The NBA had a busy trade deadline, but there were no blockbuster deals completed last week, with role players like Buddy Hield, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Gordon Hayward among the biggest names who were on the move. However, according to Howard Beck of The Ringer, executives around the league are expecting more fireworks during the 2024 offseason.
“There will be a lot of parts moved this offseason,” one Eastern Conference executive told Beck. “There’s going to be some options, some high-level guys that ask to get moved.”
As Beck writes, this spring’s playoff results could have a significant impact on what the trade market looks like this offseason. If a team with expectations of a deep playoff run gets bounced early, rival executives will be watching closely to see if that team’s stars have a wandering eye. The Lakers (LeBron James), Suns (Kevin Durant), and Cavaliers (Donovan Mitchell) are among the examples Beck provides, with one exec predicting that “there’s no doubt” Mitchell leaves Cleveland at the end of his current contract in 2025.
There will also be franchises with increasingly expensive rosters who may begin to feel pressure to make a move to generate more financial flexibility or to avoid committing to a pricey luxury tax bill, Beck notes, identifying the Celtics, Timberwolves, and Pelicans as some of the teams that rivals will be monitoring.
Beck is also the latest reporter to say that executives around the NBA believe Trae Young‘s name will pop up in trade rumors this offseason. One Western Conference exec told Beck, “I think they would love to trade Trae,” while another said the Hawks discussed a potential Young deal with the Spurs prior to last Thursday’s deadline.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Appearing on ESPN on Wednesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver once again stated that Las Vegas is “definitely on our list” of markets that will receive consideration for the next round of expansion, according to The Associated Press. “We want to figure out what our media relationships are going to look like but then we will turn to expansion,” Silver said.
- Former NBA lottery pick Emmanuel Mudiay has signed with Piratas de Quebradillas, according to an Instagram post from the Puerto Rican team. Mudiay, who also played in Puerto Rico’s BSN league last season for Cangrejeros de Santurce, was the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft and has appeared in over 300 NBA games, most recently with Sacramento in 2021/22.
- Former NBA sharpshooter Bryn Forbes has been arrested on a family violence charge, per an Associated Press report. Forbes, who was also arrested last February following a domestic incident, was jailed on Tuesday in San Antonio on a charge of assaulting a family member by choking/strangulation, which is considered a third-degree felony. The 30-year-old hasn’t been in the NBA since he was waived by Minnesota a year ago.
- With G League Ignite prospect Ron Holland unable to participate in All-Star weekend due to a thumb injury, the NBA has announced that Cavaliers two-way forward Emoni Bates will replace him in the Rising Stars game (press release) and that Bulls two-way center Adama Sanogo will take his place in the G League Up Next game (Twitter link).
Can’t blame Trae for wanting out…
When did Trae ever say he wanted out of Atlanta. A goof ball NBA writer, not named Woj or Shams, wrote a silly article about the Lakers, who have very, very few assets, want to trade for Trae. Just silliness.
Same for the LeBron leaving the Lakers stories. Silliness. Add LeBron to Golden State right now, and they still don’t come out of the West, and don’t even get past Denver or the Clippers in the 2nd round.
The Lakers supposedly have assets to pursue DeJounte and Trae according to these writers …. But somehow the Lakers are not supposed to be able to figure out how to find a 2nd round pick to draft Bronny, and keep them both in L.A. where they want to be. Silly NBA writers with no information just making stuff up.
Did you miss the part about them talking with the Spurs at the deadline?
Why would an “unnamed” Western Conference exec have the details on discussions between the Spurs and Hawks for Trae Young??? There wasn’t any “discussion”. Hawks have nothing to talk to the Spurs about.
Made up story from a guy who NOBODY can tell you when the last time he actually had a scoop. Front office guys talk to Woj, and only when deal is basically done. Agents provide the other info to Woj and Shams. Other guys have nothing. “Unnamed” execs in a conference.
Tight lid typically kept on trade discussions to not piss off a player who doesn’t get moved. Why would you risk your front office job to give scoop to Howard Beck of The Ringer? When has Howard Beck ever had scoop?
I agree. However, if they decide to move Trae, DJ isn’t that much of a downgrade as the primary PG.
The rumors that Trae wanted out aren’t exactly new. Trae’s never mentioned it to he media but there have been grumblings that he wanted out since the Lloyd Pierce days, apparently they didn’t get along and bumped heads frequently and Trae said as much after they fired Pierce. He didn’t have a great relationship with McMillan either as he skipped out on an actual game during his tenure. The rumors I’ve read early in the season point towards him having a good relationship with Snyder and his actual willingness to try to play defense may show that they do.
Just say you would set yourself on fire if Trae got traded. If this stresses you out, that’s a you problem.
I say this with the obvious caveat that I’m a Cavs fan…
But what indication has Mitchell ever given that he wants to leave? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, blah blah blah, but I’ve never seen anything more than unsubstantiated reports from reporters who are probably just speculating.
The idea of playing for the Knicks always made sense for him but I don’t think that’s a possibility for them unless they do something else to make room for him, and I can’t imagine he’d find a better scenario elsewhere among the realistic places he could end up unless the Cavs completely lay an egg in the playoffs again. His commitment to playing defense and his attitude have been great, so the fact that he’s waiting until later to maximize his earnings doesn’t necessarily seem to mean that he can’t wait to leave.
There haven’t been any indications from Mitchell that he wants out of Cleveland. The chatter started back when he in Utah and he never gave any indication there either.
Obviously he’s from New York and what kid wouldn’t want to play for his hometown team? He realizes he wouldn’t fit there though as Brunson is firmly entrenched in the spot Spida would play.
Even if there were any indication from him… well winning cures all. The Cavs have something special there. They were playing well even with two of their starters out, I know I wrote them off when Mobley went down. I think they’re good enough to beat anyone but Boston in the East and the playoffs are as much a battle of attrition as they are matchups and players. The Cavs could very well find themselves in the finals when it’s all said and done. Given the way Mitchell has carried himself since entering the league I see no way he’d ask for a trade if the Cavs made a deep playoff run.
Yeah I feel like there have always been reports (and you’re right, they date back to Utah) that make him come off as a selfish guy that always wants to go somewhere else, but that definitely doesn’t seem to be true at all. I think the Knicks link was at least possible a while ago, but that doesn’t really look like an option now. I mostly just wanted to see if I was being too naive and blocking out some obvious signs that he clearly wanted out but I don’t think that’s been the case lol
I agree with you about their standing in the East, and the only way I could possibly believe that he’d want out is if they fall flat on their faces in the playoffs again this year or next year. I think he’s staying through next year no matter what because I don’t think they’re trading him, so I think if he leaves it would be through free agency.
link to x.com
One of best shooters ever. Never gets mentioned. Cavs legend