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Inside Pass: Only six sellers so far, but several other teams on the bubble with the NBA trade deadline looming
https://theathletic.com/780771/2019...e-bubble-with-the-nba-trade-deadline-looming/
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The NBA trade deadline is a little over two weeks away, but NBA executives and players league-wide have noticed one dramatic factor in the trade market. Among the 30 teams, there have been just five sellers on the trade market: Four in the Eastern Conference (Atlanta, New York, Cleveland and Chicago) and one in the Western Conference (Phoenix) and possibly a second in Memphis. For everyone else, the remaining 11 teams in the East and 14 teams in the West, the playoffs have been within sight — speaking to the parity across the league.
“It’s supply-and-demand,” one front-office official told
The Athletic. “You have most teams still trying to make the playoffs, and so few sellers.”
However, this next week to 10 days will dictate the remaining sellers and buyers ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline.
The Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic are still competing for a playoff berth, but both teams are preparing for the deadline with the awareness their moves will be made based upon whether the team is trending upward or down as Feb. 7 approaches, sources said.
Wizards star guard Bradley Beal is not going anywhere, which Washington has made adamantly clear, league sources told
The Athletic. Depending on how the next week to two weeks shape up, the Wizards could look more aggressively toward moving Otto Porter. The Utah Jazz have been an interested suitor for Porter, league sources said. Beal has helped lead the Wizards to seven wins in their past 10 games, carrying a squad that lost All-Star John Wall to season-ending heel surgery before the New Year.
Similarly, the Charlotte Hornets are competing for a playoff berth, have Kemba Walker as the face of their franchise and are posited to have Walker representing the organization when the city hosts All-Star Weekend. Even last summer, several teams approached the Hornets on Walker, but were informed that he is off the table. Hornets owner Michael Jordan has a desire to re-sign Walker and keep the two-time All-Star in Charlotte, sources said.
Nevertheless, teams have still tested the Hornets. In recent weeks, the Dallas Mavericks had interest in Walker and inquired on him, but the Hornets stated they were keeping Walker and wanted him to remain a Hornet, league sources told
The Athletic.
Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. and the Mavericks had been working to accommodate a trade for him, but receiving equal value for a talented, former No. 9 overall pick just one year into his four-year rookie-scale contract is nearly impossible. The Mavericks discussed Smith deals with several teams, including Orlando, New York and the L.A. Lakers, league sources said.
Both sides needed to reunite, however, and Dallas head coach Rick Carlisle apologized to Smith on a phone conversation on Sunday and expressed remorse over the situation, sources said. Fences needed to be mended, and Smith returned to the Mavericks for Tuesday’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers and the sides will see how the new reuniting period goes.
The Memphis Grizzlies, on the other hand, have started to position themselves as sellers on the market.
After meeting with franchise stars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr.
last week in Memphis to discuss the future of the team, owner Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera informed them that the franchise would accept trade calls on them, league sources said. This has been brewing for weeks, with the Grizzlies losing 23 of their past 30 games since beginning the campaign 12-5. The Grizzlies maintain this will be a due diligence process on both. And yet team officials preached to Grizzlies players on Tuesday that the franchise is committed toward winning and to tune out any trade noise, sources said.
The Jimmy Butler trade occurred in November, Milwaukee was able to get a difference-making player in George Hill in early December and Trevor Ariza was moved to the Washington Wizards with Kelly Oubre Jr. going to Phoenix in mid-December. We’ve seen the early stages of what will be a ferocious pursuit of Anthony Davis should he inform the New Orleans Pelicans of a mindset that he doesn’t plan to be with the franchise long-term.
Davis will see a hand specialist with the fear of an avulsion fracture in his left index finger, his agent Rich Paul told The Athletic. If confirmed, Davis will likely miss 2-to-4 weeks. Davis has yet to reach the point this season where he will request a trade, but a full evaluation of his seven seasons in New Orleans likely will come in the offseason.
So
if Davis, Beal and Walker are off the table, who is left? There are expected to be several trades on the periphery, league executives say, but will there be a blockbuster? Talks will pick up over the next couple weeks. Teams have scenarios on the board right now, evaluating possibilities — most of which likely gaining traction in the final week.
More notes from around the league
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have engaged with teams on veteran players Kent Bazemore and Dewayne Dedmon, but also have discussed forward Taurean Prince, league sources said. In his third season, Prince is averaging 14.1 points and 4.1 rebounds. Also worth monitoring: guard Tyler Dorsey. Dorsey chose to play for the Hawks’ G League affiliate, Erie, last Wednesday in order to receive more playing time and repetition on the court. Dorsey posted 36 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in 43 minutes in a victory for Erie, using the G League to showcase himself ahead of the trade deadline.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls and Knicks have discussed scenarios to send Jabari Parker to New York, but both sides have wanted to involve a third team to take center Enes Kanter — which has not appeared yet, league sources said. The team also is in no rush to release the contract of Carmelo Anthony.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Shooting guard Rodney Hood is garnering interest from several teams, and has a no-trade clause on the one-year, $3.4 million qualifying offer he signed with the Cavaliers before the season. Teams such as New Orleans, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee have looked into wing help. For a Cavaliers team with heavy salaries throughout the roster, Hood has emerged as a targeted piece.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have attempted to engage several teams in a deal to move Chandler Parsons — most notably the Atlanta Hawks, league sources said. The sides have yet to build the necessary traction toward a trade. The move would free Parsons from Memphis, which has decided not to play him even though he has been cleared for basketball since Dec. 21. Expect forward JaMychal Green to attract significant interest entering the deadline.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder will explore their options to use their $10.7 million trade exception, including pursuing shooting small/power forwards, sources said.
Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers are scouring the market for a wing shooter and center, league sources said.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings’ plan remains: Explore deals to build momentum, but also value picks and promote winning and culture. Kings general manager Vlade Divac and assistant GM Brandon Williams have emphasized maintaining cap flexibility.
