May 2019 Basketball Wiretap

Brian Windhorst: NBA Executives Believe Mavs Could Trade For Andre Iguodala

Nov 27, 2019 2:34 AM

Brian Windhorst said that NBA executives around the league believe that the Dallas Mavericks could trade for Andre Iguodala.

"One place is shaping up as a possibility as you talk to executives out there. That is the Dallas Mavericks," said Windhorst.

Windhorst then praised the Mavs offense, before adding how Iguodala could improve them on the defensive end.

Windhorst pointed to Courtney Lee's contract as the key to any potential deal.

"Executives believe the Mavericks are a team that we should watch when it comes to the Andre Iguodala landing spot. They have a tradable contract in Courtney Lee, and extra second-round picks they could potentially use to get Memphis interested," added Windhorst.

Windhorst then echoed the league-wide sentiment that the Grizzlies will not buy Iguodala out. 

ESPN

Tags: Andre Iguodala, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Kevin Love 'Going To Do Right By Cleveland', Won't Try To Force Trade

Nov 26, 2019 12:42 PM

Kevin Love continues to insist he is happy with the Cleveland Cavaliers and won't force a trade.

"I'm just going to let the chips fall," Love said. "I know that this is a young team. I think I can help them. I'm going to do right by Cleveland, the organization. This is a league where teams want to rebuild, teams want to go young but certain teams are looking for a piece, a guy who's played in the Finals, a guy who has playoff experience. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think it definitely lessens the burden and the anxiety."

The Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat are all teams that could conceivably use Love.

"I've been committed to Cleveland since Day 1," Love said. "I know it's been a little shaky at some points. It's been really great at some points. But now I've found some semblance of balance in my life, not only on the court but away from it."

Love is averaging 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds this season.

Tim Reynolds/Associated Press

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Hornets Identify Andre Drummond As Long-Term Target

Nov 22, 2019 3:08 PM

The Charlotte Hornets have had interest in Andre Drummond for at least a year.

Drummond has a $28.7 million player option for next season that he's expected to decline to become a free agent. The 2020 NBA free agency class is expected to be a weak one, which would make Drummond one of the more coveted players.

Tom Gores is high on Drummond and would like to retain him. The Pistons haven't had trade discussions involving Drummond so far this season.

The Hornets will have max cap space in 2020.

“He’ll be a priority there,” one league executive told Heavy.com of the Hornets. “It’s just a matter of whether they make him a priority now and give up something to get him or try to make the move later. It’s a very cautious group, Mitch Kupchak and those guys. But they might want to get this guy into the fold sooner rather than later, there’s just a lot of incentive there on both sides.”

Sean Deveney/Heavy.com

Tags: Andre Drummond, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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76ers Never Offered Jimmy Butler Full Five-Year Max Contract

Nov 21, 2019 12:15 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers did not offer Jimmy Butler a five-year maximum contract offer on June 30th, according to multiple sources.

The 76ers possibly pivoted in another direction when they learned of Al Horford's interest.

There was perhaps concern about tension between Butler and other players on the team as well as the coaching staff. Like other teams, the 76ers likely wondered how Butler would age.

Butler ultimately orchestrated a sign-and-trade to the Miami Heat.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Paul George Had Interest In Trade To Spurs In 2017

Nov 20, 2019 10:55 AM

While the Los Angeles Lakers were believed to be Paul George's preferred destination when he requested a trade from the Indiana Pacers in 2017, the San Antonio Spurs were also on his list.

"I wanted to be traded to San Antonio," George said. "We wanted to go to San Antonio first, and we didn't make that happen."

A source confirmed the Spurs and Pacers held discussions, but San Antonio lacked the assets necessary to acquire George.

The Lakers decided not to deal the second overall pick in 2017 and Brandon Ingram for George as they believed they could eventually sign him in free agency.

George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, re-signed with the franchise in 2018 and was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.

"As far as the Lakers, I wanted to go to L.A.," George said. "They didn't make that happen. They didn't put nothing together. So that's in the back of my mind [when I became a free agent]. That was in the back of my mind."

George and Leonard still wanted to play together.

"Since that moment, we were trying to pair up with one another," George said. "We were trying to make it work. [After being traded to Oklahoma City] I had obligations that I wanted to come back to Oklahoma and give it another shot... And then I felt that I needed to move on, I needed to go in another direction and I needed to at that point do what I wanted to do my whole career."

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Tags: Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kevin Love Will 'Let The Chips Fall Where They May' On Trade Rumors

Nov 18, 2019 10:59 AM

Kevin Love signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2018 offseason and has since been mentioned in trade rumors as the franchise rebuilds.

“I know there’s talk about me possibly being the missing piece somewhere,” Love said. “There’s been constant chatter since I signed that I could be traded. It’s one of those things where I’m going to keep doing right by the team, by Cleveland and by the organization. If my number is called, so be it, but I’m going to stay true to my commitment and let the chips fall where they may.”

Love ties trade rumors to his well-documented mental health struggles.

“A big aspect of mental health is just staying in the present but it’s so hard,” he said. “You have to try to not get too far ahead of yourself or get worked up. You can get that anxious feeling or fear for the future, but you have to try to stay focused on getting better and let things work out the way they should.”

Love is signed with the Cavaliers through the 22-23 season.

Arash Markazi/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Multiple Teams Monitoring Aaron Gordon With Trade Interest

Nov 15, 2019 2:29 PM

Aaron Gordon is being monitored by a number of teams with trade interest.

The Orlando Magic, however, have shown no interest in trading Gordon.

Gordon signed a four-year, $76 million deal to return to the Magic in 2018.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks Believed Trading For Anthony Davis Would 'Undercut' Long-Term Plan

Nov 15, 2019 2:37 AM

The New York Knicks turned down a potential trade for Anthony Davis last summer as the deal would go against the team's long-term rebuilding plan, reported Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Windhorst added that Davis expressed interest in playing for the Knicks before his eventual trade to the Lakers.

Steve Mills and Scott Perry were reportedly turned off by the Pelicans' asking price for Davis, even though they had the assets the Pelicans were looking for due to their Kristaps Porzingis trade.

Mills and Perry said that trading for Davis "would have undercut their long-range plan of building through the draft and developing picks into stars," according to Windhorst.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Anthony Davis, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Magic Express Interest In DeMar DeRozan

Nov 14, 2019 2:39 AM

The Orlando Magic expressed interested in trading for DeMar DeRozan, league sources told Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

The Magic are "scouring the trade market for scoring help," added O'Connor.

DeRozan has a player option for next season, though The Athletic reported that DeRozan and the Spurs remain far apart on negotiating a contract extension.

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Tags: DeMar DeRozan, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Chris Paul Felt 'Stabbed In The Back' When Rockets Traded Him To Thunder

Nov 13, 2019 11:44 AM

Chris Paul denied asking for a trade from the Houston Rockets after the 18-19 season amid reported tension with James Harden. The Rockets eventually traded Paul to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Russell Westbrook.

"Do you feel like there’s been times where, 'Damn, that’s a little eye-opening. I got stabbed in the back,'" asked Kevin Hart.

"Absolutely," said Paul. "This last situation was one of them. The GM there in Houston, he don’t owe me nothing. You know what I mean? He may tell me one thing but do another thing. But you just understand that that’s what it is."

Paul orchestrated a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Rockets in 2017.

Dan Feldman/NBC Sports

Tags: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kristaps Porzingis Was Fully Committed To Knicks Until Shortly Before Trade Request

Ian Begley/SNY.tv