George Hill‘s name has come up more frequently in conversations among team executives as the trade deadline approaches, writes Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, adding that the Clippers, Lakers, and Sixers are among the teams with interest in the Thunder guard. Hill hasn’t played since January 24 due to a thumb injury, but is out of his cast and is working toward a return, as Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder tweets.
While some clubs are hoping the Thunder will buy out Hill, that seems unlikely, since he has another partially guaranteed year left on his contract, and buyouts aren’t really Sam Presti‘s “M.O.,” as one assistant general manager tells Fischer.
Plus, the Thunder are in position to take on salary in trades if it nets them greater draft compensation, Fischer writes. Oklahoma City is one of two teams – along with New York – that remains below the salary floor this season, as John Hollinger of The Athletic observes, so the club could take on about $12MM without taking any real financial hit.
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:
- A number of Pelicans players were prominently involved in trade rumors in January and February, but some of that talk has died down as of late, according to Fischer, who says there doesn’t seem to be any real traction toward an Eric Bledsoe deal. As for J.J. Redick, a buyout seems more likely than a trade at this point, per Fischer.
- Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. is available in trade discussions, but would probably only make sense as a salary-matching piece for a high-salary player, such as DeMar DeRozan, writes Fischer. If Porter remains in Chicago through the deadline, it’s possible he could emerge as a buyout candidate.
- The only way the Knicks would realistically pull the trigger on a Victor Oladipo trade this week is if the team receives assurances that he’ll re-sign this summer, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post, who says the team isn’t interested in giving up any real assets for a rental.
- Potential buyers are expecting – or at least hoping – that the price tags on certain big-name trade candidates, such as Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, and Harrison Barnes, will drop as the deadline nears, tweets Chris Mannix of SI.com. I’m not sure that’s a safe bet, since it seems to be a sellers’ market.
Good luck explaining the benefits of buy out to Pelicans ownership
What is the benefit for the team? There is none. Just helps contenders.
If you are known as the team that doesn’t consider the well-being of a player, in other words buyouts are NOT an option, that word will get around.
The word will get around that you’d rather sit the veteran on the end of the bench than let him go somewhere where he’ll be used. You’d rather send a veteran home to watch TV then allow a guy who’s been a great teammate, a great player, but the team sucks now so you’re going to play your young guys, and he makes so much money you can’t really trade him because of how the salary cap works…, that word will get out. No consideration at all for a veteran player.
It is definitely beneficial to the team to engage in buyouts in certain situations. It benefits the players, it benefits the league, and it benefits the teams. It’s the only work around to this current salary cap structure.
League can step in and I think they will in the future …
Its not good for teams, its good for the top 3 contenders while actually widening the gap between the rest and for that reason Id say it doesnt benefit the league either
I guess what I’m saying is the players ARE the league. Let them play instead of ride the pine when the team wants to play its youth cuz the season is over. The guy is getting paid anyway let him walk, join another team. Why wait until after season when he’s a free agent in the summer? Maybe he can contribute now?
So still pay the player almost all of the money so they can play with someone else? How about if you want a buyout, you give up all the remaining money on your contract to get out? I think that works best. If you can’t fulfill your contract, give up the money and then you can move on to another team but guys want to have their cake and eat it.
That’s an idealistic approach but in practice it would hurt the player and the team
Almost no player would leave their entire salary on the table
And teams with these players would then no longer save money
5 or 7 or 9 million in savings for a team can be meaningful. On a good summer you might be able to get two rotation guys for that money — as opposed to having a guy on your team for his full salary who no longer makes sense for your team
Nets want Norman Powell
Willing to give up anything from bench plus two picks this summer
Basically Knicks are not willing to give up anything for Oladipo
Frank NT, Rivers and Gibson?
How about Heat?
Heat refuse to offer Herro or Achiuwa
Heat also refuse to offer future First
Now Rockets go back to Knicks talk
Frank NT can help Rockets with the future if Rockets hire Sam Hinkie as a rebuild consultant
If no one wants to meet the asking price for Oladipo or Aaron Gordon then it seems likely that they will be traded for each other. They just need to iron out the details.
Gordon says he doesn’t want to go to Houston, but even though they won’t be going to the playoffs this year they will be much better next season if/when they add him.
Why would Orlando want VO? They’re out of the playoff picture, and he isn’t re-signing with them.
It doesn’t matter if Oladipo re-signs with the team he is traded to.
He still has value in a sign and trade to a contender after the season.
Only if the team he’s going to isn’t the Heat or another team with cap space to sign him outright. Contingent nominal value isn’t going to be enough for Gordon. They need to find a team that actually wants VO, even if enough to send assets to Orlando.
So instead of getting young players and draft picks for Gordon,they instead will trade him for a guy they have already had once before who is going to leave in the offseason. Who they MIGHT be able to do a sign and trade with (unlikely since heat and Knicks will both have cap space) that’s what you realistically think is going to happen???
If it’s the best offer they get for Aaron Gordon, then yes. They say the Rockets are offering 2 first round picks in the deal, if no one else matches that then why wouldn’t they make the trade?
Even if the Magic just let Oladipo walk this summer it still frees up $21M in cap space if the team is looking to lower their payroll.
Why is it likely. The internet is not “HomerVision” lol
Plenty of teams want Gordon. So they have nothing in common LOL. Rockets were smart they can use a third team to make it work. Magic are not taking a hurt player they gave up on. Get real dude. Then you have a yr to show Gordon why he should stay.
I like Gordon for Rockets. But they might be better off going for Bagley. He’s a great fit with Wood and Wall could help him grow. They can help each other really. Bagley to me is a wiser move.
Stick to trolling Wally, these trade scenarios aren’t your strong suit
JJ gets bought out. There will be plenty of interest for him. I know Knicks will want him. Probably best for him to go to Sixers, Bucks, Clippers.
Wow, fun to think that after having such a huge payroll, OKC is actually sub-floor this year.
Otto Porter and Markanen to GS
For Andrew Wiggins or Kelly Oubre +
Please god no
Knicks continue to be surprisingly smart about things
New management has been smart so far so good. The one mishap being the Obi Toppin pick which can be excused because nobody expected Randle to play this well,