March 2022 Basketball Wiretap

Knicks Likely Would Have To Trade No. 11 Or Immanuel Quickley To Create Cap Space

May 31, 2022 12:47 PM

The New York Knicks nearly sent out the contracts of Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel at the deadline to clear cap space to pursue Jalen Brunson in free agency.

League executives believe the Knicks would have to trade either the No. 11 pick or Immanuel Quickley in order to incentivize a team to take on log-term salary.

Brunson can sign a five-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks or a four-year deal with a rival team. The Knicks could offer Brunson a role as the starting point guard and lead ball-handler, which won't happen with the Mavericks.

Brunson also has a connection to Leon Rose as his father, Rick Brunson, was a longtime client.

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jazz, Blazers Interested In Trading For OG Anunoby

May 31, 2022 9:43 AM

The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are looking to retool their rosters this offseason. That has both teams reportedly looking at trading for OG Anunoby of the Toronto Raptors.

Anunoby hasn't directly expressed dissatisfaction with his role in Toronto, but executives around the league have heard he would be open to trade. Anunoby is reportedly unhappy with his role in the Raptors offense that heavily featured Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and rookie Scottie Barnes.

Utah and Toronto have been previously linked via trade rumors around Rudy Gobert. Those discussions have never yielded anything, and it's unclear if that's a direction the Raptors would want to go.

Portland is set up to be very flexible this summer. The Blazers could create over $30 million in cap space, or they can operate as an over-the-cap team and use their $20.8 million trade exception. Either way, they'd be well-positioned to add Anunoby, as they rebuild their roster around Damian Lillard.

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: OG Anunoby, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Jaylen Brown: Trade Talk Was Loud, Most Of It Came From Boston Fans

May 31, 2022 7:58 AM

When the Boston Celtics had a slow start to the 21-22 season, there were calls by some to break up their core of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. If the Celtics were to make a trade of one of their two wings, it would have most likely been Brown.

“That trade talk was loud, and most of it came from Boston fans,” Brown told Yahoo Sports. “It’s a city that doesn’t tolerate excuses. But in reality, early in the season we had a new coach, we had a new front office, I missed about 15 games early in the season and that caused us to not be clicking on all cylinders like we wanted to be. People were impatient, so I understand. But fast forward, we got healthy, we got everybody back and now the sky’s the limit.”

Brown wasn't an All-Star in 2022 as he was in 2021, but he finished the season with similar production. During the playoffs, Brown is averaging 22.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Brown can become a free agent in 2024.

Chris Haynes/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mavericks Could Pursue Zach LaVine Via Sign And Trade

May 28, 2022 9:29 AM

The Dallas Mavericks went further than anyone expected this season, but they aren't satisfied. In fact, Dallas could be set up to be a player in the free agent market by chasing Zach LaVine.

The Mavs do not have the cap space to sign LaVine outright, but could acquire LaVine via a sign and trade. LaVine was widely expected to re-sign with the Chicago Bulls, but he recently made it clear that he intends to explore his options as a free agent. There have also been reports that LaVine isn't thrilled with his role in Chicago.

The Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs have all been mentioned as LaVine suitors as well. Like the Mavericks, the Hawks would have to create a sign and trade, while the Blazers and Spurs could create the cap space to chase LaVine directly.

Marc Stein/Substack

Tags: Zach LaVine, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor

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Thunder Could Trade Vasilije Micic Draft Rights

May 28, 2022 9:20 AM

Vasilije Micic is leaning towards joining the NBA next season. The catch is that Micic would prefer to play for someone other than Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder acquired Micic's draft rights from the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal ahead of the 2020-21 season. Oklahoma City will continue to hold Micic's rights for as long they tender him the minimum required contract. That tender only needs to be a one-year, fully non-guaranteed deal.

Because of the number of guards on the Thunder roster, Micic would prefer to go to a team where he could play a role. Because of that, his agent is working with Oklahoma City to find a team to trade for Micic's draft rights.

Donatas Urbonas/Basketnews.com

Tags: Vasilije Micic, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Mavericks Unlikely To Go For 'All-Out Pursuit' Of Rudy Gobert

May 27, 2022 5:47 PM

The Dallas Mavericks are unlikely to embark on "an all-out pursuit" of Rudy Gobert.

The Mavericks have spoken openly about their need to improve their rim protection and rounding, but their often reported interest in Gobert is somewhat overstated. 

Dallas sees Zach LaVine as the sort of player who would fill perhaps a more crucial need due to his ability to play off the ball as a spot-up shooter, but also penetrate off the dribble and cut to the basket.

The Mavericks would need LaVine and the Chicago Bulls to participate in a sign-and-trade, further complicated by their dearth of tradable assets.

Marc Stein/Substack

Tags: Rudy Roberts, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Unwilling To Meet Request Of At Least One First Round Pick In Russell Westbrook Trade

May 24, 2022 12:49 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have four options with Russell Westbrook as he heads into the final season of his contract: trade, waive and stretch, buy out, or keep him and hope for an improvement with a new coach.

League sources that spoke with Jovan Buha of The Athletic indicated that teams are demanding the inclusion of at least one first round pick to take on Westbrook's contract.

Rival executives believe the Lakers are boxed in where they will have to trade him.

As of now, however, the Lakers have no intention of using a first round pick to trade Westbrook. The position is not believed to merely be a poser as there is sentiment that the right coach and a better supporting cast could make the fit with Westbrook alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis more tenable. 

Jovan Buha/The Athletic

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

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Hawks Prefer Wing Scorer If Major Move Made

May 24, 2022 10:12 AM

While the Atlanta Hawks have been linked with changing out Clint Capela at center for another option such as Rudy Gobert or Deandre Ayton, multiple league sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report that their prioritized endgame is believed to be a wing scorer.

The Hawks own all of their first round picks plus a 2023 first rounder from the Charlotte Hornets, plus a flexible mix of contracts that can match a maximum salary in Capela, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter and Kevin Huerter.

Donovan Mitchell and Bradley Beal are unlikely to leave their respective teams this offseason, but the Hawks could be in position to pursue a trade for either player in the future.

The Hawks have also been mentioned as a potential sign-and-trade destination for Zach LaVine.

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: Zach LaVine, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Hawks, Pistons, Blazers Most Frequently Mentioned As Potential Deandre Ayton Landing Spot

May 24, 2022 10:08 AM

The Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers are the three teams most often linked to a potential pursuit of Deandre Ayton in restricted free agency.

The Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs are also logical fits for Ayton.

The Phoenix Suns decided not to offer a five-year, $170 million max contract to Ayton last offseason and they also quietly gauged his trade value at the deadline. One structure that was discussed was with the Indiana Pacers for Domantas Sabonis.

Some around the league believe Monty Williams has been frustrated by Ayton's "waning focus" and has contributed to inconsistent playing time. 

The Suns may simply not view Ayton, or any center, as worth more than $30 million per season. Phoenix could then be amenable to a sign-and-trade for frontcourt help at a more affordable number. 

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Tags: Deandre Ayton, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tyrese Maxey 'Close To Untouchable'; Sixers Will Listen On Matisse Thybulle

May 24, 2022 9:13 AM

The Philadelphia 76ers approach the offseason knowing they have some work to do with their roster. James Harden and his contract are tops on that list, but other Sixers have questions about their futures in Philadelphia as well.

Tyrese Maxey is coming off a breakout sophomore season. That has Maxey a popular target in trade rumors, but it's unlikely Daryl Morey has interest in moving his burgeoning point guard.

"Maxey is as close to untouchable as you could be," a source told PhillyVoice over the weekend.

One of the 76ers other young players isn't in the same boat. Matisse Thybulle has been prominently mentioned in rumors and he doesn't hold the same untouchable status as Maxey does.

The Sixers aren't exactly shopping their young, defensive-minded wing, but they're open to listening to offers for him. The Chicago Bulls are one of the teams rumored to be interested in trading for Thybulle.

Kyle Neubeck/PhillyVoice

Tags: Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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Lakers Not Expected To Waive Or Send Home Russell Westbrook

Sam Amick and Shams Charania/The Athletic

'Prominent Member' Of Blazers Front Office Targeted Miles Bridges, Cody Martin During Season

Ian Begley/SNY

Kings, Blazers, Pelicans Seen As Teams Likely To Consider Trading Picks

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Thunder Tried To Trade Up For Evan Mobley, Likely Would Have Picked Him At No. 1

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Suns, Pacers Talked Deandre Ayton Trade Ideas Before Deadline

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Deandre Ayton 'Going To Get A Max Contract Somewhere'

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Jazz Have No Desire To Enter Rebuild This Offseason

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Pelicans Not Eager To Trade Devonte' Graham

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell Trade Rumors Not Coming From Jazz Side

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Knicks, Pistons, Pacers Expected To Pursue Jalen Brunson In Free Agency

Jake Fischer/Bleacher Report

Raptors Would Have 'Degree Of Interest' In Potential Rudy Gobert Trade

Ian Begley/SNY

Lakers Had 'Internal Discussions' To Acquire Kyrie Irving Earlier In Season

Ian Begley/SNY

Tony Ressler: Hawks To Shake Up Roster, Could Pay Luxury Tax In 2023

Chris Kirschner/The Athletic

Lakers Think Frank Vogel Didn't Put Russell Westbrook In Situation To Succeed

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Lakers Won't Consider Trading LeBron James If He Declines Extension Offer

Sam Amick/The Athletic

Wolves Expected To Pursue D'Angelo Russell Trade

Marc Stein/Substacks

Warriors Could Look Into Trade For Rudy Gobert

Brian Windhorst/ESPN