On an episode of The Ringer’s podcast The Mismatch last week, Kevin O’Connor mentioned that Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis wants out of Indiana. The comment was made in passing and wasn’t expanded upon by O’Connor in any subsequent article or tweet, so it wasn’t clear whether it was something he was reporting or something he’d heard but hadn’t fully confirmed.
Following up on that rumor, Matt Moore of Action Network says he has also heard from multiple sources that Sabonis wants out of Indiana, adding that the big man’s desire for a change of scenery dates back to last season. However, all of Sabonis’ public comments have indicated that he’s happy to stick with the Pacers, and Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files, who is plugged in with the team, called O’Connor’s initial report “false” (Twitter link).
The Pacers are reportedly open to the idea of moving Sabonis, so whether or not he wants to be dealt may ultimately be a moot point — Indiana could trade him either way.
Here are a few more trade rumors from around the league:
- Knicks guard Kemba Walker hasn’t generated much – if any – trade interest from rival teams, since his knees are viewed as too much of a risk, Moore reports.
- Two sources who spoke to Moore suggested the Celtics are more likely to pursue a third impact player to add to their core of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, rather than breaking up the duo.
- The Bulls are in the market for a wing defender who could come off the bench, says Moore.
- Some executives were surprised by Jake Fischer’s report that the Pelicans could be buyers this season, since they’d gotten the impression New Orleans is more interested in long-term assets, Moore writes. Josh Hart is viewed as possibly the most likely trade candidate on the Pels’ roster, Moore adds.
- Despite Mohamed Bamba‘s strong season, the Magic are considered unlikely to discuss center Wendell Carter Jr. in trades, per Moore, who notes that the team also hasn’t yet indicated that Bamba is available.
- According to Moore, the Thunder are a good candidate to be a third team in a Ben Simmons trade, since Sam Presti and Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey have had multiple past dealings and Oklahoma City is well positioned to take on unwanted contracts.
“Since his knees are viewed as too much of a risk”
Oof. Just a couple of years ago he was viewed as a perennial all-star. Now all people think is “Oh, this guy is just an old man wasting cap space!”
I hope the Pacers trade Sabonis to a contender
Agree, he is really talented and is near his prime… Indy looks is like a constant middle of the pack or out of playoffs teams, year after year…
IDK any good and fair trade for him, any ideas?
Sabonis is very talented. The problem with his skill set is he needs 4 shooters around him but one of them has to be a big that defend the rim as he isn’t much of a rim protector nor can he himself consistently shoot the ball. Most of the teams like the nets and the lakers where he’d be a great fit don’t have the means to aquire him. Perhaps Charlotte could pull something off he and Melo would be fun to watch play together.
Wonder if there’s a fit with the Mavs for Sabonis. Maybe do KP and a pick or young player for Sabonis.
Not sure if that’s enough or what the market is for Sab but seems pretty reasonable
Idk if they have the assets to pull it off, but I’m starting to think that Simmons would be the perfect AVAILABLE fit for the C’s… He could play point forward, ala Horford, but with even more switch ability on D… Horford is obviously a better 3 point shooter than Simmons (along with the rest of the league and my 8yr old daughter), but they’d get the defender that they need, along with a natural distributor that they currently lack. With Tatum and Brown, he’d be able to drive and dish all day.. not saying it will happen, but I can see the fit…
mmmmm i think its not possible a trade between two rivals and even tho, the C’s don’t have the assets, unless they are willing to move J. Brown, wich seems unlikely.
Evwry team is a rival dont buy into that media BS, if the trade is there itll be made.
I know that the most important thing is the return, but i can’t remember a huge trade between rivals, when both teams are trying to content in the playoffs
I agree, I don’t think it will happen.. But the more I think about it, the more that I like the fit
Today’s biggest rumor:
Lakers are still trying to upload Westbrook for Ben Simmons.
I really like this upload.
It means to me that
1. Thunder Sam Presti wants to help both teams
2. Ben Simmons doesn’t have much trade value
Go Lakers!
Not happening. OKC is not taking on 80 million plus bad contract and besides THT what does Lakers have to trade? NOTHING
agree, Lakers are not moving RW, all those news are clickbait
But what would Presti download in that transaction?
Typo in the third paragraph…it’s a moo point. Like a cow’s opinion…it doesn’t matter.
They fixed it . . . there’s typos every once in a while. On ProFootballRumors they used the wrong ‘it’s’ the other day lol
We do make the occasional typo, but I think this one was a joke (feel very compelled for some reason to make it clear that I never wrote “moo point,” haha).
Great friends episode.
Sabonis to Grizzlies. They’re playing well and really a big man away from pushing themselves into title contention.
Grizzlies get Sabonis and Warren
Pacers get Adams, Culver, Williams, Anderson and unprotected picks and pick swaps.
#FreeBenSimmons
Sabonis and Lamb to the Celtics
Brown and Favors to the Pacers
Horford a Boston 2nd and a Indy 2nd to OKC.