Celtics Rumors

Trade Rumors: Brunson, Simmons, Horton-Tucker, More

After Marc Stein reported on Monday that Jalen Brunson is more likely to stay with the Mavericks through February 10 than to be traded at the deadline, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon conveyed a similar sentiment during an appearance on Zach Lowe’s podcast, The Lowe Post.

“I have been assured that they will not move Brunson before the trade deadline unless it is, and I quote, a ‘What the bleep are they thinking?’ type of offer,” MacMahon said, according to NBC Sports.

Brunson has become an integral part of the Mavericks’ offense, posting career highs in PPG (15.7) and APG (5.6) so far this season. While he has generated plenty of interest ahead of his looming free agency, Dallas reportedly remains confident in its ability to re-sign him. However, Lowe – who previously suggested the flight risk for Brunson is “very, very real” – warns that the Mavs should be careful about how they approach those negotiations.

“The thing on Brunson is I wouldn’t mess around too much if I were the Mavs,” Lowe said, per NBC Sports. “That’s all I’ll say. I wouldn’t be too cute with the negotiating. I wouldn’t be too cute, based on what I’ve heard.”

Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:

  • Executives around the NBA aren’t fully convinced that the Kings are really finished with the Ben Simmons sweepstakes, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. “The Kings needed to walk away because the Sixers were unreasonable in their demands,” an Eastern Conference executive told Bleacher Report. “If Philly backs off [those demands] some, perhaps Sacramento could still make a run at [Simmons].”
  • Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker is viewed by rival teams as a “marginal asset,” Pincus writes in the same Bleacher Report story. Even though he’s still a developing prospect, Horton-Tucker earns a higher salary than virtually every other 21-year-old in the NBA and will be able to reach unrestricted free agency as early as 2023, diminishing his value.
  • Pincus adds in the same Bleacher Report story that most teams expect Damian Lillard to sign a two-year contract extension with the Trail Blazers in the offseason. That suggests Lillard won’t be asking for a trade anytime soon.
  • The Celtics are open to virtually any trade inquiry leading up to the February 10 deadline, but any roster “fireworks” are more likely to happen in the offseason than this month, writes Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. According to Bulpett, multiple sources believe that if Boston doesn’t play well in the second half, it’s possible Jaylen Brown could “acknowledge that the mix isn’t right and seek a move.”

2022 NBA Trade Deadline Preview: Atlantic Division

With the NBA’s February 10 trade deadline around the corner, we’re taking a closer look at all 30 teams, breaking down their potential plans for the deadline and identifying their most likely trade candidates. We’re focusing today on the Atlantic Division.


Boston Celtics

Trade deadline goals:

Despite some speculation that the Celtics may consider breaking up their wing duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, it doesn’t appear that’s a realistic possibility at this year’s trade deadline. Maybe Boston starts to weigh the idea more seriously in the 2022 offseason or at the 2023 deadline, but for now, the plan is to build around Tatum and Brown — and to find the right pieces to complement the two young stars.

The 26-25 Celtics likely won’t be strong buyers or strong sellers, since they’re a ways from title contention but have too much talent to bottom out and compete for a top draft pick.

Besides acquiring players who are good fits alongside Tatum and Brown, the Celtics appear motivated to trim team salary a little, both this year and next. An in-season trade of Juan Hernangomez moved Boston closer to escaping the luxury tax, but it’s unclear exactly how much more salary the club will have to shed to sneak under the tax line.

If Brown appears in 65+ games and makes the All-Star team, he’ll earn bonuses that push the Celtics approximately $2.75MM over the tax; if not, the C’s will only be over the tax threshold by about $850K. In the latter scenario, the team could salary-dump a single player to avoid being a taxpayer.

Top trade candidates:

Dennis Schröder is the most obvious trade candidate on the Celtics’ roster. He’s on a one-year contract, isn’t an ideal fit with Tatum and Brown, and seems unlikely to remain in Boston beyond this season. His $5.9MM expiring deal shouldn’t be difficult to move.

Al Horford and Josh Richardson have been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, which is perhaps an indication that the Celtics may be looking to clear some money off their 2022/23 cap. Horford is owed a partial guarantee of $14.5MM on his $26.5MM salary for next season, while Richardson has a guaranteed $12.2MM cap hit. Both players would be unrestricted free agents in 2023.

Schröder, Horford, and Richardson aren’t Boston’s only trade candidates — anyone outside of Tatum and Brown could probably be had. I wouldn’t expect young center Robert Williams to go anywhere, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see any other young Celtics on the move, including former lottery picks Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford.

Longtime Celtic Marcus Smart is also the subject of more trade rumors this season, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens values the veteran guard highly and won’t trade him without getting a strong return.

The Celtics have a series of sizeable trade exceptions that could be used to accommodate certain players and deals, but their tax concerns will reduce their options with those exceptions.


Brooklyn Nets

Trade deadline goals:

Kevin Durant is injured. Kyrie Irving is ineligible to play in home games. And James Harden is reportedly looking forward to testing the free agent market this summer.

It’s not an ideal situation for Brooklyn’s Big Three, but the odds of any of those three players being traded by February 10 are slim to none.

If and when they get Durant, Irving, and Harden on the court at the same time, the Nets still look like they could be the team to beat in the East. So any moves they make at the deadline will probably be tweaks around the edges of their roster, rather than something drastic.

Top trade candidates:

The Nets are working with Paul Millsap‘s camp to try to find a new home for the veteran big man, who hasn’t seen much action in his first year in Brooklyn, and hasn’t been very effective when he has played.

Brooklyn reportedly wants to get something of value in return for Millsap, but should probably be satisfied if it can get off the minimum-salary contract without attaching an asset or taking back any salary. That would open up a spot on the 15-man roster for the team to promote Kessler Edwards from his two-way contract and make sure he’s playoff-eligible.

Besides Millsap, Nic Claxton, Bruce Brown, and Jevon Carter are among the other Nets players whose names have popped up in trade rumors.

Claxton and Brown are free agents at season’s end, so if Brooklyn isn’t comfortable with giving them new deals and can improve this year’s roster by moving them, perhaps there’s a deal to be made. Carter, who is out of the rotation, is more expendable — based on how this season has gone, the team may welcome the opportunity to get off his $3.9MM salary for 2022/23.


New York Knicks

Trade deadline goals:

Even though the roster didn’t undergo major offseason changes, this season’s Knicks haven’t been able to recapture the magic that last season’s squad generated. The 24-27 team has struggled to find an effective starting lineup and has taken a step backwards on both offense and defense.

President of basketball operations Leon Rose has exercised patience every step of the way since taking the reins in the Knicks’ front office, so I wouldn’t count on him to sacrifice a handful of valuable draft assets to try to acquire players who can turn things around immediately. It’s equally unlikely that he’ll throw in the towel on this season and start selling off players for picks.

While any major changes can probably wait until the offseason, something’s got to give with the current roster. The mix of players isn’t right, and even with Derrick Rose sidelined, the rotation is too crowded for Tom Thibodeau to find regular minutes for Cam Reddish after the front office surrendered a protected first-round pick to get him. Some sort of consolidation trade may be in the cards.

Top trade candidates:

Kemba Walker‘s New York homecoming was a great offseason story, but it hasn’t been a success on the court. Walker isn’t the same offensive player he was in his prime before chronic knee injuries began to slow him down, and he’s never been an above-average defender. He’s on the trade block, but his multiyear contract doesn’t have positive value.

The same is probably true of another free agent the Knicks signed in the offseason — Evan Fournier has $37MM in guaranteed money owed to him for the two seasons beyond this one, and while that’s hardly an albatross, it’s not a bargain for a player whose offensive production has been inconsistent and who also isn’t a plus on defense.

New York would likely have more success shopping Alec Burks – whose $10MM annual salary is a solid value, given his contributions – and Mitchell Robinson, whose athleticism and rim-protecting ability makes him an intriguing prospect even with unrestricted free agency looming.

While the Knicks moved on from Kevin Knox in the Reddish deal, I’d be a little surprised if the team was willing to trade a more recent first-rounder like Obi Toppin or Immanuel Quickley. Still, Toppin continues to play a pretty modest rotation role and New York has received inquiries on Quickley, so it’s certainly not inconceivable.


Philadelphia 76ers

Trade deadline goals:

On the surface, the Sixers’ deadline goal is the NBA’s easiest to identify: they want to move Ben Simmons.

But it’s not quite that simple. More and more reports in recent weeks have suggested that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey is willing to extend Philadelphia’s standoff with Simmons beyond the trade deadline and into the 2022 offseason, when the club hopes that more star players will be available and a wider variety of trade scenarios could be on the table.

Are they posturing? Maybe! But if that’s the case, we should start hearing pretty soon about Simmons trade talks getting more serious. Instead, at least one team (Sacramento) that looked like a serious suitor has pulled out of the discussions, at least until the Sixers lower their asking price — and there’s increasing skepticism that will happen by February 10.

It may seem like managerial malpractice to not take the best offer available for Simmons in order to immediately upgrade a roster that could be a serious threat to come out of a wide-open East. But the 76ers want to make sure they maximize the value of their best available trade chip and make themselves contenders for years to come, rather than chasing short-term success.

Top trade candidates:

If Simmons stays put, it’s unclear what other moves the Sixers might have up their sleeves. Players like Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Isaiah Joe, and Paul Reed have been mentioned in trade rumors, but only when tied to Simmons-related scenarios. It’s not out of the question that the team holding the biggest trade chip could make it through the deadline without making a single deal.

The 76ers do have draft picks available that could be used in non-Simmons trades to upgrade the roster. But they’ve committed their 2025 first-rounder to Oklahoma City, limiting their flexibility to some extent.

Plus, if the team is truly focused on trading Simmons in the offseason for a player like James Harden or Bradley Beal, it may want to hang onto its top draft assets to use as sweeteners in those scenarios.


Toronto Raptors

Trade deadline goals:

Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri hasn’t been shy in the past about making major trades at the deadline when he feels that his team is missing a piece. He acquired Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker in separate deals in February 2017; two years later, he landed Marc Gasol.

Those Raptors teams were closer to title contention than the current group — much closer, in the case of 2019’s squad, which eventually won a championship. Still, Toronto’s 2021/22 roster has an obvious hole at center that Ujiri will certainly be looking to address at the deadline.

I’d be shocked if Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, or Gary Trent Jr. go anywhere in the next 10 days, but no one else on the roster will be off-limits as the club goes shopping for a reliable option at center and perhaps a backup point guard.

Top trade candidates:

Goran Dragic appeared in just five games for the Raptors before being granted permission to leave the team and await his fate — his $19.44MM expiring contract will be a useful salary-matching tool in the right deal. Still, while teams would be interested in Dragic as a lower-cost target on the buyout market, he won’t have positive value at his current number, so Toronto will probably have to attach players or draft assets to get something worthwhile in return.

Earlier in the season, when he was struggling to produce and moving in and out of the rotation, Chris Boucher looked like a prime trade candidate for the Raptors. However, he has played better lately, so I wouldn’t expect him to be on the move unless he has to be included in a deal that improves Toronto’s roster.

I imagine the Raptors would be willing to discuss 2020 first-round picks Malachi Flynn and Precious Achiuwa, who haven’t taken the steps forward this season that the club had perhaps hoped for. Flynn is 23 years old and Achiuwa is just 22, so rival teams may see untapped potential in the duo.

The Raptors have traded away a couple future second-round picks, but own all their first-rounders and almost certainly would have to give up at least one of them if they want to acquire an impact center without moving one of their five core players.

Mavs Rumors: Brunson, Finney-Smith, Kleber, Powell, Dragic

Although Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith have been frequently mentioned in trade rumors within the last few weeks, Marc Stein says in his latest Substack article that the safe money is on both players remaining with the Mavericks through the February 10 trade deadline.

Dallas has rebuffed trade interest in Brunson and Finney-Smith so far, according to Stein, who notes that both players are important parts of the team’s current roster. Discussing Brunson specifically, Stein says the Mavs believe the point guard wants to stick with the team long-term and haven’t considered the idea of sending him to the Knicks in a deal that would allow them to reacquire their 2023 first-round pick.

While the Mavs would ideally like to extend both Brunson and Finney-Smith before they reach unrestricted free agency this summer, it’s unclear if either player will be interested in a four-year, $55.6MM deal, which is the most Dallas can offer at this point. A previous report stated that Finney-Smith may be seeking $15MM+ annually on his next contract, and Stein says Brunson is believed to after $18MM+ per year.

Here’s more on the Mavs:

  • As they consider potential deadline moves, the Mavs are looking to upgrade their offense rather than their defense, which is why they backed off pursuing rim-protecting Pacers center Myles Turner, Stein writes.
  • Dallas’ ability to make an impact trade may be hindered by the lack of interest in many of their players outside of Brunson and Finney-Smith, according to Stein. Tim Hardaway Jr. was having a down year before he got hurt, and the perceived trade value of Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell has “waned,” Stein adds.
  • Sources tell Stein that using their $10.9MM trade exception to acquire guard Dennis Schröder from the Celtics isn’t in the Mavs’ plans.
  • If Goran Dragic is bought out, either by the Raptors or by a team that acquires him as a salary-matching piece, Dallas would be among the frontrunners to sign him, but multiple clubs would be in the running, according to Stein.

Marcus Smart Supports Udoka, Still Playing With Glass In His Right Hand

  • Celtics guard Marcus Smart is a supporter of coach Ime Udoka, who has come under criticism during his first season in Boston, per Jay King of The Athletic. Smart complimented Udoka on the job he’s done so far and said he trusts his coach to act in his best interests. “Being in Boston and coaching for Boston, it’s not easy, especially for your first year,” Smart said. “So we just have to continue to help him. I’ve gotta continue to help him. I’ve been here the longest. I know the guys more than he does. And I’ve gotta be that quarterback out there for him.”
  • Smart admitted Saturday that he still has pieces of glass in his right hand after punching a picture frame four years ago, tweets Keith Smith of CelticsBlog. “Yeah, it gets like this ever since the picture frame incident,” Smart said. “There’s still some glass in there. The doctors said it would cause more issues to take it out, so I still have glass in there. Sometimes I can’t really feel my hand.”

Eastern Trade Rumors: Smart, Hawks, Collins, Siakam, Sabonis, More

Prior to sending Cam Reddish to New York, the Hawks discussed the framework of a trade with the Celtics that would’ve sent Reddish and Kevin Huerter to Boston in a deal for Marcus Smart, reports Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

Huerter is one of 11 players affected this season by the poison pill provision, complicating salary-matching in any trade involving him, but the deal described by Fischer theoretically would’ve worked for both sides if Atlanta had included another minimum-salary player (likely Solomon Hill).

Smart ultimately stayed put, and Fischer says it would take “significant value” for the Celtics to move him in another deal in the next two weeks. According to Fischer, there’s a sense around the league that the Celtics will be better in the second half than they were in the first half, as long as they’re healthier and first-year head coach Ime Udoka gets more comfortable.

Here a few more trade notes and rumors from around the Eastern Conference:

  • One team contacted by the Hawks told Bleacher Report that Atlanta wanted a “valuable” first-round pick and a starting-caliber player in exchange for John Collins. Other teams think the Hawks could get even more than that for Collins, says Fischer.
  • According to Fischer, the Raptors and Pacers at least briefly discussed a trade involving Domantas Sabonis and Pascal Siakam, but those talks stalled. The concept makes some sense in theory, since it would allow Myles Turner to be the lone center in Indiana, and Toronto has long been in the market for a five.
  • Since Brook Lopez‘s recovery timeline remains up in the air, the Bucks are “poking around” the market for a center, with Suns big man Jalen Smith mentioned as a possible target, per Fischer. Semi Ojeleye is considered to be available and Milwaukee has received inquiries about Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo, Fischer adds.
  • A handful of teams have expressed some interest in Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman, including the Spurs, Hornets, Mavericks, and Bucks, writes Fischer.

Rockets Rumors: Gordon, Wood, Theis

A report earlier this week stated that the Rockets appear increasingly likely to hang onto Eric Gordon through this season’s trade deadline, but Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report hears that Houston – in discussions with rival teams – has conveyed confidence about receiving a first-round pick in exchange for Gordon.

Unless the pick is heavily protected or they’d have to take a really bad contract or two back in return, it’s hard to imagine the Rockets would turn down the opportunity to acquire a first-rounder for the 33-year-old guard, who doesn’t fit the their rebuild timeline.

While there may have been some truth to The Athletic’s report about the Rockets’ desire to keep Gordon for his leadership abilities, I suspect the team is posturing at least to some extent in an effort to get teams to increase their offers.

Here’s more on the Rockets:

  • An earlier report on Christian Wood linked him to the Heat, stating that Miami has been one of the most “persistent” teams engaging with Houston in conversations about Wood. Fischer confirms the Heat have been frequently mentioned recently as a potential suitor for the big man.
  • According to Fischer, word of a possible Wood/Duncan Robinson framework has circulated around the league, but the Rockets would certainly require a far greater return for their leading scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker, who is on a very team-friendly contract (Wood will earn $13.7MM this season and $14.3MM in 2022/23).
  • Rockets center Daniel Theis has been generating significant interest, Fischer reports, naming the Hornets, Bucks, and Raptors as teams that have inquired on the big man. Fischer also confirms that the Celtics have checked in on Theis, as previously reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Eastern Trade Rumors: Pacers, Sixers, Hawks, Celtics, More

Although Domantas Sabonis‘ name has frequently surfaced in trade rumors in the last couple months, one executive who spoke to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype said he doesn’t think the Pacers will move Sabonis unless they get a package like the one Orlando got for Nikola Vucevic last season. Chicago gave up two lightly-protected first-round picks and young center Wendell Carter Jr. for Vucevic, and took on Al-Farouq Aminu‘s multiyear contract in the deal.

The price will be significantly lower for other Pacers trade candidates, including Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb, who are both available, according to Scotto. Rival executives tell HoopsHype that Indiana is thought to be seeking a couple second-round picks for Holiday.

Scotto doesn’t specify an asking price for Lamb, but I imagine it will be a challenge for the Pacers to get positive value for the veteran wing — he’s having a down year and is earning more than $10MM.

Here are a few more trade rumors from around the Eastern Conference from the latest episode of the HoopsHype Podcast:

  • When the Sixers and Hawks discussed Ben Simmons, they “briefly kicked around” a trade that would’ve involved Simmons, Tobias Harris, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Danilo Gallinari, according to Scotto. That concept didn’t gain any traction though, as Atlanta has no interest in Harris.
  • Scotto has heard the Celtics did due diligence on Rockets center Daniel Theis, but says a reunion with the big man is less likely following last week’s Juan Hernangomez trade, since Hernangomez would’ve been the most logical salary-matching piece in any deal involving Theis. Scotto adds that rival executives believe Boston will hang onto Robert Williams, viewing him as part of the team’s current core.
  • The Hornets, Raptors, and Bulls are among the teams in the market for a center, says Scotto. The position has been an area of concern for Charlotte and Toronto for a while — Chicago has Vucevic, but would be interested in adding a backup.

Cavaliers May Be Best Option For Schröder Trade

  • The Cavaliers may be the Celtics‘ best option in working out a deal for Dennis Schröder, John Hollinger of the Athletic says in a discussion with Jay King about Boston’s trade prospects. Hollinger proposes sending Schröder to Cleveland for Kevin Pangos, Ed Davis and a 2023 second-round pick in a trade that would leave both teams under the luxury tax.

Celtics Heavily Involved In Trade Discussions

The Celtics have been extremely active in trade talks with the aim of improving the pieces around stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, longtime beat writer Steve Bulpett reports in a Heavy.com story.

President of basketball operations Brad Stevens is looking to at least improve the team’s salary cap sheet and free up more playing time for young players such as Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford.

The Celtics already made one move this month to improve their salary cap situation and reduce their chances of paying the luxury tax, dealing Juancho Hernangomez and his $7MM salary to San Antonio in a three-team trade.

Boston has been exploring the trade value of Al Horford, who is making $27MM this season and has a partial guarantee of $14.5MM on his $26.5MM contract next season.

Though Bulpett didn’t specify which other players the Celtics are looking to deal, it stands to reason that Dennis Schröder (a free agent again this summer), Josh Richardson and Marcus Smart would have the types of contracts they’d like to move. Richardson’s contract runs through next season and Smart signed a four-year extension last summer.

Another interesting nugget in Bulpett’s report is that Celtics had targeted big man Alperen Sengun if they had kept their first round pick last year. They wound up dealing it to Oklahoma City, which eventually ended up drafting Sengun and trading him to the Rockets. Boston shed Kemba Walker‘s contract in the trade with the Thunder. Sengun is averaging 8.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 2.6 APG with Houston in 39 appearances.

Double-Big Lineup Not Working For Celtics