The agreed trade sees the Lakers acquire D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt while the Jazz receive Westbrook, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and a lightly protected 2027 first-round pick.
The Wolves, meanwhile, get Mike Conley Jr., Nickeil Alexander-Walker and three second-round picks as part of the deal.
However, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during an appearance on ‘SportsCentre’ with Scott Van Pelt that there is a zero per cent chance that Westbrook will ever step foot on the court for the Jazz, with Utah expected to negotiate a buyout with Westbrook, who has $16.2 million left on his $47 million contract for the season.
Windhorst also revealed that the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers were two teams to keep a close eye on as potential next destinations for the former league MVP once a buyout is finalised.
The Lakers have been trying to trade Westbrook since the offseason, recently failing in their attempt to package him with two first-round picks for Kyrie Irving, who instead joined the Mavericks.
Westbrook was also reportedly included a deal with two first-round picks for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner in the offseason but the Lakers could not strike a trade.
L.A. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has faced intense scrutiny and widespread public backlash throughout the season for his unwillingness to pull the trigger on multiple trades involving Westbrook as well as a reported hesitancy to include the Lakers’ 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in such deals.
Lakers lose despite Lebron milestone | 03:23
However, news of today’s blockbuster multi-team trade has sent Twitter into a spin with many of the reactions in the immediate aftermath overwhelmingly positive towards both Pelinka and the franchise itself.
“Acquiring Russell Westbrook is one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the Lakers. Dumping him with a protected first for this haul of three players might just save their season,” he tweeted.
“Jarred Vanderbilt provides excellent defensive versatility, connective passing, and solid spot-up shooting. He can play next to Anthony Davis or serve as a small ball 5 with LeBron James at the 4.
“Malik Beasley has been one of the NBA’s best shooters. This makes up for losing Malik Monk and whiffing on Buddy Hield.
“D’Angelo Russell will not need to change in dramatic ways like Russ did to fit. LeBron’s guards are always empowered to score. He just needs to know when to defer to LeBron.
“It’s surprising the Lakers were able to make these acquisitions for the price.”
“I’m not saying Lakers just won the West. But DRussell (scoring), Beasley (3s) & Vanderbilt (D) will help & GETTING RID OF WESTBROOK COULD MAKE THEM QUITE A BIT BETTER. A cloud has been lifted – one LeBron & AD campaigned to add. But cost LA unprotected ‘27 1st to dump Russ,” he tweeted.
“D’Angelo Russell would fit better w Lebron than Westbrook. Can shoot/score but inconsistent. Why he bounces around the league. Wolves want Conley cuz he fits better w Gobert and they gotta make that off season mega-deal work. Wolves, Lakers both instantly better,” he said.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said “The Lakers added switchable wing defenders, some shooting and got younger. All while parting ways with Russell Westbrook, whose fit with the franchise never coalesced. With 27 games left in the regular season, LAL is four games out of the No. 6 seed and is 1-2 so far since making it a team goal to finish the season 20-10.”
“The Lakers dramatically upgraded their 3-point shooting, maintained ball handling/playmaking and added a rangy forward who will help defensively and on the glass. They did all that by including only one 1st, which they were able to protect (1-4). This trade is a win.”
“Lakers got shooting, scoring and athletic wing. Wolves got a culture guy and a leader. Danny free’d up bread and got a pick. And Russ getting free! Hell of a move for everybody,” he tweeted.
In fact, so well received was news of the trade that there was a inordinate amount of suggestions that a lot of people owed Rob Pelinka an apology for the harsh criticism he has received previously, with a large number of Twitter users sharing the now infamous Shaquille O’Neal apology gif in reply to Wojnarowski’s original post.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst went a step further when sharing his thoughts on the trade during an appearance on ‘SportsCentre’ with Scott Van Pelt by suggesting that more than just acquiring three players from the Jazz, it is a case of addition by subtraction for the Lakers in getting rid of Westbrook.
“For lot of the last two years, about half of the Lakers rotation was guys on minimum contracts,” Windhorst said.
“When you have half your rotation as minimum contracts, the talent drain is noticeable and that’s because the Westbrook trade (from the Wizards to the Lakers) was such a disaster to the Lakers overall depth. Westbrook is making $47 million, clogging your cap, and not really helping you win.
“You don’t have to be an expert on what’s going on in basketball to watch Russell Westbrook play with those guys and tell that it was not working at all and last night, for example, Westbrook put up good numbers but I’m telling you he was an absolute anchor on them and that’s what has played out over the last two years.
“So these two trades that the Lakers have made over the last couple of weeks, they have acquired four guys (Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt) who are now more appropriate level players that you would see on a playoff team around superstars like Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Now you actually have a real roster, again no offence to anybody, but just removing Westbrook – who just functionally was killing them, he was killing them – and so now you have guys that can help. Now this team goes from probably having somewhere between eighth and 10th place talent to honestly probably fifth, sixth or seventh place talent. Now whether or not they can get up (that high) with where they’re (currently) at in the standings is a different question.”
However, Windhorst did go on to say that while the move was a good one, the Lakers have placed themselves in a precarious position with a crucial decision looming over D’Angelo Russel’s future with his new team.
“They have traded four second-round picks and one first-round pick to do this makeover and the most important thing to me is do the Lakers extend D’Angelo Russell because he is on the last year of his contract making 30 million dollars,” he said.
“If the Lakers give him an extension as part of this trade which I absolutely think is a possibility and they give him a contract that is 30 to 33 million a year or whatever is possible, they have now painted themselves into a corner potentially with another player who is sub-superstar and making superstar-level money.
“So the Lakers have absolutely improved, they have done a nice job of doing that but they have also gone and used their assets – four second-round picks and one first-round pick – to get four guys, none of whom dramatically move the needle so it just upgrades from a lot of players who were underachieving.”
While it appears that many pundits and fans believe that Rob Pelinka has successfully upgraded the roster after today’s trade as well as the Lakers’ recent acquisition of Rui Hachimura, Pelinka himself is reportedly not satisfied with the makeup of the roster just yet.
L.A. Times’ journalist Dan Woike said “The Lakers have a ton of guards currently and I’d expect them to still be active ahead of the deadline in moves that could allow them to consolidate.”
With Pelinka not planning to rest on his laurels, it will make for a fascinating watch to see if the Lakers make any further moves ahead of tomorrow’s 7am AEDT NBA trade deadline.
The NBA trade deadline is officially just under 24 hours from closing as various teams around the league scramble to make moves that could make or break their season.
The potential availability of Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant remains the story to watch after teammate Kyrie Irving was sent to the Dallas Mavericks in the first blockbuster trade of the window.
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Elsewhere, the Lakers could be on the verge of a three-way trade to solve their Russell Westbrook headache.
Thu, 09 Feb
Thursday February 9th
Plus — an Australian is reportedly in high-demand and could be on a new team come Friday [AEDT].
Follow along below for all the latest updates ahead of the deadline!
Lakers lose despite Lebron milestone | 03:23
LAKERS EYE THREE-TEAM SOLUTION TO WESTBROOK DILEMMA
The Los Angeles Lakers look to be inching closer to finding a solution to their Russell Westbrook headache.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Thursday morning: “The Lakers, Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota”.
“Ongoing discussions have included Utah’s Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers,” Charania added.
“Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too.”
It is consistent to whispers ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was hearing on Thursday morning linking Russell to the Lakers.
Bleacher Report’s and TNT’s Chris Haynes, meanwhile, had reported earlier in the week that the Lakers and Jazz held preliminary discussions regarding a trade surrounding Westbrook.
The news comes after a report from Wojnarowski that Westbrook and coach Darvin Ham got into a “heated verbal exchange” in the locker room during halftime against Oklahoma City.
Though the tense exchange was reportedly brief, Ham was apparently annoyed with Westbrook’s lingering on the floor after getting subbed late in the second quarter.
Voices were raised, according to the report, with talk eventually turning back to the game at hand, one that the Lakers went on to lose, 133-130, to drop to 25-30 in what has been another woeful season in Los Angeles.
Simmons scores only 2 points in return | 01:14
Westbrook finished the game on the floor for the Lakers, tallying 14 fourth-quarter points — a season-high — and he and Ham apparently “dapped up” prior to each leaving the arena, per ESPN.
It has been an up-and-down season for the nine-time All-Star. Westbrook has been relegated to mostly a reserve role since early in the season. He’s averaging a career-low 28.7 minutes per game to go with 15.9 points per game, his lowest output since his rookie season in 2008-09 with the Thunder.
Westbrook finished Wednesday’s game with 27 points, eight assists and four rebounds.
Plenty has changed since Kevin Durant last requested a trade six months ago.
Coach Steve Nash and superstar teammate Irving are no longer on the team and now there is uncertainty surrounding Durant’s future once more ahead of Friday’s deadline.
ESPN’s NBA insider Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that Durant and the Nets have been engaged in talks with owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks since Irving was traded to the Mavericks.
The focus of those talks, according to Wojnarowski, has been “the direction of the franchise and its ability to be a championship contender”.
Sources told Wojnarowski that Brooklyn is insisting to inquiring teams that it “has no intention” of moving Durant before the deadline.
Instead, having already acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie as part of the Irving deal, the Nets could look to only build their roster further to put Durant in a position to succeed.
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is making progress in his rehabilitation from a knee injury. (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)Source: AFP
The recent emergence of Cam Thomas has certainly helped, although the Nets also created an additional roster spot and potentially freed up $8 million in salary and luxury tax on Wednesday by trading forward Kessler Edwards and cash to the Sacramento Kings.
Only complicating matters though is reporting from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that rival teams have been strategically hesitant to negotiate with and help the Nets improve their roster.
“The Nets, I’m not sure teams really want to do business with them right now,” Windhorst said on a recent episode of his ‘The Hoop Collective’ podcast
“Because there’s at least some teams that are interested in seeing if they can get Durant. And why would I help the Nets do something to build around Durant when I’m just going to hold my assets for Durant.
“There may be other teams that are not even interested in doing business with the Nets right now that might also hold assets at this deadline, with the mind towards Durant, not that Durant would be available, but the Durant will be available again in the summer.”
That though is hard to believe given Brown is just 26 years old and squarely in the MVP discussion earlier in the season and Jalen Rose agreed it would be a “foolish” move.
“The Boston Celtics, they would be foolish to trade Jaylen Brown at this point of his career,” Rose said on ‘Get Up’.
“And (to) break up Jayson Tatum and that duo that a lot of people have been clamouring for them to do the last few years for some odd reason, for Kevin Durant at this point of his career.
“I know how dominant and great (Durant) is. But at his age, he’s dealt with some injuries over the last couple of years. You don’t trade Jaylen Brown for him if you’re the Celtics.”
AUSSIE THYBULLE ‘COULD BE MOVED’ AS TEAMS CIRCLE
Elsewhere, it is looking increasingly that Australian Matisse Thybulle will be traded before Friday’s deadline.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, “nearly a third” of the teams in the NBA have “expressed exploratory interest” in trading for Thybulle during this season.
Now, whether all of those teams are still interested in trading for the 25-year-old is unclear at this stage but Scotto reported the Pacers, Blazers, Bucks, Mavericks, Hornets, Raptors, and Suns all made calls to inquire about Thybulle.
NBA insider Marc Stein, meanwhile, more recently reported that the Hawks and Kings had interest in Thybulle while Sixers beat reporter Keith Pompey heard similar about the Warriors.
“Determined to contend for a title, the Sixers are expected to keep their core group intact,” Pompey reported.
Matisse Thybulle could be traded. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP
“But Thybulle, no longer viewed as an essential player, could be moved for a decent package.”
Pompey also reported that the Sixers are looking at a center and wing ahead of the deadline but that Thybulle’s trade value has been lowered by his lack of consistent offensive production.
“As a result,” Pompey reported, “Sixers president of basketball operation Daryl Morey could wait until moments before the deadline to see if offers increase”.
Thybulle has seen his average minutes plummet from 25.5 to 12.1 this season, averaging just 2.6 points per game, but the Australian is obviously still one of the league’s best defenders.
One option could also be including Furkan Korkmaz, who has requested a trade, into a potential package alongside Thybulle to increase the value.
NUGGETS GUARD FROZEN OUT IN ‘AWKWARD’ TRADE WAIT
Speaking of players who have seen their minutes shrink this season, Bones Hyland has been completely frozen out recently and appears certain to be traded by the Denver Nuggets.
The 38-17 Nuggets sit atop the Western Conference and while Hyland is an exciting prospect, it is quickly becoming clear the second-year guard is not part of Denver’s future plans.
The Nuggets are said to be looking for more defence in their bid for the championship this season and as much as Hyland brings energy and highlight-reel plays off the bench, he does not fit the franchise’s current timeline.
Nets undone in first Kyrie-less outing | 01:06
The young guard is a streaky shooter and the kind of player who still needs time to develop his game, particularly his playmaking and defence.
The Nuggets though, having made shrewd off-season moves to add Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, are in a position to win right now.
Unfortunately for Hyland that makes him a valuable trade piece, with the 22-year-old not playing in Denver’s last four games.
“You know he’s such a talented player,” teammate Michael Porter Jr. said.
“Obviously he should be on the floor, everyone knows that. I don’t know what the futures gonna hold for him but I wish he was here. I wish he would stay here and it could be figured out.”
Bones Hyland has been benched recently. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Nuggets veteran DeAndre Jordan knows a thing or two about being moved around, having been traded twice in his career.
“He’s been great during this awkward time for him for sure,” Jordan said of Hyland.
“But he’s been extremely supportive of guys. If he was a bad guy then he would not be shooting after practice with the guys and he would just leave, you know. But he’s being a pro.”
The Timberwolves are one team that has been linked to Hyland, where he would reunited with the man who drafted him, former Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly.
TORONTO STILL THE ONE ‘MYSTERY’ TEAM TO WATCH
If there is one team in particular to watch ahead of the deadline, it is the Toronto Raptors.
It has been a relatively underwhelming season so far in Toronto, with the Raptors sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 25-30 record.
There is every chance the Raptors blow it up before the deadline and if that was to happen, there would suddenly be some seriously valuable players up for any contending teams looking to make one final splash in their title bid.
Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. are the two more likely players to be available, although that has not stopped rivals from reportedly inquiring about Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
No one really knows at this point what Toronto will do.
Stein wrote that he “struggles” to see the Raptors trading Siakam or Anunoby before the deadline, although he added they have “expressed confidence to inquiring teams” that they can get three future first-round picks for the latter.
Stein also pointed out that any teams keeping an eye on Durant’s possible availability in trades would be hesitant to send away their best assets for Anunoby at this stage.
Follow the latest whispers before the NBA trade deadline below! Can’t see it? Click here!
By 7am on Friday February 10 (AEDT), all potential trades must be finalised.
Much like the local shopping centre in the week leading up to Christmas, a sense of urgency is in the air as the NBA trade market gets busy.
The current parity across the league this season – particularly in the Western Conference, where just four games separate the Dallas Mavericks in fourth place and the OKC Thunder in 13th place – coupled with the current play-in tournament concept have created a unique sellers market.
Teams with playoff hopes or championship aspirations are desperately looking to find the right pieces to put them over the top, while those teams who aren’t in championship contention consider whether to take advantage of that desperation by cashing in and selling their valuable players at an inflated price.
We’ve already seen one massive move with the Nets and Mavericks having agreed to a blockbuster trade that sees Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris heading to Dallas while Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick are headed back the other way to Brooklyn.
Rather than slow things down this bombshell trade is likely to accelarate things even further as teams like the Lakers, Heat, Clippers and Suns – who were expected to show interest in Irving – will now turn their attention to other targets, while you also get the feeling the Nets aren’t quite done making moves yet.
With that in mind, foxsports.com.au has taken a look at which players could be on the move next and come up with a list of the biggest names to keep an eye on as the trade deadline rapidly approaches.
Saturday’s report by The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicated that Irving would prefer to be traded prior to the trade deadline and that the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks were potential suitors for the Brooklyn Nets All-Star starter. It was then later reported that both the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers had thrown their hat in the ring for the superstar point guard.
The shock news set the NBA alight as pundits and fans were quick to share their reactions and executives leaguewide were sent into overdrive as they scrambled to consider making a move for the 30-year-old.
The seismic trade is likely to have a massive ripple effect on the rest of the league as teams scurry to find their own meaningful trades ahead of Friday’s deadline that will boost their title chances.
The other consideration of this bombshell trade is how the Nets other superstar Kevin Durant will react to losing his running mate and whether it will have an effect on Brooklyn’s strategy moving forward with more moves expected to come.
“Thing that wouldn’t shock me: If Nets hold up trade call for 24-48 hours to see if they can make it 3-way deal and flip Dinwiddie+DFS+Mavs pick into another star,” he tweeted.
A move like that could be enough for Brooklyn to ensure Durant stays with the Nets otherwise there is every chance he now pushes for a trade before the deadline with Irving gone.
“Now for Brooklyn, they wanna get back to work. They’ve got the three draft picks they got in this trade, they’ve got a future Philadelphia first-round pick and they’ll be aggressive with those picks to go out between now and (Friday’s) trade deadline to try and get more help around Kevin Durant,” he said.
“Quite honestly this is an organisation that wants Kevin Durant to stay committed, to stay the course with this reshaping of the roster. They’re gonna continue between now and (Friday) to do that.”
The Athletic’s Shams Charania’s report said his sources also believed this to be the case.
However, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith believes that it is a very real possibility that Durant follows Irving out the door in Brooklyn.
“By the way, I’m hearing that he’s (Durant) on the verge of potentially being moved,” Smith said on ‘First Take’.
“Obviously we’ve all been speculating about that, that he may be moved.
“I’ve been on the phone, I’m hearing Boston is making some calls.
“Keep your eye on that, Jaylen Brown (in return for KD), keep your eye on that.”
Meanwhile, FS1’s Shannon Sharpe thinks that Durant will want out as a result of being unhappy with the talent left on the Nets roster after Irving’s departure but doubts that a deal can get done in the next few days.
“I don’t know if they’re gonna move KD, but I don’t think they’re gonna move KD by (Friday), which is the trade deadline,” Sharpe said on ‘Undisputed’.
“But you best believe come this summer… I think he is gonna circle back and (request another trade).”
Sharpe’s co-host Skip Bayless shared a similar sentiment.
“You (still) have a credible Nets team that I doubt he’ll be happy with because there’s no longer the Harden/Kyrie superstar power,” Bayless added.
Only time will tell whether the Nets front office can successfully convince KD that they will be able to surround him with the requisite talent to contend for a title in the near future or whether he will request another trade out of Brooklyn either ahead of Friday’s deadline or in the offseason.
One thing that is certain is that the entire NBA world will be waiting with bated breath to see if a deal for KD materialises before Friday’s deadline.
All eyes are now on Kevin Durant to see how he will react in the wake of the blockbuster Kyrie Irving trade. (Photo by Michael Reaves)Source: Getty Images
Russell Westbrook – Los Angeles Lakers
Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions.
After spending the majority of the start of the season dealing with speculation surrounding his future with the LA Lakers and being constantly linked to trades – most notably a proposed deal for Indiana’s Myles Turner and Buddy Hield – it was increasingly looking like Russell Westbrook was set to remain in Southern California until at least the end of the season after both he and the team had turned their form around.
However, things appear to have shifted with Chris Haynes reporting the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz had exploratory conversations centred around the former league MVP.
According to Haynes, the belief within the Lakers’ organisation is that they need to make at least one more move by Friday’s trade deadline to give themselves a legitimate shot at competing for a championship.
Just hours later, Westbrook was then linked to a deal for Kyrie Irving once the Nets superstar’s bombshell trade request was reported.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Jovan Buha, the Lakers offered the Nets Russell Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks in a deal for the wantaway Irving but Brooklyn wanted more — including both Austin Reaves and Max Christie — and LA weren’t interested in that.
With Irving now headed to Dallas to team up with Luka Doncic, it leaves Westbrook in limbo while the Lakers scramble to try and find a meaningful trade which can provide LeBron James and Anthony Davis – who are both in the midst of historic seasons – with the support needed to push the team back into championship contention.
The Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz have “repeatedly popped up” as backup options, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“Both teams have been lined to the Lakers in recent weeks and have starter-level players who have been rumoured to be available,” Buha said.
“However, talks remain preliminary and nothing is imminent.”
In terms of which Jazz players could be on the table, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reports it “would almost certainly” include Malik Beasley, Mike Conley and Jarred Vanerbilt, with Westbrook heading the other way.
As for a Raptors player that the Lakers could eye up, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt linked the franchise with a swoop for Toronto’s Fred VanVleet.
Revisiting a potential deal with the Utah Jazz, who have overachieved so far this season, but could look to trade away some of their valuable players in order to accelarate their rebuilding process seems like the most likely option for Rob Pelinka to achieve by Friday.
FS1’s Nick Wright outlined over the weekend what he believes a potential deal between the Lakers and Jazz could look like during a segment on ‘First Things First’.
“Lakers receive (Mike) Conley, (Jordan) Clarkson, and (Collin) Sexton in exchange forRuss and you give up the two unprotected first (round draft picks in 2027 and 2029),” he said.
“Or if the Jazz push back on that, you switch out Collin Sexton and you put Malik Beasley in that place instead.”
Westbrook said in his post-game press conference yesterday that he was unfazed by rumours the franchise were considering trading him and that no matter what happens he will continue to show up and put in 100% effort on the court.
The trade speculation surrounding the Lakers and Westbrook is sure to intensify as we get closer to Friday’s deadline, especially after Lebron James’ cryptic tweet in the wake of the Irving trade.
We will have to wait and see whether Rob Pelinka can find a deal before Friday that moves the needle this season – Toronto guard Fred VanVleet, Utah’s Mike Conley, Charlotte’s Terry Rozier and Houston’s Eric Gordon have all been mentioned in the past month as possible targets – or whether, if the right deal doesn’t present itself, they hold out in the hope that Irving walks away from the Mavericks in free agency this summer and joins LeBron and AD in L.A.
Russell Westbrook may be departing the Los Angeles Lakers next week. (Photo by Elsa)Source: Getty Images
Chris Paul / Jae Crowder – Phoenix Suns
With new management, comes new strategy.
The Phoenix Suns are set for an aggressive approach to the trade deadline under new owner Mat Ishbia, with the team “expected to be incredibly active over the next several days to add to the roster”, according to a report by Shams Charania.
Charania said the Suns are determined to build around Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, but that “the future of Chris Paul is uncertain”.
This follows an earlier report by Chris Haynes claiming the Suns offered Chris Paul, Jae Crowder and unspecified picks for Kyrie Irving, but the Brooklyn Nets ultimately chose the Dallas Mavericks’ package instead.
Paul, who turns 38 in May, is a shock inclusion as up for trade considering just how integral the veteran has been to the organisation’s recent success and the fact that he is still under contract for another two seasons.
However, when you look a bit deeper it is easy to see why Phoenix would at least be open to moving their star point guard.
For starters, the team is currently in fifth place in the Western conference with a 29-26 record on the season but are looking a shadow of the team which has been on the verge of winning a championship the last few seasons.
Furthermore, only roughly half of his $30.8 million ($A44.5m) salary is guaranteed next season. In 2024-25, none of Paul’s salary is guaranteed.
Then when you consider his recent injury history and diminished production this season, it just makes sense that CP3’s name has been floated in trade discussions.
After all you’ve gotta give a little to get a little, especially for a player as talented as Kyrie Irving.
Paul is averaging 13.8 points, 8.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 threes and 1.4 steals this season –while shooting at 43.5 per cent from the field, 38.9 per cent from three and 82.2 per cent from the free throw line – making him an attractive piece for a team in contention.
Chris Paul isn’t guaranteed to still be on the Phoenix Suns roster this time next week. (Photo by Maddie Meyer)Source: Getty Images
A much more likely trade option for the Suns prior to Friday’s deadline is to finally move on from disgruntled forward Jae Crowder.
Crowder, who is yet to play this season after requesting a trade back in September following a breakdown in contract extension talks, is in the final year of a three-year, $29m ($43.7m AUD) contract but has sat out all this season amid the Suns attempts to find a trade partner.
The former second-round draft pick had been a productive member of a Phoenix team that made back-to-back deep playoff runs, including a 2021 NBA finals appearance, over the last two seasons.
The 32-year-old veteran is a proven playoff performer and therefore could be a valuable acquisition for teams looking to make a title push to play the three-and-d role in their rotation, with Milwaukee, Miami and Atlanta all reportedly interested.
The Suns reportedly granted the Bucks permission to meet with Crowder, according to a report by The Athletic earlier this week. However, according to local sports radio host John Gambadoro, they aren’t the only ones.
Phoenix have been linked to moves for Toronto’s OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet as well as reportedly expressing interest in going after Kevin Durant should he become available. This follows their pursuit of KD following his trade request this past offseason.
A deal with either the Raptors or the Nets would likely be centred around draft picks as trading away those players would likely signal both franchises intention to begin a mini-rebuild, however both Toronto and Brooklyn could involve a third team in any deal who is in championship contention and could use veterans such as Paul and Crowder in return for further draft picks.
We may finally get to see Jae Crowder take the court this season if the disgruntled forward’s trade request is granted by the Phoenix Suns. (Photo by Ron Jenkins)Source: Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks made headlines this offseason with a big trade with the Spurs that saw them add star guard Dejounte Murray to a roster that already featured a number of big names. The Hawks came into the season optimistic that the addition of Murray would help them make another deep playoff run, similar to their Eastern Conference Finals appearance back in 2021, but thus far Atlanta have performed like a side that is stuck in the middle.
Prior to yesterday’s win over the Utah Jazz, the Hawks had a 26-26 overall record, were 17-17 against the East, were 9-9 against the West, and had both scored and allowed exactly 6,057 points. Stuck languishing in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, Atlanta could be looking to make some moves ahead of the deadline.
Despite being in only the second season of a five-year, $125 million ($A180.6m) extension and averaging a productive 13.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg, forward John Collins is continually mentioned in trade rumours as the team are reportedly keen to dump his salary. Could this finally be the trade period where the Hawks pull the trigger on a move for the 25-year-old? We will have to wait and see.
John Collins name has long been mentioned as a potential trade candidate. (Photo by Alex Slitz)Source: Getty Images
Another Atlanta player who appears to be garnering significant interest leaguewide is wing Bogdan Bogdanovic.
The 30-year-old has missed 25 games for the Hawks this season following knee surgery last May, but is a more than handy pickup for any potential championship contender looking for a three-and-d player.
It has previously been reported that the Phoenix Suns were interested in Bogdanovic as a like for like replacement for the wantaway Jae Crowder, but a recent report by The Athletic revealed that about half the league had inquired as to his availability. More recently there has been speculation that the Lakers may turn their attention to Bogdanovic following their failed pursuit of Irving.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is a man in demand. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox)Source: Getty Images
OG Anunoby / Gary Trent Jr. / Fred VanVleet – Toronto Raptors
A perplexing team that is hard to get a read on ahead of the trade deadline is the Toronto Raptors, who have somehow gone from an exciting young team full of talent and promise to a team that appears to have reached their ceiling in their current makeup and as a result become stuck in mediocrity.
Sitting a lowly 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, thanks to a disappointing 24-30 overall record, the Raptors are likely a team that could be sellers near the trade deadline as their front office is notorious for being bold and creative.
Outside of second-year forward Scottie Barnes and maybe Pascal Siakam, who is still young and having a career year, you’d have to think that general manager Masai Ujiri would be listening to offers for everyone else on the roster.
There are three players who stand out as being the most likely to get traded for the right price, either individually or as part of a package for a superstar player – say someone the calibre of Kevin Durant should he become available. After all Toronto did pursue KD this past offseason.
Even if the Nets aren’t willing to part with Durant, the picks they received as part of the Irving trade package with Dallas gives them valuable pieces to offer the Raptors for one or more of their young stars.
Firstly, there’s been plenty of chatter around a trade centred around veteran wing OG Anunoby, with the 25-year-old averaging 18.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 2.3 steals per game so far this season. Standing at 6-foot-7 with an ability to dribble, pass and shoot as well as provide elite on-ball defence, Anunoby is a player in high demand. Toronto could look to capitalise on this and demand a haul in return prior to the trade deadline, with The Athletic reporting that the Suns are interested while previous reports had indicated that the Knicks are willing to part with multiple first-round picks.
O.G. Anunoby would fetch the Raptors a huge haul. (Photo by Elsa)Source: Getty Images
Contending teams looking for a productive three-and-d option to help their championship push could come calling for the Raptors’ Gary Trent Jr, with the 24-year-old guard averaging 18.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.6 apg while shooting 37.6 per cent from beyond the arc.
Toronto’s offence this season has been heavily reliant on the former Duke product, but with Trent Jr. highly likely to turn down his $18.6 million ($A26.9m) player option this offseason, the team must weigh up keeping his Bird rights versus what they may be able to get in the trade market.
Gary Trent Jr. would be a handy pickup for contending teams. (Photo by Elsa)Source: Getty Images
The third player that Ujiri is likely to consider trading is point guard Fred VanVleet. Despite
VanVleet being relatively young still (not yet 29) and also one of the best players in franchise history, he is almost a lock to decline his $22.8 million ($A32.9m) player option for next season and therefore become a free agent this offseason. The 2016 NBA champion is in line to make more than Toronto is allowed to offer him on an extension.
Nagging back issues have seen VanVleet’s efficiency dip this season, but at just 28-years-old, he could still be a key pillar on the next Raptors championship contending team. However, if the front office isn’t prepared to write the kind of cheque required to keep VanVleet around that long then they could assess the trade market for the former Auburn product and possibly use the likely haul of assets received in return to build a deeper, more balanced roster.
Over the last few years, the Bulls’ front office gave up numerous assets and sizeable contracts to acquire DeMar DeRozan from the Spurs, Lonzo Ball from the Pelicans, Nikola Vucevic from the Magic, and Alex Caruso via free agency.
These moves were designed to surround their young franchise star Zach LaVine with the necessary pieces to make a championship run.
After finishing last season as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, expectations were high heading into this season despite the bitter taste of a first-round playoff exit still lingering.
However, Chicago have taken a big step backwards so far this season as they currently sit in 9th place with a disappointing 25-27 record.
Knicks rally to romp home against 76ers | 01:23
That leaves the organisation in the unenviable position of having to make an incredibly tough decision: stay the course and have faith this group can turn things around, or alternatively, admit that this group has reached their ceiling and look to reset the roster.
If the answer is the latter, then team general manager Marc Eversley will likely be forced to make another difficult decision as to which of his two franchise stars to trade and therefore which to keep and reshape the roster around.
Veteran star DeMar DeRozan is currently in his 14th season in the NBA since being drafted by the Toronto Raptors back in 2009.
Despite being 33-years-old, DeRozan has looked reinvigorated since arriving in the Windy City at the end of the 2020/21 season, asserting himself as the team’s top scorer and unquestioned best player to breathe new life into his career.
DeRozan is averaging 26.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in his second season with the Bulls and has also increased his efficiency compared to last season.
However, with DeRozan set to be eligible for a four-year extension worth more than $150 million ($A216.7m) in the upcoming offseason and Chicago currently in a battle just to make the play-in tournament, the organisation may feel now is the right time to cash in with the California native’s value at an all-time high.
DeMar DeRozan would command a king’s ransom if he is made available. (Photo by Maddie Meyer)Source: Getty Images
The Bulls’ other star player, Zach LaVine, is averaging almost identical numbers to DeRozan (24 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals) and is also six year’s younger so it makes more sense for the organisation to keep the 27-year-old as their franchise cornerstone moving forward.
However, despite the fact that LaVine just signed a max contract, reports had surfaced earlier this season that LaVine and the organisation weren’t on the same page and that he had also met privately with DeRozan on multiple occasions to discuss their on-court issues, according to The Athletic.
If these reports were indeed accurate and LaVine, DeRozan, and the organisation are still yet to work out their differences, then the door is well and truly still open for LaVine to be traded before Friday’s deadline in return for a huge haul which can allow the team to build a more balanced roster around DeRozan or even kickstart a complete overhaul with an eye to the future.
Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls could part ways if they can’t settle their reported differences. (Photo by Michael Reaves)Source: Getty Images
Mike Conley / Jordan Clarkson – Utah Jazz
It’s been a strange year for the Utah Jazz and Danny Ainge to say the least.
First they signalled their intention to blow their roster up completely and enter a full rebuild after trading away long-time franchise cornerstones Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell this past offseason in exchange for an unprecedented haul of players and picks in return.
As a result, the expectation leading into this season both from the Jazz fanbase and those around the league was that Utah would be a leading contender in the Wembanyama sweepstakes.
However, apparently the team, and in particular their new players, didn’t quite get that memo as they started the season on fire – going 11-6 – before tapering off more recently as they’ve lost 21 of their last 37 games to sit in 9th place in the Western Conference with a 27-27 record overall.
While the Jazz have undoubtedly overachieved thus far this season and have been one of the league’s feel good stories, battling it out for a play-in spot only hinders the organisation in the long run and unnecessarily delays their inevitable rebuilding process.
Therefore, look for Danny Ainge to do what he does best in the leadup to Friday’s deadline – wheel and deal.
Fortunately for Ainge he has plenty of valuable trade chips to dangle in the hope of adding to the team’s treasure chest of draft picks.
Despite still being a key contributor to Utah’s offence this season, veteran point guard Mike Conley is one obvious name which has come up as potentially being on the move sooner rather than later considering he’s now 35 years old and won’t be part of the organisation’s next championship push.
Conley could be the missing piece on a contending team this season and the return the Jazz would receive in exchange can help accelerate their rebuild.
Mike Conley is an attractive trade piece. (Photo by Michael Reaves)Source: Getty Images
Another valuable contributor for Utah which doesn’t quite fit their age profile moving forward is 2020 NBA sixth-man-of-the-year Jordan Clarkson.
The 30-year-old guard has been elevated to a starting role this season and has grabbed the opportunity with both hands, averaging more assists (on a per-minute basis) than he has since he was running point for the Lakers, and scoring more efficiently than he has for the past couple of seasons.
Clarkson has a $14.3 million ($A20.7m) player option for next season, which he is likely to opt out of should his improved play this season continue.
The Jazz reportedly love having the former second-round draft pick around and are eager to sign him to a contract extension, according to The Athletic.
However, with Utah entering rebuild mode they may not be willing to meet the higher price tag that Clarkson will likely command on the open market and therefore may choose to trade him prior to Friday’s deadline in return for draft compensation rather than risk losing him for nothing via free agency this upcoming offseason.
Jordan Clarkson has gone to a new level this season since being elevated to the starting lineup. (Photo by Michael Reaves)Source: Getty Images
The latest hard-to-believe chapter of this bizarre story unfolded on Monday (AEDT).
How about a win from 21 points down over one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last month? Then add this twist: The hero was buried veteran Evan Fournier, only on the floor because RJ Barrett was ill, and unsung reserve Miles McBride not only closed, but played an integral role in the win.
The Knicks, simply, don’t make sense.
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Less than 24 hours after a gut-punch of an overtime loss to the Clippers, they overcame a big early deficit and were dominant over the final 12 minutes to knock off Joel Embiid, James Harden and the 76ers at the Garden, 108-97.
Fournier was critical to the victory, scoring a season-high 17 points, nine in the final quarter. His biggest play may have been a pass. His drive and dish for a McBride 3-pointer pushed the Knicks lead to eight with 3:22 left. Their defence, an issue since Mitchell Robinson was lost to a fractured right thumb nine games ago, was at its best after a shaky first quarter.
The 76ers scored just 62 points over the last 36 minutes, as Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims did a fantastic job on Embiid and combined for 10 points and 21 rebounds. The other 76ers standouts, Harden and Tyrese Maxey, were held to 12 points each.
The Knicks’ two stars, Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, were both typically stellar. Randle hit two clutch shots in the final two minutes to put the game away, and had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Brunson followed with 21 points and seven assists, and McBride added 14.
Pelicans spoil LBJ’s points party | 01:10
Seconds before the opening tip, the Knicks announced Barrett was doubtful with a non-COVID-19 illness. His teammates then played like they were all sick for most of the first quarter.
The Knicks missed their first seven 3-point attempts and didn’t bother to guard the 76ers on the other end. It was 33-12 deep into the period, the Garden sounding like Wells Fargo Center. There was even an E-A-G-L-E-S chant.
The Knicks responded with a resounding 20-2 run, mostly led by their bench and Quentin Grimes. He started it with a three-point play and McBride closed the quarter with a 3-pointer. Fournier scored eight points, a sign of things to come for the Frenchman.
It was a two-point game at the break, as the Knicks tightened up on the perimeter, holding the 76ers without a made 3-pointer in the second quarter on seven attempts, and Brunson and Randle scored 12 points apiece. Embiid had 18 at the break, and it felt like the Knicks did a strong job on him, he’s that tough to defend.
Two of the stars, Randle and Embiid, both had big third quarters. They combined for 15 points as the Knicks and 76ers traded mini-spurts. Philadelphia led by as many as nine, but couldn’t create any more of a cushion as the Knicks hung around and only trailed by three entering the final quarter.
Early in the fourth, the Knicks’ bench put together another strong stretch, a 10-0 run capped by a Fournier 3 to give the Knicks a four-point edge, their largest of the game. He hit another to extend the differential to seven a few possessions later, giving Knicks fans a chance to finally drown out the large portion of 76ers fans.
In Minneapolis, the Minnesota Timberwolves had little trouble on the way to a 128-98 victory over the Western Conference-leading Nuggets, who were without reigning two-time Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic and three other regular starters on the second night of a back-to-back.
Denver coach Mike Malone was fuming over the “ridiculous” situation given there were just 22 hours between the team’s two games.
“The one thing that is really perplexing in this individual scenario is it’s the second night of a back-to-back we’re playing 22 hours after tip-off last night,” Malone said.
“When I told our players that, a veteran like Jeff Green looked at me like I was crazy. He said, ‘That’s not allowed. That’s not legal.’ And, obviously, it is.”
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 20 points. D’Angelo Russell scored 18 and French centre Rudy Gobert and reserve Jaylen Nowell scored 16 apiece in the wire-to-wire win.
Josh Green BALLS OUT for Dallas! | 01:55
The Cleveland Cavaliers have put together back-to-back wins for the first time since a three-game streak that ended on January 4 thanks to a convincing 122-103 victory over the Pacers in Indianapolis.
After a back-and-forth first quarter that featured seven lead changes, the Cavs pulled away in the second quarter with a 26-9 scoring run that gave them a 16-point lead at the interval.
Darius Garland led the Cavs with 24 points on efficient eight-of-13 shooting with four three-pointers.
Donovan Mitchell shook off a slow start to finish with 19 points and the Cavs held the Pacers to just 43.5% shooting.
“Last couple of games I think we found our edge,” Garland, who hit a career milestone with his 500th three-pointer, said in an on-court television interview. “We got that competitive spirit that we really needed.”
The Raptors staged an impressive comeback, erasing a 15-point third-quarter deficit to beat the Grizzlies 106-103 in Memphis.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 points and drained a pair of clutch free throws that capped the scoring with 9.1 seconds remaining.
Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. missed a potential game-tying pointer with 5.2 seconds left and the Grizzlies, whose star Ja Morant was sidelined with a sore right wrist, dropped their third straight.
In his absence, Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points and Jackson added 18. But they had no answer when 21-year-old Raptors forward Scottie Barnes came alive in the fourth quarter. Barnes scored 13 of his 16 points in the final frame — including a slashing go-ahead basket with 20.7 seconds to play.
