Celtics, Kings Discussing J.J. Hickson
Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio tweets that the Celtics and Kings have had conversations about forward J.J. Hickson. The Kings acquired Hickson in an offseason trade that sent Omri Casspi to the Cavs.
It's unclear what the Celtics would send in return. Hickson, in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.35MM, has been buried on the bench of late in Sacramento. Last night, he saw just more than six minutes against the Warriors, his briefest appearance of the year. Hickson is averaging just 4.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.4 minutes this year after putting up 13.8 PPG and 8.7 RPG in 28.2 MPG last year mostly in a starting role for the Cavs.
Once considered a cornerstone that Cleveland was reluctant to give up, his value has taken a hit of late. Depending on whom the Celtics would send back, it appears the team would be after Hickson for his ability to replace the ailing Chris Wilcox, who's out for the season, as well as his expiring contract. Hickson will be a restricted free agent at season's end.
Earlier today, Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee said he didn't think the Kings had given up on Hickson. He noted that the team gave up a popular player and a draft pick for him, and that they would expect to get a pick in return. (Twitter links)
Chris Wilcox Out For Season
As first reported by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (via Twitter), Chris Wilcox won't return to action for the Celtics this season.
Wilcox, who was sidelined with a possible heart condition, was ruled out for the season after undergoing additional tests. For Wilcox's sake, we hope the move is precautionary, and that the tests didn't reveal a serious health issue.
As for the Celtics, Wilcox's absence means the team will almost certainly have to add another big man, whether it's via trade or free agency.
Josh Howard, C.J. Miles Drawing Interest
4:34pm: Howard is likely to remain with the Jazz through the deadline, tweets Brian T. Smith.
11:38am: As of this morning, the chances of Miles being dealt to the Timberwolves appeared very slim, according to Brian T. Smith (via Twitter). Miles heading to New Jersey for Petro and a first-rounder is a possibility, tweets Stefan Bondy.
7:53am: Josh Howard and C.J. Miles, whose contracts expire at season's end, have both expressed interest in re-signing with the Jazz this summer. However, it looks as if there's a chance neither player will even finish the season in Utah.
On the heels of last night's report that the Jazz are discussing a three-team trade with the Spurs and Timberwolves that would ship both Howard and Miles out of town, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld tweets that the Jazz are shopping Miles. The T-Wolves and Nets are among the teams that have shown interest, according to Kennedy. New Jersey has interest in Miles' expiring contract as a way of clearing summer cap space to make a run at top free agents, and Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld says the Nets have discussed Anthony Morrow and Johan Petro with the Jazz. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News hears such a deal could involve a Nets first-round pick (Twitter link).
Pincus says the Clippers may have some interest in Miles, who could fit into one of the team's traded player exceptions, but L.A. probably won't part with Eric Bledsoe or a first-round pick. Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune, who reported last month that Miles could be had, says the former second-rounder, who turns 25 this weekend, may be easier to move in a package deal (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, besides the Spurs, the Lakers, Knicks, and Celtics have also expressed interest in acquiring Howard, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Of those four interested clubs, only the Knicks are below the luxury tax line, so Howard and his $2.15MM salary would be an affordable addition. The Jazz don't necessarily want to make a deal though, according to Spears.
Trade Rumors: Kaman, Celtics, Blatche, Bynum
Here's the latest on a few trade candidates:
- The Celtics are seeking a big man, and while taking on a player with Chris Kaman's salary ($14MM+) probably isn't likely, Kaman would be interested in going to Boston, says A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
- "You look at what they need and what he brings to the game," a league source said of Kaman-to-the-Celtics. "It would be a great fit, it really would. But a lot of things have to happen, and not happen, before that can come about."
- The Wizards are still seeking deadline deals, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
- Lee hears conflicting reports on the likelihood of an Andray Blatche trade. One source said Blatche "won’t be moved due to a lack of interest," even if JaVale McGee is included. However, another source told Lee that the Wizards aren't ready to give up on finding a taker for Blatche just yet.
- Andrew Bynum isn't expecting the Lakers to trade him, as he tells Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Broussard On Pierce, Brooks, Curry, McGee, Daye
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard has a ton of trade rumors in today's Insider-only piece. You can read his major update on Dwight Howard here, but let's dive into the rest of his rumors….
- The Celtics offered Paul Pierce to the Blazers, though Broussard isn't sure who else would've been involved in the deal. Portland wasn't interested in Boston's proposal.
- The Clippers are reluctant to trade Eric Bledsoe for Jamal Crawford because they believe Crawford will opt out of his contract at season's end, and Bledsoe will have more value at draft time, since there won't be many point guards available.
- Ramon Sessions is unlikely to be moved unless the Cavaliers can get a first-round pick. Cleveland would try to trade for Jonny Flynn if they moved Sessions, though the Spurs have also expressed interest in Flynn.
- The Cavs are also in talks with the Hornets about swapping Antawn Jamison for Emeka Okafor and a first-round pick.
- Aaron Brooks is drawing interest from the Blazers and Kings, though the Suns hope to re-sign him. When Brooks returns from China, he can only sign with Phoenix. If he doesn't sign anywhere this season, he becomes a restricted free agent again this summer.
- A second-round pick is likely all it would take for the Hornets to move Chris Kaman.
- The Warriors preferred to deal Stephen Curry rather than Monta Ellis, but Curry's ongoing ankle issues hurt his trade value.
- Broussard hears JaVale McGee will be seeking a contract worth $14MM annually this summer. Good luck with that, JaVale.
- Wilson Chandler is seeking a deal starting at $7MM, which the Nuggets feel is too high, since that amount won't be prorated this season — Denver would prefer to start around $5MM.
- The Pistons are shopping Austin Daye "all day every day" but not many teams are biting.
- The Grizzlies would like to move Sam Young to get below the luxury tax line.
Celtics Rumors: Allen, Bradley, Rondo, Pierce
Following a blockbuster deal by the Eastern Conference's current eighth seed, is it the seventh seed's turn to strike? The Celtics have been at the center of countless trade rumors over the last few weeks, but according to GM Danny Ainge, no moves are imminent for Boston.
"It's not because of a lack of trying or having conversations with other teams," Ainge told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. "We just haven't come across a deal that we feel good about, that will make us a better team."
The Celtics have less than 30 hours to find that deal. While we wait to see if Ainge pulls anything off, here are the latest links out of Boston:
- According to Blakely, Ray Allen is the Celtic most likely to be moved.
- Avery Bradley is drawing "significant" interest as well, but an official from a rival team doesn't expect a trade: "Danny loves that kid, and now that he's playing and playing well… he's worth more to them to keep than to flip."
- The only way the Celtics could change their stance on not trading Rajon Rondo is if a player like Deron Williams becomes available, but a Nets source assures Blakely that's not happening.
- Ainge is reluctant to give up 2012 draft picks in any deal, telling Blakely that, while a short-term improvement would be nice, the team doesn't want to compromise its long-term goals.
- Asked about the possibility of a trade, Paul Pierce indicated to J.A. Adande of ESPN.com that the decision will likely be out of his hands: "There's only so much I can control…. I've heard it put out there that if Danny Ainge gets the opportunity, [a trade] can happen. So I'm not in a situation like Steve Nash where it's only if he requests it. That wasn't said to me. That's what it is."
Atlantic Notes: Carmelo, D’Antoni, Celtics
After losses by the Knicks and Nets early in the evening, a Celtics victory in Los Angeles kept the Atlantic Division from going winless last night and pulled Boston within 2.5 games of the 76ers. Here's the latest out of the Atlantic:
- It seems "inconceivable" that Carmelo Anthony and Mike D'Antoni will both be back with the Knicks next season, says Marc Berman of the New York Post. While a trade deadline move is unlikely, Berman hears from a source that Anthony is disgruntled, and the relationship between player and coach "appears to be deteriorating."
- An injury to Marquis Daniels was one reason Celtics GM Danny Ainge acquired Jeff Green at last year's deadline, so do this year's injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox mean another deal is coming? "It’s similar but I don’t feel like we have to do anything, other than get another big body," Ainge told Paul Flannery of WEEI.com. "But I don’t think we have to make a trade at all."
- Ainge and the Celtics will proceed with caution at this year's deadline, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
Ainge: Rondo’s Not Being Traded
Rajon Rondo has been a constant subject of constant trade rumors this season. His chilly attitude and enigmatic play have reportedly been the reason Boston has entertained offers, but every player has strengths and weaknesses, and Rondo's court vision, hyperactivity, and contract are all positives that outweigh the negatives.
The rumors are surprising because having a young All-Star, All-Defensive team point guard under contract is one of the most valued commodities in the NBA today, and moving him to rebuild around other pieces seems like it'd just delay the renovation.
Before tonight's game against the Clippers, Boston general manager Danny Ainge placed a cork in the faucet currently spewing trade rumors about his team's best player, telling CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely that the star point guard will stay put. "I don't know how many times I have to say it. Rondo's not being traded," he said.
Unless blown away by a deal that brings back immediate, young talent and draft pick(s), it looks like Boston will make a run with what they have without moving any of their core pieces before the trade deadline.
Odds & Ends: Sixers, Martin, Jennings
Sixers president Rod Thorn says Philadelphia will likely be quiet at the trade deadline, according to the Philadelphia Daily News’ Bob Cooney. When you combine Evan Turner‘s recent transformation into a serious impact starter with the eventual return of injured center Spencer Hawes, who was playing the best basketball of his career before going down, the 76ers aren’t exactly in a position of need. Any trade could screw up one of the league’s most symbiotic rosters.
- Rockets guard Kevin Martin says he’s frustrated with his up and down play as of late, and knows it could be the difference as to what team he’s on by the end of March, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen. The loss of Kyle Lowry, who’s out at least two weeks with a bacterial infection, may have an impact on whether or not the Rockets choose to move Martin. If they want to make the playoffs this year, they can’t afford to remove their starting backcourt from the equation and expect to compete on a nightly basis.
- Brandon Jennings appears to be flustered by an SI report earlier this week that said he was available “for the right price.”
- In a column over at Hoopsworld.com, Joel Brigham says that Dwight Howard should be dealt to Chicago, but the Bulls will never pull the trigger. In the piece, Brigham criticizes Chicago for over-valuing its homegrown talent. He cites the team’s refusal to go after Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett in year’s past as evidence that it’s unlikely they’ll make a rightful run at Howard before Thursday’s deadline.
- ESPNBoston.com’s Chris Forsberg tweets some interesting words from Celtics GM Danny Ainge says “there’s nothing going on right now” and that “we need another big body for sure, at some point.” The words seem to mean that if Boston doesn’t swing a deal before the deadline, they’ll either pursue someone from the D-league or a bought out player. Injuries to Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Wilcox have depleted the team’s front court.
Clippers Unlikely To Move Bledsoe For Rental
In the weeks leading up to March 15th, Eric Bledsoe's name has surfaced in trade rumors involving the Blazers' Jamal Crawford and the Celtics' Ray Allen, among others. However, the Clippers aren't motivated to trade the young guard unless they're blown away by a proposal, says Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. According to HoopsWorld's report, the Clippers are hesitant to move Bledsoe for a player who they'd just be renting for the rest of the season.
In Bledsoe, the Clippers have a young, inexpensive player at a position of depth. Chris Paul and Mo Williams are ahead of Bledsoe on the team's depth chart, so it makes sense that L.A. would consider moving its 2010 first-rounder to upgrade at two guard. However, the 22-year-old is the only guard the Clippers have under contract long-term — Paul's and Williams' contracts are set to expire after next season, and their futures are unknown. Bledsoe doesn't figure to be eligible for even restricted free agency until the summer of 2014.
As for the Clippers' potential two-guard targets, Allen will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Crawford figures to decline his player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent as well.