NBA Trade Rumor Roundup

There are lots of internal gears working as we head into the NBA trade deadline, which is Thursday. Here is what we know as we head into the end of the trading period:

Eastern Conference

Cleveland
The Cavs are still interested in buying, and are still locked into conversations with Sacramento about George Hill, which is really the only deal publicly out there. The Cavs are not interested in the $19 million hit they take by acquiring Hill, and are still demanding that the Kings take on Iman Shumpert and JR Smith's contracts. There has been virtually no movement on this in two weeks, so it's getting less likely that this particular deal is getting done without some late push.
Also worth noting, the Cavs have, in fact, shown that they are willing to deal Brooklyn's unprotected first rounder in a deal, but it has to be the right deal.

Boston
After signing Greg Monroe last week, the Celtics are still in the mood to add some depth for a playoff push. That said, if they cannot find the right deal, they will wait around to cherry pick from the buy out crowd after the deadline has past. They are doing some work on both Lou Williams of the Clippers and Tyreke Evans of Memphis, and are currently dangling Marcus Smart, but they want a 1st round pick for Smart, a price few are willing to pay. Look for the Celtics to stand pat, and look more at that buyout crowd next week, but, again, anything is possible.

Atlanta
Almost everyone is up for a deal, with very little being kept off of the table by the Hawks this period. The Hawks want expiring deals and draft picks in exchange, something that someone like Cleveland should look at, as the Cavs have those pieces to deal. Look for Atlanta to be very active over the next 48 hours.

Orlando
Only Aaron Gordon and Jonathon Isaac are off of the table, for now. Again, the Magic, who are pushing back and forth with Atlanta for the worst record in the league, would be interested in expiring deals and picks, but are they an attractive dealer in pieces other than those who are untouchable? That has to be the question.

Charlotte
Despite protestations by Michael Jordan, Kemba Walker is still very much in play for trade, but the Hornets will want any trade partner to take on some of their bad deals as well, and that is stumping most conversations. It is very possible at this point that Walker remains a Hornet until the off-season, when a new GM may be hired.

Brooklyn 
The Nets are willing to deal, and should be, but the pieces they have are limited, at best, after dealing their unprotected pick away. They would be willing to take on bad, expiring deals, but would need some draft picks to come along with any of that. The Nets did a deal today, sending Tyler Zeller to Milwaukee for a 2019 2nd round pick and Rashad Vaughn.

Chicago
The Bulls picked up a small truckload of expendable ppieces when they dealt Nikola Murtic to the Pelicans this week, in acquiring Omer Asik, Tony Allen, and Jameer Nelson. None of those pieces looks to be in Chicago after the season, and some, or all, could be gone next week.

New York
The Knicks are actively trying to deal Joakim Noah, but there seems to be a lack of suitors in any potential deal for him. He has been away from the team after a confrontation with head coach Jeff Hornacek.

Western Conference

Denver
The Nuggets are in a bind financially for next season, and even though they are in a position to grab a lower seed in the playoffs, they are still looking to get ahead of their cap situation for next season. Emmanuel Mudiay and Wilson Chandler are deals they would like to unload now, rather than later, and they are looking to clear cap space.

Oklahoma City
The Thunder is still looking to replace the presence of Andre Roberson, and are looking for long wing help. They have looked at a number of possibilities, and will be active on the phone for the next 48 hours.

Memphis
Despite being called by several teams about Marc Gasol, the offers have been short, and it looks like he will stay put. Tyreke Evans has been shut down with expectations being that he will be dealt, but again, nothing has come in terms of concrete on that, but they seem confident that they will have a deal for him in place by Thursday. Consider Memphis to be a major seller, and if they can deal other pieces as well, they will. Boston, Philadelphia, and Denver are the front runners today to land Evans, and Miami is engaging now as well, according to ESPN.

LA Clippers
The Clippers are sellers, but only if they can find some pieces in exchange to appease the fan base and follow through on not tanking out right now. As the Clippers sail into irrelevance this season, it would be best, in my opinion, to tank out anyway and get the best package available for the likes of Lou Williams, DeAndre Jordan, and even newly acquired Avery Bradley, as all three pieces have extreme value on the market right now. Portland, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Washington all have interest in Jordan, Cleveland and Boston specifically have interest in Williams, and Bradley would have several suitors as well, according to multiple sources. Washington could involve Marcin Gortat in talks with the Clippers for Jordan.

Portland
The Blazers are better than most expected this season, but they still have looming cap space issues that they need to resolve before next season, or they risk sliding backwards. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are not going anywhere, but McCollum could go for the right price. Maurice Harkless, Myers Leonard, and Jusuf Nurkic could all be dealt, but extra pieces would need to come with them, as all three could be buyout victims in any done deal. DeAndre Jordan talks could be heating up between now and Thursday.

Phoenix
The Suns are interested in parting with veterans Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler, as they are looking to clear out veteran cap space. They have already dumped Greg Monroe, so they are serious about getting light on the cap.

Houston
The Rockets are considered a buyer at this point, but they are not willing to part with very much, as they are loathe to create any shock waves in team chemistry at this point. They don't have a ton of value in draft picks to deal, so they may be quiet heading into Thursday.

Utah
The Jazz do not want to pay Rodney Hood after this season, so he is someone they are shopping aggressively, but they are not having much success in doing so. Gobert and Mitchell are untouchable in any deals, but Utah needs some added depth and talent, and Hood may not bring much.

LA Lakers
News today that the Lakers are shifting their focus from the 2018 FA class to 2019 is a massive alarm bell. It would seem that Magic Johnson has completely bungled his pursuit of LeBron James, Paul George, and others for 2018, and will not have nearly the cap space to chase any of those individuals, but, as was said today, he may not have the fluidity to do any major shopping in 2019 either. In short, the Lakers are much more of a mess than anyone wants to admit, and they may be stuck in this spot for the next two to three years until they can unload their bad deals. Here is the rub on that...nobody in the league is in a hurry to help them out.

New Orleans
The Pelicans solidified their playoff push by acquiring Nikola Murtic from the Bulls this week for Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, and a protected 2018 first rounder. With that deal in motion, the Pelicans may be willing to ride out the rest of the deadline out, and could focus on buyouts instead to solidify their roster next week, especially with Boogie Cousins being lost for the season.

More news as it becomes available in the next 48 hours!