Lillard more time to recover from his abdominal surgery — it’s a safe bet Lillard won’t rush back from that injury to join a lottery-bound squad for the home stretch.
It’s unclear what this deal will mean for CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, two of Portland’s other top trade candidates. The club still has six more days to continue making trades, but it wouldn’t be shocking if one or both of those longtime Blazers stays put through the February 10 deadline. McCollum is under contract for two more seasons beyond this one, while Nurkic will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
Portland will create a $6.5MM trade exception in the deal, tweets Marks.
2022 NBA Trade Deadline Preview: Central Division
With the NBA’s February 10 trade deadline around the corner, we’re taking a closer look at all 30 teams, breaking down their potential plans for the deadline and identifying their most likely trade candidates. We’re focusing today on the Central Division.
Chicago Bulls
Trade deadline goals:
After acquiring Nikola Vucevic at last season’s deadline, the Bulls completed sign-and-trade deals for DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball in the offseason, signaling they were prepared to go all-in to contend. Those moves have paid off, as Chicago currently controls the No. 1 seed in the East with a 32-19 record.
However, injuries have put a damper on the Bulls’ success. Young forward Patrick Williams will miss most, if not all, of the season after undergoing wrist surgery in October. And Ball, Alex Caruso, and Derrick Jones are all sidelined with various ailments that have projected recovery timelines of at least six-to-eight weeks.
Chicago’s health problems have complicated the team’s plans at the deadline. Does it make sense to continue the all-in push this season with no guarantee that the rotation will be 100% healthy this spring? If so, what’s the greatest area of need? Do the Bulls need a forward to help make up for the losses of Williams and Jones, or has the backcourt become a more pressing concern with Ball and Caruso unavailable?
For now, there’s no reason to believe Ball and Caruso won’t be back for the playoffs, but the same can’t necessarily be said of Williams, whose relative inexperience is another factor that must be considered as the team weighs its top deadline priorities. While the Bulls could certainly look to add another guard (they’ve been linked to Dennis Schröder), I expect power forward to be the prime position of concern.
Top trade candidates:
Coby White was drafted by the Bulls’ previous front office regime and hadn’t established himself as a foundational player entering this season, so he was viewed a couple months ago as one of the team’s clearest trade candidates.
However, White has taken advantage of a series of backcourt absences and has played some of the best basketball in his career in recent weeks, raising doubts about whether Chicago can actually afford to part with him. I think he could still be on the move in the right deal, but the odds of him being dealt have decreased significantly.
A team laser-focused on winning a championship in the short term would likely be open to trading Williams for a healthier and more playoff-tested veteran, but the Bulls have signaled they’re not eager to discuss the former No. 4 overall pick, who was the first player drafted by president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas. Even if Williams doesn’t end up contributing much this season, the Bulls still love his long-term potential and won’t sacrifice him in any deal that doesn’t substantially improve their title chances.
If White and Williams are off the table, the Bulls may be limited to shopping the likes of Jones, Troy Brown, Marko Simonovic, and a handful of reserves. The team has traded away two of its future first-round picks, reducing the number of draft assets it could use to sweeten its offers, but does control Portland’s lottery-protected 2022 first-rounder. That’s probably the pick trade partners will be after in any negotiations with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Trade deadline goals:
For the first time since LeBron James was a Cavalier, we’re approaching a trade deadline wondering what moves Cleveland can make to increase its odds of making a deep playoff run that spring, rather than what moves the club will make to improve its long-term outlook.
The Cavaliers’ jumbo frontcourt has been a massive success, and with Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Lauri Markkanen locked into their respective roles, the team doesn’t need to add reinforcements up front. However, Cleveland has been in the market for help on the wing since last summer, and season-ending injuries to Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton have the club eyeing potential backcourt upgrades as well.
Caris LeVert, Terrence Ross, Eric Gordon, and Dennis Schröder are among the players who have been cited as possible deadline targets for the Cavs.
While Cleveland will do its best to add one of those players or another veteran who can play a rotation role, it doesn’t sound like the team is eager to sacrifice valuable assets for the future. According to one recent report, the Cavs are trying to upgrade their roster using a couple second-round picks instead of parting with a first-rounder.
Top trade candidates:
Until he tore his ACL, Rubio looked like a candidate for a contract extension, not a trade. But his $17.8MM expiring contract now makes him Cleveland’s best salary-matching piece in a bigger deal.
While it’s obvious the Cavs are willing to move Rubio, it remains unclear what the plan is for their other injured guard. Sexton will be a restricted free agent this summer, and his knee surgery means the Cavs may be able to sign him to a much more team-friendly deal than they initially expected. He’d have value as a trade chip, but I expect Cleveland will try to avoid moving him if possible.
Kevin Love had been on the trade block for years entering this season, but was never dealt because no other teams wanted his oversized contract. I expect another trade deadline to come and go without Love changing teams, but his situation has changed — he’s having a nice bounce-back season and is thriving in a reserve role, providing far more value to the Cavs in that role than he would in a trade.
Dylan Windler, Kevin Pangos, and a handful of other bench players could be had, but won’t have much value. Unless they’re willing to move Sexton or Cedi Osman, the Cavs’ ability to upgrade their roster may ultimately come down to what kinds of draft picks they put in their offers. Second-round picks will be enough for certain trade targets, but a first-rounder would open up more doors.
Detroit Pistons
Trade deadline goals:
The Pistons’ 12-39 record is the NBA’s second-worst mark. They’re not contending for a playoff spot this season, and given how competitive the East has gotten, they may not be in the mix for a postseason berth in 2023 either.
With that in mind, Detroit will be taking the long view as the February 10 deadline approaches. I expect the club to focus on adding more draft picks and taking fliers on young players who may have fallen out of favor with their current teams, such as Marvin Bagley III.
While it’s possible the Pistons could make a move for someone who could contribute right away, it would only make sense to do so if that player is controllable for several years — either on a long-term contract or as a pending restricted free agent whose Bird rights Detroit would acquire in any trade.
Top trade candidates:
Jerami Grant is one of this winter’s top trade candidates, and the Pistons appear to be in good position to extract a significant return for the veteran forward. There are several contending teams in the market for an impact two-way player, and Grant is under contract beyond this season, making him an appealing target.
Still, there’s no guarantee the Pistons will move Grant. A number of his potential suitors – such as the Lakers and Jazz – aren’t armed with the sort of draft picks and young prospects Detroit would want, which may limit the team’s ability to create a bidding war.
Rumors that Grant will want a prominent offensive role and a four-year, $112MM extension (the maximum he could get prior to free agency) from his new team may also make some clubs nervous.
If Grant stays put, it could be a pretty quiet deadline for the Pistons. They have other players they’d certainly be open to dealing – Cory Joseph, Josh Jackson, and Rodney McGruder, among others – but none of them are nearly as valuable as Grant.
Indiana Pacers
Trade deadline goals:
The 2021/22 trade rumor season unofficially got underway when a report nearly two months ago stated the Pacers were open to a roster shakeup and were making Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Caris LeVert available with the intent to be active.
While that story made it sound like there could be a fire sale in Indiana, subsequent reporting made it clear that’s probably not in the cards.
Pacers owner Herb Simon, who is 87 years old, has never been on board with a full-scale rebuild and is unlikely to sign off on one now, even though the case could be made that the time is right — at 19-34, the club seems to be bottoming out this season without intentionally tanking.
Unless Simon has a change of heart, our working assumption is that Indiana will be open to making a big deal or two that reshapes the roster without significantly pushing back the timeline for contention. The 2017 Paul George trade is a good point of reference — when they dealt George, the Pacers got back Sabonis and Victor Oladipo, not a collection of draft picks. That blueprint is the one they’ll probably want to follow if they move Sabonis, Turner, and/or LeVert.
Top trade candidates:
Sabonis and Turner are the most exciting trade candidates on the block for the Pacers, but LeVert and Justin Holiday are probably the ones who are more likely to be dealt.
Indiana’s asking price for Sabonis is said to be very high, and Turner’s lingering foot injury muddles his trade value. It’s certainly not out of the question that one of the centers will be on the move, but I don’t get the sense the odds are better than 50/50 at this point.
Outside of Sabonis, Turner, LeVert, and Holiday, the Pacers don’t really have any trade candidates that will move the needle for teams. Malcolm Brogdon isn’t eligible to be traded this season, T.J. McConnell and T.J. Warren are injured, and rookies Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson are believed to be off the table.
Milwaukee Bucks
Trade deadline goals:
The Bucks brought back most of their key contributors from last season’s championship roster, but they’ve clearly missed a pair of veterans this season: P.J. Tucker and Brook Lopez.
Milwaukee let Tucker walk in free agency, bringing in Semi Ojeleye on a minimum-salary contract in the hopes that he could play a similar role at a much lower price. That gamble hasn’t paid off. Ojeleye isn’t enough of a threat from beyond the three-point line to warrant much defensive attention, and while Ojeleye is a solid enough defender, Tucker was better. If the Bucks can find a way to acquire a versatile, defensive-minded forward who can be this year’s Tucker, they’ll jump at the opportunity.
As for Lopez, he’s still on the roster, but hasn’t played since the season opener due to back problems. He’s an important rim-protector for Milwaukee on defense and – like Tucker – hits just enough three-pointers to create problems for defenses that want to focus on the Bucks’ stars. Lopez’s return timeline remains unclear, but the Bucks will likely try to acquire at least a backup for him, if not an outright replacement.
Top trade candidates:
With Pat Connaughton and Grayson Allen playing well on the wing, it will be interesting to see if the Bucks move Donte DiVincenzo at the deadline. They got by without him in last year’s postseason and for most of the first half this season, and he’ll be a restricted free agent at season’s end.
DiVincenzo has reportedly drawn “considerable” trade interest and looks like the best and most obvious trade chip for a Milwaukee team that has traded away several future draft picks.
Jordan Nwora is another restricted-free-agent-to-be who would have positive value if the Bucks made him available. Veterans like Ojeleye, George Hill, and Rodney Hood could also be attached to certain deals, but won’t draw much – if any – interest on their own.
Sixers To Pursue Harden Before Deadline; Nets Open To Talking
The Sixers are expected to pursue Nets star James Harden in the days leading up to the February 10 trade deadline, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports that Brooklyn is now believed to be open to discussing a possible deal.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said last week that the Nets wouldn’t consider moving Harden at the deadline, but Charania’s latest report suggests the team isn’t closing the door on the possibility. Sources tell Charania the 76ers and Nets are expected to engage in talks about Ben Simmons and Harden before next Thursday.
According to Charania, Nets officials don’t have any urgency to make a trade involving Harden and still view their roster as championship-caliber as is. However, if Philadelphia is willing to sweeten the deal by attaching more assets – including players like Seth Curry, Tyrese Maxey, and/or Matisse Thybulle – to Simmons, Brooklyn will listen, in case there’s a deal to be made that makes the team more well-rounded as it pursues a title.
As Charania explains, there have been some concerns in Brooklyn about Harden’s playing style, since the former MVP’s tendency to dominate the ball and play at his own pace contrasts with the more “free-flowing, organic” approach employed by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Head coach Steve Nash has met with the trio to try to find a balance and optimize the offense, per Charania, but the team has yet to hit its stride. Of course, that’s in part because the three stars are so rarely available at the same time.
Still, unless they have major concerns about the on-court fit and Harden’s flight risk in the offseason, the Nets seem unlikely to do anything drastic in the next six days. They’d want a “significant haul” from the Sixers, Charania writes.
Philadelphia has long been focused on landing a star in any Simmons deal, with Harden and Bradley Beal among the players at the top of their wish list. The expectation had been that a player of that caliber wouldn’t become available until the offseason, when both Harden and Beal can opt out of their respective deals.
The Sixers have projected a willingness to extend their standoff with Simmons until then, with Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com reporting today that a deadline deal involving the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up appears increasingly unlikely. If Harden is legitimately available ahead of the deadline though, or if the Wizards are willing to talk about Beal, that could accelerate Philadelphia’s timeline.
The 76ers also continue to discuss possible Simmons scenarios with other teams, according to Charania. Sources tell The Athletic that the Hawks have been the most engaged suitor in recent weeks, having discussed a framework that includes John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and draft picks.
The Timberwolves have also remained in touch with Philadelphia about Simmons and have been open to the idea of taking on Tobias Harris, says Charania. However, Minnesota isn’t willing to part with the draft assets the Sixers are seeking.
Windhorst/MacMahon’s Latest: Jazz, Pelicans, Fox, Mavs, Grizzlies
The relationship between Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell is back to being “passively aggressively awkward,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon stated in the latest episode of Brian Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast. Windhorst said he has heard the same thing, suggesting Gobert and Mitchell have gotten “under each other’s skin” and referring to it as “the most underplayed story in the league.”
Asked today about the report, Mitchell dismissed it, per Sarah Todd of The Deseret News: “No, no, no, no. We’re good. That’s not true. … I’m getting tired of answering (these questions) to be honest. Look, we put in the work, we’re leaders for our team, and we’re going through a tough stretch and that happens. But this is part of the business and that’s just how it goes.”
Rumors of tension between Gobert and Mitchell were at their height back in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We haven’t heard as much about the relationship since then — MacMahon says that when the Jazz have everyone healthy and are playing well, the issue “falls in the manageable category.”
Here are a few more highlights from Windhorst’s Hoop Collective podcast:
- As the trade deadline nears, the Pelicans have been “pretty active looking to buy,” according to Windhorst, who reports that New Orleans has talked to the Trail Blazers, Kings, Rockets, and Hawks about CJ McCollum, De’Aaron Fox, Eric Gordon, and Kevin Huerter, respectively. Windhorst adds that Josh Hart is believed to be among the players the Pelicans would move.
- Following up on Fox, Windhorst confirms that the Knicks have shown interest in the Kings‘ point guard and says that people around the league don’t really believe Sacramento is fully out of the Ben Simmons sweepstakes.
- Windhorst and MacMahon have both heard whispers that the Mavericks are talking to the Celtics about Marcus Smart, though MacMahon admitted he’s not sure whether those discussions have taken place as of late. “I can say with certainty that they’ve shown interest in Marcus Smart in the past,” MacMahon said. “I don’t know how much of that has been recent.”
- After stating earlier in the week that the Mavericks likely won’t move Jalen Brunson unless they get blown away by an offer, MacMahon repeated that point and applied it to Dorian Finney-Smith as well. MacMahon added that Brunson’s preference in free agency would be to stay in Dallas, but after earning a total of $6.1MM in his first four NBA seasons, the point guard’s top priority will be getting paid — he won’t be interested in taking a home-team discount.
- Windhorst, MacMahon, and ESPN’s Tim Bontemps all agreed – based on what they’ve heard – that the Grizzlies are unlikely to do anything significant at the trade deadline unless they get an opportunity that’s a “grand slam home run.”
Western Notes: Mitchell, Carmelo, Pelicans, Collins
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell will return to action on Friday night vs. Brooklyn after missing the club’s last eight games due to a concussion. While he’s happy to be back, Mitchell admitted to reporters on Friday that it’s been a long few weeks recovering from his second concussion of the season and his fourth concussion overall.
“I got to a point where I was kind of a little nervous,” Mitchell said, per the Jazz’s website. “… To be honest, I was like, ‘What happened?’ because I knew this was bad. I really wasn’t doing anything on my phone, not playing Xbox, not leaving the house. … It was bad. The headache (and) the nausea were pretty messed up.”
Mitchell and the Jazz are still missing Rudy Gobert, but they’ll be facing a shorthanded Nets club. Already without Kevin Durant, Brooklyn announced today that James Harden will be out due to left hamstring tightness.
Here are a few more notes from around the Western Conference:
- Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony exited Thursday’s game against the Clippers early due to a right hamstring strain, but there’s optimism that the injury isn’t serious, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Sources tell Wojnarowski that Anthony is being considered day-to-day for now.
- Pelicans big man Willy Hernangomez and guard Garrett Temple entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday, per Christian Clark of NOLA.com (Twitter link). New Orleans now has three players in the protocols, with the two new additions joining injured wing Didi Louzada.
- Spurs big man Zach Collins, who isn’t on Friday’s injury report, is thrilled to be cleared to play in an NBA game for the first time since August 2020 after enduring a long, challenging recovery process following an ankle injury. “I’m excited, nervous, anxious — but mostly excited,” Collins said on Thursday, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “Now I’m back to normal life.”
NBA Updates Salary Cap Projection For 2022/23
The NBA has let teams know that it’s now projecting a $121MM salary cap and a $147MM luxury tax line for the 2022/23 season, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The cap projections for 2022/23 have been steadily on the rise over the last year-and-a-half. During the 2020 offseason, the NBA estimated a $115.7MM cap and a $140MM tax line for ’22/23. In August 2021, the league increased those estimates to $119MM and $145MM.
The latest projections shouldn’t have a significant impact on teams’ plans at this season’s trade deadline. However, teams that project to have cap room this summer can plan on having a little more space than they originally anticipated, while clubs that will be at or above the tax line can expect a small amount of relief.
The NBA’s salary cap for the 2021/22 season is $112,414,000, with a tax threshold of $136,606,000.
If the cap for next season comes in at $121MM, as projected, it would be an increase of 7.6% and $8.6MM on this season’s figure. That would be the biggest single-year bump since 2016, when the cap spiked to $94.1MM from $70MM.
Stein’s Latest: Collins, Hawks, Poeltl, Turner, Fox, Lopez
Hawks big man John Collins appears increasingly unlikely to be traded before next Thursday’s deadline, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack article. As Stein explains, Atlanta has been involved in plenty of trade discussions in recent weeks, but the team is playing well lately and seems inclined to push any Collins deal into the offseason.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe conveyed a similar sentiment earlier today. While he didn’t focus specifically on Collins or any other player, Lowe reported that the Hawks remain active in trade talks, but don’t appear to feel the same urgency to make a move that they did a couple weeks ago.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Stein’s latest roundup:
- The Spurs would require a first-round pick and a quality player in order to part with center Jakob Poeltl, according to Stein, who says the Bulls are among the teams to express interest in the big man. Stein previously identified Toronto as another club with interest in Poeltl.
- Stein was told on Friday morning that the odds of Pacers big man Myles Turner being moved before the February 10 deadline are a “coin flip.” Turner seemed more likely to be dealt before he sustained a stress fracture in his foot that cooled his market.
- Despite the Kings‘ insistence that they want to keep De’Aaron Fox and build around him and Tyrese Haliburton, Stein says numerous teams still believe Sacramento would be willing to part with Fox.
- Teams have inquired on center Robin Lopez, but it’s unclear how interested the Magic are in trading him, Stein writes.
Pacers Sign Reggie Perry To 10-Day Hardship Deal
The Pacers have signed big man Reggie Perry to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. The deal will run through February 13, covering Indiana’s next five games.
According to the Pacers, Perry has been signed using a COVID-related hardship exception. Domantas Sabonis is currently listed in the health and safety protocols, though he’s expected to exit soon, tweets Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.
As long as Sabonis or another Pacer is in the protocols, Perry can be active. If Sabonis exits the protocols and no other players enter, Perry can finish his 10-day contract with the team, but would no longer be eligible to play.
The 57th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Perry spent his rookie year in ’20/21 on a two-way contract with the Nets, averaging 3.0 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 26 games (8.1 MPG) at the NBA level and putting up 18.1 PPG and 8.9 RPG in 15 games (28.8 MPG) for the Long Island Nets in the G League.
Perry signed with the Raptors for training camp this fall, then joined Toronto’s G League affiliate after failing to secure a spot on the regular season roster. He has averaged a double-double (18.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG) in 24 games (29.9 MPG) for the Raptors 905 this season.
Perry previously signed a 10-day hardship contract with Portland in late December and appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers. He was paid $85,578 for that deal and will get the same amount for the 10 days he spends with the Pacers. That money won’t count against team salary for cap or tax purposes.
The Pacers are dealing with a frontcourt shortage, missing both Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson due to injuries while Sabonis remains in the protocols. As a result, Perry could see minutes immediately for Indiana.