Sacks Says Clippers Not Shopping Jordan, Bledsoe
Los Angeles Clippers vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks tells Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times that the team is not actively shopping DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe, or any other player on its roster:
"I haven't called anybody to say, 'Hey, we have Eric Bledsoe and would you like him?' Or, 'We have DeAndre Jordan or we have anybody and would you want them?' That's not where I am right now with this team," Sacks said in a phone interview from Houston on Saturday. "That's not where we are."
Sacks' comments come in the wake of widespread reports that the Clippers are discussing a deal with the Celtics that would send Bledsoe and Jordan to Boston in exchange for Kevin Garnett, but may be viewed as a message to other teams that he is not interested in dealing the two players.
Latest On Billy Hunter, NBPA
12:39pm: Berger tweets that the agents' meeting has wrapped, and the feeling among those who participated is that Hunter will be fired.
11:16am: Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports (via Twitter) that lawyers are presenting a summary of the findings of an investigation into NBPA executive director Billy Hunter to a group of player agents in Houston. Berger also tweets that players are planning to meet Saturday afternoon to discuss whether to take action against Hunter. Hunter will not be in attendance at this meeting.
On Friday, Hunter issued a response to claims made by members of the NBPA, maintaining his innocence against any accusations of wrongdoing and highlighting progress made by the union under his leadership. It was reported on Friday evening that the NBPA is leaning towards firing Hunter.
Garnett Won’t Waive No-Trade Clause
In the midst of rumors that the Clippers and the Celtics are discussing a Kevin Garnett trade, the veteran forward told reporters Saturday that he will not waive his no-trade clause for any team. Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports tweets that Garnett simply replied "No" when asked if there was any team or circumstance under which he would allow himself to be traded.
Yahoo! Sports reported on Friday evening that the Clippers and Celtics are discussing the framework of a trade that would send Garnett to Los Angeles in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe. Garnett was believed to be open to waiving his no-trade clause in this situation because he owns a home in Malibu and the Clippers are a contender. However, he came out strongly on Saturday against the notion.
Garnett is the owner of one of only four no-trade clauses in the NBA, alongside Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki.
Heat Unlikely To Make Deadline Move
The Miami Heat are unlikely to make a trade before Thursday's deadline, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Pat Riley has a history of making splashy moves at the deadline, dating back to the mid-1990s when he acquired Tim Hardaway and Jamal Mashburn. But Winderman writes that these moves have decreased in recent years, and there isn't any indication that he will make a move before Thursday.
Winderman writes that the most attractive trade asset the Heat have is the Sixers' lottery-protected 2013 first-round pick, acquired for the rights to Arnett Moultrie in June of 2012. Joel Anthony and Mike Miller are unlikely to be moved due to their contracts, and Winderman notes that Miller is very likely to be waived via the amnesty clause this summer. Mario Chalmers could be moved, but Winderman does not believe there is a deal out there for the point guard that the team must make.
Bucks Pursuing Josh Smith, Shopping Everybody?
Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times has some updates in his latest notebook column on where the Milwaukee Bucks stand in several trade discussions leading up to Thursday's deadline:
- The Bucks are considering making an offer to the Hawks for Josh Smith, writes Woelfel. Smith has been most openly courted by the Nets and Celtics, with Brooklyn reportledly offering MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries and Boston offering Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. However, Woelfel believes that the Bucks' package could be equally attractive if they include Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings. They could also make Ersan Ilyasova available in a package for Smith.
- Woelfel writes that the Bucks are open to trading anyone on their roster and no one is off limits, although Ellis and Samuel Dalembert are the two players GM John Hammond would most like to move. Woelfel points to Beno Udrih and Mike Dunleavy as two other potentially attractive assets with expiring contracts.
- Woelfel contradicts a previous report by ESPN on the status of Jennings, writing that the Bucks never made him a formal offer of a contract extension before the October deadline. Jennings is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.
- Forward Drew Gooden is no stranger to the trade deadline, Woelfel writes. The 11-year veteran has been traded five times during the season in his career.
Wizards Shopping Jordan Crawford
Ric Bucher of CSNBayArea.com reports (via Sulia) that the Washington Wizards have made guard Jordan Crawford "eminently available," and points to him as an option for teams in need of an affordable scorer. Bucher writes that rookie guard Bradley Beal's emergence as a legitimate starter has made it easier for the Wizards to consider moving Crawford.
Crawford is averaging 13.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 3.7 APG this season. He is in the third year of his rookie contract and is owed about $1.9MM this season, and will make $2.2MM next season before becoming a restricted free agent in the summer of 2014.
Suns Pursuing Iman Shumpert
11:18am: Woodson has spoken with Shumpert, but he can't assure him he won't be traded, Newsday's Al Iannazzone tweets.
10:48am: Knicks coach Mike Woodson seemed to downplay the idea of any Shumpert trade in his remarks to reporters, including Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
"Sure, we talk to him and we show him love and we tell him he's a big part of what we're doing. Those are just trade rumors," Woodson said.
SUNDAY, 9:04am: Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com hears the Knicks are unlikely to bite on a Shumpert-for-Dudley deal.
SATURDAY, 7:53pm: Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld adds on to Wojnarowski's report, saying that the Knicks would rather move Ronnie Brewer than Shumpert, but the Suns are intent on acquiring the second-year guard.
6:55pm: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Phoenix Suns are pursuing a trade for Knicks guard Iman Shumpert. The Suns would offer a package including guard Jared Dudley and could possibly include a first-round pick as well.
Shumpert has been linked to the Suns since this summer, when they attempted to acquire him in a sign-and-trade with the Knicks for Steve Nash before Nash ultimately went to the Lakers. Saturday morning, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reported the Knicks' interest in Dudley, although Wojnarowski writes that New York is hesitant to do this trade.
Odds & Ends: CP3, Clippers, Bargnani, Hunter, Scola
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Saturday evening:
- Al Iannazzone of Newsday.com writes that Chris Paul is unlikely to ever play for the Knicks, despite proclaimations he reportedly made to the contrary at Carmelo Anthony's wedding in 2010.
- Amin Elhassan of ESPN.com breaks down the Clippers' salary-cap flexibility for upcoming seasons.
- Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun writes that Andrea Bargnani is growing increasingly irrelevant in the Raptors' long-term plan.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer looks back at Billy Hunter's rocky tenure as executive director of the NBPA.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic praises Luis Scola's hard-nosed style, saying the veteran forward is a positive influence on the team's young players.
- Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News looks back at Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo's tenure with the Spurs.
- Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News writes that, despite getting little playing time with the Mavericks, rookie Jared Cunningham is gaining valuable experience in the D-League.
- Jodie Valade of the Plain Dealer examines the impact of trade rumors on head coaches in the NBA.
Bulls, Pacers Pursuing J.J. Redick
10:40pm: Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork reports that the Knicks are monitoring the market for Redick as well.
8:35pm: Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick has been one of the most heavily pursued players in the league in the weeks leading up to the February 21 trade deadline, and now Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld adds the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers to the list of teams that are contemplating trading for him.
Kennedy notes that the Bulls signed Redick to an offer sheet in 2010, which Orlando matched. He also cautions that the Magic have not made a decision as to whether they will trade Redick, although he will draw plenty of interest if they do decide to move him.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Thunder, Rubio, Williams, Oden
The latest news and notes from around the Northwest Division on Saturday evening:
- Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune writes that the Jazz' rebuilding efforts over the past two seasons have not yielded much progress.
- Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that the Thunder may not be able to keep their core together because of the new CBA.
- Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune praises Derrick Williams' play since Ricky Rubio returned to the Wolves' lineup.
- John Canzano of The Oregonian reflects on Greg Oden's tenure with the Trail Blazers as he gears up to sign with a new team.