March 2022 Basketball Wiretap

Jordan Clarkson Least Likely Jazz Veteran To Be Traded

Oct 27, 2022 8:48 AM

The Utah Jazz have gotten off to a surprising 4-1 start. Despite the hot start, many still expect the Jazz to eventually trade most of the remaining veterans on their roster. However, one player might stick around in Utah for a while longer.

While talking about the Jazz and the potential of future trades, Zach Lowe of ESPN said he believes Jordan Clarkson likely isn't leaving Utah anytime soon.

“I’ve heard the same stuff that other people have reported that they are just super reluctant to move Clarkson," Lowe said. ”They’re really fond of him for whatever reason. So, I would peg him as the least likely of all these Jazz guys to get traded.”

Through five games, Clarkson is averaging a career-highs across the board of 18.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. The eight-year veteran is also starting for the first time since his second season in the NBA.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Russell Westbrook More Likely To Have Role Reduced Than Imminent Trade

Oct 26, 2022 11:30 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers are more likely to reduce the role of Russell Westbrook before they're able to execute a trade that improves their roster.

"The big trades that people want with the Lakers... Westbrook and his $47 million out with those first round picks the Lakers have in '27 and '29... all the deals the Lakers didn't want to do in the offseason, that's all that's there two weeks into the season," said Adrian Wojnarowski.

"Teams don't really get serious about doing deals and maybe pivoting away from trying to be a playoff team, or trying to go toward the lottery in a year where there's Victor Wembanyama available. They're not going to do that until 20 or 30 games into the season. So all the deals the Lakers didn't think give them enough value for trading those picks, they're all still there. Utah, Indiana, who the Lakers talked with a lot during the offseason, I'm told they've not heard from the Lakers yet this offseason.

"People are going to have to get use to a team that's not going to make dramatic change for a while, if really at all this year."

Wojnarowski also said that a Westbrook "move to the bench is probably inevitable" unless there is a change in his performance. 

Adrian Wojnarowski

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jae Crowder Insists Trade Request Not Due To Demotion Out Of Starting Lineup

Oct 26, 2022 10:46 AM

Jae Crowder continues to remain away from the Phoenix Suns as the two sides seek a resolution via trade. Crowder pushed back on the idea that he requested a trade from the Suns because he was demoted out of the starting lineup in favor of Cam Johnson.

"Honestly, this is unfamiliar ground for me," Crowder told Chris Haynes. "This is my 11th year and I've always been in camp and started the year off with my team. The business of basketball has taken its course and changes have come. I do not want to get into the details just yet, but it's definitely not true of the narrative being pushed about me not starting or not. I can honestly say that.

"I had two great years with my teammates and the fans in Phoenix. I don't take that for granted. I'm forever grateful for the moments we shared."

Haynes said he's not sure if the core of the issue is the Suns' to sign him to an extension.

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Have Pitched Multi-Team Trades To Rival Teams

Oct 26, 2022 8:26 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers are still trying to decide on a path for this season. They could trade Russell Westbrook and one or both of their future tradable picks. Or Los Angeles could let the season run its course, and then have roughly $30 million in cap space this summer.

One thing LA GM Rob Pelinka has done is pitch rival teams on multi-team deals. The Lakers have proposed three- and four-team trades, in addition to straight swaps with one other team.

The reason for the multi-team deals likely involves the necessity of moving Russell Westbrook's $47.1 million expiring contract in any meaningful trade. It's likely many of these proposals involve the Indiana Pacers or the San Antonio Spurs. Both the Pacers and Spurs have approximately $30 million in available cap space. That makes taking in Westbrook's contract a far easier task than matching salary in a deal.

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Lakers, Jazz Expected To Discuss Russell Westbrook Trade Again

Oct 24, 2022 11:47 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz are expected to return to the negotiation table later this season on a potential trade centered on Russell Westbrook.

Before the Jazz traded Bojan Bogdanovic to the Detroit Pistons, the Lakers offered Westbrook, a future first round pick, and second rounders for a package that included Bogdanovic and others.

The Jazz also have Mike Conley and Rudy Gay that could be included in a potential trade. Jordan Clarkson could also be a potential piece, though Utah is said to prefer to keep him.

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Tags: Mike Conley, Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Hornets' Interest In Russell Westbrook Based On Unloading Long-Term Salary

Oct 24, 2022 11:41 AM

The interest the Charlotte Hornets previously had in acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Los Angeles Lakers was rooted in unloading long-term salary with the expectation they would sign Miles Bridges to a major contract, sources tell Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer.

Bridges remains unsigned following his domestic violence arrest that occurred on the eve of the offseason. Due to the serious nature of the charges, Bridges' entire future in the NBA is in serious question.

Charlotte was expected to consider taking on Westbrook for Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward.

Kevin O'Connor/The Ringer

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers, Spurs Recently Talked Trades Centered Around Russell Westbrook, Josh Richardson

Oct 24, 2022 10:00 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers preferred path forward with Russell Westbrook is to find a way for him to work within the team's offensive and defensive systems. But that hasn't kept the Lakers from continuing to look into trade options involving Westbrook.

In recent weeks, Los Angeles engaged the San Antonio Spurs in trade talks for Josh Richardson. Richardson is a veteran on an expiring contract, so it's expected San Antonio will look to trade him during this rebuilding season.

The Lakers have remained interested in potential trades with the Indiana Pacers (for Buddy Hield and Myles Turner) and the Charlotte Hornets (for Terry Rozier), as well. All trade talks have seen rival teams ask Los Angeles for either one or both of the Lakers tradable future first-round picks.

A deal that sends Westbrook to either Indiana or San Antonio would be easier to complete, because those teams still have considerable cap space. Both the Pacers and Spurs have approximately $30 million in available cap space. That would make absorbing Westbrook's $47.1 million contract easier than a team that would have to fully match salary in a deal.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Josh Richardson, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Bucks Engaged Suns In Jae Crowder Trade Talks

Oct 24, 2022 9:41 AM

A few different Eastern Conference contenders have been linked to trade interest in Jae Crowder of the Phoenix Suns. Now, we can add the Milwaukee Bucks to that list too.

The Bucks and Suns recently engaged in trade talks surrounding the veteran forward. The Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics have all been mentioned as potential landing spots for Crowder too. For now, Crowder remains away from the Suns, as Phoenix works on finding a trade partner.

Milwaukee has a few different trade avenues to land the 3&D combo forward. Most would involve the Bucks parting with at least one rotation player, but Crowder could give them the defense and floor spacing they've lacked at the forward spot since losing P.J. Tucker in free agency before last season.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Jae Crowder, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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South Bay Lakers Acquire Devin Cannady

Oct 20, 2022 6:43 PM

The South Bay Lakers have acquired Devin Cannady via trade with the Lakeland Magic.

Cannady was one of Orlando's last cuts in training camp.

The Los Angeles Lakers will not hold any special rights over any other NBA team to sign Cannady. 

Cannady shot 46.8 percent on three-pointers last season in the G League. 

After their opening night loss, LeBron James lamented the lack of shooting currently on the roster of the Lakers.

Marc Stein/Substack

Tags: Devin Cannady, Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Lakers Unlikely To Make Major Trade Before Thanksgiving

Oct 19, 2022 11:17 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers are widely considered a fringe playoff contender at this point based on their current roster construction, but they're expected to continue exploring a potential trade of Russell Westbrook along with their 2027 and 2029 first round picks. A trade is not expected to be imminent as they reportedly feel their odds of a difference making trade increase by waiting.

"I'm told to expect Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to wait until post-Thanksgiving," said Adrian Wojnarowski of how they're approaching the trade market. "Twenty games into the season and see what teams may start pivoting, who don't start off well, who decide they may start to unload players and perhaps get involved in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes to get down in the lottery instead of as we saw in previous years teams chasing the play-in tournament. And see then using that 2027, that 2029 pick, and of course Russell Westbrook's expiring contract to see what is going to be out there in the marketplace.

"And as more teams and more players become... and teams become sellers... There was so many buyers the last couple of years. The expectation is that there's going to be more sellers this year. You start to see the asking price in trades to go down. It's supply and demand. Expect the Lakers to get to that 20-game point where teams kind of reach an inflection point about how they want to proceed and then see what might really be available to improve this Lakers' team."

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Passed On Utah's Offer Of Bogdanovic, Conley, Gay, 2023 FRP For Westbrook, FRPs In 2027, 2029

Tony Jones/The Athletic

Kyrie Irving: Nets Got Better After Trade Request By Kevin Durant

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Warriors Won't Consider Trading Draymond Green This Season

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Kyrie Irving Admits He Shouldn't Have Asked For Trade From Cavs In 2017

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Draymond Green Likely To Exercise $27.5M Option With Warriors Next Season

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Suns Interested In Trading For Jordan Clarkson

Jake Fischer/Yahoo! Sports

Heat Believe Jae Crowder Prefers Trade To Them

Jake Fischer/Yahoo! Sports

Suns Deemed Cam Johnson 'Off Limits' In Kevin Durant Trade Talks

Jake Fischer/Yahoo! Sports

Finch, Connelly: Wolves Couldn't Afford Not To Trade For Rudy Gobert

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Hawks Engaged With Suns On Jae Crowder Trade

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Donte DiVincenzo Thought Bucks Were Going To Trade Him To Celtics At Deadline

Anthony Slater/The Athletic

Heat Interested In Trading For Jae Crowder

Zach Lowe/ESPN

NBA GM: Tank/Trade Market Will Shift After Victor Wembanyama's Performance

Adrian Wojnarowski, Jonathan Givony/ESPN

LeBron James Applying No Pressure On Lakers To Trade For Myles Turner, Buddy Hield

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Lakers, Pacers Engaged In Serious Russell Westbrook Talks Right Before Start Of Camp

Shams Charania, Jovan Buha, Sam Amick/The Athletic