Daryl Morey believes draft picks are the easiest way for trades to happen since it's the most effective way of equalizing the values of players.

Teams have become increasingly reluctant to relinquish future first round picks in trades over the past few seasons.

“They’re like cigarettes in prison. That’s the only currency you have,” Morey said Saturday at the “Take That for Data” panel. “The value changes up and down all the time, and it makes for a not-very-liquid market.”

The comments by Gregg Popovich to the media that Kawhi Leonard could miss the remainder of the season despite being medically cleared to play signalled a shift in how the Spurs are handling the situation.

"When Pop came out sort of that first media availability on Wednesday after All-Star break, and it was described to me as people who know Pop very well, that they felt he was speaking to an audience of one in that availability. That he was talking directly to Kawhi," said Adrian Wojnarowski on The Woj Pod.

"Essentially he said, 'well at this point I don't expect him to play and if he's going to play, this needs to happen soon because we'll be faced with a very tough decision: at what point is it too late to try to bring him back into the team?'

"For the first time you could see the public exacerbation of Pop on this issue. It has been a private frustration there. I thought it was the first day you could see it. This continues on and I think his future in San Antonio if he doesn't come back and play this year, or if he comes back in a very limited way. He'll be a year away from free agency, I think his future is going to have to be addressed there."

Wojnarowski reported that it has been surprising considering the previous relationship Leonard has had with the Spurs before this injury.

"It has created an incredible amount of stress around the organization, front office, coaching staff, teammates. I think Pop was talking to the players the other day (as well)."

Leonard spent several days in New York as he sought additional opinions on his injured quad.

"I think the question people are wondering and the question being asked is 'does he want to be there? Does he want to play there?'

"He could clear this up and answer these questions. He hasn't done that," said Wojnarowski. "That's part of some of the issues here. He's not communicative. That's been something since the very beginning. Maybe he's gotten a little better in that area, but he's a person who is just private, shy. Even with his teammates, doesn't say much. With his coach. I think that's contributed to this because I don't know if he expresses always what he might be at odds with or what the issue is, but there's no question there is a tremendous disconnect between (Kawhi) and the team right now."

Anthony Davis attempted to clarify comments he made to ESPN about his future with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Davis admitted he's wondered if he's on a similar path as a player like Kevin Garnett who had to leave the Wolves to contend for a title after their roster fell apart in 04-05.

“I don’t go into any year saying, okay, I don’t want to be here or nothing like that, but of course at some point, you want to win — and I feel like we are trying to get the right pieces around here. I think our front office is doing a better job. They’re doing the best job they can do. I feel like we’re moving in the right direction, but you do have to take it year by year and see where it goes. That’s how I’m approaching it. You know, of course, (DeMarcus Cousins) is a big factor and what he’s going to do or not, but I’m here until 2021, man, and then (I’ll) make a decision from there. I don’t plan on leaving in the next couple of years or anything like that. Like I said, I’ve always wanted to be here and that’s still true.”

Davis could become eligible for a designated veteran player extension before 2021.

Jeff Hornacek indicated that Joakim Noah won't return to the New York Knicks in the near future.

"We've moved on. He's ready to move on and maybe have an opportunity somewhere else," Hornacek said.

Noah will remain away from the Knicks indefinitely. Noah's return will be up to Steve Mills and Scott Perry.

The Knicks were unable to trade Noah at the trade deadline and have shown no desire to waive him.

Noah is not yet open to discussing a buyout with the Knicks.

"That's something that happened three weeks ago, four weeks ago. We handled that thing with Jo," he said. "It's not finalized because he's still on the roster. We've dealt with that situation. There's really nothing more to say about it."

Hornacek and Noah had to be physically separated during a practice in late January.

"Things happen in practice, happen in meetings, happen in all kind of stuff," he said. "We've dealt with that and that's the end of it from us."

The National Basketball Players Association has said that it is "closely monitoring" the situation between Noah and the Knicks to ensure the player "is treated fairly under the rules of our collective bargaining agreement."

Anthony Davis can become a free agent in 2020 and his future with the New Orleans Pelicans remains in doubt. Davis, however, could be eligible to sign a designated veteran player extension before he's eligible for free agency.

Davis and the Pelicans were on track to easily be a playoff team before DeMarcus Cousins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles.

Davis was asked how he feels when he hears about players like Kevin Garnett who regretted not seeking a trade to improve his title chances earlier in his career.

“It makes you think," said Davis. "I’m not going to lie, it makes you think because you wonder if you’re following on that same path. But then again, you be like, this year could be the year. You don’t know. So you just gotta take it year-by-year and just see. See where the team is going, what direction they want to go to, and just see where their head is.”

Davis also said it's not good enough for the Pelicans to simply reach the playoffs.

Jeff Hornacek and Joakim Noah engaged in a physical altercation during practice last month.

Noah voiced his displeasure about a lack of playing time and Hornacek was the first to shove Noah. The two were separated before any punches were thrown.

Noah remains away from the Knicks after they were unable to trade him at the deadline.

The Knicks and Noah could agree upon a buyout.

Dwyane Wade was the first player on the Cavaliers to vocally challenge Tyronn Lue to disclose where Kevin Love had been when he left the arena during a loss to the Thunder on Jan. 20th and the team's practice the following day, according to sources.

Numerous players verbally attacked Love, who eventually explained his absence. In the initial reports, Isaiah Thomas was characterized as leading the charge against Love.

Koby Altman contends Wade wasn't traded because of the team meeting but due to fit.

A team source also said LeBron James possibly felt relief by Cleveland's trade of Wade back to the Heat.

Koby Altman sat down with LeBron James approximately 24 hours before the trade deadline.

James had only spoken with Dan Gilbert once since June 30th and his relationship with Altman has been more distant than it had been with David Griffin. James has let Rich Paul communicate with the Cavaliers on roster issues.

Altman assured James that management was determined to reshape the roster.

Altman shared the framework of possible trades for Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, George Hill and DeAndre Jordan.

Koby Altman received permission from Dan Gilbert for the Cleveland Cavaliers to trade Jae Crowder, Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert and Cleveland's 2018 first round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for DeAndre Jordan.

The Clippers were willing to accept that trade if the Cavaliers found a third team for Shumpert and the $21 million remaining on his contract while also helping them get a center back.

Altman and Michael Winger made calls to try to find a third team.

Winger asked if he could communicate with Shumpert about a potential buyout, but Altman wanted the talks to be more advanced before granting that permission.

Altman had discussed a Jordan trade with Lawrence Frank and Winger for weeks but they were difficult to make progress on because the Clippers wouldn't take Tristan Thompson, JR Smith or Shumpert.

The Cavaliers ultimately traded Shumpert in a three-way trade with the Kings and Jazz that netted them George Hill and Rodney Hood.

The Sacramento Kings attempted to include Georgios Papagiannis as part of a three-way trade at the deadline with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings.

Rival executives say the Kings wanted to save themselves the embarrassment of waiving Papagiannis, who was the 13th pick in 2016.

Koby Altman and Sacramento assistant general manager Brandon Williams vocally disagreed over the insertion of Papagiannis in the trade.

Cleveland couldn't take on his deal because the NBA's repeater tax would turn the balance of his $2.3 million contract for this season and $2.4 million next season into three times that due to the luxury tax.

The Kings waived Papagiannis after the deadline.