Trail Blazers forward Josh Hart “is a name that is very, very hot right now,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said in the latest episode of his Lowe Post podcast.
In a conversation with ESPN colleague Bobby Marks about Portland’s possible approach to this season’s trade deadline, Lowe stated that there are “a lot” of teams around the NBA who would like Hart, specifically citing Miami as a possible suitor since the 27-year-old is a “Heat kind of guy.”
Hart is playing a crucial role this season for the Blazers. In addition to starting all 45 games he has played, he’s averaging 34.0 minutes per contest and ranks third on the team in total minutes played (1,530). However, his contract situation has made him the subject of trade speculation — he holds a player option on his contract for 2023/24, so he could become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Here’s more from Lowe and Marks:
- Both Marks and Lowe have heard rumblings that the Wizards and Rui Hachimura had discussions prior to the season about a rookie scale extension worth in the neighborhood of $12MM annually, but Hachimura opted to play out his contract year. The forward was traded to Los Angeles on Monday, so the Lakers will have to find common ground with him in free agency if they intend to keep him beyond this season.
- A source from a team with interest in Jae Crowder told Lowe that the Suns are seeking two of the following three things in exchange for the veteran forward: A first-round pick, a good young player, and a solid rotation player. Both Marks and Lowe are skeptical about Phoenix’s chances to get that sort of return, with Lowe remarking that the asking price is why Crowder is still a Sun.
- Lowe keeps hearing that the Grizzlies love Danny Green‘s locker room presence and don’t want to trade him. Green is on track to make his season debut next Wednesday.
- In a discussion about possible deadline moves for the Kings, Lowe said that he’s not sure guard Terence Davis is “loving his playing time” this season and suggested that Davis could be a trade chip. The fourth-year guard is averaging a career-low 12.7 minutes per contest.
- Echoing a recent report from Marc Stein, Lowe indicated that the Hornets appear motivated to hang onto forward P.J. Washington and re-sign him as a restricted free agent this offseason rather than moving him at the deadline.
- Lowe believes the Clippers are a good bet to make a deadline move, but suggests it might be more around the edges than anything major, since the team is reluctant to move Terance Mann and doesn’t have many movable first-round picks left.
Rory Maher contributed to this post.
The Suns want a rotation player, a young prospect, and a first round draft pick for a rotation player. Makes sense.
I was going to say the exact same thing. Seriously overvaluing Crowder.
And like… he hasn’t played all season. What kind of shape is he going to be in when he does? How rusty will he be? Will he be okay with coming off the bench given that was why he sat out to begin with? Too many questions to give anything of actual value for the guy.
That’s a lot to give up for an average role player who sits out when he doesn’t get his way
Rob Covington, BJ Boston, Moses Brown & a future 2nd to Sacramento for Richaun Holmes & Terence Davis… or …Joe Harris, Day’Ron Sharpe & a future 2nd to Sacramento for Richaun Holmes & Terence Davis
Moses is a Two-way Player so he can’t be traded until signed.
Free Roco, Free Thybulle
Great job Rory, best post in a long time
Blazers in danger …
Suns expect all that for a guy who is sitting at home sulking? Good luck with that. Might be lucky to get a 2nd round pick.
I think the inevitable with Crowder will be the suns trading him for very little knowing he relaid in FA. Or they deceive to keep him and are happy to let him walk and not strength another side for the playoffs.
Think if he does move Pheonix won’t want to strengthen another side in the west that they could meet in the playoffs so if he moves it’ll be out East.
From there if your goal is a title and your looking at who is likely to come out the east. Your not going to send him to Milwaukee for that exact reason.
Ultimately what I think happens is they accept less for Crowder and send him to a side 7-12 in the east. So If I’m the suns I’d be talking with the hawks, Knicks and Wizards in particular.
“A first-round pick, a good young player, and a solid rotation player. Both Marks and Lowe are skeptical about Phoenix’s chances to get that sort of return, with Lowe remarking that the asking price is why Crowder is still a Sun”
So they want to get rid of him. But they ask for too much. So he won’t get moved. Is this the new technique. Crowder should just go back to Miami. Fit well there. Wouldn’t give up more than a young player and a pick.
Duncan and a 2nd rd pick.