- While the Hawks are ready to deal, GM Travis Schlenk tells Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he doesn’t feel pressure to make moves, since the club has already stockpiled a number of extra draft picks. “We are willing to use our (cap) flexibility if we can get assets we want,” Schlenk said. “But I feel like we’ve done enough early on (that) we have the flexibility to sit back and not take too much (salary) on because we have so many picks. We don’t feel pressure to do anything because of that, but if there is an opportunity that makes sense for us we are certainly going to take a hard look at it.”
The Cavaliers continue to engage the Kings about a possible George Hill trade, sources tell Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. However, the Cavs would like to include both J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in their package for Hill, and taking on multiple expensive non-expiring contracts doesn’t appeal to Sacramento. Meanwhile, the Kings are quietly looking to get a third team involved in a potential deal, according to Mannix.
Mannix’s latest trade rumor roundup features several more tidbits of interest related to Thursday’s deadline, so we’ll pass along the highlights…
- The future of GM Rich Cho in Charlotte is uncertain, which may complicate the Hornets‘ deadline plans. According to Mannix, there are rumblings about former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak being a candidate to join the Hornets’ front office in the offseason. Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times wrote last week that Kupchak is considered likely to be hired by an Eastern Conference team this summer.
- Some teams with interest in Marcus Smart view the Celtics‘ asking price of a first-round pick as “unrealistic,” says Mannix.
- The Hawks have made “everyone” available, and while much has been written about the club’s veteran trade candidates, second-year swingman Taurean Prince is another player who has drawn interest, according to Mannix.
- The Magic have shopped Mario Hezonja “hard” in recent days, per Mannix.
- According to Mannix, the Suns are willing to move veterans like Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley. Neither player’s contract is particularly team-friendly though, so it may be tough for Phoenix to find any value.
- The Clippers say they’re okay with holding onto DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams through the deadline, but rival clubs are skeptical, says Mannix.
The Bucks, Sixers and Thunder are among the teams who have expressed interest in Dewayne Dedmon, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News reports. However, Milwaukee is no longer looking for a big man after acquiring Tyler Zeller from the Nets on Monday night, as Deveney points out (Twitter link).
The Sixers and Thunder are also searching for wing help but could trade for Dedmon to fortify their frontcourts.
Atlanta’s front office would like to move numerous players but Dedmon has attracted the most attention, Deveney adds. Dedmon, who played for the Spurs last season, missed over a month of action with a left leg injury but when healthy the 7-footer has been a rotation player. He’s started 21 of 34 games, averaging a career highs in scoring (10.0 PPG) and rebounding (7.7 RPG).
Dedmon has expanded his offensive game beyond the 3-point line this season and has made a healthy 38.3% of his attempts. He’s likely to re-enter the free agent market after the season. Dedmon, who is making $6MM this season, has a $6.3MM player option for next season and will likely exercise it, according to Deveney.
Since Dedmon would likely only be a rental, the Hawks won’t find a suitor willing to give up a first-round pick for him.
In terms of the teams reportedly interested in Dedmon, he’d serve as backup in Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid or Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams.
- The Hawks have recalled Tyler Cavanaugh from their G League affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks, according to a press release from the team.
- Veteran Ersan Ilyasova could be the Hawks‘ most realistically attractive trade chip, Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes. The 30-year-old sharpshooting forward is an asset on defense and, conveniently, has an expiring contract.
With Jabari Parker‘s return to the court set for Friday night, we relayed several Bucks-related notes and rumors on Thursday, including a couple related to Parker and the contract extension discussions he had with the team last fall. Today, we’ve got a few more Bucks items to pass along, courtesy of Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Let’s dive in…
- Acquiring frontcourt help continues to be the top priority for the Bucks, according to Scotto. While Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is known to be among the team’s targets, Milwaukee is also eyeing more modest trade candidates, such as Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon and Knicks big man Kyle O’Quinn, league sources tell Scotto.
- Although the Bucks expressed trade interest in O’Quinn, the Knicks “aren’t desperate” to deal him for just a second-round pick, says Scotto.
- Matthew Dellavedova is one of the players the Bucks have made available in their search for frontcourt reinforcements, per Scotto.
- The Bucks are also “heavily” shopping Rashad Vaughn after turning down his 2018/19 team option, according to Scotto. Vaughn, who is on a $1.89MM expiring contract, would be easier to move than Dellavedova or some other Bucks on multiyear deals, but he wouldn’t net much of a return.
With the 76ers exploring ways to upgrade their backcourt, former Sixer Lou Williams is among the players on the club’s radar, league sources tell Michael Scotto of The Athletic. According to Scotto, Philadelphia has expressed interest in Williams.
We heard earlier in the week that Tyreke Evans was another potential trade target being eyed by the Sixers, and both Evans and Williams have a similar appeal. Like Evans, Williams is on an expiring contract and is enjoying perhaps the best season of his career in 2017/18. In 49 games, Lou Will has averaged 23.5 PPG and 5.2 APG, with a .443/.390/.895 shooting line.
Of course, unlike Evans’ Grizzlies, Williams’ Clippers remain firmly in the playoff race in the Western Conference, so it remains to be seen if Los Angles will end up moving its veteran guard. According to Scotto, Williams’ preference would be to re-up with the Clips and remain in L.A. beyond this season, but it’s not clear if the club views him as a long-term piece.
With Williams’ future in Los Angeles uncertain, teams like the Sixers and Cavaliers, among others, are monitoring his situation, hoping the Clippers’ asking price will come down, per Scotto. The Clips are said to be seeking a first-round pick in a deal for Williams.
In addition to eyeing Williams, the Sixers are also keeping tabs on Hawks sharpshooter Marco Belinelli, says Scotto. Both Williams ($7MM) and Belinelli ($6.6MM) are on affordable expiring contracts, so it will be interesting to see if Philadelphia is perhaps willing to offer a draft pick along with Jerryd Bayless, whose contract runs through 2018/19.
Before sending Omer Asik to Chicago, the Pelicans explored trading the veteran center to a number of other teams, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. League sources tells Scotto that the Hawks and Pelicans recently talked about a deal that would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova.
The Mavericks discussed a deal that would have seen them take on both Asik and Alexis Ajinca – along with a first-round pick – in exchange for Wesley Matthews, but Dallas was hesitant to take on two undesirable multiyear contracts, says Scotto.
Additionally, the Pelicans proposed a pair of trades to the Lakers, according to Scotto, who reports that one would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to L.A. for Jordan Clarkson, while the other would have sent Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Lakers for Julius Randle. That second deal could technically still happen, but I can’t imagine it would appeal to the Lakers.
Scotto’s piece for The Athletic is jam-packed with more noteworthy trade rumors, so let’s dive in and round up some highlights…
- The Magic‘s front office has “left no stone unturned” as the team explores potential trades. Scotto hears that the club has even quietly gauged trade interest in Aaron Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. I imagine Orlando would require a pretty overwhelming offer to seriously consider moving Gordon.
- Several teams have expressed interest in Nets forward DeMarre Carroll, according to Scotto, who identifies the Heat as one of those teams.
- As we heard on Thursday, the Bulls are still very much open for business. Robin Lopez is a trade candidate, but Chicago wants a first-round pick in a deal for the veteran center, per Scotto.
- Scotto names Malik Beasley, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay as trade candidates for the Nuggets, noting that the team could be a suitor for Jazz guard Rodney Hood.
- Hood isn’t the only Jazz guard who could be available at the deadline — Scotto hears that Utah has also explored the trade market for Ricky Rubio.
- Several teams are monitoring Pistons forward Stanley Johnson. Scotto notes that Johnson was one player the Magic coveted when they discussed deals with Detroit earlier in the season, and adds that the Spurs have interest too.
- Speaking of the Spurs, they’re one of the teams – as are the division-rival Mavericks – that has expressed interest in Knicks center Willy Hernangomez.
- The Wizards are keeping an eye on the trade market and buyout market for a backup point guard, writes Scotto.
- Fourth-year forward Noah Vonleh has been shopped by the Trail Blazers, according to Scotto. In addition to keeping tabs on DeAndre Jordan, Portland is also interested in acquiring a small forward.
- Executives around the NBA believe that Raptors swingman Norman Powell could be a trade candidate during the offseason due to the emergence of rookie OG Anunoby.
- The Hawks have sent Tyler Cavanaugh to the G League, according to a press release from the team. If Cavanaugh’s assignment lasts at least through Friday night, he’ll be able to suit up for the Erie BayHawks tomorrow against Long Island.
The Bucks made headlines last week by parting ways with head coach Jason Kidd, and another major event for the franchise is right around the corner, as Jabari Parker is set to return on Friday from last year’s ACL injury. With Parker poised to get back on the court, ESPN’s Zach Lowe takes a look at the situation in Milwaukee, sharing a couple interesting tidbits on the 22-year-old’s contract situation.
According to Lowe, the Bucks and Parker discussed an extension last offseason that would have been worth $54MM over three years. The former No. 2 overall pick wasn’t willing to accept that offer, so the two sides discussed other possible deals, including shorter- and longer-term scenarios. However, Milwaukee’s per-year limit was always right around $18MM, says Lowe.
Parker – who views himself as a max player, per Lowe – will now have at least a couple months to prove that he’s worth a massive investment, though it remains to be seen how high the Bucks will be prepared to go this summer when Parker reaches restricted free agency.
Here’s more from Lowe on the Bucks:
- Providing a few more details on Kidd’s ouster, Lowe says that the former Bucks head coach had a “sometimes strained” relationship with the team’s medical staff, and that some players wanted more communication and support from Kidd.
- Although there were reports indicating that Giannis Antetokounmpo was “devastated” as a result of Kidd’s firing, the move isn’t expected to result in a lingering rift between the club and its star player, writes Lowe.
- Prior to acquiring Eric Bledsoe from the Suns, the Bucks discussed a similar deal with the Hawks for Dennis Schroder, league sources tell Lowe.
- The Bucks continue to be active in trade discussions, but talks with the Clippers for DeAndre Jordan haven’t gotten anywhere near serious, according to Lowe. The ESPN scribe suggests that Derrick Favors might be a decent fit for Milwaukee, but isn’t sure whether the team has the right assets to appeal to the Jazz.