Portland Trail Blazers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Woj’s Latest: Drummond, Aldridge, Blazers, Oladipo, Redick, Hornets

March 24th, 2021 at 2:45pm CST by Luke Adams

If Andre Drummond and LaMarcus Aldridge receive buyouts rather than being traded, the Lakers and Heat are widely viewed as the respective frontrunners to sign them. Adrian Wojnarowski essentially confirmed that point during today’s Woj & Lowe Trade Deadline Special on ESPN, though he noted that both big men would have plenty of options on the buyout market.

The Nets, Clippers, Celtics, and Mavericks would have interest in Drummond, according to Wojnarowski. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Zach Lowe said he expects the Hornets to pursue Aldridge if he hits waivers.

The ability to compete for a championship would be a top priority for both veteran bigs, according to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter links), who hears that a championship ring would be “the driving force” for Aldridge. As for Drummond, while the Mavs would have interest, they expect he’d hunt for a ring with Brooklyn or one of the L.A. teams, says Townsend.

Here are a few more notable tidbits from the Woj & Lowe Trade Deadline Special that aired on ESPN this afternoon:

The Trail Blazers have been “very active” in trade discussions, according to Wojnarowski, who pointed to Norman Powell and Victor Oladipo as players who could appeal to Portland.
Wojnarowski gets the sense that the Rockets will be able to land a mid first-round pick in exchange for Oladipo. However, Woj downplayed New York’s interest in the veteran guard: “I don’t sense the interest in a future partnership with Oladipo is significant with the Knicks.”
The Jazz could be a dark-horse suitor for Pelicans guard J.J. Redick in the event of a buyout, says Wojnarowski. Still, the Nets are viewed as the probable frontrunner in that scenario, since Redick’s family is based in Brooklyn. “Geography may play a big part in this,” Woj said.
The Hornets had been scouring the market for a frontcourt upgrade, but may “retreat” a little following LaMelo Ball‘s wrist injury, per Wojnarowski.

Western Notes: Johnson, Redick, Blazers, Jensen

March 23rd, 2021 at 10:08pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Mavericks forward James Johnson missed five games for Dallas due to both traveling for a family emergency and then needing to enter COVID-19 protocols, but the veteran enforcer rejoined the Mavericks for a team practice today, according to Dwain Price of Mavs.com. Johnson can return to the hardwood tomorrow for the club’s game against the Timberwolves, Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com (Twitter link) adds.

“We don’t get that much chemistry going on throughout this [COVID-19] thing, and how we have to be separated a lot,” Johnson noted of this unique 2020/21 season. “The times that we can get it are at practice and on the road, and I miss that.”

There’s more out of the Western Conference:

Veteran Pelicans wing J.J. Redick is most likely to be bought out of his expiring $13MM contract after the trade deadline passes, and ink a deal with a team on the East Coast to be near his family, sources tell Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons and forward Nassir Little have entered the NBA’s coronavirus health and safety protocols and are missing at least this evening’s contest against the Nets, Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com tweets.
Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen has been given the go-ahead by the team to interview for the head coaching gig with his alma matter, the University of Utah, according to Jeff Goodman of Stadium (via Twitter). Brandon Judd of the Deseret News notes that Jensen, a former Utes player, has been on the Jazz’s bench since 2013.

Goodwill’s Latest: Brogdon, Blazers, McGee, Heat, Oubre, More

March 23rd, 2021 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Multiple teams have indicated that the Pacers are open to listening to pitches on Malcolm Brogdon, according to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Brogdon is only in the second season of a four-year, $85MM contract, but Goodwill suggests that Indiana is comfortable with the idea of Caris LeVert manning the point if the team gets a deal it likes for Brogdon.

In addition to Brogdon, another Pacers point guard – Aaron Holiday – is thought to be available. A report last week indicated Indiana was seeking a first-round pick for Holiday, which Goodwill confirms. According to Goodwill, Holiday seems to have “fallen out of favor” somewhat in Indiana.

Here’s more from Goodwill:

The Trail Blazers are among the teams with interest in Cavaliers center JaVale McGee, per Goodwill. McGee could be had via trade — it remains to be seen whether he and Cleveland would work out a buyout if he stays put at the deadline.
The Nets are dangling Spencer Dinwiddie and a second-round pick as they look to bolster their bench, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Brooklyn has discussed players like Avery Bradley, Kendrick Nunn, and Maurice Harkless with the Heat, Goodwill says.
Kelly Oubre‘s camp believes the Warriors forward is capable of getting a “top-10 deal” in free agency this offseason, per Goodwill. Presumably, that means one of the top 10 most valuable free agent contracts signed this summer.
Goodwill suggests that former Cavaliers executive Brock Aller – who is now the Knicks‘ VP of strategy – is worth keeping an eye on in the event that Cleveland moves on from current general manager Koby Altman at some point. Aller has a long-standing relationship with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, Goodwill notes.

Trade Rumors: Finney-Smith, Gordon, Fournier, Holmes, Herro

March 22nd, 2021 at 10:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Teams have checked in on Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith, though it’s uncertain if he’s available, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News tweets. His recent uptick in play, plus his very affordable contract ($4MM this season and next), has increased interest in him.

As Townsend explains (Twitter link), if the Mavericks want to make a run at a player like Aaron Gordon, Norman Powell or John Collins, Finney-Smith would likely have to be included in any deal, along with perhaps Jalen Brunson and draft picks. However, Dallas can’t offer a first-rounder earlier than 2025, which makes it difficult for it to make a major move.

We have more on the trade front:

The Celtics are considered the frontrunners to acquire Gordon, multiple sources told The Action Network’s Matt Moore. The Magic are expected to continue to take offers up until Thursday’s deadline. The Nuggets, Trail Blazers and Mavericks are also in the running but Boston has offered two first-round picks and the other contenders for Gordon haven’t done that. It’s assumed there will be some protections on those picks. Evan Fournier could also go to Boston in a separate deal. The Celtics would send a player — the Magic prefer Marcus Smart — and the two picks, using their $28.5MM traded player exception as part of the deal.
Richaun Holmes has become a top trade target for multiple teams, ESPN’s Jordan Schultz tweets. It would take a sizable offer to pry him away from the Kings, Schultz adds. H0lmes has expressed his contentment with his current team. He had 17 points and 16 rebounds against Cleveland on Monday.
While the Heat could make a major move, they appear unwilling to part with Tyler Herro, according to another Schultz tweet. Miami considers Herro an essential part of the future and is a favorite of team president Pat Riley, so Schultz would be shocked if the second-year guard is moved.

Northwest Notes: Jazz, Blazers, Nurkic, Wolves

March 22nd, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jazz still have an open spot on their 15-man roster and they’re likely to fill it sooner or later, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. That could happen by Thursday’s deadline, but if Utah doesn’t add a player in a deadline deal, the team figures to scour the buyout market after March 25.

As for what type of player the Jazz may be targeting, league sources tell Jones that the club is in the market for a perimeter defender who could perhaps play 10-15 minutes against top perimeter scorers. Ideally, that player would also be able to knock down three-pointers, but there won’t be many solid three-and-D wings available for cheap on the trade market or in free agency.

The Jazz won’t be upset if they don’t find that player by Thursday, according to Jones, who says the club is happy with its current rotation and team chemistry.

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

The Trail Blazers became the latest team to have many of their players receive the coronavirus vaccine. The team announced today in a press release that 13 players received their first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, having received access to an excess supply from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Although Jusuf Nurkic remains sidelined for the Trail Blazers, the wrist he underwent surgery on in January has been cleared, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic, who notes (via Twitter) that Nurkic’s return is now being delayed by a right calf strain.
The Timberwolves will welcome fans back to the Target Center beginning on April 5 vs. Sacramento, the team announced in a press release. The club didn’t clarify exactly what the limited capacity will be in its arena for the rest of the season.

17 Trade Exceptions To Expire On Monday

March 22nd, 2021 at 12:20pm CST by Luke Adams

A total of 17 traded player exceptions around the NBA will expire if they’re not used by the end of the day today, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

Traded player exceptions allow a team to acquire a player without any outgoing salary, as long as the incoming player’s salary fits within the amount of the TPE (plus $100K of wiggle room). Trade exceptions are generated in certain deals and expire after one year if they haven’t been used.

We go into far more detail on the concept of the traded player exception in our glossary entry, so be sure to check that out if you want more info.

Most – if not all – of the 17 TPEs expiring today won’t be used. Many of those exceptions are worth less than $2MM, limiting their usefulness. The Warriors, for instance, have four trade exceptions set to expire today, but the most valuable one is worth just $1,925,880.

However, there are a few more notable TPEs worth mentioning. Here are the five most valuable traded player exceptions expiring today:

Miami Heat: $7,533,867
Memphis Grizzlies: $4,185,185
Los Angeles Clippers: $3,567,720
Sacramento Kings: $2,673,334
Portland Trail Blazers: $2,338,847

The Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Sixers, and Wizards also have small exceptions expiring today.

Most higher-value trade exceptions, including the Celtics‘ $28.5MM TPE and the Thunder‘s $27.5MM TPE, won’t expire until the offseason.

The full list of current trade exceptions can be found right here.

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.

Blazers Hope Zach Collins Can Return By Playoffs

March 18th, 2021 at 1:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Within his latest mailbag, Jason Quick of The Athletic says the Trail Blazers are gaining hope that Zach Collins (ankle surgery) can return by the postseason. Quick also believes LaMarcus Aldridge would be a great fit (and a great reunion story) for Portland if he’s available on the buyout market.

Pacific Notes: Bagley, Aldridge, Johnson, Lakers

March 16th, 2021 at 10:18pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Marvin Bagley III‘s latest injury makes his future with the Kings even cloudier, according to Jason Jones of The Athletic. Bagley is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left hand on Monday. The career of the 2018 draft’s No. 2 overall pick has been sidetracked by injuries. He missed 20 games as a rookie with knee and back injuries and played just 13 games last season due to a broken right thumb and foot sprain. Bagley’s hand injury will hinder the Kings’ ability of evaluating how he fits long-term but his $11.3MM salary for next season may scare away some teams from dealing for the big man, Jones adds.

We have more from the Pacific Division:

LaMarcus Aldridge would be a better fit with the Suns than the Lakers or Trail Blazers, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic opines. The Spurs are sitting the veteran power forward while seeking to trade him or buy him out. Aldridge would benefit from the Suns’ superior ball movement, Rankin argues, as he will not only get more shot attempts with them but also quality looks from up top and in the lane.
Cameron Johnson remained out of action on Monday due to the league’s health and safety protocols, Rankin tweets. The second-year Suns small forward hasn’t played since March 2. The 2019 lottery pick is averaging 10.4 PPG.
The Lakers have a number of major decisions upcoming, beginning with their approach to the trade deadline and buyout market. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Danny Leroux explore those issues, as well as a look at free agency this summer and whether to re-sign Dennis Schröder.

Southeast Notes: Reddish, Hunter, Dunn, Gordon, Bradley

March 16th, 2021 at 7:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cam Reddish is showing progress, but the Hawks swingman will be sidelined at least two more weeks. Reddish, who has missed the last nine games due to Achilles soreness, has been cleared to remove his walking boot and will now start low-level rehab activities, Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. The 2019 lottery pick, who is averaging 11.2 PGG and 4.0 RPG this season, hasn’t played since February 21.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Another key Hawks player, forward De’Andre Hunter, could return to action as soon as Thursday, GM Travis Schlenk told Mike Conti of 92.9 The Game (Twitter link). Hunter, who is averaging 17.2 PPG and 5.4 APG, has not played since January 29 and underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee in early February. Free agent acquisition Kris Dunn, who hasn’t played this season due to an ankle injury, could make his Atlanta debut during the team’s upcoming eight-game road swing.
Aaron Gordon‘s name has popped up frequently in trade rumors, prompting The Athletic’s Josh Robbins, Jason Quick, and Jon Krawczynski to break down the prospects of a Gordon trade to the Trail Blazers or Timberwolves. The discussion concludes that it’s unlikely the Magic would be offered a sufficient package from either team for the starting forward, whose contract expires after next season.
Heat guard Avery Bradley was listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s game against the Cavaliers but he did not dress, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. Bradley has missed 19 consecutive games due to a right calf strain.