March 2022 Basketball Wiretap

Donovan Mitchell On Trade Talk: I'll Think About That In A Week

Apr 29, 2022 10:05 AM

The Utah Jazz season ended in disappointment with a first round loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Almost immediately after the Game 6 loss, speculation started about Utah's future, especially with star guard Donovan Mitchell.

When asked if he wants to stay with the Jazz, Mitchell initially responded "Yeah, I do." When pressed about rumors involving him asking for a trade, Mitchell expanded his thoughts.

"My mindset is to win. Like I said, right now, I'm not looking at (asking for a trade). For me, I just want to win, yo. This hurts. Like I said, I’ll think about it in a week and go from there, but right now, I’m not really thinking about any of that."

Mitchell just completed the first year of a five-year max deal. He has four more years under contract, with the final season in 25-26 being a player option.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Lakers' Front Office Internally Blaming Klutch For Russell Westbrook Trade

Apr 27, 2022 5:51 PM

The front office of the Los Angeles Lakers is internally blaming pressure from Klutch Sports for their acquisition of Russell Westbrook during the 2021 offseason, multiple sources tell Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

Klutch Sports represents both LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who met with Westbrook and reportedly pushed for the trade.

Westbrook was a bad fit with the Lakers when sharing the floor with James and Davis, while also unable to win games without them as the lead star. 

Westbrook has one season remaining on his contract with the Lakers and the franchise will likely need to attach future draft capital to him in order to acquire a useful player in return via trade. 

Eric Pincus/Bleacher Report

Tags: Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Mavericks Tried To Trade Jalen Brunson, Multiple Picks To Move Up To Select Tyrese Haliburton In Draft

Apr 25, 2022 10:52 AM

The Dallas Mavericks tried to trade up in the 2020 NBA draft in order to select Tyrese Haliburton, sources tell Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Dallas offered Jalen Brunson and the 18th and 31st picks, but couldn't find a taker before the Sacramento Kings sued the No. 12 selection on Haliburton.

Haliburton has become one of the NBA's better young guards and is now playing for former Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. 

The New York Knicks, who have been connected to Brunson, stayed put at No. 8 and selected Obi Toppin.

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Damian Lillard Has Lobbied Blazers To Acquire Two-Way Wing With Size

Apr 21, 2022 9:46 PM

Damian Lillard has indicated to the Portland Trail Blazers that he would like to be paired with a two-way, rangy wing such as Jerami Grant, Ben Simmons, Aaron Gordon and Jaylen Brown, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

The Blazers pursued a trade for Gordon during the 2021 deadline, but the Denver Nuggets successfully acquired him instead.

The Blazers have been linked with a trade for Grant dating back to this year's deadline and again this offseason. Portland's chances of acquiring him, however, took a hit after being unable to secure the first round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans after they reached the playoffs.

The Pistons want either two first round picks or a first rounder and a promising rookie scale contract player such as Patrick Williams. 

The Blazers so far have no desire to trade their own pick, which is currently slated at No. 6.

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: Damian Lillard, Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Terrence Ross Would Like To Be Traded From Magic

Apr 21, 2022 9:29 AM

Orlando Magic wing Terrence Ross has made it through the last two NBA trade deadlines as the last man standing from the team's former veteran core. If Ross has his way, it won't come to that again in 2023.

While Ross hasn't made an explicit trade demand, he's made it clear he'd like to play elsewhere moving forward.

“I feel like I’m a part of that old regime, and they’re going in a different direction," Ross said. "I don’t know what they’ve got in store for me. It’s hard to say. They don’t really let me know too much about what they’re doing. So, I’m kind of here, just along for the ride.”

Ross is in the final year of a four-year deal, and he'll make $11.5 million for 2022-23. That's a very tradable deal, but Ross doesn't feel a need to make a trade demand to the Magic.

“They know that. They’re well aware of that, so there’s no point," Ross said. "They’re going to do what they want to do regardless.”

Khobi Price/Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Terrence Ross, Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Lakers Unlikely To Trade Russell Westbrook For Gordon Hayward

Apr 17, 2022 2:39 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to trade Russell Westbrook this offseason. It's also expected that any deal involving Westbrook will bring back long-term salary to Los Angeles.

Despite being rumored to have interest in trading Westbrook to the Charlotte Hornets, it's unlikely the Lakers will take back Gordon Hayward in a deal. The Lakers are likely to prioritize players with cleaner injury histories, given the recent availability issues they've had with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Hayward has missed 71 games of 154 games in his first two seasons with the Hornets. He also missed considerable time with the Boston Celtics over the prior three seasons.

Marc Stein/Substack

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

Discuss
Malcolm Brogdon Likely To Be Traded

Apr 16, 2022 10:34 AM

The Indiana Pacers have left rival teams with the impression that they're going to trade Malcolm Brogdon this offseason. Indiana started a retooling of their roster at the trade deadline by dealing away Domantas Sabonis and Caris LeVert.

In the Sabonis trade, the Pacers added guard Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield from the Sacramento Kings. Haliburton is now seen as the centerpiece of Indiana's rebuild.

That status for Haliburton makes Brogdon available via trade. While talented, Brogdon has miss significant time with injuries throughout his career. Despite the availability issues, Brogdon signed a two-year, $45 million extension with the Pacers. That new deal starts with the 2023-24 season. Because of that extension, Brogdon was ineligible to be traded at the 2022 trade deadline. A trade is now seen as likely to happen this summer.

Marc Stein/Substack

Tags: Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
LeBron, Davis, Dudley Checked In On Bradley Beal's Interest In Lakers Last Offseason

Apr 12, 2022 12:54 PM

During the 2021 offseason, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Jared Dudley checked on the potential desire of Bradley Beal to request a trade from the Washington Wizards to the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, Davis and Dudley also met with Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers eventually traded for Westbrook, who was the potential difference maker that would be the easiest to acquire. 

Beal will be a free agent this offseason and is widely expected to re-sign with the Wizards. It is also doubtful that the Lakers would have been able to put together an attractive enough package to entice the Wizards to trade him there compared to what rival teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors had available to them last offseason.

Dan Woike, Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Kevin Durant's Frustration Over James Harden's Conditioning Cited As Origin For Disconnect

Apr 12, 2022 12:16 PM

The disconnect between James Harden and the Brooklyn Nets largely stemmed from his arrival to training camp out of shape, sources tell Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.

Durant had been sympathetic to Harden's issues with the Houston Rockets and a need for a change of scenery, but he also expected his teammate to commit himself to conditioning and self-care when he arrived in Brooklyn, according to a source close to both stars.

Durant was astonished by Harden's lack of explosiveness and sluggish play, which he attributed to his conditioning rather than his hamstring recovery.

Sources say that Harden "found Durant's slant grating and self-righteous." 

Harden and Durant were never able to resolve their conflict and the passing weeks led the former to become more isolated. 

Harden eventually pushed for a trade at the deadline and was moved to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Kevin Arnovitz/ESPN

Tags: James Harden, Kevin Durant, Philadelphia Sixers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Rockets Believe Trade Market For John Wall Exists

Apr 12, 2022 10:39 AM

In his season-ending media availability Houston Rockets GM Rafael Stone was asked about the team's roster plans for this summer. A significant question for this summer is the future of point guard John Wall.

Wall has a $47.4 million player option for 2022-23, which he is sure to exercise. From there, it's up to Houston to figure out their next move.

Stone believes that there will be a trade market for Wall, who did not play during the 2021-22 season. Wall was sat by the Rockets, despite saying he wanted to play around midseason, as the team focused on their younger players.

If no trade market develops for Wall, Houston and the veteran point guard are expected to discuss a buyout. Stone said the Rockets and Wall will "cross that bridge when they get to it" on a potential buyout.

Kelly Iko/The Athletic

Tags: John Wall, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Pacers Expected To Explore Trade Of Malcolm Brogdon

Marc Stein/Substack

'Enthusiasm' For Russell Westbrook From LeBron James, Anthony Davis Pushed Lakers To Trade

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Lakers Disinclined To Waive-And-Stretch Russell Westbrook

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Report: Russell Westbrook's Personality Fit 'Even Worse' Than 'Basketball Fit'

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Anthony Davis: I Don't Think Lakers Plan On Trading Me

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Hornets Could Have Interest In Trading For Russell Westbrook

Marc Stein/Substack

Russell Westbrook: Plan Is To Remain With Lakers But Nothing Is Promised

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Lakers Won't Seriously Consider Trading Anthony Davis

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Magic Johnson Tried To Facilitate DeMar DeRozan Deal For Lakers

RealGM Staff Report

Portland Tried To Trade For Jerami Grant At Trade Deadline

Marc Stein/Substack