The NBA trade deadline is just days away. Already this season, a handful of deals have taken place (which you can keep track of here). As we close in on the official trade deadline (Feb. 7, 3 p.m. ET), talks of other deals will continue.
Keep up with the latest rumblings around the NBA — and the latest deals that have been agreed to — as deadline day approaches.
(And, if you missed it, here’s what happened over the weekend.)
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Report: Pelicans want Lakers to ‘overwhelm’ them
As if it wasn’t clear that the Los Angeles Lakers have an uphill battle to pry Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, here’s the latest scuttlebutt from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, which includes the words “overwhelm” and “overcompensated.”
Pels are waiting on Lakers to overwhelm them w/ an historic haul of picks. To Nola, that means Lakers offering 4 first-round and second-round picks as part of a Davis package. Pels want to be compensated – perhaps even overcompensated – to even consider a deal with LA now. https://t.co/Ft8rfe9EBZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 5, 2019
— 2 a.m.
Report: Lakers make new offer for Davis
There may be a “handful” of teams New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis would be interested in staying with long term. One of the teams on that list, the Los Angeles Lakers, is perhaps trying to keep itself at the forefront of those talks.
Executives from both teams spoke on the phone last week, per multiple reports, and the Lakers have made another offer to the Pelicans for Davis, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The new trade package includes multiple young players, multiple draft picks and Pelicans salary cap relief. Lakers president Magic Johnson and Pelicans GM Dell Demps, per Wojnarowski, have had multiple conversations today.
Lakers president Magic Johnson and Pelicans GM Dell Demps have had multiple conversations today, league sources tell ESPN. There's no sense how much progress sides have made progress toward a possible trade, but the Lakers have absolutely gotten more serious in the discussions. https://t.co/R84Aetv9n3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
The Lakers have offered a new package to New Orleans that includes multiple young players, multiple draft picks and Pelicans salary cap relief for Anthony Davis, league sources tell ESPN. The offer appears to move closer to the objectives that the Pelicans are pursuing in a deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
According to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times, the offer includes Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley and two first-round picks.
Landed in Indy; update on Lakers-Pelicans talks. Magic Johnson, Dell Demps talked twice today, per source. Lakers willing to give Pelicans cap relief for Anthony Davis by taking Solomon Hill for Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Beasley, 2 1st round picks.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) February 4, 2019
— 3:36 p.m.
Reports: Several teams on Davis’ list
New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis has made it known that there are some teams he’d be willing to sign a long-term deal with upon being traded there. One team not on that list, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, is the Boston Celtics.
According to Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are among the “handful” of teams Davis would be willing to sign long-term with if he were dealt there. However, Davis has no plans to sign an extension with a team this summer. His plan, per Wojnarowski, is to sign a new deal in July of 2020 — the time at which Davis can opt out of his deal and enter free agency.
The Atheltic’s Shams Charania and Tania Ganguli of the Los Angles Times report Davis’ representatives have told the Pelicans he would sign a long-term deal with the Lakers, Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks or LA Clippers if traded there. New York is unlikely to land him after dealing their top asset, Kristaps Porzingis, last week. And Wojnarowski reports the Clippers have yet to make an offer for Davis and may be looking to hold onto their cap space and assets for 2019’s free agency.
Can confirm that Anthony Davis’s representatives have told the Pelicans that the list of teams with which he would sign long term is: Lakers, Knicks, Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks, source said. All teams with another star or the capability to get another star.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) February 4, 2019
The Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks are among the teams on the new extended Davis list, league sources said. Still, Clippers are another team holding onto cap space and assets for summer free agency. So far, Clippers haven't made an offer on Davis, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 4, 2019
Sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium it's four-team list for Davis — with inclusion of the Clippers and Bucks along with previous teams (Lakers, Knicks). The Knicks are unlikely, however, after moving Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. https://t.co/Vh3l4XJ51t
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2019
Last Friday, Davis made it clear to reporters that he had not disclosed a list of preferred trade destinations to the Pelicans. Friday evening, ESPN published a story in which Davis’ father, Anthony Davis Sr., said he wouldn’t want his son to play for the Celtics after how they treated former guard Isaiah Thomas.
Davis Sr. was referencing how Boston dealt Thomas — a two-time All-Star who played through both injuries and tragedies for the Celtics — to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving before the 2017-18 season.
— 2:10 p.m.
Report: Knicks may look to deal Matthews
The New York Knicks turned the NBA world on its head last week in trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. As part of that swap, Mavs veteran shooting guard Wesley Matthews was sent to the Knicks. He made his New York debut on Sunday, scoring five points (on 2-for-8 shooting) in 28 minutes in a 96-84 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
However, Matthews may not be with the Knicks for long, it seems. Marc Stein of The New York Times reports New York is exploring the trade market for Matthews. In addition, other suitors are hoping Matthews gets bought out, too. Among the teams interested in Matthews, Stein reports, are the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors.
The Knicks are exploring the trade market for Wes Matthews before Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say, but there are also several antsy suitors hoping Matthews makes it to the buyout market. Among them: Houston, Oklahoma City, Toronto, Philadelphia and, yes, Golden State
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 4, 2019
— 10:33 a.m.
Cavs, Blazers complete trade call
* Update, 10:36 a.m.: The deal is now official … Rodney Hood has been dealt to the Blazers.
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On Sunday, the Blazers and Cavs reportedly agreed to a deal that would send Cleveland guard Rodney Hood to Portland for guards Nik Stauskas, Wade Baldwin and two future second-round picks.
A trade call was held Monday morning, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland, clearing the way for the deal to go through. The Blazers (32-20) are currently the fourth seed in the West.
— 10:16 a.m.
Gasol, Conley await word on future
Just a little over two weeks ago, the Memphis Grizzlies made it known they were listening to offers for franchise stalwarts Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Since that news was made public, though, there has been little in terms of updates on whether one or both of the players will be moved.
Gasol and Conley responded to the trade talk days later and are still waiting for something to happen in regards to their future. Per Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press, the pair remain in that holding pattern about their future:
Conley acknowledges it will be an emotional week envisioning the end of an era.
“Before I would have said no, it wouldn’t have been on my mind, not having been in this situation,” he said. “But I’m not going to lie, it’s going to creep in because you know that it’s possible that one or both will be gone, and either way it’ll be the last time we’re playing together with him, or for the team, or whatever.”
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During games or at home with the family, Gasol said it’s easy to ignore the trade chatter. But the Grizzlies have been on the road, with plenty of time alone in hotel rooms where the mind tends to wander.
“So yeah, it is a little weird, but it’s coming to an end one way or another,” Gasol said.
Conley is eager for that.
“You look forward to that deadline passing,” Conley said. “Either way it goes, you just want to get clarity and understand your situation going forward, and you try to block it out but it’s hard. Everybody who texts you or talks to you in person mentions something about it, so it’s hard to run from it. But you just hope for the week to get through real quick and get back to business, whether it’s here or anywhere else.”
Last week, Marc Stein of The New York Times reported the Utah Jazz had some exploratory talks with the Grizzlies about acquiring Conley. Whether or not that happens, though, is anyone’s guess.
— 8:32 a.m.
Report: Markkanen, Carter Jr. virtually untouchable
The Chicago Bulls are clearly looking toward the future, what with their young core of players that includes Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis. Lauri Markkanen and rookie Wendell Carter Jr. The Bulls have already made a trade leading up to the deadline — albeit a small one that landed them Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot from OKC.
Should Chicago look to get into another deal, it seems only two players on the team are practically off-limits in trade discussions, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Sun-Times confirmed a report that, with the trade deadline approaching Thursday, the Bulls have made it clear that Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. are as close to untouchable as it comes. A blockbuster package from an opposing front office obviously could change that, but a source said talks like that haven’t progressed enough to gain traction.
That means general manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson have identified two keepers in the second year of the rebuild. The rest of the roster is up for debate with 29 games left.
— 8:30 a.m.
Should Toronto make a deal?
The Raptors wake up this morning 1 1/2 games out of first place in the Eastern Conference. For much of the season, they’ve held that lofty perch and have hopes to make their first Finals run. That all said, should Toronto consider a major move before the Feb. 7 deadline?
NBA TV’s Sekou Smith and Matt Weiner discuss some potential names the Raptors may want to eye, including Marc Gasol and Wayne Ellington …
— 7:59 a.m.
Recapping the Porzingis trade
The Hang Time Podcast duo of John Schuhmann and Sekou Smith take a closer look at the Kristaps Porzingis trade last week and figure out how all the pieces will fit in Dallas going forward …