2016 February | Hoops Rumors

2016 NBA Trade Deadline Primer

February 18th, 2016 at 12:01am CST by Chuck Myron

The trade deadline is at 2pm Central on Thursday. Hoops Rumors has several resources to help you prepare for it and to follow along once players start moving. We’ll sum them up:

Our free and highly customizable Trade Rumors app for iOS and Android allows you to monitor deadline activity on the go, and you can set up alerts that let you know when the action happens. Download it now!
Our Trade Candidate Series provides in-depth looks at 15 players who’ve either drawn frequent mention in trade rumors or appear to be logical fits for a trade. Markieff Morris, Jeff Teague and Rudy Gay are among the figures we examine.
Six trades have taken place already this season in the NBA. See the details on each of them here. We’ll also be summarizing all the deadline trades on this page once they happen.
A complicated set of rules govern NBA trades. This entry in the Hoops Rumors Glossary breaks down the salary-matching parameters.
See more in-depth explanations on NBA trade and salary cap rules in our full glossary.
Trade exceptions allow teams to circumvent salary matching. Here’s a list of every existing trade exception and how much they’re worth, categorized by team.
Trade kickers are bonuses players receive when they’re traded. Several players have these clauses in their contracts, making it more difficult for teams to put them into deals. We run down the players with trade kickers here.
These players can veto trades either because they have no-trade clauses, re-signed with their teams on short-term deals, accepted qualifying offers, or signed offer sheets that were matched.
First-round picks are valuable trade assets, but some teams aren’t allowed to trade any at the deadline this year, and other front offices don’t have many picks they can trade. We examined the ability of all 30 teams to trade first-rounders.
Our list of 2016 free agents shows you who’s on an expiring contract.
What’s next? Our calendar shows the rest of the key 2015/16 dates.

And-Ones: Johnson, Celtics, Pelicans, Lee

February 18th, 2016 at 12:00am CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers think would-be post-buyout target Joe Johnson wants to stay in Brooklyn and that he’ll seek to sign an extension with the Nets, a source told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. People around Johnson say he won’t take a buyout, tweets Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.

There’s more from around the basketball world as the trade deadline approaches:

The Celtics are willing to trade the unprotected 2016 first-round pick they have coming their way from the Nets if it would shake Blake Griffin loose from the Clippers, sources tell Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. However, Boston wouldn’t deal the pick for either Kevin Love or Al Horford, Bulpett hears.
The Pelicans shopped Eric Gordon and Omer Asik, but they haven’t found much interest, sources tell John Reid of The Times Picayune. New Orleans reportedly offered Gordon and Alonzo Gee to the Kings for Rudy Gay earlier this season, and the Pelicans apparently had talks with the Cavs that involved Asik after making him available in December.
The Grizzlies shipped $542,714 cash to the Hornets as part of the Courtney Lee trade, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reveals.
Jameer Nelson is running out of alternatives to season-ending surgery on a severely sprained left wrist, but he’ll continue to try to play for the time being after receiving an injection meant to ease the pain he’s feeling, as Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post details. He missed the Nuggets‘ last six games before the All-Star break.
The Bulls were interested in Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer earlier this season, but the Rockets rebuffed their entreaties, reports Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com (Twitter link).
The Pistons would love to make one more move before the trade deadline, GM Jeff Bower said today in an appearance on WDFN-AM radio, notes Rod Beard of The Detroit News (Twitter link). The team is reportedly scanning the market for veteran guards, but Bower said the Pistons are looking at the options available at every position and added that coach/executive Stan Van Gundy has confidence in Steve Blake as the team’s backup point guard, Beard also relays (on Twitter).
The Grizzlies recalled James Ennis from the team’s D-League affiliate in Iowa, the team announced today. Ennis has appeared in 15 games with the Energy, averaging 16.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per night. He has played in 10 games for Memphis, averaging 1.3 points in 3.6 minutes.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Atlantic Notes: Teague, Schröder, Embiid, Knicks

February 17th, 2016 at 11:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers may plan a last-second attempt to acquire Jeff Teague or Dennis Schröder from the Hawks, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. A source told Pompey that Philadelphia front office could make an “11th-hour” call to the Hawks on Thursday to remind them of the Sixers’ interest. Pompey cautions that it will probably take Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel to get either of the point guards, and Philly’s front office would rather keep both until it knows the status of 2014 draftee Joel Embiid, who has yet to play an NBA game. However, a report emerged tonight that the Sixers are “gauging interest” in Okafor. “I think you always have to be aware of what the market is for acquiring something or considering a trade,” said chairman of basketball operations Jerry Colangelo. “But we are not actively looking to do deals.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Embiid has traveled to Qatar for “a kick-start to the next phase” of his rehab process, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. He is working on his surgically repaired foot with doctors at Aspetar, which calls itself “the world’s leading specialized orthopedic and sports medicine hospital.” Embiid’s visit will include evaluation, consultation and meetings with specialists.
Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis was happy to be called “untouchable” in trade talks by team president Phil Jackson, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork. Porzingis said he would like to remain in New York for his entire career.
Interim coach Kurt Rambis said the Knicks front office hasn’t asked his opinion on any possible deals Begley also relays (Twitter link).
The Nets won’t rush to make a deal before the deadline, owner Mikhail Prokhorov said, as NetsDaily notes. “If we have some small, good pieces, maybe we can do something,” Prokhorov said. “But we are [being] very passive because we’re not in a hurry. We have a long-term vision.”
The Rockets asked for Jonas Valanciunas when they unsuccessfully approached the Raptors about a Dwight Howard trade, according to Sportsnet’s Michael Grange. Such a deal would have required Toronto to relinquish much more to make the salaries match.
The Celtics would give up more for Kevin Love than they would for Al Horford, but the Cavs and Hawks are expected to continue to demand more than Boston is willing to relinquish for either, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Cavaliers Interested In Ryan Anderson

February 17th, 2016 at 10:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

10:27pm: The Wizards have talked with the Pelicans about acquiring Anderson, but prefer to pursue Kevin Durant rather than pay Anderson in free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. Anderson is expected to attract a salary starting at $16MM-$18MM when he hits the market this summer, and Washington would rather chase Durant without having to worry about Anderson.

Wojnarowski also reports that the Pistons and Pelicans had “serious talks” about Anderson before Detroit opted to trade for Tobias Harris on Tuesday. Detroit was interested in a larger deal with the Magic that included Evan Fournier, but Orlando wanted to keep him.

3:39pm: The Cavaliers are talking to the Pelicans about power forward Ryan Anderson, tweets Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. He adds that a three-team deal that includes Kevin Love is still possible. Cleveland has “strong interest” in acquiring Anderson, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports.

The Pelicans are motivated to move Anderson because they aren’t sure if they can keep him once he enters free agency this summer. New Orleans expects Anderson to receive an offer with a starting salary in the neighborhood of $16MM-$18MM. The Heat, Kings, Wizards and Pistons are among the teams rumored to have interest in Anderson, although Detroit may have pulled out after Tuesday’s trade for Tobias Harris.

If Love is included in a deal, it will end a tumultuous season and a half with the Cavaliers. After being acquired from Minnesota in a 2014 trade, Love was supposed to be part of a new Big Three in Cleveland, but the fit was never as smooth as expected. He posted scoring and rebounding totals that were far behind his numbers with the Wolves.

Anderson, an eight-year veteran stretch forward, is averaging 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in 51 games with New Orleans. His salary is $8.5MM this season, while Love is making $19.5MM in the second season of a five-year max deal, so if they’re both involved in the same trade, some work will need to be done to match salaries.

Latest On Nets, Sean Marks

February 17th, 2016 at 10:14pm CST by Eddie Scarito

THURSDAY, 7:11am: The Nets have ratcheted up their offer to Marks, Stein hears, with negotiations going late into Wednesday night and a decision expected within the next 24 hours, a source tells Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Prokhorov was kidding when he said he didn’t know Marks, Lewis writes.

10:14pm: Negotiations are continuing between Marks and the Nets, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. Brooklyn made a contract offer on Tuesday, and talks on contract terms and duties within the organization continued today. Sources told Wojnarowski that the Nets will turn to Nuggets assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas if Marks doesn’t accept the job.

4:40pm: Marks is still contemplating whether to take the Nets’ GM job, and the Spurs are hoping they can talk him into remaining in San Antonio, according to Mike Mazzeo and Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

2:07pm: Marks has turned down the job, multiple people around the NBA tell Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post, which further suggests that the Nets did indeed make an offer (Twitter link).

1:13pm: Prokhorov said today he hasn’t offered the job to Marks and denies even knowing Marks’ name, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com and Brian Lewis of the New York Post relay (Twitter links). The owner added might take another week to make a hire.

WEDNESDAY, 10:58am: Marks is leaning against taking the job, league sources told Mitch Lawrence of The Sporting News (Twitter link).

9:45pm: There’s no guarantee that Marks will accept the position, Wojnarowski writes in a full-length post. Spurs president/coach Gregg Popovich and Buford hold Marks in high regard, and the organization has been grooming him to eventually to take over a more significant role in the organization, the Vertical scribe relays.

TUESDAY, 9:20pm: The Nets have formally offered Spurs assistant GM Sean Marks their vacant GM position, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reports (via Twitter). The franchise had hoped to have its new GM in place by Thursday’s trade deadline, which could be the case if Marks formally accepts the team’s offer. If Marks does in fact join the Nets, there is an excellent chance that San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina will be in line for Brooklyn’s vacant head coaching slot, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News adds (on Twitter).

The news that Marks is Brooklyn’s choice comes as a bit of surprise based on previous reports which stated the general consensus around the league was that the job was Bryan Colangelo’s to lose. Other candidates interviewed by the Nets include Nuggets assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Rockets executive VP of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, former Cavaliers GM Chris Grant, current Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard and former Cavs and Hawks GM Danny Ferry.

Nets team owner Mikhail Prokhorov is said to be a huge fan of the Spurs organization and reportedly is enamored with San Antonio GM R.C. Buford, which may explain the team ultimately going with Marks over Colangelo. As a member of the Spurs organization, Marks is well-versed in international scouting, an area that is reportedly of prime importance to Prokhorov going forward.

Cavs Expected To Keep Love, Shumpert, Varejao

February 17th, 2016 at 9:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

Despite a flurry of last-minute trade rumors, the most likely outcome is that Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert and Anderson Varejao all stay with Cleveland past the deadline, according to Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal. Lloyd adds that a minor deal is possible to improve the back end of the Cavs’ rotation.

That would be a blow to the Celtics’ dreams of adding Love in a rumored three-way deal with the Pelicans. It would also mean that Varejao isn’t headed to Orlando in exchange for Channing Frye, perhaps clearing the way for the Magic to ship Frye to the Clippers.

Lloyd writes that the Cavaliers want to take another shot at winning a title with Love and are reluctant to give up Shumpert, who is the team’s best perimeter defender. They have been trying for most of the season to find a taker for Varejao, who still has two years and nearly $19MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract, but have been turned down repeatedly.

Lloyd confirms Cleveland’s interest in Frye, who spent time with Cavs GM David Griffin in Phoenix, but the writer believes other teams can put together better offers. The Cavaliers also have payroll concerns, already facing about $170MM in salary and luxury tax penalties.

Cavaliers Consider Trading Anderson Varejao

February 17th, 2016 at 9:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

9:43pm: The Magic aren’t interested in taking on Varejao’s contract, but they are thinking about sending Frye to Cleveland for a trade exception, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers have a $10.5MM exception — enough to absorb Frye’s $8.2MM salary — they got from trading Brendan Haywood to the Blazers last summer. However, the Cavs don’t want to add Frye unless they can offload Varejao somehow, Wojnarowski writes.

Orlando is growing tired of waiting for a decision from the Clippers, who say they need until Thursday morning to decide whether to give up Lance Stephenson, C.J. Wilcox and a second-round pick in exchange for Frye, Wojnarowski reports.

Varejao still has two years and nearly $19MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Wojnarowski confirms that Cleveland is looking for a teams with cap space like Philadelphia or Portland to take Varejao in a three-team deal. The third team could expect to get cash and draft picks in return. If the Cavaliers were to take on Frye’s contract without getting rid of Varejao’s, it would push their estimated luxury tax bill from $61MM to nearly $96MM.

L.A. has been looking at other trades to get rid of Stephenson’s contract, which pays him $9MM this year and $9.4MM next season, Wojnarowski reports. If the Orlando deal goes through, the Magic are expected to waive or trade him.

7:04pm: The Magic don’t plan to accept Cleveland’s offer of Varejao for Frye, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.

6:17pm: Cleveland has offered Varejao to Orlando in exchange for stretch four Channing Frye, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Cavaliers are hoping to trump reported trade talks between the Magic and Clippers.

4:17pm: The Cavaliers are considering a deal involving veteran power forward Anderson Varejao, tweets Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. He mentions the Blazers and Sixers as possible trade partners.

Varejao has been with Cleveland for his entire 12-year NBA career. He has appeared in just 31 games this season and is averaging 2.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10 minutes of playing time.

Varejao is signed through the 2017/18 season. He makes $9,638,554 this year and is due to get $10,361,446 in 2016/17, but only $9,361,446 of that is guaranteed. His $10MM salary for 2017/18 is non-guaranteed, but he will receive a $4.5MM guarantee if he is on a roster through August 1st of next year. Varejao’s contract includes a 5% trade kicker.

A Varejao deal could be connected to a rumored swap for the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson that Isola also reported. Only the Blazers have enough cap room to take on Varejao without worrying about the league’s salary-matching rules.

Pau Gasol Wants To Join Brother On Grizzlies?

February 17th, 2016 at 9:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

9:30pm: Gasol is profoundly interested in re-signing with the Bulls this summer and has heavily resisted a trade, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. Some teams believe strongly enough that he wants to stay in Chicago that they worry Gasol wouldn’t be fully motivated to play if he were traded, Wojnarowski adds.

8:23pm: Pau Gasol would ideally like to play with his brother Marc Gasol on the Grizzlies, as J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic hears. Marc said in October that he’d like to recruit Pau to Memphis, though he didn’t sound optimistic that he’d be able to do so. A conflicting narrative exists on whether Chicago is shopping Pau or merely fielding interest from other teams, with Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com offering some middle ground tonight, having heard that the team is open to trading him. Pau could otherwise end up leaving Chicago for Memphis as a free agent this summer, having acknowledged he’s “very likely” to opt out.

Marc is out with a broken foot that threatens to end his season, but the 35-year-old Pau remains a productive force for the Bulls, averaging 17.0 and 10.9 rebounds and making the All-Star Game as an injury replacement. The Bulls reportedly want a rotation player and a first-round pick for their Gasol, so he won’t come cheaply if he’s to end up leaving Chicago before the 2pm Central time deadline Thursday. The Bulls have reportedly had their eyes on an upgrade at the wing, with Ben McLemore one of their targets, but the Grizzlies traded Courtney Lee on Tuesday for two players and four second-round picks.

Whichever team Pau end the season with will have only Early Bird rights on him, and thus limited means to sign him without using cap room. Those Early Bird rights only cover up to 175% of his salary for this season, which is a bargain at slightly less than $7.449MM. The Bulls have close to $65MM already on the books for next season against a salary cap estimated to come in between $89MM and $95MM, while Memphis has only about $48MM in commitments for 2016/17.

The Gasol brothers have played together for the Spanish national team, but not in the NBA. They were traded for each other as part of the 2008 deal that sent Pau from the Grizzlies, the team with which he spent his first six and a half NBA seasons, to the Lakers.

Kings Fire Assistant Coach Vance Walberg

February 17th, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

8:58pm: Karl was opposed to firing Walberg, but will be able to appoint his successor, tweets Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. Divac said the team may hire a defensive coach. He added that a roster shakeup is still possible before Thursday’s trade deadline (Twitter link).

Divac plans to make at least one roster move Thursday, and actually expected it to happen today, tweets James Ham of CSNBayArea. Divac also emphasized that he is performing the organization’s GM duties (Twitter link).

8:08pm: The Kings have fired assistant coach Vance Walberg, tweets Chris Mannix of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports. Sacramento was expected to dismiss head coach George Karl last week, but decided to keep him in place for now, so a staff shakeup wasn’t a surprise, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.

“This was a tough decision made after consideration of what is best for the team moving forward,” said GM Vlade Divac in the team’s formal announcement of the move. “We want to thank Vance for his contributions to the organization and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Walberg, who had been on the Kings’ bench since last February, was a “scapegoat” for the team’s failure, tweets Chris Haynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Haynes charges that the coaching staff has been subject to as much “turmoil” and “dysfunction” as the rest of the organization. Sacramento entered the All-Star break at 22-31, four and a half games out of the last playoff spot in the West.

Walberg started his NBA career as an assistant to Karl in Denver in 2012. He also served as an assistant with the Sixers before joining the Kings.

Bulls, Wolves Interested In Ben McLemore

February 17th, 2016 at 8:29pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls and Wolves have both expressed interest in trading for the Kings’ Ben McLemore, tweets Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. Sacramento is reportedly desperate to find a taker for the third-year shooting guard and has been working with him to find an interested team. Minnesota has been mentioned as a possible suitor, but Chicago’s interest appears to be new.

The Kings are believed to be seeking immediate help for a late-season playoff push, rather than draft picks. Cleveland is among several Eastern Conference teams that Sacramento has contacted.

McLemore’s scoring average has dropped sharply this year, down to 7.7 points per game from 12.1 last season. The Kings picked up his option for 2016/17 in October, and he will make slightly more than $4MM next season.

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