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Woj/Lowe On Blazers, Jordan, Cavs, Hornets

February 5th, 2018 at 1:15pm CST by Luke Adams

With the February 8 trade deadline right around the corner, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski appeared this morning on Zach Lowe’s Lowe Post podcast to address some rumors and discuss some trade possibilities for teams around the NBA. While Wojnarowski and Lowe didn’t drop any bombshells during their hour-long conversation, the duo did share several items of note, so let’s dive in and round up some highlights…

Although the Trail Blazers had interest in Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, Wojnarowski hears that Portland has “backed away” as of late. According to Woj, it’s “entirely possible” that Jordan won’t get traded at all this week — the Clips may prefer to simply let him walk in free agency rather than taking on a bad contract or two in order to get a late first-round pick back in a trade.
Wojnarowski and Lowe discussed Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick at length, exploring what sort of deal would entice the Cavaliers to surrender that first-rounder. The duo agreed that Cleveland wouldn’t offer it to the Clippers for Jordan. In Woj’s view, it would take a Paul George-type veteran or a young star on a rookie contract to get the Cavs to part with that pick, but that sort of player isn’t really available.
The Cavaliers and Hornets have “definitely talked,” with those conversations presumed to have focused on Kemba Walker. That doesn’t mean that any deal is likely though, as virtually every team with any sort of need at point guard has checked in with the Hornets about Walker, per Wojnarowski.
Despite ongoing speculation that they’ll need to break up their star backcourt at some point, the Trail Blazers have “summarily rejected” any inquiries on Damian Lillard and/or C.J. McCollum, says Lowe. Maurice Harkless is a more realistic trade candidate in Portland, according to Wojnarowski, who says the Kings are one team that has had interest in Harkless in the past.
While the Nets aren’t necessarily looking to trade Spencer Dinwiddie, they’d have to consider it if they could get a first-round pick, according to Lowe. Woj agreed with that assessment.

Blazers Recall Swanigan After Stint In G League

February 4th, 2018 at 10:29pm CST by marksuleymanov

The affiliate-less Trail Blazers recalled Caleb Swanigan from the G League, the team announced on its website. The big man played 14 games with the Cavs affiliate in Canton and averaged 14.2 points and 11.0 rebounds per game.

Clippers Notes: Jordan, Bradley, Rivers, Harris

February 3rd, 2018 at 9:05pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Trail Blazers contacted the Clippers about DeAndre Jordan but never made a formal offer, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. His story corroborates a recent report from Marc Stein of The New York Times that the Blazers are among the teams with interest in the 29-year-old center.

L.A. is hoping to get a first-round pick, financial flexibility and young talent in any deal for Jordan, league sources tell Turner. That would be a package similar to what they received when they sent Blake Griffin to Detroit earlier this week. The same sources say teams are reluctant to trade for Jordan without assurances that he won’t opt out of his $24.1MM salary for next season and that he is willing to sign a long-term extension.

Jordan, who is averaging 11.8 points and 14.9 rebounds, would bring a huge defensive presence to Portland. Finding an acceptable match for his $22.6MM deal wouldn’t be easy for the Blazers, whose roster is filled with expensive, long-term contracts, though they do own all of their future first-rounders.

There’s more Clippers news out of Los Angeles:

Avery Bradley, who played his first game for the Clippers today, understands he may not be with the organization very long, Turner relays in the same story. Bradley, who was part of the package L.A. received for Griffin, has been mentioned in several trade rumors, with the Thunder seeming especially interested. “That’s part of the business,” he said. “I don’t worry about it. I went from Boston to Detroit and now I’m here. This is my focus here. I try to control what I can control. All I can control is going out there and playing hard and trying to get wins for the Clippers.”
The team is hoping Austin Rivers can return during a four-game road trip that begins Friday, Turner adds. He has been sidelined since December 29 with an injured right ankle. “We’re hoping for the road trip that he can play,” coach Doc Rivers said. “So that’s good news.”
Tobias Harris made an impact in his Clippers debut today, scoring 24 points in a win over the Bulls, Turner writes in a separate story. Also part of the Griffin deal, Harris had just two practices and a morning walk-through to get used to his new surroundings. “I was excited just to get out there with my new teammates,” he said. “It felt good to just go out and play. Obviously I’ll be a little bit more acclimated coming up.”

Scotto’s Latest: Pelicans, Gordon, Carroll, Nuggets

February 2nd, 2018 at 10:11am CST by Luke Adams

Before sending Omer Asik to Chicago, the Pelicans explored trading the veteran center to a number of other teams, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. League sources tells Scotto that the Hawks and Pelicans recently talked about a deal that would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova.

The Mavericks discussed a deal that would have seen them take on both Asik and Alexis Ajinca – along with a first-round pick – in exchange for Wesley Matthews, but Dallas was hesitant to take on two undesirable multiyear contracts, says Scotto.

Additionally, the Pelicans proposed a pair of trades to the Lakers, according to Scotto, who reports that one would have sent Asik and a first-round pick to L.A. for Jordan Clarkson, while the other would have sent Ajinca and a second-round pick to the Lakers for Julius Randle. That second deal could technically still happen, but I can’t imagine it would appeal to the Lakers.

Scotto’s piece for The Athletic is jam-packed with more noteworthy trade rumors, so let’s dive in and round up some highlights…

The Magic‘s front office has “left no stone unturned” as the team explores potential trades. Scotto hears that the club has even quietly gauged trade interest in Aaron Gordon, who will be a restricted free agent this summer. I imagine Orlando would require a pretty overwhelming offer to seriously consider moving Gordon.
Several teams have expressed interest in Nets forward DeMarre Carroll, according to Scotto, who identifies the Heat as one of those teams.
As we heard on Thursday, the Bulls are still very much open for business. Robin Lopez is a trade candidate, but Chicago wants a first-round pick in a deal for the veteran center, per Scotto.
Scotto names Malik Beasley, Kenneth Faried, and Emmanuel Mudiay as trade candidates for the Nuggets, noting that the team could be a suitor for Jazz guard Rodney Hood.
Hood isn’t the only Jazz guard who could be available at the deadline — Scotto hears that Utah has also explored the trade market for Ricky Rubio.
Several teams are monitoring Pistons forward Stanley Johnson. Scotto notes that Johnson was one player the Magic coveted when they discussed deals with Detroit earlier in the season, and adds that the Spurs have interest too.
Speaking of the Spurs, they’re one of the teams – as are the division-rival Mavericks – that has expressed interest in Knicks center Willy Hernangomez.
The Wizards are keeping an eye on the trade market and buyout market for a backup point guard, writes Scotto.
Fourth-year forward Noah Vonleh has been shopped by the Trail Blazers, according to Scotto. In addition to keeping tabs on DeAndre Jordan, Portland is also interested in acquiring a small forward.
Executives around the NBA believe that Raptors swingman Norman Powell could be a trade candidate during the offseason due to the emergence of rookie OG Anunoby.

Trail Blazers Hitting Stride

January 30th, 2018 at 10:52pm CST by Austin Kent

The Trail Blazers are playing some of their best basketball of the season of late, Mike Richman of The Oregonian writes, but everything can change at the drop of a hat in the competitive Western Conference. Head coach Terry Stotts cautioned against counting out the Pelicans and Thunder following the recent season-ending injuries to DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Roberson, however.

Lillard Setting The Stage For Trade Request?

January 28th, 2018 at 12:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Damian Lillard‘s recent meeting with Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen could be the first step in seeking a trade, speculates John Canzano of The Oregonian. Lillard met with Allen without the knowledge of coach Terry Stotts or GM Neil Olshey. They reportedly discussed the state of the team, but Canzano thinks Lillard may have demanded a roster upgrade and given himself leeway to ask for a trade if it doesn’t happen before next year’s deadline.

Nuggets Notes: Jokic, Hernangomez, Mudiay, Nurkic

January 24th, 2018 at 7:26pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Nuggets will face a crucial decision with third-year center Nikola Jokic after this season, and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports examines the possibilities. Denver has a team option to keep Jokic for the minimum salary of a little more than $1.6MM next season, but that would make him an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019. The Nuggets could choose to decline that option, making him a restricted free agent this summer with Denver being able to match any offers. Feldman estimates Jokic could get about $109MM [about $27MM annually] over four years in restricted free agency or $146MM over five years [about $29MM annually] in an offer from the Nuggets.

There are benefits to keeping Jokic on a minimum salary for another year with more than $110MM already committed for 12 players next season. Giving Jokic a max deal for 2018/19 could put the team so far into the luxury tax that it couldn’t escape by trading Kenneth Faried or Mason Plumlee. Opt-out decisions by Wilson Chandler [more than $12.8MM for next season] or Darrell Arthur [nearly $7.5MM] could help ease the tax burden, but neither is certain to do that.

There’s more today out of Denver:

After being slowed by illness for much of the season, Juan Hernangomez is healthy and ready to contribute, relays Gina Mizell of The Denver Post. The second-year center contracted mononucleosis in October and was available for just two of the season’s first 12 games. He was sidelined by the flu in late December and has appeared in only 18 games so far. “I said to Coach [Michael Malone], ‘I’m ready if you need me,’” Hernangomez said. “I don’t say ‘I need to play.’ Of course I want to play. But I don’t [put] pressure on him, because he’s the coach and he makes the decisions. I just tell him I’m ready, in any case, and I’m ready to bring my energy.”
The Nuggets need to admit Emmanuel Mudiay was a failed draft pick and find a veteran to help them reach the playoffs, contends Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. The seventh pick in the 2015 draft, Mudiay has struggled with his shot since coming to Denver. Kizsla suggests Sacramento’s George Hill as an option, although the Kings would have to be persuaded to take Faried’s contract in return, or possibly Orlando’s D.J. Augustin as a lower-cost option.
Jusuf Nurkic made his first trip back to Denver this week since being traded to Portland last year and wasn’t eager to reminisce, Mizell writes in a separate story. Nurkic said he has “no relationship” with Malone. “Everybody knows why we didn’t work [in Denver],” Nurkic said. “To be honest, I’m happy I’m here. The story’s over. I have a new story, and I’m really excited where I am.”

Seven Northwest Trade Candidates To Watch

January 24th, 2018 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA trade deadline is just over two weeks away, and there’s no shortage of players around the league who could change teams. With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at some of those top trade candidates, breaking them down by division.

While our focus will be primarily on teams expected to be sellers at the deadline, our lists may also include some players on contenders who could be used as trade chips when those teams look to make upgrades.

So far, we’ve covered the Southeast, Southwest, and Atlantic. We’re examining the Northwest Division today, so let’s dive in and identify seven players who could be on the move on or before February 8…

Derrick Favors, F/C (Jazz): This isn’t the first season in which Favors has been considered a trade candidate, but the case for moving him is now stronger than ever. He’s on an expiring contract, the 19-28 Jazz are slipping out of the playoff race, and Utah looks like a better team with a small-ball power forward playing alongside Rudy Gobert. When Gobert has been sidelined due to injuries, Favors has played his best, which suggests he’d be better suited as a center than a power forward for most NBA teams. There are several teams that could be fits for that sort of player, but given Favors’ looming unrestricted free agency, the Jazz may have to be willing to take back some long-term salary in order to land a decent draft pick or a young player in exchange for the veteran big man.
Rodney Hood, SG (Jazz): In the wake of Gordon Hayward‘s offseason departure, Hood was identified as a prime breakout candidate and a key source of offense for the Jazz. However, injuries have once again slowed down the 25-year-old, who has played 60+ games in a season just once since entering the league in 2014. When he has played, Hood has been pretty effective, posting career-highs in several categories, including PPG (16.7) and 3PT% (.386). However, his injury history is an issue, and it’s no longer clear if he’s in Utah’s long-term plans. Hood will be a restricted free agent in the summer, which makes him a more appealing trade piece than a UFA-to-be like Favors, since a new team would be able to match any offers Hood receives. With the Jazz reportedly increasing their efforts to make a deal, teams in need of a scoring punch should be in on Hood.
Joe Johnson, F (Jazz): Johnson made perfect sense on the 2016/17 Jazz roster as a veteran leader and a clutch-time scorer on a fairly young playoff team. He makes less sense on the current iteration on the Jazz, especially since his game has fallen off a cliff this season. Johnson’s average of 7.2 PPG is a career low, as is his dismal .258 3PT%. Unless the Jazz start to make a playoff push very soon, it seems unlikely that Johnson finishes the season in Utah — Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link) hears that the veteran forward wants out. Of course, given his performance and his $10.5MM cap hit, Johnson may be end up being more of a buyout candidate than a trade candidate. It’s possible he could still help a contender, but at that salary – and at his age (36) – teams probably won’t pay much to find out.
Kenneth Faried, PF (Nuggets): Given how long Faried has been the subject of trade rumors, it seems hard to believe that he still has one more year on his contract after this one. That extra guaranteed season could be problematic if and when the Nuggets look to move him — most teams won’t be looking to commit $13.76MM of next year’s cap to a somewhat one-dimensional player who is playing fewer minutes than ever this season. An off-and-on member of Denver’s rotation, Faried has averaged a modest 6.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 30 games (14.9 MPG) so far in 2017/18. The 28-year-old is still a solid rebounder and can finish at the rim, but he’s not a particularly strong rim protector on defense and he doesn’t shoot three-pointers — most NBA teams these days want their bigs to do one or the other. Moving Faried may require the Nuggets to attach an asset or two.
Emmanuel Mudiay, PG (Nuggets): Mudiay has been a more efficient shooter in 2017/18 than he was in first two NBA seasons, particularly from three-point range (.387 3PT%). However, he’s still shooting just 39.1% overall, and he has once again seen his role reduced by the Nuggets. After starting 107 games in his first two seasons, the former No. 7 overall pick has come off the bench all year, having been usurped on the depth chart by Jamal Murray. Mudiay is still just 21 years old, and his rookie contract doesn’t expire until 2019, making him an intriguing trade target for a team that still believes in his potential. His trade value isn’t as high as it would have been a year or two ago, but it might be time for the Nuggets to get what they can.
Maurice Harkless, F (Trail Blazers): Even after trading Allen Crabbe in the offseason, the Trail Blazers likely want to move off one more long-term contract in order to avoid ongoing luxury tax purgatory. The club may prefer to deal Evan Turner, who is earning $17MM+ annually, or Meyers Leonard, who has a contract similar to Harkless’ but barely plays. Still, of the three, Harkless represents the best combination of affordability (relative to Turner) and production (relative to Leonard). At $10.16MM, the 24-year-old’s salary isn’t an albatross, especially if he can match last season’s production (10.0 PPG, .503 FG%, .351 3PT%). Anyone on the Blazers’ roster not named Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum should be available, so Harkless is hardly the only trade candidate in Portland, but he strikes me as one of the club’s most logical trade chips.
Cole Aldrich, C (Timberwolves): Aldrich has only played 22 minutes this season for the Timberwolves, so perhaps it’s more accurate to identify Aldrich’s contract as the trade candidate rather than the player himself. The veteran center is earning $7.3MM and only has about $2MM guaranteed for 2018/19, making his deal essentially an expiring one. Minnesota reportedly dangled Aldrich and a draft pick in the offseason in an effort to add a shooter, and I’d expect the team to do the same at the deadline.

Here are a few more potential Northwest trade candidates to monitor:

Alec Burks, SG (Jazz): Burks was identified earlier this month as a player drawing some interest on the trade market.
Wilson Chandler, F (Nuggets): Like Faried, Chandler has been a longtime trade candidate in Denver. But he’s having a down year and the rumor mill this season has been pretty quiet.
Kyle Singler, SF (Thunder): Singler, who has played 44 minutes this season, will be a candidate to be stretched in the offseason if the Thunder can’t include him in a trade. Alex Abrines or Patrick Patterson would draw more interest on the trade market, but Oklahoma City might be reluctant to give up a player who can hit outside shots.
Ed Davis, F/C (Trail Blazers): The Blazers would rather trade longer-term contracts, and they probably still need Davis in their rotation. Still, with Zach Collins emerging, Davis makes an interesting trade candidate — moving his expiring contract could get Portland under the tax line this season.
Gorgui Dieng, F/C (Timberwolves): Moving Dieng’s four-year, $62.8MM deal is a long shot, but he’s the most likely trade candidate of the Timberwolves‘ highest-paid players. With Taj Gibson now starting at the four, Dieng has seen his minutes slashed from 32.4 MPG a year ago to just 18.2 this season.

Paul Allen Taking More Hands-On Approach With Blazers

January 23rd, 2018 at 1:53pm CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of news that Damian Lillard met with Paul Allen last week, Kyler hears that the Trail Blazers owner has taken a “more hands-on approach” recently. That includes having top-level staff members gauge the general opinion around the NBA on president Neil Olshey and head coach Terry Stotts.

[SOURCE LINK]

In the wake of news that Damian Lillard met with Paul Allen last week, Kyler hears that the Trail Blazers owner has taken a “more hands-on approach” recently. That includes having top-level staff members gauge the general opinion around the NBA on president Neil Olshey and head coach Terry Stotts.

Lillard Met With Blazers’ Owner To Discuss Team’s Direction

January 23rd, 2018 at 12:52am CST by Luke Adams

Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard met last Thursday with team owner Paul Allen to discuss the direction of the franchise, league sources tell ESPN’s Chris Haynes. According to Haynes, Lillard requested the meeting in order to reaffirm his commitment to the club and to receive assurances that Allen remains devoted to putting together a championship-caliber roster.

League sources tell Haynes that Allen was worried in the weeks leading up to the meeting that his star point guard would ask for a trade, but Lillard made no such request. Per ESPN’s report, the 27-year-old did make it clear during the sitdown that he “desperately” wants to win a title in Portland, inquiring about how the Blazers’ brass plans to try to make that happen during his prime years.

The meeting represents the first time that Lillard and Allen have sat down privately to discuss the state of the franchise, but Haynes’ sources described it as a productive session that could lead to more meetings in the future. No one else in the organization was aware of the meeting until after the fact, when Allen informed both the basketball and business operations staffs, according to Haynes.

Haynes’ report also provides a few details on topics discussed during the sitdown, noting that Lillard gave head coach Terry Stotts a “heartfelt vote of confidence.” However, the point guard questioned the front office’s decision to trade Will Barton in 2015, making it known that he disagreed with the move. Conversely, Allen sought an explanation from Lillard for the Blazers’ inconsistent play in the first half of this season. Lillard and Allen also talked about possible trade targets, Haynes notes.

Lillard remains under contract through the 2020/21 season and has shown no desire to leave Portland, but requesting a meeting with ownership signals that he’ll be monitoring the front office’s roster moves closer than ever going forward. With Lillard, C.J. McCollum, Evan Turner, Maurice Harkless, and Meyers Leonard all locked up to eight-figure salaries through at least 2019/20, the Blazers don’t have a ton of cap flexibility, so it will be interesting to see how president Neil Olshey and his staff look to upgrade the club’s roster at the deadline and in the offseason.