The Rockets and Cavaliers had discussions about sending Brandon Knight to Cleveland along with a first-round pick in exchange for Alec Burks. However, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com hears that those talks have ceased. Houston has also spoken with the Grizzlies about potential Knight deals.
Cleveland is selling Burks, Rodney Hood, and any other “indispensable asset” prior to the deadline, Lowe writes. The team is willing to take back future salary in exchange for picks.
Houston is expected to scour the market for deals leading up to the deadline with an eye on attaching a future first-rounder to Knight and Marquese Chriss. The Rockets would likely push for lottery protections on any picks that would convey past James Harden‘s prime.
Lowe’s latest piece contains trade nuggets from several teams in the league and we’ve already passed along news from the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley and Marc Gasol sweepstakes as well as the Magic’s pre-deadline plan. Here are the rest of the newsworthy notes from the ESPN piece:
- The Hawks have made Taurean Prince available in trade talks, sources tell Lowe. Atlanta hasn’t received a ton of traction on Prince deals because of its asking price. The organization wants a young prospect and a pick in exchange for the small forward.
- The Blazers have put their first-rounder on the table in trade talks, sources tell Lowe. Portland has reached out about Otto Porter Jr.‘s availability, though Wizards owner Ted Leonsis previously announced that the team would not be trading Porter before the deadline.
- Porter has drawn interest from several teams. In addition to the Blazers, the Mavericks and Jazz have kept an eye on the situation. Dallas was interested in swapping Harrison Barnes for Porter prior to the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
- Miami appears to be willing to move anyone but Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Bam Adebayo for cap relief. Lowe expects the Heat to try to get at least a second-round pick for Wayne Ellington.
- Lowe confirms a previous report that JaMychal Green, Justin Holiday, and Garrett Temple are all available. Holiday, who was acquired from the Bulls earlier this year, cost the Grizzlies two second-round picks.
- The Kings have approximately $11MM in cap space available and they want to use it to pick up an asset. Lowe writes that it could be a draft pick or a player who will help them win this season.
- Sacramento is willing to engage in trade talks about Willie Cauley-Stein, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. The Kings may simply let the center walk should he receive too high of an offer this offseason.
- The Bulls are expected to listen to offers for anyone but Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter. Lowe doesn’t expect Chicago to deal either Kris Dunn or Zach LaVine though, as the team’s asking price is anticipated to be too high.
- The Nuggets own a pair of trade exceptions and have slightly less than $7MM in breathing room under the tax. They are open to taking on a salary dump if another team calls and has to shed a player in that price range.
Hawks only asking for a young player and a pick for Prince? That’s easy. Blazers should pick him up.
Interested to see what teams like the Blazers with picks in the 20’s get for their pick in this draft if traded by the deadline.
With new prospects being allowed to enter the draft straight from high school, I’m willing to bet the value of 1st rounders, even those in the early to mid 20’s, should really increase..
They’re going to start to allow them to forego college starting with the 2020 draft I think, so that’s when you should see 1st rounders start to become more valuable..Simply just because you’ll have more prospects to choose from, especially if some freshmen this season stay, and continue to improve..
That won’t help the 2019 draft, even it did happen by 2020. Based on what I’ve read 2020 is off the table, and the earliest is likely 2022 at this point. The league has prerequisites that have to be met before they do it.
In any event, I think the first draft reintroducing HS players will greatly benefit at the top, and the next one or two benefit in the middle to bottom. After that, I don’t know if the picks will be considered any more or less valuable; I’d guess less valuable, but its just a guess.
I bet Demps goes for the 2022 draft. It’s a draft and a half!
It still amazes me how little value teams see in Brandon Knight. I know his contract is big, but it’s really not that big compared to some really bad deals. He is only 27 and not THAT far removed from being a quality starting guard. I really hope he gets another opportunity to prove himself as a quality player in the NBA, but I have a feeling he will not get the chance to be any more than a 12 minute a night guy.
He’s signed for next year, but considered dead money (negative value) at 15.6 mm. If a team takes on his contract, I think its unlikely they cut him before next training camp, so he’ll have something of a chance.
Amico Hoops says Koby Altman says he doesn’t plan to make a trade early in week, but would like to at deadline. Would like another 1st round pick. Sources say Sixers and Spurs may be interested in Hood and Burks. Spurs have their own pick and Toronto’s.
Gotta make room for Clarkson!
The Sexton-Clarkson-Osman 1-2-3 next year will be scary to friend and foe alike (not many assists in that group). Though I think Clarkson has been adding more awareness of teammates to his game due to wanting to be a leader.