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Fischer’s Latest: Graham, Hornets, Mavs, Fournier, Knicks, More

March 22nd, 2021 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

While it remains unclear how LaMelo Ball‘s wrist injury will affect the potential availability of fellow Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham, some people around the league were already skeptical that Charlotte would trade Graham this week, writes Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

“They’ll try to keep him, and they’re willing to pay,” one assistant general manager said of Graham, who is eligible for restricted free agency this summer. Team executives polled by Fischer estimated that it may cost about $13-16MM annually on a four-year deal for the Hornets to re-sign Graham.

Ball’s injury may make the Hornets less likely to address their center position with a one-year stopgap, but it shouldn’t discourage them from remaining on the lookout for a long-term solution, per ESPN’s Zach Lowe.

Both Fischer and Lowe reiterate that Pacers center Myles Turner is high on Charlotte’s wish list, which has been previously reported. Fischer also identifies Grizzlies big man Gorgui Dieng as a potential target for the Hornets and says Charlotte has also called the Lakers asking about Montrezl Harrell.

Here’s more from Fischer:

The Mavericks have been the “loudest rumored team” for Magic guard Evan Fournier, according to Fischer, who says that one possible package would consist of James Johnson and a pair of second-round picks.
The Hawks are worth keeping an eye on as a possible Victor Oladipo landing spot, says Fischer, adding that the team has made Bogdan Bogdanovic and Cam Reddish available.
The Knicks have signaled interest in using their $15MM in cap room to accommodate a three-team deal, per Fischer. Some people within the team’s front office are against the idea of surrendering any draft assets for a player who could be signed this summer.
Fischer adds the Rockets, Pacers, and Bulls to the list of teams that have looked into a possible acquisition of Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Miami, Detroit, and Toronto have previously been cited as possibilities for Dinwiddie.
Although the Pelicans and Bulls had some earlier discussions centered around Lauri Markkanen and Lonzo Ball, those talks haven’t seemed substantial, sources tell Fischer.

Aaron Gordon Reportedly Requests Trade; Rockets, Others In Mix

March 22nd, 2021 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

8:56am: Gordon has reportedly requested a trade through his representatives, sources tell Jared Weiss and Sam Amick of The Athletic. A report last week suggested that the Magic forward would be “open to a change of scenery.”

8:42am: The Rockets and Magic have engaged in serious talks about a potential Aaron Gordon trade, league sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN. While Lowe isn’t clear on the exact terms that have been discussed, he says it would likely take significant draft compensation from Houston (ie. multiple picks) to land Gordon.

Shams Charania of The Athletic published a similar report, writing that the Rockets and Magic have discussed a Gordon trade that would involve two first-round picks. A previous report indicated that Orlando was seeking a first-rounder and a quality young player, so this sounds like a similar ask.

Both Lowe and Charania say that no deal is imminent, but that there have been substantive talks. Although Gordon has been the subject of trade rumors for a year or two, this is the first time a deal really feels possible, according to Lowe, who suggests the odds could even be better than 50/50.

If the Magic do trade Gordon, it wouldn’t necessary be to Houston. Both Lowe and Charania say that the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Trail Blazers remain interested, while sources tell Charania and The Athletic’s Jared Weiss that the Celtics are also still eyeing Gordon.

A Sunday report on the discussions between the Rockets and Magic suggested that Victor Oladipo could be part of those talks, with the two-time All-Star re-routed to a third team.

According to Charania, Houston’s asking price for Oladipo is thought to be a quality first-round pick or a good young player — if the team gets a first-rounder for Oladipo, it could be flipped to Orlando for Gordon. However, some teams around the NBA are wondering if the Rockets will have to settle for second-round compensation for Oladipo, Charania writes. League sources tell The Athletic that the Heat, Knicks, and Pistons have showed some interest in Oladipo.

Victor Oladipo Increasingly Regarded As Top Name To Be Traded

March 21st, 2021 at 9:52pm CST by JD Shaw

Rockets guard Victor Oladipo is being increasingly regarded as one of the top names that could be moved ahead of the trade deadline, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Houston, losers of 20 straight games, acquired Oladipo in the multi-team deal featuring James Harden earlier this season.

Rockets Have Discussed Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo Deal With Magic

March 21st, 2021 at 6:47pm CST by JD Shaw

The Rockets have discussed a deal with the Magic involving Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon, though the team’s may need to find a third club to finalize any deal, O’Connor notes. Oladipo likely wouldn’t have a future in Orlando, as the 28-year-old spent the first three seasons of his career there and is set to reach free agency this offseason. The Rockets could also add a first-round pick or other assets to make a deal happen.

Rockets Notes: Augustin, Draft Picks, Losing Streak, Oladipo

March 20th, 2021 at 7:54pm CST by Arthur Hill

D.J. Augustin went from one of the league’s best teams to one of the worst this week, but he’s excited to suit up for his adopted hometown, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Augustin was part of the return in the deal that sent P.J. Tucker from the Rockets to the Bucks, and he’s ready to assume a leadership role as the oldest player on his new team.

“Coming in being in this position with a team that lost a lot of games, losing seasons, I’ve been a part of that,” Augustin said. “I’ve also been a part of winning teams and teams that won a lot of games. Knowing what I’ve been through, trying to bring that leadership here, try to keep guys together through these rough times. Hopefully, we can turn things around before the season ends.”

Augustin played about 19 minutes per night as a backup guard for Milwaukee. He figures to have the same role for Houston, assuming he isn’t traded again before Thursday’s deadline. Even though John Wall is in his 11th NBA season, he believes there are things he can learn from Augustin.

“That’s one of those guys I always wanted to play with and also tried to get him as a backup a couple times in Washington,” Wall said. “It’s funny how we ended up on the same team now. I always respected him, his play and how he carries himself on and off the court.”

There’s more from Houston:

The Rockets picked up more draft capital in the Tucker trade, but general manager Rafael Stone isn’t committed to keeping his large stack of picks, a source tells Feigen in a separate story. Houston would like to exchange some of its draft assets for a “foundation piece” and will pursue deals along those lines this week.
Players are feeling the effects of their 19-game losing streak, Feigen adds in a another piece. Injuries and roster movement have contributed to the downturn, as Houston used its 27th starting lineup in 40 games Friday night. “It’s just chemistry. The chemistry is off. That’s it,” Danuel House said. “We’re going to get it together. It’s just a learning curve we’re going through together.”
The Rockets talked to the Warriors about Victor Oladipo, but nothing went past the inquiry stage, a source tells Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. The source said Houston is asking for rookie center James Wiseman or the Timberwolves’ top-three protected pick this year, which are both “conversation enders.”

David Nwaba Opts For Surgery On Wrist

March 20th, 2021 at 2:24pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Rockets swingman David Nwaba has decided to undergo right wrist surgery, according to coach Stephen Silas, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets.

The surgical procedure would likely sideline Nwaba for approximately six weeks. Nwaba originally sprained his wrist in a February 28 game, but he tried to tough it out with so many of his teammates unavailable due to injuries.

Nwaba re-aggravated the wrist injury on Sunday against Boston, which put surgery back on the table. Nwaba has appeared in 30 games this season, averaging 9.2 PPG and 3.9 RPG. He’s playing for his fifth team in as many seasons.

Houston picked up its $1.824MM option on Nwaba in November. He was signed to a two-year deal prior to the restart. He began last season with the Nets but suffered a torn Achilles tendon in December and was waived shortly thereafter.

Tucker Thought He'd Be Dealt Sooner

March 19th, 2021 at 5:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

P.J. Tucker has been traded by the Rockets to the Bucks but the veteran forward thought he’d be wearing a different uniform much sooner, Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic report. Following a team meeting in January, Tucker expected to be included in the James Harden deal where he’s wind up in either Brooklyn or Philadelphia. Instead, Tucker – who is seeking an extension — spent two months waiting for the front office to find a new home for him.

Trade Rumors: Oladipo, Kings, Markkanen, McGee

March 19th, 2021 at 12:40pm CST by Luke Adams

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski expects Rockets guard Victor Oladipo to be “prominent” in trade discussions leading up to the March 25 deadline, he said in the latest episode of The Woj Pod. However, it’s not clear what sort of return Houston will want or if any teams will be willing to meet the asking price.

As RealGM relays, Wojnarowski and ESPN colleague Tim Bontemps believe teams will be reluctant to aggressively pursue Oladipo since he hasn’t recaptured his All-Star form in Houston (he’s shooting .399/.316/.772 since joining the Rockets) and will be seeking a huge new multiyear contract as a free agent this offseason.

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

A number of power forwards are among the most intriguing players on the trade market, but teams like the Kings, Magic, and Bulls are sending signals that they won’t necessarily feel compelled to move players like Harrison Barnes, Aaron Gordon, and Thaddeus Young, writes ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Insider link). According to Windhorst, teams that have called Sacramento have found the club willing to discuss Nemanja Bjelica and Jabari Parker, but more hesitant to talk about Barnes.
The Bulls appear more likely to consider moving Lauri Markkanen than Young, Windhorst adds in the same story.
According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, a number of strong playoff teams are interested in Cavaliers center JaVale McGee. However, those clubs are gauging the likelihood of a possible buyout for McGee before committing to giving up an asset for him.
Bobby Marks of ESPN closes the book on the trade that sent Torrey Craig to the Suns, tweeting that Phoenix sent $110K to the Bucks in the deal. That’s the minimum amount possible this season if a team trades cash.

Rockets Trade P.J. Tucker To Bucks

March 19th, 2021 at 11:04am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

MARCH 19: The Rockets and Bucks have officially completed their trade, per a press release.

MARCH 17: Milwaukee is making some roster adjustments ahead of a playoff push.

The Bucks are acquiring forwards P.J. Tucker and Rodions Kurucs and reacquiring their own 2022 first-round pick from the Rockets in exchange for veteran point guard D.J. Augustin, forward D.J. Wilson, the Bucks’ 2023 unprotected first-round draft pick, and the right to swap the Rockets’ 2021 second-round pick for Milwaukee’s first-round draft pick (top-nine protected), reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal will add Tucker to the Bucks’ frontcourt, giving the team a strong, versatile defender to match up with opposing forwards and big men in the second half and in the postseason. After three-and-a-half seasons in Houston, the 35-year-old reached an agreement with the team last week that allowed him to remain away from the Rockets while they sought a trade for him.

Tucker hasn’t contributed much on offense this season, averaging a career-low 4.4 PPG with a .314 3PT% in 32 games (30.0 MPG), but he’s still a solid defender and could be rejuvenated by a change of scenery that gets him to a contender.

The Rockets, losers of 17 straight games, clearly appear to be in asset acquisition mode now. The deal should allow them to move up at least a few spots in the 2021 draft, as they’ll swap their second-round pick for Milwaukee’s first-rounder. By reacquiring their 2022 first-round pick from Houston, the Bucks are able to surrender both their 2021 and 2023 first-rounders in this deal without violating the Stepien rule.

While the Rockets were rumored to be seeking a young impact player in exchange for Tucker, that was always considered an ambitious goal, given the forward’s recent decline. But the club will get a chance to look at a former first-rounder in Wilson before he becomes eligible for restricted free agency in the summer.

It’s not yet clear what Houston’s plan for Augustin is, but he’s the one player in the deal who is owed guaranteed money beyond this season, with a $7MM guaranteed salary for 2021/22 and a non-guaranteed $7.3MM salary in ’22/23. He could provide depth at the point guard spot for the Rockets or be rerouted to a new team at some point.

The Bucks have also reportedly agreed to send Torrey Craig to the Suns and will now have two open roster spots. They’ll go from about $442K below the hard cap to $3.5MM below, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link), so they’ll have a little more breathing room to fill out their 15-man roster via trade or on the buyout market.

Luke Adams contributed to this story. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Heat Preferred Ariza Deal To Meeting Rockets' Asking Price For Tucker

March 19th, 2021 at 8:16am CST by Luke Adams

The Heat made their deal for Trevor Ariza with over a week to go until the March 25 trade deadline. One reason for Miami’s willingness to act early was the team’s inability to find common ground with the Spurs or Rockets on trade compensation for Rudy Gay or P.J. Tucker, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.