NBA trade deadline buzz: Feb. 7, 2019

February 7, 2019 John NBA 0

The NBA trade deadline day is here! A handful of deals have taken place already (which you can keep track of here) and as we close in on the official trade deadline (3 p.m. ET), talks of other deals will continue.

Keep up with the latest rumblings around the NBA — and the latest deals that have been agreed to — as in-season trading time wanes. 

(And, if you missed it, here’s what happened on Wednesday.)

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Reports: Davis not being dealt today

If you’re holding out hope for an Anthony Davis trade today (or for framework of a deal to be in place at the 3 p.m. deadline), you aren’t going to get your wish.

Both Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, and the team itself have confirmed Davis will not be traded today. In not doing so, it pushes a potential Davis swap into the offeason at the earliest.

 The news isn’t much of a surprise, as the tea leaves this morning surrounding a Davis trade seemed to indicate he would not be dealt. 

— 3:04 p.m.

Celtics reportedly deal Bird to Hawks

Second-year guard Jabari Bird reportedly is headed to the Atlanta Hawks, where he is expected to be waived, according to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Bird was selected by the Celtics with the 56th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. He has yet to play during the 2018-19 season.

— 3:01 p.m. (updated 3:10 p.m.)

Raptors unload Monroe, per reports

The Toronto Raptors have agreed to trade Greg Monroe to the Brooklyn Nets for a second-round pick, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic. The 28-year-old center is averaging career-lows for minutes, points, rebounds and assists during limited run with the Raptors this season. Prior to dealing Monroe, the Raptors reportedly agreed to acquire former All-Star center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies.

— 3 p.m.

Reports: Sixers trading Fultz to Magic

Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, is headed to a new locale.

Per multiple reports, the Philadelphia 76ers are trading Fultz to the Orlando Magic along with swingman Jonathon Simmons, a first-round pick and a second-round pick. Per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the picks the Sixers are receiving are a first-round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder and a second-round pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Fultz has been out since early December with thoracic outlet syndrome. He visited with several specialists to figure out what’s ailing him. The Sixers said the specialists have identified a compression or irritation in the area between the lower neck and upper chest. Physical therapy was recommended for Fultz before returning to play.

Fultz’s representatives informed the Sixers in November that the guard would be shut down until he had been examined by specialists.

He played just 14 games last season because of a shoulder injury that appeared to affect his shooting mechanics and made him one of the more scrutinized players in the NBA. Fultz lost his starting spot in the rotation when the Sixers traded for Jimmy Butler. The 20-year-old Fultz is averaging 8.2 points, 3.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds and is shooting 42 percent from the field.

— 2:49 p.m.

Grizzlies reportedly won’t part with Conley

Point guard Mike Conley will apparently end this season how he’s done every one to date in his career: with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Conley’s name had circulated in trade talks of late — in particular with ones to the Utah Jazz and/or Detroit Pistons — but he will not be dealt by the team, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Conley has reportedly been a top target on the Jazz’s trade wish list for a while now.

The Grizzlies are keeping Mike Conley, league sources tell ESPN. Memphis discussed deals with multiple teams, but ultimately decided to hold onto their franchise point guard.

The Grizzlies’ asking price for the veteran playmaker changed yesterday, with Memphis seeking multiple first-round picks for Conley. Last night, multiple outlets reported that Conley did not want to go to Utah.

However, the Jazz were still in pursuit of Conley as of this morning, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. However, even earlier today, it was consider to not be a surprise if the Grizzlies held on to Conley and re-assessed his trade value closer to the Draft.

— 2:42 p.m.

Report: Blazers, Kings agree to swap

The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly agreed to a deal with the Sacramento Kings for third-year forward Skal Labissiere, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Forward Caleb Swanigan will reportedly head to the Kings. The 6-foot-11 Labissiere was averaging a career-low 8.7 minutes with the Kings over 13 games this season. Swanigan, who was drafted with the 26th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, averaged 8.1 minutes and 1.9 points with the Blazers over 18 games this season.

— 2:37 p.m.

Clippers reportedly acquire Lakers’ Zubac

Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac had been linked in the Anthony Davis trade talks for a few days now. He was reportedly dealt on trade deadline day as anticipated — just not where everyone thought he would.

Instead of a trip to New Orleans, Zubac is reportedly headed down the hall at Staples Center. Zubac is headed to the LA Clippers with teammate Michael Beasley for Mike Muscala, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Clippers picked up Muscala in their blockbuster trade earlier this week with the Philadelphia 76ers. In that trade, the Clippers traded Tobias Harris to Philadelphia for a haul that included Muscala, Wilson Chandler and rookie Landry Shamet. Muscala appeared in 47 games for Philadelphia this season, averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22.1 minutes. He had not played in a game for the Clippers since being traded there. 

Zubac has taken a big step forward in his development this season after an up-and-down start to his career. He is averaging 8.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in 15.6 minutes per game, but was solid in January (11.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.7 bpg in 17.4 mpg).

— 2:35 p.m.

Mack reportedly returning to Hawks

Reserve point guard Shelvin Mack, who spent 3 1/2 seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, is headed back to Georgia.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Memphis Grizzlies are trading Mack to the Hawks. he has averaged 7.9 points and 3.4 assists per game in 22.7 minutes per game this season, and played for the Hawks from 2012-16 before being traded to the Utah Jazz.

— 2:25 p.m.

Report: Raptors set to acquire Gasol

The Charlotte Hornets were thought to be the top team chasing after Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol. However, a new team is on the cusp of entering the mix to land him: the Toronto Raptors.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Grizzlies and Raptors are working out the details that will send the former All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year to Canada. Per Wojnarowski, the Raptors are planning to send center Jonas Valanciunas, guard Delon Wright, swingman C.J. Miles and a 2024 second-round pick to Memphis for Gasol.

Toronto is planning to send Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Milles and a 2024 second-round pick to the the Grizzlies for Gasol, league sources tell ESPN.

More to come as details emerge …

— 1:54 p.m. (Updated, 1:58 p.m.)

Report: Clippers trading veteran Bradley to Grizzlies

Earlier this week, the LA Clippers dealt away Tobias Harris, presumably with an eye on their future and free agency. They have made perhaps another move in the same vein, per a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Clippers are trading guard Avery Bradly to the Memphis Grizzlies for Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green. Both players the Clippers are receiving are on expiring contracts, thus freeing up more salary cap space for the Clippers next summer. As for Bradley, his contract for next season is not fully guaranteed.

Memphis has traded Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green to the Clippers for Avery Bradley, league sources tell ESPN.

— 1:51 p.m.

Baldwin IV, Stauskas reportedly on move again

Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV started the week as members of the Portland Trail Blazers. By mid-week, they were on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Today, they became members of the Houston Rockets. And now, it seems, they are on the move again.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are trading the duo to the Indiana Pacers in return for a second-round pick. Once they land with the Pacers, Baldwin and Stauskas are expected to be waived.

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports the move to trade Stauskas and Baldwin moved Houston under the luxury tax, which is a clear goal for the team this season.

— 1:22 p.m.

Reports: Mirotic headed to Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are already the top team in the Eastern Conference. They may have just gotten better with a reported trade that will send New Orleans Pelicans sharpshooter Nikola Mirotic to Milwaukee.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe were the first to report the deal. Wojnarowski reports that the Bucks will send veteran center Jason Smith and Stanley Johnson to New Orleans to complete the deal. In addition, the trade will include the Pistons and will send multiple second-round picks to the Pelicans for Mirotic, Wojnarowski reports.

Marc Stein of The New York Times reports the Pelicans will net four second-round picks in the deal.

On Wednesday, the Bucks reportedly dealt Thon Maker to the Detroit Pistons to acquire Johnson. That trade was never officially announced, though, and now Johnson will be on his way to New Orleans.

Read more here … 

— 12:54 p.m.

Shumpert officially dealt to Houston

The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings reportedly ironed out a three-team deal on Wednesday night. As part of the trade, the Rockets would receive veteran defensive stopper Iman Shumpert. That trade has now gone official, with the workings of the deal reported last night what was approved today.

— 12:49 p.m.

Ennis reportedly dealt to Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers have made another trade, acquiring Houston Rockets forward James Ennis. In the deal, which was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Rockets get the swap rights to a 2021 second-round pick.

Ennis has been a valuable reserve for the Rockets, averaging 7.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and a steal per game in 23.7 minutes per game. He started 25 games for Houston this season. The trade, however, helps the Rockets inch closer to getting under the luxury tax. Per Bobby Marks of ESPN, trading Ennis saves Houston $2.4 million as it is now $2.4 million below the tax threshold. 

The Rockets reportedly acquired veteran swingman Iman Shumpert from the Sacramento Kings yesterday via a three-team trade. Earlier this week, the Sixers pulled off one of the true blockbuster trades to date, landing Tobias Harris from the LA Clippers. Philadelphia also pulled off a smaller trade yesterday, acquiring reserve guard Malachi Richardson from the Toronto Raptors.

— 12:09 p.m.

Report: No communication between Pelicans, Lakers

The news this morning for Los Angeles Lakers fans hoping for an Anthony Davis blockbuster trade didn’t seem too great. As we draw closer to the trade deadline itself, the lay of the land has apparently not changed. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports trade talks between the Lakers and Pelicans are dormant and there is little expectation either side will talk to each other today. Here’s more from Wojnarowski:

Nearly 3 hours away from the NBA’s trade deadline and … the Lakers-Pelicans talks on Anthony Davis are dormant, league sources tell ESPN. No communication, nor an expectation that they’ll even speak today. Pelicans seem content to run out the clock.

As the clock drew closer to the trade deadline ending, there still was no communication between the Lakers and Pelicans, per Marc Stein of The New York Times.

The Pelicans and Lakers have had no Anthony Davis trade conversations today, according to league sources

— 11:49 a.m. (Updated, 2:55 p.m.)

Jazz reportedly still pursuing Conley

Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley has reportedly been a top target on the Utah Jazz’s trade wish list for a while now. The Grizzlies’ asking price for the veteran playmaker changed yesterday, with Memphis seeking multiple first-round picks for Conley. Last night, multiple outlets reported that Conley did not want to go to Utah.

However, the Jazz are still in pursuit of Conley and has not abandoned its chase for him, per Marc Stein of The New York Times. However, it may not be a surprise if the Grizzlies hold on to Conley and re-assess his value closer to the Draft: 

Utah, meanwhile, has not abandoned its pursuit of Mike Conley, league sources say, even knowing Conley’s preference is to go to the East if he is dealt today. As discussed here yesterday, Memphis may decide its trade options for Conley broaden by waiting until closer to the draft

As for the notion Conley only wants to play in the East, he dispelled that notion after Thursday’s shootaround in OKC. “I never said that. When I saw it on the internet, I just let it go. I’ll play anywhere … I never ran from a conference or any particular place.”

— 10:33 a.m. (Updated, 11:57 a.m.)

 

Reports: Grizzlies, Hornets still talking Gasol trade

There were reports two days ago of the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets being in “strong talks” regarding big man Marc Gasol. The Hornets have shown interest in Memphis’ center, but as of Wednesday morning the talks seemed to die down.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The New York Times‘ Marc Stein report that trade discussions between the teams about Gasol, though, remain very much alive.

Here’s more from Wojnarowski:

There are still gaps needing to be bridged in Marc Gasol discussions between Memphis and Charlotte, league sources tell ESPN. Talks continued this morning.

Stein reported earlier Thursday that the Hornets tried to acquire Harrison Barnes in a trade with the Sacramento Kings last night. Although that didn’t work out for Charlotte, they are still after Gasol:

The Hornets were not able to acquire Harrison Barnes but continue to engage with Grizzlies on a Marc Gasol deal, I’m told. JaMychal Green is also attracting interest on what could well be a busy day in Memphis

 — 10:26 a.m.

Randolph reportedly headed for buyout market

The memories of Zach Randolph as a Dallas Maverick won’t last for very long, it seems. Per Marc Stein of The New York Times, the Mavericks are not necessitating that Randolph report to Dallas. He was one of the players — Justin Jackson was the other — whom the Mavs acquired in last night’s trade with the Sacramento that sent Harrison Barnes to the Kings.

Per Stein:

Zach Randolph appears headed for what will be a sizable buyout market after Sacramento dealt him to Dallas in the Harrison Barnes deal. The Mavericks, I’m told, won’t necessitate that Randolph reports.

— 8:56 a.m.

Report: Wolves looking to deal Teague, Dieng

To date, the Minnesota Timberwolves have struggled to gain traction in the Western Conference playoff race. They are 25-28 and sit in 12th place in the West and have dealt with a myriad of injuries all season long (as well as the early-season trading of Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia). 

Minnesota can still make a push for the playoffs, and to do so they might consider a roster shake-up before today’s deadline. Per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune, the Wolves are looking for a way to deal two veterans: guard Jeff teague and center Gorgui Dieng:

The trade deadline of 2 p.m. today is fast-approaching and the Wolves have remained quiet, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been checking to see what deals might be out there to make.

Specifically, the Wolves are looking for a way to move on from the contracts of point guard Jeff Teague and center Gorgui Dieng, according to league sources.

The Wolves have other, more desirable trade chips if they want to cash some in — potentially at the cost of making a playoff push. They have multiple veterans on expiring contracts who might attract interest from teams contending for a title. Among them are guard Derrick Rose and forwards Taj Gibson, Anthony Tolliver and Luol Deng. After rarely playing earlier this season, Deng has shown in recent weeks he still has something left in the tank.

This season, Teague is averaging 11.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game in 30.3 minutes per game. He was signed by the Wolves in the summer of 2017 as a free agent and has a $19 million player option in 2019-20. Dieng, who averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.1 rpg in 13.6 mpg as a reserve for Minnesota, is under contract for two more seasons.

Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV in Minneapolis reports the Wolves have yet to see any traction on the trade front because of the kind of deals Dieng and Teague possess: 

No traction yet for the #Twolves on the trade front. Teague and Dieng are tough contracts to move, and even Taj’s big expiring number offers roadblocks. There’s enough interest in Tolliver that I’d hope they can find a match in the next 6 1/2 hours.

— 7:38 a.m. (Updated, 8:33 a.m.)

Celtics trying to stay in Davis loop

The Boston Celtics aren’t on that reported preferred list of teams Anthony Davis would be willing to re-sign with should he be traded. However, they also know a lot can happen after 3 p.m. today if Davis ends up not being moved.

As such, they seemingly aren’t knocking down the New Orleans Pelicans’ door for Davis offers (in large part because they can’t add Davis because of the “Rose Rule.”). Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reports the Celtics have assured New Orleans’ management they will put together a large trade package for Davis in the summer (if he’s still on the Pelicans). Still, the Celtics must overcome Davis’ reported lack of interest in staying in Boston should he land there.

Here’s more from Bulpett:

If Davis isn’t moved by the deadline and is still balking about a future with the Celts afterward, Danny Ainge’s offer could be weakened to reflect that uncertainty. In light of all that, there have been no hard and fast negotiations between the two clubs. The Pelicans were made aware of the Celts’ interest in Davis years ago, but it has been mainly to the degree of Ainge asking to be kept in the loop if he’s made available.

Now that he is, the two sides have been investigating each other more deeply, and part of that involves whether AD will keep an open mind if he is dealt to a team other than the four he is said to desire (Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Bucks).

There is no doubt the Celtics would, as July 1 approached, seek a better understanding from Davis’ camp, but it’s likely that almost nothing they could hear would deter them from making an attempt to acquire the All-Star.

— 7:15 a.m.

Cavs reportedly still trying to deal Smith

In the past few days, the Cleveland Cavaliers have considerably thinned their roster a three-player deal on Feb. 4. Last night, they reportedly dealt the players they landed in the Hood deal (Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin IV) in a three-team trade with the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings. 

The changes may not be done if Cleveland has its way, as it is looking to trade disgruntled veteran J.R. Smith before today’s deadline. Smith has not been with the Cavs since late November, when the team announced it would look to trade him. He was unhappy with his role this season and made it known early on in 2018-19.

Here’s more from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com on Smith’s trade market:

Even after agreeing to their fourth trade this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers stayed busy on deadline eve, looking to find a new home for exiled swingman JR Smith, and the front office will continue with that goal up until 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon, league sources told cleveland.com. 

Smith, who hasn’t played organized basketball since Nov. 19, 2018 and was recently spotted at Madison Square Garden as a fan, doesn’t have nearly as much value as some of the other pieces the Cavs have moved recently. Finding a trade partner is “easier said than done,” according to one source.

…

The Cavs know that a Smith deal is a long shot. That’s why they prioritized Kyle Korver, George Hill, Sam Dekker, Rodney Hood and Alec Burks — all five players that have been traded already, netting the Cavs six second-round picks, two firsts and a couple of future expiring contracts that add to their asset chest. 

— 6:52 a.m.

Report: Davis trade may not be imminent

The official trade deadline is less than 12 hours away, which puts the teams vying for Anthony Davis’ services up against a clock ticking louder than before. While the Los Angeles Lakers have made reportedly made more than a few offers for Davis, they also have not heard much back from the New Orleans Pelicans on said offers.

Marc Stein of The New York Times reports that the New York Knicks are considered to be on equal footing now with the Lakers in terms of teams Davis would consider signing a long-term deal with were he traded there. However, as Stein reports, it doesn’t look like Davis will be dealt before the 3 p.m. deadline.

Here’s more from Stein:

Anthony Davis has the Knicks on equal footing with the Los Angeles Lakers as he considers what teams he would be willing to join on a long-term deal after securing a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans, according to two people with knowledge of Davis’s thinking.

A trade to any team did not appear imminent Wednesday night, as Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline drew near. But Davis’s recent request to be traded did not include a demand that the move happen before the deadline, according to the people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.

…

The Knicks are aware of Davis’s strong interest in playing in New York, according to the people. Either way, though, Davis is leaning toward playing out his current contract and becoming a free agent in July 2020 no matter where he is traded.

…

Davis has missed six games with a finger injury but was seeking to play in both of New Orleans’ games this week. The Pelicans, however, opted to hold Davis out while working on trades and have not yet disclosed whether they plan to allow Davis to return to the lineup if he is not traded this week. Davis, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking, would like to play out the season with the Pelicans if no trade materializes before the deadline, despite the fact that the injury risk would be significant for both player and team.

Per Stein, Davis intends to enter 2020 free agency rather than sign an extension, even if he’s traded to the Knicks, Lakers or one of his other preferred destinations (Clippers, Bucks).

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier on Wednesday that the Lakers were “running low on hope” for landing Davis. 

Shams Charania of The Athletic shares his thoughts on Anthony Davis’ future.

Read more about the latest here … 

— 5:54 a.m.

Mavericks trade Barnes to Kings

The Kings are officially making a playoff push.

Wednesday night, as the Mavericks game against Charlotte moved into the fourth quarter, The Athletic’s Shams Charania broke news that the Sacramento Kings were finalizing the acquisition of forward Harrison Barnes, and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski quickly followed with details of the return package, which includes Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph.

The Mavericks confirmed the deal late Wednesday night, and also indicated they requested waivers on center Salah Mejri.

Read more here about the deal, which is expected to create a max salary slot for Dallas and open the Kings and Barnes to a possible long-term union.

— 5:04 a.m.

LeBron sounds off on Barnes trade

One of the wildest stories from last night was the (literal) in-game trade the Dallas Mavericks pulled off that involved forward Harrison Barnes last night. While the news of it had the NBA world enraptured on social media, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James wasn’t a huge fan of how it all went down.

He took to Instagram and vented about the trade, posting a video from last night’s Mavs-Charlotte Hornets game in which news of the Barnes trade was being reported. Here’s what James had to say in his post:

So let me guess this is cool cause they had to do what was best for the franchise right??? Traded this man while he was literally playing in the game and had ZERO idea. I’m not knocking who traded him because it’s a business and you have to do what you feel what’s best but I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he’s a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release , waive, cut etc etc it’s best for them! I’m ok with both honestly, truly am. Just call a ♠️ a ♠️!!

— 5 a.m.

Food for thought as big day begins …

Anthony Davis is the No. 1 name on everyone’s trade-deadline watch list and has been for a week-plus now. Yet what happens if the New Orleans Pelicans don’t deal him by the 3 p.m. deadline?

The Boston Celtics have a wide array of assets to offer up in any deal, yet they are also just 5 1/2 games out of first place in the Eastern Conference. Is a deal something they must make in order to realize their Finals dreams?

The Memphis Grizzlies have been shopping Marc Gasol and Mike Conley for weeks now … will they get a trade done for either (or both) of their franchise icons by today’s deadline?

Thankfully, Tom Penn (the former VP of Basketball Operations for the Portland Trail Blazers) and David Griffin (the former GM of the Cleveland Cavaliers) were on NBA TV last night to help us dig into those questions …

What happens in New Orleans if Anthony Davis is not dealt by Feb. 7?

Memphis continues to shop Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.

Should the Celtics make a move before the trade deadline?

 — 4:52 a.m.

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