- The Suns wanted to bring back Torrey Craig during the offseason but prioritized signing JaVale McGee with their mid-level exception, John Gambadoro of of 98.7 FM Phoenix tweets. Craig found a two-year deal with Indiana before the contract with McGee was finalized. Craig was traded back to Phoenix last week. The Suns still have a portion of the mid-level available to use on the buyout market, Gambadoro adds.
- Craig said the trade back to the Suns was a deadline-day surprise to him, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. “It just happened so fast,” Craig said. “I was literally practicing in Indiana and then I noticed it was an hour before the trade deadline. Came to my phone and I had a couple of missed calls from my agent. And then he called me and told me (the) situation and I was like, wow. It had just happened. It was a quick turnaround. I packed and I came here. I’m excited to be back.”
- Bismack Biyombo told his agent, former NBA player B.J. Armstrong, that he only wanted to sign with a title contender in free agency, Marc Spears of The Undefeated reports. “That was the hardest part,” Biyombo said. “I talked to my agent and I said, ‘Look, the only way I will do it is for a contender. Otherwise, I’m not doing it.’ Biyombo remained unsigned until a 10-day with Phoenix under the hardship exception. He later signed a rest-of-the-season deal with the Suns last month.
Several NBA teams typically end up with newly-opened roster spots following the trade deadline. This happens for a variety of reasons. Some teams make two-for-one or three-for-one trades; some acquire players in cap-related deals and immediately cut them; others buy out or release players they weren’t able to move at the deadline.
Whatever the reason may be, there are plenty of available roster spots around the NBA, and it’s a good bet that most of them will be filled before the end of the regular season. Contending teams will want to fortify their depth for the playoffs, while lottery-bound clubs will take fliers on prospects willing to accept multiyear deals that aren’t fully guaranteed beyond this season.
Here, with the help of our roster counts page, is a look at the teams that have open roster spots as of February 14:
Teams with open 15-man roster spots:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics (3)
- Charlotte Hornets
- Denver Nuggets *
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Miami Heat (2)
- Milwaukee Bucks (3) *
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards
* The Nuggets (DeMarcus Cousins) and Bucks (Greg Monroe) each have a player on a 10-day contract. We’re counting those roster spots as “open” because Cousins’ and Monroe’s deals will expire this week.
If we count the Nuggets, exactly half of the NBA’s 30 teams have at least one 15-man roster spot available. Twelve of those clubs have a single open roster spot, while the Celtics, Heat, and Bucks have multiple openings.
Since teams are only permitted to dip below 14 players on standard contracts for up to two weeks at a time, Boston, Miami, and Milwaukee will all have to get back to that league-mandated minimum before the end of the month.
The other teams on this list aren’t under immediate pressure to add a 15th man, and some may hold off for a little while for financial reasons — or just to wait to see who else becomes available on the buyout market in the next couple weeks.
Some of these clubs – including the Heat with Caleb Martin, the Pelicans with Jose Alvarado, and the Raptors with Justin Champagnie – might use their open roster spot to promote a player on a two-way contract who has earned regular minutes.
Teams with open two-way spots:
- Boston Celtics
- Dallas Mavericks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
The Celtics (Sam Hauser) and Thunder (Aaron Wiggins) have each promoted a two-way player to the 15-man roster since the trade deadline. The other three teams on this list released a two-way player in January, creating an opening.
In the past, teams haven’t been able to sign players to two-way contracts after January 15, but that restriction doesn’t exist this season, so I expect we’ll see some – if not all – of these teams fill their open two-way slots sooner or later.
With Brook Lopez sidelined indefinitely, the Bucks and center Marc Gasol, who is currently playing for Girona in Spain, had discussed the possibility of a possible late-season deal, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN (Insider link). However, Lowe suggests that a union “does not appear to be in the cards” now that Milwaukee has acquired Serge Ibaka.
It’s worth noting that the Bucks have three open spots on their 15-man roster following the trade deadline, so there still could be room for Gasol down the road, and it’s not like he and Ibaka haven’t had success teaming up in the past — the two vets played key roles for the 2019 champion Raptors. Still, Milwaukee may be looking to address other positions with those open roster spots, and there’s no guarantee Gasol will look to return to the NBA when his season is over in Spain.
Here are a few more highlights from Lowe’s post-deadline roundup:
- Sources confirmed to Lowe that the Suns and Pacers had brief discussions about Deandre Ayton and Domantas Sabonis, which was first reported by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Fischer suggested the two teams might be exploring the idea of an offseason sign-and-trade involving Ayton, and Lowe agrees that the talks seem to have been just exploratory and informal, possibly aimed at the future rather than present. Indiana subsequently traded Sabonis to Sacramento, which could eliminate the possibility of any future deal with Phoenix for Ayton, but Lowe points out that the Suns’ willingness to consider shaking up their roster – even in the offseason – is noteworthy.
- Before acquiring Sabonis, the Kings approached the Hawks about John Collins, but they didn’t discuss Tyrese Haliburton or De’Aaron Fox in that context, says Lowe.
- Lowe expects the Sixers to explore the buyout market for a backup center, since there’s no guarantee that Paul Millsap will bounce back in Philadelphia and Charles Bassey is unproven.
- The Spurs explored ways to move up in last year’s draft, according to Lowe, who notes that San Antonio has since gained more draft ammo to potentially revisit that idea going forward.
- Lowe contends that Kristaps Porzingis should take his trade to the Wizards “as a huge slap in the face,” given the modest return the Mavericks received. As Lowe writes, Dallas appeared to be trying to gain more flexibility for future moves by taking back two (relatively) smaller contracts for Porzingis’ max deal, which could pay off down the road. But it “seems to be selling unthinkably low” on Porzingis, Lowe says.
The Suns have officially waived Abdel Nader, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic). Phoenix had to remove a player from its 15-man roster in order to accommodate its acquisition of Aaron Holiday.
Nader, 28, was sent from Oklahoma City to Phoenix during the 2020 offseason in the Chris Paul trade. Since then, he has appeared in 38 games with the team, averaging 5.1 PPG and 2.3 RPG on .457/.386/.723 shooting in 13.2 MPG.
Injuries marred Nader’s time with the Suns. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late April 2021, and while he returned from that injury in the playoffs and was available to start the 2021/22 season, that knee continued to give him problems. Nader hadn’t played for Phoenix since November and was being listed on the injury report as out due to right knee injury management.
The Suns will be on the hook for the rest of Nader’s $2MM this season, but won’t owe him any money beyond that. He had a $2.16MM team option for 2022/23.
Phoenix also terminated the 10-day contract of Justin Jackson, per today’s announcement. Jackson’s deal, signed last Tuesday, would’ve expired at the end of the day, so he’ll become a free agent a day early. Unlike Nader, Jackson won’t have to pass through waivers.
7:33pm: The trade is official, according to an announcement from the Suns.
3:57pm: The Pacers will receive the Suns’ 2022 second-round pick in the deal, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link).
1:03pm: The Pacers will send Torrey Craig to the Suns in exchange for Jalen Smith, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Indiana will also receive a future second-round pick in the deal.
Craig, 31, was part of the Phoenix team that reached the NBA Finals last season. He only got into 32 games with the Suns and left in free agency to find a team that would give him a larger role. He signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Pacers and averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 51 games.
There has been speculation that Smith, a 21-year-old big man, would be moved ever since the Suns decided not to pick up his third-year option. The 10th pick in the 2020 draft, Smith got into 29 games this season, averaging 6.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per night. He may get a larger opportunity on an Indiana team that traded away Domantas Sabonis this week.
Because Smith’s option for next season has already been declined, the Pacers can’t offer him a new contract starting at more than $4,670,160, which was the amount of the option.
6:15pm: The trade is official, according to a Wizards press release. The Suns have to waive a player to complete the deal, but it appears we may need to wait for their announcement to confirm who will be the odd man out in Phoenix.
1:32pm: Wizards reserve guard Aaron Holiday is being sent to the Suns, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM tweets that the Suns are trading cash considerations to the Wizards and will be paying Holiday’s $4.0MM contract via the disabled player trade exception they received due to power forward Dario Saric‘s ACL tear.
The Wizards appear to be open for business today, with star guard Bradley Beal now on the sidelines for the rest of the season due to a wrist injury. Washington is completely reshaping its roster, having also sent out guard Spencer Dinwiddie and power forward Davis Bertans to the Mavericks in exchange for former All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis and some draft considerations.
Additionally, Washington is sending out reserve big man Montrezl Harrell to the Hornets. As part of the return package in the Harrell exchange, Washington is receiving backup guard Ish Smith, making Holiday expendable.
Phoenix, owner of the NBA’s best record at 44-10, is fairly stacked at the point guard position. The 6’0″ Holiday could compete with minutes as Chris Paul‘s backup with Cameron Payne (currently injured) and Elfrid Payton.
At 25, Holiday is the youngest member of a trio of brothers in the league. The Suns will be his third NBA club in four seasons. He is averaging 6.1 PPG on .467/.343/.800 shooting splits. The youngest Holiday is also notching 1.9 APG ad 1.6 RPG across 16.2 MPG thus far this year.
The Timberwolves and Suns are among the teams that have expressed interest in trading for veteran Spurs forward Thaddeus Young, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Young, who was sent from the Bulls to the Spurs in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade in the offseason, had a nice year in Chicago last season, averaging 12.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 4.3 APG in 68 games (24.3 MPG).
However, he was essentially just a salary-matching placeholder in that DeRozan deal and hasn’t been used much in San Antonio this season. His averages of 6.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 14.2 MPG in 26 games are career lows.
Still, the Spurs are hopeful they’ll be able to find a trade partner willing to give up at least one draft pick for Young, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, who hears that San Antonio and Minnesota have discussed a deal that would feature Taurean Prince. Scotto has heard the same thing, writing that the two teams have had exploratory talks about a trade that would send Prince and a second-round pick to the Spurs for Young.
Phoenix, meanwhile, has had previous discussions with San Antonio about trading Dario Saric, Jalen Smith, and a second-round pick for Young, per Scotto. While Smith – like Prince – will be a free agent at season’s end, Saric has one more year left on his contract. If Saric is fully healthy next season following his 2021 ACL tear, that second guaranteed year may not be a problem for the Spurs, but it will certainly be an important factor to consider as they weigh their options.
If the Spurs don’t end up finding a deal they like for Young, the two sides would likely try to negotiate a buyout agreement, says Fischer.
After trading Caris LeVert to Cleveland, the Pacers continue to talk to teams about centers Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis, but are still seeking a substantial return, writes Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Indiana wants at least two first-round picks for Turner and an even more significant package for Sabonis, according to Fischer.
The Trail Blazers, Mavericks, Raptors, Knicks, Hornets, and Kings are among the teams to express interest in Turner, but they’ve all balked at the Pacers’ asking price so far, Fischer writes. As Fischer reported last week, Toronto has discussed a framework of Goran Dragic‘s expiring contract and a first-round pick for Turner, but it sounds like Indiana would want more assets than just a single first-rounder.
The Kings have engaged with the Pacers about both Turner and Sabonis, though it’s unclear how much progress was made in those talks, says Fischer. De’Aaron Fox was “at least mentioned in some capacity” in discussions between the two teams, according to Fischer, which echoes a January report.
Here’s more on the Pacers:
- Some people around the NBA who have spoken to Bleacher Report have suggested the Suns may be one of the teams interest in Sabonis. While Phoenix isn’t expected to shake up their roster this week, some of Fischer’s sources believe an offseason deal that involves Sabonis and a Deandre Ayton sign-and-trade is a possibility.
- Both Fischer and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst say that Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract could be flipped before Thursday’s trade deadline, which Adrian Wojnarowski first reported on Monday. T.J. Warren and Jeremy Lamb, also on expiring contracts, look like trade candidates too, per Fischer.
- Fischer reports that the Pacers are believed to be one of the teams with some interest in Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum.
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 Pacific Division.
Golden State Warriors
Trade deadline goals:
Few, if any, NBA teams should feel less urgency to make a move at the trade deadline than Golden State.
The Warriors already benefited from one major in-season “addition” when Klay Thompson returned to action last month for the first time since 2019. James Wiseman could be a second one if he’s able to make it back in the second half from a pair of knee surgeries.
While rival teams may try to pry away young Warriors prospects like Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, or Moses Moody, the Dubs have shown no inclination to mortgage their future for short-term gains. They’ve gone 40-13 this season without ever really being fully healthy — as long as they have all their guys available heading into the postseason, there’s no obvious weak spot on the roster.
Having said that, health is certainly a wild card worth considering. If they’re at all nervous about Draymond Green‘s ability to be back to 100% this spring, the Warriors could peruse the market for a frontcourt fill-in.
Top trade candidates:
One reason why the Warriors seem unlikely to make a trade is that their roster lacks expendable players. A team with the NBA’s second-best record won’t feel compelled to break up its starting lineup, and many of Golden State’s low-priced role players – such as Otto Porter, Damion Lee, and Gary Payton II – are outplaying their contracts and will be retained.
Perhaps a player like Juan Toscano-Anderson or Nemanja Bjelica could be moved in the right deal, but even those guys are probably more valuable the Warriors could get back for them on their own.
For what it’s worth, the Warriors’ success this season means they could safely move their unprotected 2022 second-round pick without worrying about losing a top-20 selection. I’m skeptical they’ll feel compelled to do so, but it’s an option.
Los Angeles Clippers
Trade deadline goals:
Entering February, we didn’t have a clear picture of what the Clippers would try to do at the trade deadline. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were out indefinitely, but there was no incentive for the team to tank this season, since Oklahoma City owns L.A.’s first-round pick.
We got our answer on the Clippers’ deadline plans on Friday, when they traded Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and a second-round pick to Portland for Norman Powell and Robert Covington. Powell is under contract for several years beyond this one, but Covington is on an expiring deal, so Los Angeles isn’t just looking to the future — the team wants to stay competitive this season, whether or not Leonard and George return.
Having already made one big move, the Clippers may be content to stand pat this week, but I expect them to remain engaged in trade talks for the next few days. They’re still in the market for a play-maker who can set up their stars and who is also comfortable playing off the ball and making open shots.
Top trade candidates:
Serge Ibaka is on an expiring contract, he has battled injury problems, and his playing time has been inconsistent this season even when he’s been healthy. The big man, who has a $9.7MM cap hit, looks like the Clippers’ best remaining candidate to be dealt.
I’ll be curious to see to what extent the Clippers shop Marcus Morris and/or Luke Kennard in the coming days. They overlap to some extent with the skills Powell and Covington bring to the roster, so if the Clippers plan to re-sign Covington in the offseason, it’s hard to imagine all four players sticking with the team long-term, given their price tags. Morris and Kennard each have two guaranteed seasons beyond this one at about $15-17MM per year.
Nicolas Batum could also be a player to watch. He has acquitted himself nicely since arriving in Los Angeles and I doubt the Clippers will want to move him, but he’s a solid two-way contributor at a very team-friendly price ($3.2MM). He’d certainly draw interest, and if he’s the piece the Clips need to give up to get the play-maker they want, they’d probably do it. Batum would need to approve any deal, however.
Los Angeles Lakers
Trade deadline goals:
The Lakers’ big move of the 2021 offseason was to send out Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, and a first-round pick (which became Isaiah Jackson) in exchange for Russell Westbrook and a handful of future second-round picks.
The move, which received its share of criticism at the time, looks even worse six months later. Westbrook has struggled mightily in Los Angeles, and with Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope, and Harrell out of the picture, the Lakers hardly have any players left who are earning between the minimum and maximum and could be shopped in trade talks for an impact player.
The Lakers will still be on the lookout for deals that improve their defense and shooting around stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but it won’t be easy to make something happen. The Lakers just don’t have many appealing assets, and potential trade partners won’t exactly be lining up to help bail them out.
Top trade candidates:
While the Lakers would probably love to find a taker for Westbrook, his contract will make it virtually impossible. The former MVP is making $44.2MM this season and has a $47MM player option for 2022/23 that looks like a virtual lock to be exercised.
Given Westbrook’s recent play, no team will want to take on that sort of money unless it comes with draft assets, such as L.A.’s 2027 first-round pick (which is the next first-rounder the club can trade). For their part, the Lakers are better off hoping Westbrook can turn things around and preserving their limited assets for something besides a salary dump.
If Westbrook is off the table, that leaves Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn as Los Angeles’ most logical trade chips. They’re the only players on the roster earning more than the minimum salary and less than the max. Together, Horton-Tucker ($9.5MM) and Nunn ($5MM) could bring back a player earning a little over $18MM.
A year ago, attaching a future first-round pick to those two players would’ve made for a pretty tantalizing package. But the shine has come off Horton-Tucker now that he’s on a more expensive contract and hasn’t taken a step forward in his third NBA season. Nunn, meanwhile, has yet to play at all this season due to a knee injury.
Horton-Tucker is still just 21 years old, Nunn is a solid player when he’s healthy, and that 2027 first-rounder holds intrigue because no one knows what the Lakers will look like five years from now. However, L.A. will be competing with other buyers who will be able to offer stronger packages for higher-end trade candidates.
Whether or not they can make a bigger deal, I’d expect the Lakers to try to at least make a smaller trade or two, moving off minimum-salary players such as DeAndre Jordan and/or Kent Bazemore.
Phoenix Suns
Trade deadline goals:
Like the Warriors, the Suns aren’t under any real pressure to make a move at the deadline. Their 42-10 record so far this season is the NBA’s best, and there are no obvious holes in their regular rotation.
Still, the Suns will likely be on the lookout for one more wing who can knock down three-pointers. Offseason acquisition Landry Shamet is shooting a career-worst 35.3% on threes and there’s no guarantee that stretch four Dario Saric will return from his ACL tear in time to provide any help this spring. Shoring up the rotation with one more shooter would give Phoenix some added peace of mind entering the postseason.
Top trade candidates:
Saric’s injury makes him a trade candidate for salary-matching purposes. Among Phoenix’s highest-paid players, the Croatian forward and his $8.5MM cap hit are the most expendable. Of course, it’s worth noting that Saric is also under contract for $9.2MM next season, which may turn off some teams, especially since there’s no guarantee he’ll be back to 100% following his ACL tear.
Second-year center Jalen Smith would be a more interesting trade candidate if the Suns had exercised his $4.7MM option for 2022/23. Because they turned it down, whichever team has Smith on its roster at the end of the season won’t be able to offer him a starting salary higher than $4.7MM when he reaches free agency. In other words, there’s little incentive for a club to take a flier on him, since if he plays well down the stretch, he might price himself off that club’s roster.
Other veterans who aren’t vital rotation pieces, such as Elfrid Payton, Frank Kaminsky, or Abdel Nader, would presumably be available. The Suns also have a fair amount of draft-pick flexibility — they own all their own second-round picks and could offer any future first-rounders starting in 2024.
Sacramento Kings
Trade deadline goals:
There have been mixed messages out of Sacramento in the weeks leading up to this year’s trade deadline. After signaling last summer that they weren’t interested in moving De’Aaron Fox or Tyrese Haliburton, the Kings seemed to become more receptive to the idea after getting off to a terrible start this season, with multiple reports indicating no one was off-limits.
However, last month, the Kings reportedly recommitted to the idea of building around Fox and Haliburton and told Fox they don’t want to move him.
While Haliburton may legitimately be off the table, rival teams are skeptical that Fox is actually untouchable. And it’s safe to assume anyone else on the roster could be had. The Kings badly want to end a playoff drought that has lasted a decade-and-a-half (and counting) and appear prepared to shake up their roster this week to try to make it happen.
Even at 20-35, Sacramento is just two games out of a play-in spot, so we shouldn’t necessarily assume the team is focused on next season quite yet. I expect the front office will be focused on making adjustments to the mix of players on the roster, not simply selling off veterans for draft assets.
Top trade candidates:
Even if the Kings ultimately decide not to move Haliburton and Fox, there are a ton of trade candidates on the roster.
Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Richaun Holmes, and Marvin Bagley III are a few of the players whose names have frequently popped up in trade rumors this season. Barnes and Holmes, in particular, should be intriguing targets for rival teams. Barnes is a solid defensive player who is making over 40% of his three-pointers this season, while Holmes is the kind of rim-running center who would look good in Charlotte or Toronto — both players are on very reasonable multiyear contracts.
It will be more challenging for the Kings to get a positive return for Hield or Bagley. Hield’s ability to stretch the floor is his calling card, but his 36.8% mark on three-pointers this season is easily the worst of his career and he’s owed another $40MM for the next two years after earning $23MM this season. Bagley, meanwhile, still hasn’t delivered on the promise that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 and he’ll be a free agent this summer.
Tristan Thompson, Alex Len, Damian Jones, and Maurice Harkless are among the other veterans the Kings could move, though some will have more value – both to Sacramento and to trade partners – than others. Youngsters Robert Woodard and Jahmi’us Ramsey also haven’t shown much yet and should be available, but they may not generate much interest.
Suns guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul were among seven players named to the Western Conference All-Star reserve pool, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
The Jazz duo of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert also made the list, along with the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, the Warriors’ Draymond Green and the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic.
Green announced he will not play in the All-Star game due to back and calf injuries, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will select his replacement.
The Western Conference starter pool was announced last week.
Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was chosen along with Lakers forward LeBron James and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic among Western Conference frontcourt candidates. The Grizzlies’ Ja Morant joined the Warriors’ Stephen Curry as the backcourt duo in the starter pool.