The Suns, Pacers and Knicks recently had exploratory trade talks on a deal that would have sent Cameron Payne to New York, T.J. McConnell to Phoenix, and Evan Fournier and draft picks to Indiana, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Other iterations of the deal included Jordan Nwora, according to Scotto, though it’s unclear where the Pacers forward would have ended up in that framework.
However, the talks on the three-team trade have stalled, Scotto reports. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports was first to report the Suns and Pacers discussed a deal involving Payne and McConnell, and suggested the Knicks may have been involved as well.
Here’s more from Scotto’s latest article for HoopsHype:
- League sources tell Scotto that the Hornets are on the hunt for a backup point guard after Dennis Smith Jr. signed with the Nets in free agency. As Scotto previously reported, Charlotte had interest in Aaron Holiday, but he wound up signing with the Rockets. According to Scotto, one player on Charlotte’s radar is Wizards guard Delon Wright, who will make $8.2MM next season in the final year of his contract. The Wizards traded for Tyus Jones and Jordan Poole, and Wright was signed by the previous front office regime. The 31-year-old has already seen his name pop up in a few other trade rumors this offseason.
- Scotto recently spoke to a handful of second-round picks at Summer League about their goals entering their rookie seasons. Those players are Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, Celtics forward Jordan Walsh, and Mouhamed Gueye and Seth Lundy of the Hawks. Walsh, the No. 38 pick of the 2023 draft, has high expectations for himself, he told Scotto. “If I get a chance to play with these guys and help the team, I want to be on the All-Defensive First or Second Team or Defensive Player of the Year,” Walsh said. “My goals are defensively oriented and winning a championship, which is No. 1. If I’m able to accomplish any of those things, I’d feel my rookie year went pretty well.”
- In case you missed it, we passed along some Raptors rumors and free agent rumors from Scotto as well.
Celtics drafted Jordan Walsh who wants to be a defensive star! Smart! Great! Now Coach Mazzulla needs to install a defense which works. Last season we couldn’t stop 3-point shooters which made games almost impossible to watch. And against Miami in the Eastern Finals we made the Heat into 3-point stars! Gabe Vincent, 33% from three in season, shot 51% from three and Caleb Martin, 35% from three in season, shot 49%. Lost ourselves a title. Defense wins championships! Go Celtics!
Nwora is so underrated he should be Pacers starting 3, yet they are giving a thought of trading him for salary dump, that probably comes with only seconds
Delon Wright is a great pick-up, but not for Charlotte.
Wright is a primetime defender that can anchor a 2nd unit on any contender in the league.
Phoenix would be a great spot for Wright if they had the ability to acquire him. Better than McConnell.
Why wouldn’t he fit in Charlotte?
Why would the Knicks have any interest in Payne. I’m hoping Duece gets a more significant role this year.
DeM DeR ……. please
For all the geniuses who love to hate …..
This is Where RJ Barrett ranks in the 2019 NBA Draft class:
PTS — 2nd — 4,900
REB — 1st — 1,469
AST — 7th — 769
FTs — 2nd — 942
DWS — 2nd — 8.2
And he hasn’t peaked yet …….
Zion #1 pick — Doesn’t even know how to eat right yet.
Ja #2 pick — still playing with guns.
Garland #5 pick — Balling
Cam J #11 pick — Balling
PJ Washington #12 pick — playing well
Herro #13 — playing well
Clarke #21 pick — playing well
G Williams #22 pick — playing well
Claxton #31 pick — Balling
These are looking like best picks. RJ is looking like the best pick. Just saying …..,
Bol Bol #44 pick – On his way to the HOF
(I learned that reading this board)