Dallas Mavericks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

NBA Postpones Another Warriors Game

January 18th, 2024 at 10:13am CST by Arthur Hill

As the Warriors grieve the loss of assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, Friday’s home game against the Mavericks has been postponed, the NBA announced (via Twitter). The game will be rescheduled for a later date.

Milojevic passed away Wednesday morning at a Salt Lake City hospital after suffering a heart attack during a team dinner Tuesday night. The 46-year-old had been part of Steve Kerr’s staff since the 2021/22 season. Before that, he was a star player and coach in Europe.

Friday’s game against Dallas was set to be televised by ESPN, so it will be replaced by a Nets-Lakers contest, the league added. Golden State’s scheduled meeting with Utah last night was also postponed, and the team won’t play again until hosting Atlanta next Wednesday.

After facing the Lakers on Wednesday, the Mavericks were set to travel to San Francisco this afternoon, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Instead, they will return home to prepare for Monday’s game against Boston.

Fischer’s Latest: Tucker, Suns, Warriors, Mavs, Blazers, Graham

January 17th, 2024 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

After being traded from Philadelphia to the Clippers earlier this season, veteran forward P.J. Tucker is a “strong” candidate to be moved again ahead of the February 8 deadline, says Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

According to Fischer, Washington is viewed as a potential trade destination for Tucker, who would likely be bought out if he’s sent to the Wizards. In that scenario, the Suns and Bucks would be among the teams expected to pursue the 38-year-old on the buyout market, Fischer adds.

Tucker is earning $11MM this season, with an $11.5MM player option for 2024/25, so unless he gives up a significant portion of his remaining money in a buyout agreement, he’d still have a real impact on his team’s salary cap for next season. With that in mind, the Wizards (or another trade partner) would presumably want a solid asset or two as a sweetener to take on his contract, especially if they’re also giving up a rotation-caliber player in the process.

Here’s more from Fischer:

The Suns are one of the more active teams on the trade market and have explored what a package that includes Grayson Allen and Nassir Little could bring back, Fischer reports. Those efforts are complicated by the fact that Phoenix’s draft assets consist of just four second-round picks, according to Fischer, who points out too that Allen has been arguably the team’s most important players outside of its three stars.
Although the Warriors and Mavericks have displayed interest in Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Golden State has shown little desire to part with either Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody, Fischer writes. As for the Mavs, they’ve been linked to many forwards, per Fischer, including Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Washington of the Hornets, and former Mav Dorian Finney-Smith, now a member of the Nets.
Jerami Grant is the sort of player who would appeal to teams like the Mavericks and Kings, but the Trail Blazers aren’t expected to seriously consider offers for the veteran forward, according to Fischer. Portland guard Malcolm Brogdon, on the other hand, is viewed as a more viable trade candidate.
In addition to veterans like Doug McDermott and Cedi Osman, who were previously identified as trade candidates, guard Devonte’ Graham is another Spurs player who is available via trade, sources tell Fischer. Graham has been out of San Antonio’s rotation all season and has a $12.1MM cap hit for this season, with a $2.85MM partial guarantee for 2024/25, so he presumably won’t have positive value.

Raptors, Pacers Engaged In Serious Talks On Possible Siakam Trade

January 17th, 2024 at 11:18am CST by Dana Gauruder

JANUARY 17: Several parties familiar with the negotiations between the Raptors and Pacers were surprised that the two teams didn’t finalize an agreement before Tuesday’s games begin, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

One sticking point, per Fischer, has been Indiana’s unwillingness to include either of their two most recent lottery picks – Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker – in a package for Siakam. Charania has also stated that the Pacers aren’t interested in giving up either of those young players (Twitter video link).

According to Fischer, the other pieces that would be sent to Toronto along with Brown in the latest framework of the proposed deal are Jordan Nwora and either Obi Toppin or Jalen Smith. Buddy Hield hasn’t been a part of the recent discussions between the two teams, says Fischer.

Fischer adds that two of the first-round picks in in Indiana’s proposal are 2024 selections (the Pacers’ own pick and a least favorable pick from Oklahoma City).

JANUARY 16: The Raptors and Pacers are engaged in serious talks about a potential trade that would send power forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick report.

Indiana’s package would be built around swingman Bruce Brown, other salaries and three first-round draft picks, according to The Athletic’s duo.

The Raptors have discussed potential deals involving Siakam with several teams, but the talks with the Pacers have gained traction in recent days. They have yet to finalize or agree to a deal, although they are far along in the process, with proposals being made back and forth.

The Kings had pulled out of the Siakam sweepstakes in recent weeks, in part because the two-time All-NBA forward reportedly isn’t interested in re-signing with them after the season. The Warriors and Mavericks are among the other clubs that have expressed interest in the 29-year-old.

Siakam has an expiring $37.9MM contract and any acquiring team would want to have a strong indication if he’d commit to their organization beyond this season. Siakam is known to be seeking a max-salary deal and extension talks between the Raptors and his reps have not progressed in recent months.

Brown’s contract features a $22MM cap hit this season with a $23MM club option for 2024/25. Although Brown’s salary is well below Siakam’s, the Pacers have over $8MM in cap room and would only need to send out about $7.6MM in additional salary to make a deal legal, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).

As for the draft picks, the Pacers control all of their own future first-rounders, as well as a 2024 pick from Oklahoma City that includes “least favorable” language — it will almost certainly be either the Thunder’s or Clippers’ first-rounder.

The potential acquisition of Siakam would strengthen a Pacers starting lineup that also includes star guard Tyrese Haliburton — currently injured — and center Myles Turner and would make them a more dangerous playoff team.

Indiana reportedly made an effort to acquire OG Anunoby from Toronto before he was sent to New York.

Luka Still Out, But Lively Back Monday

January 15th, 2024 at 1:44pm CST by Rory Maher

Star guard Luka Doncic will miss Monday’s game vs. New Orleans — his third straight absence — due to a right ankle sprain, the Mavericks announced (via Twitter). Starting forward Derrick Jones Jr. is a new addition to the injury report — he’s sidelined with a right calf contusion. Rookie center Dereck Lively, meanwhile, will return from a five-game absence after dealing with a left ankle sprain, and Maxi Kleber will be active for the second straight contest after a lengthy absence due to a toe injury.

Mavs’ Kleber Probable Saturday After Lengthy Absence

January 13th, 2024 at 2:49pm CST by Rory Maher

Mavericks big man Maxi Kleber is probable to return on Saturday vs. New Orleans after missing more than two months with a right small toe dislocation, per the NBA’s latest injury report.

Kleber, 31, has been limited to just five games this season after sustaining the toe injury on November 1. He initially tried to play through it, missing three games and then suiting up for a contest on Nov. 8. He hasn’t played since, missing the past 31 games.

A seven-year veteran, Kleber will earn $33MM — $11MM annually — over the next three seasons after signing an extension in September 2022. He played a key role in helping the Mavs reach the Western Conference Finals in ’21/22, averaging 8.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 0.8 BPG on .509/.436/.714 shooting in 18 playoff games (25.4 MPG).

When healthy, the German forward/center is a versatile defender who can space the floor, making him a valuable role player. But he has missed at least 22 games in each of the last three seasons, including 45 in 2022/23. He was focused on getting healthy over the offseason, but has again been beset by injuries.

While it’s obviously a positive development that Kleber’s return appears imminent, the Mavs will be without Luka Doncic for the second straight game due to a right ankle sprain, Dante Exum is out for the sixth straight contest with a right plantar sprain, and Dereck Lively has been downgraded from questionable to doubtful with his left ankle sprain, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.

For the Pelicans, who are on the second of a back-to-back, Zion Williamson will be out (rest), while three other players are questionable with various injuries.

Latest On Pascal Siakam

January 13th, 2024 at 8:21am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Warriors are one of the top threats to trade for Raptors forward Pascal Siakam at the trade deadline, but there are some complicating factors for a potential deal for Golden State or any other team.

As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski explained in a recent TV appearance (Twitter video link) – and as has been previously reported – Siakam has plenty of say on where he wants to go because he’s in the last year of his deal and any team acquiring him has to be prepared to offer a max contract.

The Warriors would have to first decide whether they want to commit long-term money to Siakam and then determine what a trade package looks like from there. A player like Andrew Wiggins, believed to be available, is on the books for at least two years after this one for an average of $27.25MM per year but Marc J. Spears notes there’s “not a lot of value for Wiggins right now.” Jonathan Kuminga was previously mentioned as a sticking point in negotiations between the two teams.

Siakam would undoubtedly be a boon for a Warriors team with well-documented struggles and, according to Wojnarowski, Golden State is interested, but it’s a “difficult pathway” for the two sides on any deal.

On top of that, other teams don’t have to get desperate to try and acquire Siakam’s services due to his impending free agency. Wojnarowski specifically mentions the Pacers as a team that has engaged with Toronto on Siakam and also has the cap flexibility in the offseason to sign him to a free agent deal. While Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin are two young players on Indiana’s roster Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri “would love to get,” Wojnarowski says the Pacers realize they don’t necessarily have to move either due to their upcoming flexibility.

These complicating factors have led some to believe Siakam and Toronto will find a middle ground on an extension that benefits both parties and allows the Raptors to not lose the two-time All-Star in free agency for nothing. However, Wojnarowski says there’s no traction on an extension between the two sides right now.

The Mavericks are another team that makes sense for Siakam and Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports said during a recent podcast appearance (YouTube link via Locked On Mavericks) that there have been conversations between Dallas and Toronto on a potential deal.

According to Fischer, there are some people in Dallas who view Siakam as a missing piece and believe that a big three headlined by him, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would make the team a legitimate contender. However, there are others unconvinced he’s worth what he would cost to acquire.

Scotto’s Latest: Gafford, Knicks, Mavs, Dinwiddie, Markkanen

January 12th, 2024 at 11:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks inquired earlier this season on Wizards big man Daniel Gafford, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype told ESPN’s Bobby Marks in the latest episode of the HoopsHype podcast.

While Scotto doesn’t say exactly when that inquiry occurred, it was presumably sometime after New York lost Mitchell Robinson to the left ankle injury that is expected to sideline him for most or all of the season. It seems safe to assume, Scotto continues, that whatever level of interest the Knicks had in Gafford decreased after the club acquired Precious Achiuwa from Toronto in the OG Anunoby deal.

Here are a few more items of interest from the HoopsHype podcast:

The Mavericks are interested in upgrading at the forward position, according to Scotto, who suggests the team would be looking at either the three or the four. Scotto’s comment on the Mavs came during a more general conversation about Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant as a potential trade candidate — while Scotto views Dallas as a fit for Grant, he doesn’t explicitly say that the Mavs have expressed interest.
The Nets and Spencer Dinwiddie, who is on track for unrestricted free agency this summer, had brief extension discussions prior to the season when he became eligible to sign a new deal, per Scotto. The two sides reportedly explored a one- or two-year deal, but Dinwiddie wanted something longer. During their discussion, Scotto and Marks wondered if Dinwiddie’s days in Brooklyn may be numbered, which is a topic that Collin Helwig of NetsDaily also explored after the veteran guard didn’t play in crunch time on Sunday and barely saw any action in the second half on Thursday.
The trade speculation about Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen earlier this season seemed more like something other teams were trying to speak into existence rather than anything real, says Scotto, adding that Markkanen will be eligible for a contract renegotiation and extension with Utah next summer and seems interested in pursuing that.

Trade Rumors: Cavaliers, Nets, LaVine, Siakam, More

January 11th, 2024 at 4:25pm CST by Rory Maher

Appearing on his Wine and Gold Talk podcast alongside co-host Ethan Sands, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com examined fake trade proposals from listeners, with one centered on the Cavaliers acquiring Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Fedor thinks that scenario is plausible, as NetsDaily.com relays.

“Dorian Finney-Smith is somebody that I do believe that the Cavs have interest in,” Fedor said. “He is somebody who can play the three and the four, he can shoot well enough from the outside spacing the floor.”

As Fedor explains, the Cavs haven’t shown any interest in discussing any of their core four players (Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen), but if the Nets make Finney-Smith available, he’d be the type of player Cleveland would covet and possibly have a chance to acquire, since his price tag probably wouldn’t be “exorbitant.” There have been reports in the past saying the Nets wanted two first-round picks for Finney-Smith, but that could mean a lot of things.

Cleveland tried to trade for fellow Nets forward Royce O’Neale last season, Fedor added, but obviously Brooklyn wasn’t interested.

As for what might be sent Brooklyn’s way, a source tells Fedor that “the Nets have shown interest in Dean Wade in the past.” Fedor also strongly suggested the Cavs wouldn’t be opposed to moving Wade, which is logical — if none of the core players are sent out, Wade is one of the only two-for-one salary-matching pieces (he makes $5.7MM) that makes sense, though the Cavs would have to add more salary to acquire Finney-Smith ($13.9MM).

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

The Cavaliers were interested in a sign-and-trade for P.J. Washington in the offseason, but the Hornets weren’t interested in what Cleveland had to offer and Fedor thinks that is likely still the case. However, Fedor expects Cleveland to check-in on Washington’s availability again prior to the trade deadline.
Elsewhere in the podcast, Fedor said the Cavaliers would consider moving former lottery pick Isaac Okoro in the right deal. Okoro will be a restricted free agent in the summer after he was unable to come to terms on a rookie scale extension with Cleveland. Wade and Okoro ($8.9MM), for example, could work as a framework for Finney-Smith or Washington, though it remains to be seen if Brooklyn or Charlotte would be intrigued by that.
Rival teams remain skeptical the Bulls will be able to move Zach LaVine this season, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who says Chicago is focused on players who can help the team be competitive now instead of a rebuild. LaVine’s long-term contract (four years, $180MM) is a key obstacle in talks, Fischer adds.
“Several teams” are interested in Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, including the Kings, Pacers, Pistons and Mavericks, all of whom have been described as “active buyers,” Fischer reports. The Warriors have also had internal discussions about Siakam. However, Siakam’s camp believes he’ll be able to sign a long-term maximum-salary contract in free agency, and the two-time All-NBA forward doesn’t appear to have interest in a short-term extension if he’s traded, according to Fischer, who points out that Indiana, Detroit and the Sixers all project to have cap room in 2024 and could sign Siakam outright, perhaps lowering the odds that one of those teams will give up significant assets to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline. That’s why some rivals think Toronto might end up keeping Siakam and possibly extending him instead of losing him for nothing in free agency, Fischer explains.

Luka Doncic To Miss Game With Ankle Sprain

January 11th, 2024 at 10:59am CST by Arthur Hill

A sprained right ankle will force Mavericks star Luka Doncic to sit out tonight’s game against New York, tweets Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.

Knicks Notes: Brunson, Anunoby, Robinson, Mavericks Rivalry

January 10th, 2024 at 8:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was a controversial omission from the All-Star Game last season, but it’s going to be hard to keep him out again, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Brunson, who received his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week honor on Monday, is averaging career highs with 26.0 points and 6.4 assists per game while shooting a career-best 43.6%% from three-point range. He’s got New York looking like a legitimate contender, with a five-game winning streak that has lifted the team into fourth place in the conference.

Before Tuesday’s game against Portland, Brunson received All-Star support from his own coach, Tom Thibodeau, and from Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups.

“I’m a huge fan of Jalen. I think he’s a winner more than anything,” Billups said. “You can talk about how crafty he is and how he can score and how he’s just a winner. He makes big plays. He makes winning plays. He’s leading the league in taking charges and he’s just a winner.”

There’s more from New York:

OG Anunoby‘s impact on the Knicks has been historically significant, per Christian Arnold of The New York Post. Anunoby’s plus-111 rating since coming to New York makes him the first player ever to have a combined plus/minus rating higher than 100 in his first five games with a new team. “The ball’s been moving a lot better,” Isaiah Hartenstein said when asked about the difference since Anunoby’s arrival. “Defensively, he’s been doing a great job playing team defense. He makes my life a lot easier, so just having him has been great.”
Thibodeau gave an indication last week that injured center Mitchell Robinson could be back before the end of the regular season, per Steve Popper of Newsday. The NBA reportedly will deny the Knicks’ request for a disabled player exception regarding Robinson because league officials aren’t convinced that he’ll be sidelined through the required date of June 15. “He will be reevaluated, so probably another four to six weeks and then we’ll have more information,” Thibodeau told reporters on Friday. “… And then whatever they feel the best course is for him, that’s what we’ll do.”
Off-court issues may be creating a rivalry between the Knicks and Mavericks, tweets Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, who notes that Thursday’s meeting in Dallas will be the first since the Mavs tanked the end of last season to keep their first-round pick from conveying to New York and the first since Mark Cuban blamed Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson for interfering with Dallas’ attempts to re-sign his son, Jalen.