March 2019 Basketball Wiretap

Suns Could Have Interest In Trading Up For Ja Morant If They Fall Out Of Top-2

Apr 23, 2019 1:32 PM

The Phoenix Suns could have interest in trading up to No. 2 if a team ends up in that slot that already has a point guard.

The Suns, however, would draft Zion Williamson first overall if they were to win the lottery despite their need for a point guard.

The Suns have the best lottery odds along with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

John Gambadoro/Arizona Sports 98.7

Tags: Ja Morant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Cavaliers Would Have Interest In Trading For Gordon Hayward

Apr 17, 2019 3:50 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers would have interest in trading for Gordon Hayward this offseason should he become available by the Boston Celtics.

The Cavaliers offered Hayward a max contract during his 2014 restricted free agency.

Hayward's name is mentioned by the Cleveland Plain Dealer in trade scenarios involving the contract of J.R. Smith. The Celtics will try to re-sign Kyrie Irving and trade for Anthony Davis this offseason. If they strike out on Irving and Davis, the Celtics could conceivably reset around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Hayward is under contract for two more seasons.

Joe Vardon/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Gordon Hayward, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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David Griffin Met With Rich Paul, Believes Anthony Davis Open To Remaining With Pelicans

Apr 17, 2019 3:19 PM

David Griffin publicly said he believes Anthony Davis is open to remaining with the New Orleans Pelicans.

"We have a long successful history with Klutch Sports," said Griffin. "Rich Paul and I have spoke about Anthony. We are both excited about what we could potentially build here."

Griffin is taking over the front office of the Pelicans following a trade request from Davis.

Griffin also said he would prefer to establish whether Davis is all-in or all-out on being with the Pelicans.

Will Guillory/The Athletic

Tags: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cavaliers Already Receiving Trade Interest On J.R. Smith's Contract

Apr 17, 2019 1:51 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers are already receiving trade calls on J.R. Smith. The Cavaliers believed they would receive better offers for Smith and his unique contract in the offseason rather than the trade deadline.

Smith's contract counts for more than $15 million for trade purposes but the receiving team will only be committed to paying him $3.8 million. Smith's contract with grandfathered into the current CBA when it comes to salary matching. The receiving team can stretch Smith's $3.8 million over three years to create even more cap space.

“We have a trade chip in JR Smith, and his contract, where we can take on some money that other teams are trying to get some cap relief from,” general manager Koby Altman said Friday. “We are actually the only team in the NBA that can provide guaranteed cap relief until July 1. We can guarantee that right now and we actually had a phone call (Thursday) on that trade chip, so, we’re going to keep on being aggressive adding those assets because we do eventually want to consolidate and be really good at some point.”

The Cavaliers are seeking a first round pick from a team looking to create cap space.

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: J.R. Smith, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Anthony Davis Wears 'That's All Folks' T-Shirts To Smoothie King Center

Apr 9, 2019 9:23 PM

Anthony Davis showed up to what will likely be his final game as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center wearing a "That's All Folks" t-shirt.

Davis' entrance wearing the Looney Tunes T-shirt was posted to the Pelicans' Instagram story and subsequently deleted.

Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans at the end of January.

"Interesting is not what I would use as a way of describing [the season]," Gentry said. "I'm not sure if there's an adjective out there that you could describe it with. It's been eventful, I'll say that. It's been a very eventful season and it's really unfortunate because the way we started the season, I thought we would play that way the entire season and then obviously injuries and other factors factored into it which changed the whole season but it's what it is. You have to just adjust and go on and I think that's what we did."

Nick Friedell/ESPN

Tags: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Bulls Nearly Traded Jabari Parker To Lakers For Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Beasley

Apr 9, 2019 11:16 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers had a tentative deal in place with the Chicago Bulls on the weekend of January 25th for Jabari Parker.

The Lakers were set to trade Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Beasley in the deal for Parker.

But Caldwell-Pope had to approve any trade and had not yet signed off on the deal. The deal remained in limbo until January 28th when Davis requested a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Bulls realized the Lakers would not move forward with any trades until the Davis situation played itself and moved on. Chicago eventually traded Parker and Bobby Portis to the Washington Wizards for Otto Porter Jr.

Bill Oram/The Athletic

Tags: Jabari Parker, Otto Porter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Source: NBA Would Have Blocked Kristaps Porzingis Trade If They Believed Case Was Strong

Apr 3, 2019 1:25 PM

The NBA would not have allowed the Dallas Mavericks' trade for Kristaps Porzingis with the New York Knicks to be executed if they believed the sexual assault case again him appeared to be strong, according to a source briefed on the trade call.

The New York Knicks made the Mavericks aware of a potential "extortion issue" with Porzingis during the trade call.

The New York Police Department and the Manhattan district attorney’s office have confirmed an investigation against Porzingis is ongoing. 

The NBA will wait until the investigation plays or further developments before deciding on any action against Porzingis. 

The Mavericks aggressively pursued a trade for Porzingis and planned to offer him a five-year max contract worth $158 million in July. Mark Cuban declined to answer on Monday when asked if the Mavericks remain eager to sign Porzingis to that contract.

Marc Stein, Kevin Draper/New York Times

Tags: Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Suspension

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One Team Expected Knicks To Attach Three FRPs To Unload Tim Hardaway Jr.

Apr 3, 2019 8:55 AM

The New York Knicks unloaded Tim Hardaway Jr. as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, which frees up substantial cap space this offseason.

Hardaway is owed $20 million in 19-20 and $18.98 million in 20-21.

"There was at least one team that thought they'd get three first round picks for him this summer to open up space for the Knicks to sign max free agents," said Tim Bontemps on The Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective Podcast.

With the trade of Porzingis, Hardaway and Courtney Lee, the Knicks project to have enough cap space to sign two max free agents.

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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