The NBA trade deadline is just three 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. 8, 3 p.m. ET), talks of other deals will be bandied about.
Keep up with the latest rumblings around the NBA — and the latest deals that have been agreed to — as deadline day approaches.
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Bucks acquire Zeller from Nets
The Milwaukee Bucks have added depth to their frontcourt with the addition of Brooklyn Nets center Tyler Zeller. The Nets will receive former first-round pick Rashad Vaughn and a 2018 second-round pick in the deal.
Zeller was the starting center in Brooklyn before rookie Jarrett Allen took over the spot. In 42 games this season, Zeller is averaging 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 16.7 minutes.
— 6:36 p.m. ET
Report: Thunder, Bulls, Pistons interested in Hood
Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood has had his name mentioned in trade talks more than a few times as the deadline has approached, and that is happening again.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune‘s Tony Jones, a handful of teams in both conferences are interested in him. As well, backup guard Alec Burks is drawing interest from teams, too — but his contract may hinder a deal getting done.
Here’s more from Jones on the Jazz trade talk:
With the NBA’s trade deadline looming Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons are all showing interest in acquiring Utah Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.
League sources say the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic have also shown at least a passing interest in Hood, who is set to be a restricted free agent this summer. Hood’s name has been mentioned in trade talks for a few weeks, and the Jazz have been active on the market in an attempt to fortify their roster for the remainder of the season.
The Jazz would like an asset for Hood, according to sources. A first round pick would be optimal. Last week, the Bulls garnered a first-rounder when they traded forward Nikola Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans. But the Bulls were forced to take on a bad contract — center Omer Asik — in return. It remains to be seen whether the Jazz would be willing to do that.
Sources say the Thunder were always going to be aggressive on this trade market because they want to improve the depth of their roster in an attempt to entice forward Paul George to sign with them long-term.
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Besides Hood, teams are also showing trade interest in Jazz shooting guard Alec Burks, league sources tell The Tribune. The problem is, teams are hesitant to take on his contract, which pays him through the end of next season.
Hood is in the midst of the best statistical season of his career, averaging 16.4 points per game while making 38.7 percent of his 3-pointers. Injuries have limited him to 37 games this season and he has been frustrated by his role as a reserve as well, Jones writes. As for Burks, he is two years removed from knee and ankle surgery that ended his 2015-16 season after 31 games. He has played in 48 games this season, averaging 9.2 ppg and 3.4 rpg in 18.8 mpg off the bench.
— 2:42 p.m. ET
Report: Nuggets interested in Celtics’ Smart
Denver has designs this season on getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. While the Nuggets would be in the playoffs if they started today (as the No. 8 seed), they are also perhaps in the market for some more depth in the backcourt.
According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the Nuggets have explored acquiring Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart. The Nuggets, Stein reports, have made third-year guard Emmanuel Mudiay available in such a trade, but the Celtics want more in return.
Here’s more from Stein, via Twitter:
Denver is among the teams that has explored Marcus Smart trade scenarios with Boston, according to league sources. Emmanuel Mudiay has been made available, sources say, but the Celts covet a first-round pick for Smart.
Smart is averaging 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for Boston in 46 games, logging 10 starts. He suffered a cut to his hand on Jan. 26 and has been out of the lineup due to that injury. Mudiay has appeared in 41 games for Denver, averaging 8.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 2.9 apg. He averaged a season-low 9.6 minutes per game in January, but has received more playing time so far this month (17.2 mpg).
— 1:42 p.m. ET
Reports: Knicks’ Hernangomez seeking trade
The New York Knicks have no shortage of centers, with Enes Kanter, Joakim Noah, Willy Hernangomez and Kyle O’Quinn all available to log minutes at the position. To date, only Kanter and O’Quinn have been significant regulars in the playing rotation. Noah and the Knicks last week mutually agreed to take an indefinite leave of absence from the team.
As for Hernangomez, he has appeared in just 25 games — the last coming on New Year’s Eve — and is averaging 4.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 9.2 mpg this season. After averaging 18.4 mpg and looking like a solid contributor for the Knicks (8.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.3 apg) last season, he has been a non-factor in the Knicks’ plans and is asking for a trade.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has more:
And Willy Hernangomez, who was a First Team All-Rookie selection just one year ago, requested a trade recently through his representatives, a source confirmed Monday.
It’s an unsurprising development after the 23-year-old spoke publicly about his desire for playing time, whether with the Knicks or somewhere else.
Jeff Hornacek blamed the roster composition for the conundrum. Hernangomez is behind Enes Kanter and Kyle O’Quinn in the rotation, and “Of course he wishes he could play and we could get him more minutes but I think he understands how we got to this point and that it’s very difficult to play three guys especially in a league that doesn’t play a lot of centers anymore,” Hornacek said. “A lot of these centers that come in at the five spot, they’re outside shooters. Which allows us to use KP there occasionally too. Again it’s tough on us because we know he’s a great player and it’s tough on him because he doesn’t get to play much.”
According to sources, Hernangomez has attracted the most attention of New York’s available players ahead of the trade deadline. One of the interested teams is the Utah Jazz, a source told the News.
Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, who first reported the news, reports Hernangomez wants a trade to a team where he can continue his development:
Hernangomez has two years remaining on the four-year rookie contract he signed in 2016: a guaranteed $1.54 million in 2018-19 and a trigger date worth $1.7 million in 2019-20.
— 1:06 p.m. ET
Report: Evans on Sixers’ radar
On Feb. 1, the Memphis Grizzlies made the reported decision to sit Tyreke Evans as they hash out a possible trade destination for him. The veteran guard, whose averages of 19.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game are some of the best he’s posted since his rookie season (2009-10), will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
According to Vincent Goodwill of NBCSportsChicago.com, the Philadelphia 76ers are showing interest in landing the guard. Here’s more from Goodwill, via Twitter:
Philadelphia, a team looking to solidify a playoff spot in the East, is showing interest in Tyreke Evans, according to sources
Per Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, the Grizzlies have been seeking a first-round pick for Evans in trades.
— 10:45 a.m. ET
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