Weekly Mailbag

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

What will DeMarcus Cousins‘ value be? Will he be signing a long-term deal or a huge prove-it deal? — Jeremiah Whitten, via Twitter

Cousins was a lock for a five-year max offer worth about $175MM before tearing his left Achilles. Now it would be a huge risk for the Pelicans to devote that much money to a player who may never be the same physically. The front office is fortunate that it has another four and a half months until Cousins becomes a free agent, so there is time to gauge his level of healing before making a final decision. GM Dell Demps has been on the hot seat for a couple of years, so the choice may fall to someone else if New Orleans misses the playoffs. The Pelicans may end up offering a smaller deal loaded with incentives similar to what Joel Embiid got in Philadelphia. The question is whether another team like the Lakers or Mavericks, who were known to have interest in Cousins before the injury, is willing to make a better offer.

Do you think the Bucks add Andrew Bogut or no? — Dave Koehler, via Twitter

Bogut’s agent said he has talked to four playoff teams and expects a signing to take place this week. Milwaukee certainly figures to be in the running considering its need for interior help and Bogut’s history with the franchise. Gery Woefel of The Racine Journal Times tweeted in January that there was mutual interest, but that nothing was likely to happen until after the trade deadline. The Bucks should be considered the favorites, but the Warriors, Heat and some other teams also need veteran help in the middle, so it’s a matter of who can offer the best situation. Although Bogut didn’t put up impressive numbers in his 24 games with the Lakers, he is still well regarded as a defender and rebounder and he showed enough to convince teams that he has recovered from last season’s broken leg.

Who are the most likely buyout candidates to sign with the Thunder? — Spinozi, via Twitter

The obvious need in Oklahoma City is a strong wing defender to take the place of Andre Roberson. Right now, the best one on the market is Tony Allen, who was waived Friday by the Bulls after being acquired in a trade with the Pelicans. Allen earned a reputation as a defensive stopper during his days with the Celtics and Grizzlies, but he is 36 and had a limited role with New Orleans. OKC has an open roster spot, but will probably wait a few days to see how the buyout market plays out before signing anybody. Another interesting name to watch could be Corey Brewer, who has a limited role with the Lakers and may be pushed aside as the team focuses on its younger players.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Who would be a better fit for the Thunder, Jonathon Simmons or Avery Bradley? — Duhhkari Sanchez, via Twitter

Bradley is almost a perfect replacement for Andre Roberson, who is out for the season with a ruptured left patellar tendon. Bradley has been an elite wing defender for years and is a better 3-point shooter than Roberson. He has an $8.8MM contract that expires after this season, so he won’t require a long-term financial commitment. The obstacle in the way of any deal is the Thunder’s lack of resources. They can’t offer a first-round pick until at least 2022 and they don’t have enough young players with small contracts to interest the Clippers. They’ve been reluctant to part with Terrance Ferguson, but that will probably be the price to obtain Bradley. Simmons may not be an option, depending on whether Orlando’s front office wants to do a complete overhaul. He is averaging 13.7 points per game and has an affordable contract at $6MM for next season and a non-guaranteed $5.7MM for 2019/20.

Which player is the most realistic option for the Bucks: Malik Monk, Tyreke Evans or Avery Bradley? — Kyle Wagner, via Twitter

The Bucks are focused on winning right away, so Monk isn’t an option. The word out of Charlotte is that he needs significant improvement, especially on defense, before being ready to play regular minutes. Evans and Bradley would both be nice additions, but they will come at a high cost with so many teams being interested. The Grizzlies and Clippers will each be seeking first-round draft picks, and Milwaukee sent this year’s first-rounder (with protections) to Phoenix in the Eric Bledsoe deal. The priority in Milwaukee seems to be finding another center, so don’t expect Evans or Bradley to be heading north.

Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough said he is ready to advance the timeline and swing big with all assets for a young star to grow with Devin Booker and T.J. Warren. Is an Anthony Davis or a similar young star realistic? Please say yes. — Nathan Dylong, via Twitter

It looks like Suns fans are the latest to join the waiting party for Anthony Davis. However, Davis reportedly loves being in New Orleans and there’s almost no incentive for the Pelicans to trade him. He’s still just 24 years old and is signed through the 2019/20 season, with a $28.75MM player option for 2020/21. That salary may be a bargain for his level of production, especially in light of some of the super max deals signed over the past two seasons. Davis is the heart of the Pelicans and the best player in franchise history. Trading him would mark the beginning of another long rebuilding process for an organization that hasn’t enjoyed much success. A lot of stars change teams in the NBA every season, so there will be plenty of opportunities for the Suns to grab one, but don’t count on getting Davis out of New Orleans.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

With the injury to DeMarcus Cousins, would the Pelicans be in the market for Nikola Mirotic? — Drew Keys

Mirotic wants to go to a contender, which the Pelicans are, and the Bulls want a first-rounder in return, which the Pelicans have, so a deal is certainly possible. He’s averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game — not “Boogie” levels of course, but it’s probably as good as New Orleans is going to find at a reasonable cost. Mirotic is making $12.5MM this season, with a team option for the same amount next year. That option doesn’t have to be exercised until June 29, so the Pelicans should have a much clearer picture of Cousins’ recovery status by then. New Orleans still plans to be a buyer at the deadline and Mirotic would figure to be on their radar. The main concern is that a team outside the playoff picture like Utah can offer the Bulls a better draft pick.

What is keeping teams like Detroit, Denver, Indiana or New Orleans from trading their first-rounder for Tyreke Evans? — Chad B.

Most deadline deals don’t get done until the last minute because teams are waiting to see if the offers improve. The Grizzlies are almost certain to trade Evans, who has been a huge bargain this year at $3.29MM, especially after the news that Mike Conley will miss the rest of the season, eliminating any hope of the playoffs. Memphis is already over the cap for next season and doesn’t have Bird rights on Evans. The mid-level exception is available, but Evans is sure to get better offers on the open market. All four teams you mention would be excellent fits for Evans, although New Orleans will be concentrating on front-line help after losing Cousins. Keep an eye on the Wizards, Celtics and Sixers as well, as they all could use a scoring boost off the bench. The question is whether anyone will give up a first-rounder for a player who could be a half-season rental. Memphis could have a lot of offers to sort through over the next 11 days.

Do you think Aaron Gordon could be the guy the Celtics need right now? They could absorb his contract via the Disabled Player Exception. — Nicolas Galipeau

The Celtics would love to add Gordon, but the Magic aren’t eager to part with him. Gordon will become a restricted free agent in July after failing to reach an agreement on an extension, but don’t assume the Magic are done with him. He has taken a major step forward this season, averaging 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per night, and Orlando will likely match any offer he gets in free agency. The Celtics have a March 10 deadline to use the $8.4MM DPE, and their best options probably aren’t available yet. Look for Boston to be active after the trade deadline when buyout season begins.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Do you think LeBron James has a good chance of playing for the Lakers next season as he just bought a new house in Los Angeles? — Greg Dizon

The LeBron-to-L.A. rumors started shortly after last year’s NBA Finals and will keep going until he announces a decision this summer. The Lakers seem committed to clearing enough cap space to offer two maximum contracts, and LeBron surely recognizes the historical significance of lifting L.A. back to championship status. Nobody knows for sure what he is thinking or if he plans to give much though to free agency until this season is done. If he has taken a good look at the Lakers, he has surely noticed the chaos of the past week related to LaVar Ball’s comments about coach Luke Walton and the delayed response from the team’s front office. He would also see a team with a 15-27 record and a recent nine-game losing streak. The best-case scenario for the Lakers would be to sign James and Paul George, but that means getting rid of Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson first. Would that roster be enough be enough to get through the West with the Warriors, Rockets and Spurs standing in the way? That thought will influence LeBron’s decision much more than a new home.

What kind of package would Andre Drummond bring in a trade? — Mark Holmes

Drummond’s improvement this season makes him much less likely to be traded than he was a year ago. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy’s concerns about his intensity level seem to be a thing of the past, and Drummond has added a playmaking element to his game, averaging a career-best 3.8 assists per night to go with a league-leading 15.0 rebounds. Drummond is only 24 and is signed through 2019/20 with a player option for the following season. He has become the cornerstone of the franchise and won’t be dealt unless the Pistons decide to rebuild. It’s hard to picture an offer the Pistons might consider right now, but if they want to get out of the most expensive years of Drummond’s contract and replace Reggie Jackson at point guard, they could match salary by sending them to Miami for Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside.

What are the latest Bucks trade rumors besides DeAndre Jordan, Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler? — ROBZ, via Twitter

Milwaukee is obviously after centers, and we noted in a recent Mailbag that Knicks backup Kyle O’Quinn is a possibility. They will continue to make a push for Jordan until the February 8 trade deadline and will probably opt for one of the lower-cost options if they can’t work out a deal with the Clippers. If you want a complete wild card to consider, how about Dwight Howard? His salary is similar to Jordan’s ($23MM vs. $22,642,350), with the main difference being that Howard is under contract for another year at more than $23.8MM, while Jordan has a player option. The Hornets are sliding out of the East race at 16-25 and probably wouldn’t mind unloading Howard’s contract. His reputation has suffered in recent years, but Howard’s numbers have been fairly steady since he left Orlando. He is averaging 15.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per night and could give the Bucks everything that Jordan would.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Do you think the Wizards will go after Tyreke Evans before the trade deadline or will it be Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle in a trade? — Gregory Younger

Bench strength is an annual issue in Washington, and obviously Randle and Clarkson would be two nice additions with bright futures. The problem is the Lakers only want expiring contracts in return to maximize their cap room for free agency. Clarkson is making more than $11.5MM this year and Randle is close to $4.15MM, leaving the Wizards unable to match salaries without sending back long-term contracts. Their most expensive expiring deals belong to Tim Frazier at $2MM and Mike Scott and Chris McCullough, each at $1,471,382. Evans is a much more realistic target at age 28 and with a $3.29MM contract. Memphis is going to want draft picks in return, so the Wizards will have to decide if Evans is worth parting with a future first-rounder.

What players could Detroit trade for that would best fit their needs, and what would they have to give up to get them? — Mark Holmes

The Pistons are in the market for help at forward, and the Bulls’ Nikola Mirotic could be an intriguing name to watch. Mirotic reportedly hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of Chicago after being hospitalized in a pre-season skirmish with teammate Bobby Portis, and he has expressed a willingness to waive his no-trade clause if it would get him to a contender. Detroit could use another outside shooter, and Mirotic continues to sizzle from 3-point range, connecting at 47% through 17 games. Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press suggested last month that Brooklyn’s DeMarre Carroll could be a trade option, but a knee injury he suffered last night may affect his availability between now and the February 8 deadline.

Does Portland need to make a trade deadline move to create a stronger playoff team? — Baylor The Great, via Twitter

The Trail Blazers are among several Western Conference teams that could use another piece or two, and at 20-18 they’re far from a lock to make the postseason. Salary cap concerns will affect any moves as Portland still has one of the league’s top payrolls at more than $122MM. The only way for the Blazers to make a significant deal is to break up their backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, who are both signed to hefty deals through 2020/21 or to give up center Jusuf Nurkic, who will be negotiating an extension this summer. The Blazers could also decide to become sellers to get their cap situation under control.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

What are the latest Bucks trade rumors besides DeAndre Jordan, JaVale McGee and Zaza Pachulia? — ROBZ, via Twitter

Milwaukee has been in the market for a center since sending Greg Monroe to Phoenix in the Eric Bledsoe deal. The Bucks are loaded with talent, but are being held back by their lack of rebounding, where they rank near the bottom of the league. They will be interested in any big man who becomes available between now and the February 8 trade deadline and would probably be first in line for Jordan if the Clippers decide to part with him. An under-the-radar name to watch is Kyle O’Quinn, who has developed into an effective back-up for the Knicks. Enes Kanter has the starting job in New York and the team wants to find additional minutes for Willy Hernangomez and Joakim Noah, so a deal involving O’Quinn wouldn’t be surprising. He’s relatively cheap at $4.0875MM this year with a $4,256,250 player option for next season, so the Bucks wouldn’t have to give up much in return.

What do you believe is a decent asking price for Nikola Mirotic and Robin Lopez together or in separate deals? — Mike 2k_97, via Twitter

The Bulls have looked like a playoff team over the past three weeks, but management still has a rebuilding mindset. That means the team will be asking for first-rounders in any deal. Mirotic has been a candidate for Most Improved Player since returning from facial fractures, averaging 18.1 points through 12 games and shooting 48% from 3-point range. His has a $12.5MM salary this season and a team option for the same amount in 2018/19, so he would be a relatively inexpensive piece for a contender to add. He is still bitter over his preseason fight with Bobby Portis and would welcome a trade if it gets him to a playoff team. He doesn’t become eligible to be traded until January 15, but a recent report said the Bulls are willing to move him if they can get a mid to late first-rounder in return. Lopez has a much higher salary at nearly $13.8MM this year and close to $14.36MM next season, so he will be much tougher to trade.

What do you think of LaVar Ball’s junior basketball league that will cater to high school ballers who want to skip college basketball and  join the NBA? — Gregory Dizon

It certainly has appeal to some players who see the NBA as their future and don’t want to deal with the academic part of college life, and having Ball in charge means it would get plenty of publicity. But the economics of running any new league are always a concern, as attendance and general interest will depend on landing some big-name prospects each year. The biggest challenge for the league will be proving that it can be an effective path to a pro career. Most five-star recruits are going to view the coaching provided at Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and other major college programs as a better option than an upstart pro league.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

What are your thoughts on Nikola Mirotic‘s value before the deadline? — Mike 2k_97, via Twitter

A report earlier this month said the Bulls looked into trading Mirotic and Bobby Portis after their preseason altercation and found a “non-existent” market for both players. That may have changed with Mirotic’s performance during the seven-game winning streak, but now it may be in Chicago’s interest to keep the team together. Mirotic and Portis have put aside their differences and are working effectively as teammates, and neither is all that expensive. Mirotic re-signed for $12.5MM this season with a team option for the same amount in 2018/19, while Portis is still on his rookie contract. Mirotic is putting up by far the best numbers of his career with 17.9 points and 7.6 rebounds and is shooting 48% from 3-point range. However, teams are still wary about his past performance, so his trade value isn’t high. The Bulls might get a couple of draft picks, but nothing too significant, so expect him to stay in Chicago for the rest of the season.

What do you think Lakers can receive by trading Julius Randle before the deadline? — Ralph Lakers, via Twitter

The Lakers are in an uncomfortable position. The rest of the league knows they want to cut salary to make a free agent splash next summer, so other teams are asking for a premium price to help them. Earlier today, we passed along a report that teams want multiple first-rounders or Brandon Ingram in exchange for taking on Luol Deng‘s contract. Randle doesn’t have nearly the negative value that Deng does, but Lakers fans shouldn’t expect anything significant in return for salary dumps. L.A. had preliminary talks with the Mavericks about Nerlens Noel before the Dallas center had thumb surgery, and that’s probably as good as the return is going to get. If Randle is traded, it will be for an expiring contract that won’t affect cap room.

Timberwolves newcomer Jimmy Butler has quickly established himself as the alpha dog over Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Wiggins signed a max contract extension this year, and Towns is due for one next year. Butler can opt out of his contract the following year. Is it possible for a team to sign three players to max deals? If not, do you foresee the Wolves trading either Wiggins or Towns in order to keep Butler? — Matt Trapp

The Wolves must be budgeting for three max deals or they wouldn’t have given one to Wiggins, who is young and talented but is easily the most expendable of the three. Barring injury, Towns is a lock for a maximum extension when the time comes and Butler became the cornerstone of the franchise when Minnesota traded for him in July. With Gorgui Dieng signed through 20/21 and Wiggins’ extension carrying into 2021/22, the Wolves aren’t going to have cap room to work with anyway. Towns and Butler will both get max deals and management will accept the tax penalties as long as the team keeps winning.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Do you think the Lakers could trade Luol Deng before the deadline? Or what do you think they can get if they trade Julius Randle? — Ralph Lakers, via Twitter

Other than making him very wealthy, the Lakers didn’t do Deng any favors when they signed him to a four-year, $72MM contract in 2016. L.A. gave up on Deng midway through last season and he has only gotten into one game this year, so he has become a forgotten man other than his drain on the team’s cap. His contract is such a liability that it he would be hard to trade even if he were still productive. After making $17.19MM this season, he is owed $18MM next year and $18.81MM in 2019/20. If the Lakers can find a team willing to absorb all that salary, they’ll have to throw in a lot of sweeteners in terms of draft picks and maybe young players to get the deal done. It’s more realistic to expect the organization to use the stretch provision after this season and spread that remaining money over five years. Cap room is the number one goal in L.A., so any Randle deal will bring back expiring contracts and maybe future draft picks, but nothing that’s going to affect the team’s ability to offer two maximum contracts next summer.

Should the Thunder target a guy like Lou Williams? Generating offense has been a problem for this team, so maybe adding a spark off the bench could help. — Duhhkari Sanchez, via Twitter

This would be contingent on the Clippers deciding to break up their team. As bad as things have gone during a 10-15 start, they are only two-and-a-half games out of a playoff spot, so decisions on Williams, DeAndre Jordan and others are still a few weeks off. If Williams is available, he would be an excellent pickup for Oklahoma City. A finalist for the Sixth Man award last season, he specializes in bringing instant offense off the bench and would take some of the scoring load off Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Williams is in the middle of his best season at age 31, averaging a career-high 19.7 points through 24 games. The Lakers traded him to Houston at last year’s deadline for a first-round pick, and the Clippers would probably seek the same price.

What are the odds Marc Gasol gets the trade he’s looking for, and if he does, what are the odds it’s to a winning franchise? — Danny, via Twitter

Gasol will turn 33 next month, so it doesn’t make sense for anyone but contenders to pursue him. The issue is whether the Grizzlies should keep him any longer or trade him and start a youth movement. Gasol will make $24,119,025 next season and has a player option worth $25,595,700 for 2019/20. If he stays on the roster with Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, Memphis won’t have any cap flexibility for the next two seasons. Chris Mannix of the Vertical reported last month that teams have called about Gasol, but the Grizzlies have turned them all down. Much like the Clippers, they are off to a bad start but aren’t completely out of contention at 8-18. If the losing continues, Memphis may have to take a hard look at its financial situation and resign itself to a Gasol trade by February.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Do you think DeMarcus Cousins will be moved at the trade deadline? — Antonio Sosa

That depends on the Pelicans’ performance between now and the February 8 deadline, which depends heavily on the health of Anthony Davis, who will undergo further examination today for a groin injury. The pairing of Cousins and Davis has been much smoother this season, and the Pelicans have moved into contention for a Western Conference playoff spot with a 12-11 record. Cousins is making a little more than $18MM in the final year of his contract and will be among the top names on the free agent market next summer. He’s putting up typical numbers of 25.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and seems happy in New Orleans. Unless Davis is out for months and the Pelicans’ season falls apart, there’s little reason to expect them to part with Cousins.

What kind of return should Bulls fans expect for Robin Lopez? — Jesse, via Twitter

At 29, Lopez doesn’t fit in with the youth movement in Chicago, and although he might help a contender, he won’t be easy to trade. Lopez has another year left on his contract at more than $14.35MM. If he goes anywhere, it will have to be to a team with no expectations in free agency next year. Chicago wasn’t planning to rebuild so soon when it traded for Lopez in the summer of 2016, and the Bulls may be stuck with him for another year until his expiring contract makes him a more valuable asset.

Did David Fizdale get a raw deal in Memphis, and is it time for the Grizzlies to start rebuilding? — Shane, via Twitter

Fizdale is well regarded around the league and certainly deserved more than 101 games to prove himself as a head coach. However, he did the worst possible thing a coach can do, which is to feud with his star player. Reports out of Memphis say Fizdale and Marc Gasol hadn’t been on good terms for months, and the situation reached a boiling point last week when Gasol was kept on the bench for the entire fourth quarter of a loss. Management will always side with the player making millions over the easily replaceable coach. As far as rebuilding, the Grizzlies have dropped 11 in a row and have the fifth-worst record in the league. It may seem like time to rebuild, but the bulk of their salary is tied up in three players, Gasol, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, none of whom will be easy to trade with their enormous contracts.