Suns, Cavs, Pelicans Among Potential Eric Gordon Suitors?
Although a January report stated that the Rockets are leaning toward keeping Eric Gordon through the trade deadline rather than moving him in the next eight days, the veteran guard’s name continues to pop up in trade rumors.
The Suns, who are believed to be seeking an upgrade on the wing, have been mentioned by league personnel as a possible suitor for Gordon, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, who notes that Phoenix continues to shop injured forward Dario Saric.
Gordon has played in the past with Suns point guard Chris Paul and his ability to stretch the floor and make three-pointers would appeal to a Phoenix team that currently ranks 22nd in the NBA with 11.6 threes made per game.
The Cavaliers have placed calls on Gordon and Pacers swingman Caris LeVert, says Fischer, but the asking prices on those players have been higher than Cleveland is comfortable paying at the moment.
According to Fischer, Cleveland is hoping to acquire a player like Gordon or LeVert using Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract and a pair of second-round picks, but Houston believes it can get a first-round selection for Gordon and Indiana is seeking at least one first-rounder, if not more, for LeVert.
Gordon is also drawing interest from the Pelicans, according to both Fischer and Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Fischer suggests New Orleans has been “repeatedly linked” to the Rockets guard in conversations he has had with league sources, though the Pels are believed to have their eye on a handful of other wings too.
Any team interested in acquiring Gordon will have to be able to take on his $18.2MM salary for 2021/22. He’s also owed a guaranteed $19.6MM salary in 2022/23 and is on the books for $20.9MM in 2023/24, though that figure is non-guaranteed.
That ’23/24 cap hit can become fully guaranteed if Gordon’s team wins a championship in either of the next two seasons and he plays at least 500 minutes, which is a factor that a serious contender like the Suns would have to consider if they pursue the 33-year-old.
Latest On Draymond Green
The Warriors have issued an injury update on Draymond Green, announcing in a press release that the veteran forward “is making steps in a positive direction and the injury is improving.” Green is dealing with a disc issue in his lower back that has also led to calf pain.
Green has already missed 12 games and it doesn’t appear his return is imminent. According to the Warriors, he’ll be reevaluated again prior to the All-Star break.
That wording is pretty vague, but presumably the team means the reevaluation will occur shortly before the All-Star break rather than anytime in the next week or so. Golden State’s final game before the break is on February 16.
Green is the anchor of Golden State’s defense, so the team will need him back if it wants to make a serious postseason run this spring. In the meantime though, the Warriors are managing to get by without him — they’ll take a six-game winning streak into Tuesday’s contest in San Antonio.
Trade Rumors: Brunson, Simmons, Horton-Tucker, More
After Marc Stein reported on Monday that Jalen Brunson is more likely to stay with the Mavericks through February 10 than to be traded at the deadline, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon conveyed a similar sentiment during an appearance on Zach Lowe’s podcast, The Lowe Post.
“I have been assured that they will not move Brunson before the trade deadline unless it is, and I quote, a ‘What the bleep are they thinking?’ type of offer,” MacMahon said, according to NBC Sports.
Brunson has become an integral part of the Mavericks’ offense, posting career highs in PPG (15.7) and APG (5.6) so far this season. While he has generated plenty of interest ahead of his looming free agency, Dallas reportedly remains confident in its ability to re-sign him. However, Lowe – who previously suggested the flight risk for Brunson is “very, very real” – warns that the Mavs should be careful about how they approach those negotiations.
“The thing on Brunson is I wouldn’t mess around too much if I were the Mavs,” Lowe said, per NBC Sports. “That’s all I’ll say. I wouldn’t be too cute with the negotiating. I wouldn’t be too cute, based on what I’ve heard.”
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- Executives around the NBA aren’t fully convinced that the Kings are really finished with the Ben Simmons sweepstakes, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. “The Kings needed to walk away because the Sixers were unreasonable in their demands,” an Eastern Conference executive told Bleacher Report. “If Philly backs off [those demands] some, perhaps Sacramento could still make a run at [Simmons].”
- Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker is viewed by rival teams as a “marginal asset,” Pincus writes in the same Bleacher Report story. Even though he’s still a developing prospect, Horton-Tucker earns a higher salary than virtually every other 21-year-old in the NBA and will be able to reach unrestricted free agency as early as 2023, diminishing his value.
- Pincus adds in the same Bleacher Report story that most teams expect Damian Lillard to sign a two-year contract extension with the Trail Blazers in the offseason. That suggests Lillard won’t be asking for a trade anytime soon.
- The Celtics are open to virtually any trade inquiry leading up to the February 10 deadline, but any roster “fireworks” are more likely to happen in the offseason than this month, writes Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. According to Bulpett, multiple sources believe that if Boston doesn’t play well in the second half, it’s possible Jaylen Brown could “acknowledge that the mix isn’t right and seek a move.”
Tim Hardaway Jr. Undergoes Foot Surgery, Out Indefinitely
Mavericks swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. has undergone surgery to address a fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, the team announced today in a press release.
According to the Mavs, Hardaway will began the rehab process immediately, but there’s no timetable for his return.
As we relayed last week following the initial diagnosis of Hardaway’s injury, the recovery timeline following a fifth metatarsal fracture generally exceeds two months, per Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes. This year’s regular season ends on April 10, so there’s no guarantee Hardaway will be able to contribute down the stretch or in the playoffs.
Hardaway, who signed a new four-year, $75MM contract with Dallas in the 2021 offseason, was having a down year. After averaging 16.2 PPG with a .441/.394/.817 shooting line in his previous two seasons with the Mavs, the 29-year-old averaged just 14.2 PPG on .394/.336/.757 shooting in 42 games (29.6 MPG) in 2021/22.
Despite his inconsistent shooting this season, Hardaway was a key piece of the Mavs’ rotation, so the team will have to make up for his missing production in the coming weeks. Reggie Bullock and Josh Green have seen an uptick in minutes since Hardaway went down with the injury.
Southeast Notes: Dinwiddie, Hornets, Oladipo, Young
Within a larger story on the Clippers this week, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer suggested that the Wizards want to trade Spencer Dinwiddie in part because “his teammates don’t want him there.” It’s an eyebrow-raising claim that’s presented as an aside and isn’t attributed to sources, so it’s unclear how seriously we should take it.
There have perhaps been some recent hints that Dinwiddie’s teammates in D.C. haven’t fully embraced him. As we relayed over the weekend, the veteran point guard stated after Saturday’s game that his attempt to be a vocal leader in the locker room earlier in the season “wasn’t necessarily welcomed.”
Asked on Monday about those comments, Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said he was unsure whether they were directed at the coaching staff or Dinwiddie’s teammates, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Unseld, who said he thinks everyone in the locker room gets along, said that even if the staff doesn’t implement a player’s suggestions, that doesn’t mean those suggestions were “unwelcomed.”
“I think I’ve been open from Day 1 to suggestions from our guys, vets that have been around,” Unseld said. “I’m not sure who [Dinwiddie’s comments were] pointed to. I don’t know if that was directed at staff or teammates, or I’m not sure who that was pointed to, but I think it’s great. I think the more communication we can have and they can have amongst themselves [the better].”
As we keep an eye on the Dinwiddie situation, here’s more from around the Southeast:
- In a column for The Charlotte Observer, Rod Boone argues that the Hornets must make a move at the trade deadline to upgrade their center position. While Boone isn’t advocating for selling the farm, he believes the team would squander a golden opportunity for “significant growth” this season if it stands pat.
- As Victor Oladipo inches closer to a return from last year’s quad tendon surgery, his Heat teammates are encouraged by how he has looked in practices, says Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “I’ve seen enough to know he’s definitely better than he was last year,” Udonis Haslem said last week. “I haven’t seen any limping. I haven’t seen a lack of confidence. I haven’t seen everything so I can’t make a fair assessment. He looks pretty [good] about where he’s headed.”
- Hawks guard Trae Young, dealing with a right shoulder contusion, sat out Monday’s game vs. Toronto, but the team is hopeful he won’t miss much – if any – more time. “He tried to go out and warm up and wasn’t feeling good, so we’ll give him these next two days to recover,” head coach Nate McMillan said (Twitter link via Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 2/1/2022
Our weekly Tuesday chat took place this afternoon. Click here for the transcript.
Our next live chat, with Dana Gauruder, will take place on Thursday at 11:00 am central time.
LeBron James May Miss A Few More Games
Despite some optimism that LeBron James might be able to return to action for the Lakers as soon as Wednesday, the star forward will remain sidelined for Wednesday’s contest vs. Portland and could miss a few more games, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
James is dealing with a left knee injury. An MRI on the knee only showed swelling and no structural damage, but both LeBron and the Lakers want to play it safe, according to Charania. The plan is to wait until the irritation in James’ knee subsides before having him return to action.
After hosting the Blazers on Wednesday, the Lakers visit the Clippers on Thursday and then host the Knicks on Saturday. It’s unclear whether James will be able to return by the weekend or if his absence will extend into next week. Los Angeles will host the Bucks next Tuesday and visit the Blazers next Wednesday.
While the Lakers’ priority is to make sure James is healthy down the stretch and in the postseason, the team could certainly his presence in the lineup — he has now missed three games, and L.A. lost all three, slipping to 24-27 on the season. The club is the No. 9 seed in the West, but is in no immediate danger of falling out of the play-in picture, with the 11th-seeded Spurs five games back.
Malik Monk has been inserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup during James’ absence and will likely remain there until LeBron returns.
Ben Simmons Notes: Fines, Embiid, Rivers, Training
The fines the Sixers have imposed on Ben Simmons this season have now exceeded $19MM, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. Simmons, who is docked $360K+ for each game he misses, shows up for shootarounds and film sessions to avoid accumulating additional fines, but doesn’t usually stay long and is disengaged (though not disruptive) during those activities, Shelburne writes.
While there’s a belief that Simmons could eventually recoup a chunk of his lost money via arbitration, that’s not a certainty. According to Shelburne, the 25-year-old is upset that he’s being fined so heavily after explaining to the team that he’s dealing with mental health issues, but is willing to take the financial hit.
“We don’t give a f–k about the money,” a source close to Simmons told ESPN. “That’s not what this is. It’s hard for people to understand. But if you believe in what you’re doing and that this is not the right situation for you, and you’re trying to get to a better place, the money doesn’t matter. Obviously it’s a financial hit. But you adjust.”
“It’s easy to tell when someone is hurt when they have a cast on their arm,” another source said to Shelburne. “But this is mental health. You can’t always see it. But ask yourself, how many people would lose a dollar over this? That should tell you everything.”
Despite not playing since last spring, Simmons is believed to be in great physical condition, according to Shelburne, but he continues to tell the team and his reps that he’s not mentally ready to get back on the court again and doesn’t want to play for the 76ers ever again.
Shelburne’s deep dive into the Simmons/Sixers standoff is worth checking out in full, but here are a few more highlights from the story:
- When Simmons agreed to fly to Philadelphia and report to the Sixers during the preseason, he considered it a “grand gesture of good faith,” per Shelburne, but the team viewed it as the least he could do, given that he’s under contract for four years. The return didn’t go well, according to Shelburne, who says Simmons was offended he was still fined for the team’s final preseason game despite rushing to arrive at the arena prior to tipoff.
- Sources close to Simmons tell Shelburne that the three-time All-Star was upset that Joel Embiid seemed to blame him for last season’s playoff loss when Simmons didn’t blame Embiid for his “poor showing” in the 2019 postseason against Toronto. If that’s how Simmons truly feels, it’s a bizarre stance — Embiid battled an illness during that ’19 series, but the Sixers had a +18.6 net rating during his 237 minutes, compared to a -52.5 mark in the 99 minutes he didn’t play.
- Simmons was also frustrated that Sixers coach Doc Rivers didn’t visit him when he was training in Los Angeles last summer, even though he admits he didn’t reply when Rivers “called him several times over the summer asking to see him,” Shelburne writes. As Shelburne explains, Simmons still feels that Rivers could’ve done more, like having shown up at the gym where he was known to be training.
- Simmons wasn’t vaccinated when he first began reporting to the Sixers’ training facility in the fall, but has since been vaccinated, says Shelburne. The Defensive Player of the Year runner-up has gone back and forth between working out at the 76ers’ facility and at other gyms — he doesn’t necessarily want to be around the team more than he has to, but also doesn’t want it to turn into a circus when word gets out that he’s at more public facilities.
- Some people within the organization believe that if Simmons – who still watches every Sixers game – did decide to suit up for the club again, his return wouldn’t be as bad as he’s imagined, Shelburne writes. “He’d get booed for a few games, but if he played well everyone would get over it,” one team source said to ESPN. “The fans booed Joel and Tobias [Harris] too, and they both got through it.” Others disagree, however. “It’s too far gone with both the fans and how he feels about the organization,” another team source said.
- The Sixers and Simmons’ camp intend to meet again if a trade doesn’t occur by the February 10 deadline, according to Shelburne.
2022 NBA Trade Deadline Preview: Atlantic 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 Atlantic Division.
Boston Celtics
Trade deadline goals:
Despite some speculation that the Celtics may consider breaking up their wing duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it doesn’t appear that’s a realistic possibility at this year’s trade deadline. Maybe Boston starts to weigh the idea more seriously in the 2022 offseason or at the 2023 deadline, but for now, the plan is to build around Tatum and Brown — and to find the right pieces to complement the two young stars.
The 26-25 Celtics likely won’t be strong buyers or strong sellers, since they’re a ways from title contention but have too much talent to bottom out and compete for a top draft pick.
Besides acquiring players who are good fits alongside Tatum and Brown, the Celtics appear motivated to trim team salary a little, both this year and next. An in-season trade of Juan Hernangomez moved Boston closer to escaping the luxury tax, but it’s unclear exactly how much more salary the club will have to shed to sneak under the tax line.
If Brown appears in 65+ games and makes the All-Star team, he’ll earn bonuses that push the Celtics approximately $2.75MM over the tax; if not, the C’s will only be over the tax threshold by about $850K. In the latter scenario, the team could salary-dump a single player to avoid being a taxpayer.
Top trade candidates:
Dennis Schröder is the most obvious trade candidate on the Celtics’ roster. He’s on a one-year contract, isn’t an ideal fit with Tatum and Brown, and seems unlikely to remain in Boston beyond this season. His $5.9MM expiring deal shouldn’t be difficult to move.
Al Horford and Josh Richardson have been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, which is perhaps an indication that the Celtics may be looking to clear some money off their 2022/23 cap. Horford is owed a partial guarantee of $14.5MM on his $26.5MM salary for next season, while Richardson has a guaranteed $12.2MM cap hit. Both players would be unrestricted free agents in 2023.
Schröder, Horford, and Richardson aren’t Boston’s only trade candidates — anyone outside of Tatum and Brown could probably be had. I wouldn’t expect young center Robert Williams to go anywhere, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see any other young Celtics on the move, including former lottery picks Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford.
Longtime Celtic Marcus Smart is also the subject of more trade rumors this season, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens values the veteran guard highly and won’t trade him without getting a strong return.
The Celtics have a series of sizeable trade exceptions that could be used to accommodate certain players and deals, but their tax concerns will reduce their options with those exceptions.
Brooklyn Nets
Trade deadline goals:
Kevin Durant is injured. Kyrie Irving is ineligible to play in home games. And James Harden is reportedly looking forward to testing the free agent market this summer.
It’s not an ideal situation for Brooklyn’s Big Three, but the odds of any of those three players being traded by February 10 are slim to none.
If and when they get Durant, Irving, and Harden on the court at the same time, the Nets still look like they could be the team to beat in the East. So any moves they make at the deadline will probably be tweaks around the edges of their roster, rather than something drastic.
Top trade candidates:
The Nets are working with Paul Millsap‘s camp to try to find a new home for the veteran big man, who hasn’t seen much action in his first year in Brooklyn, and hasn’t been very effective when he has played.
Brooklyn reportedly wants to get something of value in return for Millsap, but should probably be satisfied if it can get off the minimum-salary contract without attaching an asset or taking back any salary. That would open up a spot on the 15-man roster for the team to promote Kessler Edwards from his two-way contract and make sure he’s playoff-eligible.
Besides Millsap, Nic Claxton, Bruce Brown, and Jevon Carter are among the other Nets players whose names have popped up in trade rumors.
Claxton and Brown are free agents at season’s end, so if Brooklyn isn’t comfortable with giving them new deals and can improve this year’s roster by moving them, perhaps there’s a deal to be made. Carter, who is out of the rotation, is more expendable — based on how this season has gone, the team may welcome the opportunity to get off his $3.9MM salary for 2022/23.
New York Knicks
Trade deadline goals:
Even though the roster didn’t undergo major offseason changes, this season’s Knicks haven’t been able to recapture the magic that last season’s squad generated. The 24-27 team has struggled to find an effective starting lineup and has taken a step backwards on both offense and defense.
President of basketball operations Leon Rose has exercised patience every step of the way since taking the reins in the Knicks’ front office, so I wouldn’t count on him to sacrifice a handful of valuable draft assets to try to acquire players who can turn things around immediately. It’s equally unlikely that he’ll throw in the towel on this season and start selling off players for picks.
While any major changes can probably wait until the offseason, something’s got to give with the current roster. The mix of players isn’t right, and even with Derrick Rose sidelined, the rotation is too crowded for Tom Thibodeau to find regular minutes for Cam Reddish after the front office surrendered a protected first-round pick to get him. Some sort of consolidation trade may be in the cards.
Top trade candidates:
Kemba Walker‘s New York homecoming was a great offseason story, but it hasn’t been a success on the court. Walker isn’t the same offensive player he was in his prime before chronic knee injuries began to slow him down, and he’s never been an above-average defender. He’s on the trade block, but his multiyear contract doesn’t have positive value.
The same is probably true of another free agent the Knicks signed in the offseason — Evan Fournier has $37MM in guaranteed money owed to him for the two seasons beyond this one, and while that’s hardly an albatross, it’s not a bargain for a player whose offensive production has been inconsistent and who also isn’t a plus on defense.
New York would likely have more success shopping Alec Burks – whose $10MM annual salary is a solid value, given his contributions – and Mitchell Robinson, whose athleticism and rim-protecting ability makes him an intriguing prospect even with unrestricted free agency looming.
While the Knicks moved on from Kevin Knox in the Reddish deal, I’d be a little surprised if the team was willing to trade a more recent first-rounder like Obi Toppin or Immanuel Quickley. Still, Toppin continues to play a pretty modest rotation role and New York has received inquiries on Quickley, so it’s certainly not inconceivable.
Philadelphia 76ers
Trade deadline goals:
On the surface, the Sixers’ deadline goal is the NBA’s easiest to identify: they want to move Ben Simmons.
But it’s not quite that simple. More and more reports in recent weeks have suggested that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is willing to extend Philadelphia’s standoff with Simmons beyond the trade deadline and into the 2022 offseason, when the club hopes that more star players will be available and a wider variety of trade scenarios could be on the table.
Are they posturing? Maybe! But if that’s the case, we should start hearing pretty soon about Simmons trade talks getting more serious. Instead, at least one team (Sacramento) that looked like a serious suitor has pulled out of the discussions, at least until the Sixers lower their asking price — and there’s increasing skepticism that will happen by February 10.
It may seem like managerial malpractice to not take the best offer available for Simmons in order to immediately upgrade a roster that could be a serious threat to come out of a wide-open East. But the 76ers want to make sure they maximize the value of their best available trade chip and make themselves contenders for years to come, rather than chasing short-term success.
Top trade candidates:
If Simmons stays put, it’s unclear what other moves the Sixers might have up their sleeves. Players like Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Isaiah Joe, and Paul Reed have been mentioned in trade rumors, but only when tied to Simmons-related scenarios. It’s not out of the question that the team holding the biggest trade chip could make it through the deadline without making a single deal.
The 76ers do have draft picks available that could be used in non-Simmons trades to upgrade the roster. But they’ve committed their 2025 first-rounder to Oklahoma City, limiting their flexibility to some extent.
Plus, if the team is truly focused on trading Simmons in the offseason for a player like James Harden or Bradley Beal, it may want to hang onto its top draft assets to use as sweeteners in those scenarios.
Toronto Raptors
Trade deadline goals:
Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri hasn’t been shy in the past about making major trades at the deadline when he feels that his team is missing a piece. He acquired Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker in separate deals in February 2017; two years later, he landed Marc Gasol.
Those Raptors teams were closer to title contention than the current group — much closer, in the case of 2019’s squad, which eventually won a championship. Still, Toronto’s 2021/22 roster has an obvious hole at center that Ujiri will certainly be looking to address at the deadline.
I’d be shocked if Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, or Gary Trent Jr. go anywhere in the next 10 days, but no one else on the roster will be off-limits as the club goes shopping for a reliable option at center and perhaps a backup point guard.
Top trade candidates:
Goran Dragic appeared in just five games for the Raptors before being granted permission to leave the team and await his fate — his $19.44MM expiring contract will be a useful salary-matching tool in the right deal. Still, while teams would be interested in Dragic as a lower-cost target on the buyout market, he won’t have positive value at his current number, so Toronto will probably have to attach players or draft assets to get something worthwhile in return.
Earlier in the season, when he was struggling to produce and moving in and out of the rotation, Chris Boucher looked like a prime trade candidate for the Raptors. However, he has played better lately, so I wouldn’t expect him to be on the move unless he has to be included in a deal that improves Toronto’s roster.
I imagine the Raptors would be willing to discuss 2020 first-round picks Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa, who haven’t taken the steps forward this season that the club had perhaps hoped for. Flynn is 23 years old and Achiuwa is just 22, so rival teams may see untapped potential in the duo.
The Raptors have traded away a couple future second-round picks, but own all their first-rounders and almost certainly would have to give up at least one of them if they want to acquire an impact center without moving one of their five core players.
Chandler Hutchison Signs G League Contract
Former first-round pick Chandler Hutchison has signed an NBA G League contract, according to our JD Shaw (Twitter links), who reports that the forward is being acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat‘s NBAGL affiliate.
Hutchison, 25, has appeared in a total of 103 NBA games for the Bulls, Wizards, and Suns since being selected 22nd overall by Chicago in the 2018 draft. After averaging 20.0 PPG with a .359 3PT% in his final college season at Boise State in 2017/18, he has struggled to score consistently at the NBA level, recording 5.4 PPG on .442/.309/.643 shooting in 17.4 minutes per contest.
Following two-and-a-half seasons with the Bulls, Hutchison was traded from Chicago to Washington at the 2021 trade deadline, then was flipped to San Antonio in the five-team offseason blockbuster that included Russell Westbrook and Spencer Dinwiddie. The Spurs waived him and Hutchison caught on with the Suns in the fall, signing a two-way contract with the defending Western Conference champs. However, he was cut by Phoenix last month after logging just 22 total minutes in six games.
Hutchison has seven career G League appearances, but those all occurred while he was on a standard or two-way NBA contract and was assigned to the NBAGL. This is the first time he has signed an outright G League contract without an NBA team holding his rights.
Any NBA team with an available roster spot (or a hardship exception) would be free to call up Hutchison if he impresses during his stint with the Skyforce.