Grizzlies Pursuing J.J. Redick
With one day remaining until the 2013 trade deadline, the Grizzlies are making a push to land J.J. Redick, according to Chris Vernon of ESPN Radio in Memphis (via Twitter). With the $7.49MM trade exception they acquired when they dealt Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies would be able to absorb Redick's contract without sending out any salary in return.
The Magic have reportedly been seeking young talent and picks for Redick, and the Grizzlies would be hard-pressed to provide either of the two. The team has already committed future first-round picks to the Timberwolves and Cavaliers, so a package of second-round picks, or a first-rounder far down the line, would be all that Memphis could offer. The Magic would also gain a trade exception and some cap relief from a hypothetical deal, but I'd imagine they'll receive better offers for Redick from other suitors.
The Grizzlies are expected to add a player to their roster today or tomorrow using one of their seven trade exceptions to facilitate a deal, as we heard yesterday. The club is currently carrying just 12 players, and will need to add a 13th man soon to adhere to the league's roster requirements. Having moved well below the tax line with their two trades last month, the Grizzlies wouldn't be in danger of going back into the tax this season even if they added a player like Redick, who is earning $6.19MM.
Latest On J.J. Redick, Iman Shumpert
We have a handful of noteworthy links to share on two Eastern Conference shooting guards who have been part of many trade rumors in recent weeks, including one involving a possible swap for each other:
- Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that J.J. Redick would expect to command a contract offer worth around $40MM over 4 years (according to his agent, Arn Tellem). While Wojnarowski doesn't think Redick will receive that type of deal, he thinks one that pays $7MM annually is realistic. The Pacers, Bucks, Bulls, and Timberwolves have all shown interest in the 6'5 guard, but are unwilling to concede a first-round pick and a young player for what could be a rental.
- Wojnarowski feels that the 76ers could be a real possibility as a free agent destination for Redick, taking into account the strong relationship between Redick and Doug Collins' son.
- Steve Kyler thinks that Redick's time in Orlando could be up soon, as the Magic have been in touch with several teams about the sharpshooting guard's availability as of late. Orlando's asking price for the former Duke star has been relatively steep (an unprotected first round pick), and interested teams have also had to consider that Redick could possibly test the market this summer as an unrestricted free agent. However, Kyler thinks that with the Magic involved in lots of discussions, it's within reason to believe that they could lower their asking price by Thursday.
- One player linked to Redick trade rumors has been Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, who Alex Kennedy says has been shopped in order to see if anything else can be had that brings New York closer to title contention. While nothing appears imminent, Kennedy says that the Knicks are clearly weighing their options right now and should be a team to keep an eye out for over the next few days.
Odds & Ends: Bargnani, Nets, Jennings, Greene
Earlier today, we heard that the Sixers are a good bet to stand pat at this year's deadline, and given how their last trade turned out, perhaps that shouldn't be a surprise. One player acquired by the 76ers in the deal, Jason Richardson, underwent successful surgery on his left knee this morning, according to a team release. Meanwhile, the centerpiece, Andrew Bynum, told reporters today that he still intends to play for Philadelphia this season, though it won't happen until at least March.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:
- According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), while the Raptors would move Andrea Bargnani in the right offer, teams don't sense an urgency on Toronto's part. That falls in line with comments Bryan Colangelo made today.
- I questioned earlier today whether Nets GM Billy King was being honest when he told reporters there's a 10% chance he makes a trade, but Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News says (via Twitter) that's the same line King has been giving privately to rival teams.
- Despite his agent change, Brandon Jennings really doesn't have a ton of leverage, and the Bucks should still be expected to match any offer sheet he receives this summer, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- Donte Greene, who was set to sign with the Nets last summer before he fractured his ankle, is back to 100% and is drawing interest, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). The Nets, Pacers, Hornets, Spurs, Bulls, Knicks, Magic, Rockets, and Cavaliers have inquired on Greene, says Spears.
Bucks, Magic Talking Redick, Mbah A Moute
As the trade deadline approaches and the Magic debate whether or not to move J.J. Redick, one team that has been frequently linked to the sharpshooter is Milwaukee. According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the Bucks and Magic have discussed a deal that would see them swap Redick for Luc Mbah a Moute and a first-round pick.
Berger's report suggests that the Magic have extended that offer to Milwaukee, but that the Bucks would only pull the trigger on the deal if they also moved Monta Ellis in a bigger trade (Twitter link). That echoes what Adrian Wojnarowski said yesterday, when he reported that Redick would be a major target for the Bucks if they move one of their starting guards. Earlier today, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports wrote that the Bucks aren't expecting to trade either Ellis or Brandon Jennings.
The Magic are known to be seeking either young talent or draft picks for Redick, and are also willing to simply hang on to him and try to re-sign him this summer. An overnight report indicated that Orlando had engaged in talks with the Knicks involving Redick and Iman Shumpert. In the proposed deal with the Bucks, the first-rounder would be the main piece heading back to Orlando, though it's not clear what protection would be on it. At the moment, Milwaukee's 2013 first-rounder is projected to be 15th overall, according to our tentative '13 draft order.
Magic, Knicks Have Discussed Redick, Shumpert
The Magic and Knicks have had discussions about a deal that would send J.J. Redick to New York and Iman Shumpert to Orlando, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Kennedy notes that if the teams were to get serious about a trade, other players, or perhaps a third club, would have to get involved in order to match salaries.
Shumpert's agent, Happy Walters, said yesterday that reports indicating that his client is unhappy with his role in New York and wants to be traded are "totally false." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Knicks wouldn't consider moving him. Although the team seems to value Shumpert highly, he remains virtually the only young piece on a team of veterans. If the Knicks decide to go all-in to contend in the short term, the second-year guard would be the club's most logical trade chip.
The Suns were also said to have interest in Shumpert, though ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reported last week that a deal involving Shumpert and Jared Dudley is "not happening." Meanwhile, the Bucks, Bulls, and Pacers are among the teams reportedly interested in Redick.
Wojnarowski On Wolves, Smith, Nets, Bell
Here's the latest news from around the league courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski with all links going to Twitter..
- The Wolves have been aggressive in offering multiple first-round picks for established talent, according to league sources (Twitter link). We've heard some trade buzz around Minnesota in recent weeks, but it has mostly concerned guard Luke Ridnour.
- The Celtics are on several fronts, including discussions on Josh Smith, Wojnarowski tweets. They've got plenty of competition, however, as the Nets are solely focused on making a deal for Smith, despite being linked to a few other big names in recent weeks.
- Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni has remained intrigued with bringing exiled Jazz guard Raja Bell to Lakers, sources tell Wojnarowski. The Jazz would be delighted to put a bow on their saga with the disgruntled guard.
- League GMs believe that the Hawks, Bucks, and Suns will make significant moves before the trade deadline.
- The Trail Blazers are still willing to move J.J. Hickson, but haven't found an appealing offer yet.
- Teams trying to trade for J.J. Redick of the Magic are surveying the cost of re-signing him this summer, Wojnarowski tweets. If Bucks move a starting guard, he'll be a major target for them.
Magic Open To Re-Signing J.J. Redick
Tomorrow night's game against the Bobcats could be J.J. Redick's last home game as a member of the Magic but the shooting guard has reason to be optimistic about his future in Orlando. Redick says that General Manager Rob Hennigan has told him that the team is "open" to re-signing him when he becomes a free agent this summer, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
The guard went on to say that Hennigan has stayed in touch with Redick and his agent, Arn Tellem, in recent weeks. At the same time, he says that he is only cautiously optimistic and refuses to get his hopes up about a lucrative new deal in Orlando.
“This is a business. I have to make a business decision. And I know this from experience, regardless of any personal feelings or any emotional attachment to anything, a team is going to do what they feel is best for the team. And there won’t be any hard feelings if I get traded in three days or if they elect not to re-sign me this summer," the 28-year-old said.
Earlier today, Robbins' colleague Brian Schmitz wrote that the Magic would be more willing to move Redick if a team was willing to take on Al Harrington and/or Hedo Turkoglu in a deal. Of course, the odds of that happening aren't great.
Eastern Links: Magic, Vucevic, Sixers, Boozer
The Eastern Conference may have been on the losing end of yesterday's All-Star Game in Houston, but there's still plenty happening around the conference. Here's the latest:
- As decision day nears for the Magic and J.J. Redick, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel says the team would be more willing to move Redick if another team was willing to take on Al Harrington and/or Hedo Turkoglu along with the sharpshooter, which isn't likely.
- Nikola Vucevic, who Schmitz calls Orlando's only untouchable player, appeared on WGYG in Orlando, and said he wasn't bitter at all about the offseason trade that sent him from the Sixers to the Magic (link via Steven Cuce of Sports Radio Interviews).
- Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer argues that it's time for the 76ers to cut their losses on another major piece of that Vucevic trade: Andrew Bynum.
- One league source tells Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press that he thinks Carlos Boozer is the player most likely to be moved by Thursday (Twitter link).
- Josh Smith, Andrea Bargnani, and Rodney Stuckey are among the players Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld says should have been traded before now in order to maximize their value.
Amico On Smith, Nets, Nuggets, Sixers, Thunder
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has just published a piece rounding up a few of the latest trade rumblings from around the NBA, so let's dive in and tackle the highlights….
- Josh Smith is viewed by Amico's sources as a near-lock to be moved, though there's no consensus on where he'll be headed. The Nets, Suns, and Mavericks are mentioned as potential destinations, with the Spurs in the mix as well.
- One source isn't so sure the Hawks will move Smith by next Thursday: "They won’t just give the guy away. (Smith) is practically an All-Star. You can deal with the contract situation later."
- The Nets haven't completely given up on the idea of making a play for Dwight Howard, but they'd likely need to get a third team involved. I'd consider that one a real long shot.
- While the Nuggets are fairly content with their roster at the moment, they could explore a smaller move involving someone like Wilson Chandler, Corey Brewer, or Anthony Randolph. Denver has some interest in J.J. Redick, but Amico says conversations have "all but disappeared after he indicated he wants to stay with the Magic."
- The Bulls and 76ers have started to get more active in trade talks within the last week.
- The Raptors have engaged the Sixers in trade talks involving Andrea Bargnani, though it's not clear what would be going Toronto's way in a hypothetical deal — Spencer Hawes is one possibility.
- After losing twice to the Heat this season, the Thunder are "strongly considering" making a move to bolster their lineup, according to Amico.
Eastern Notes: Bulls, Magic, Bobcats, Garnett
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times relayed some gems out of Bulls camp tonight, reporting that Chicago is still taking and making phone calls as the trade deadline approaches. He cites a source within the organization that says talks between the Bulls and Raptors involving Carlos Boozer are "off the table," and that there hasn't been a high demand for Richard Hamilton. As for Derrick Rose's status, the reality that he might not return this season hasn't put any additional pressure on Chicago to find more help or try to lessen the payroll. Here's more of what we've heard tonight out of the Eastern Conference:
- Several Magic veterans weighed in on the possibility of being traded before next Thursday's deadline including J.J. Redick, who is in the final year of his deal and has drawn significant interest from other teams. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel says that although the front office has told their players that they aren't being shopped, they still acknowledge that they are responsible for listening to offers and taking into account what could make them better in the long term.
- Amidst reports of tension boiling over between Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap and embattled guard Ben Gordon on Monday, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes that it wasn't the first time that the 29-year-old guard appeared frustrated this season and that Gordon and Dunlap have already met twice before to discuss his role.
- Celtics forward Kevin Garnett explained his comments that this Sunday would be his last All-Star game, as some had seen it as possible hint that he would retire after this year: "Let's just put it like this: I'm more than grateful for going. I'm not going to act like I've got more All-Star games in me. So I'm just going to actually enjoy this one with friends and family. That's what I meant" (NBA.com).
- Rich Levine of CSNNE.com said that nothing definitive can be concluded by Garnett's comments, and that only time will tell if he is actually contemplating retirement soon.