NBA rumors: Jaylen Brown, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves, Sixers, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Thunder, more

Reporting on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and updates on Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan report on Austin ReavesLauri MarkkanenJaylen Brown, and share updates on the Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Rumors: James Harden trade talks, Joel Embiid, PJ Tucker, Rudy Gay, Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, more

Reporting on James Harden trade talks and the potential affects for Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, and Mavericks, plus free agency notes on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and more on HoopsHype.

With free agency relatively at a standstill, all eyes around the league have shifted predominantly to trade talks surrounding Damian Lillard, James Harden, and potentially Pascal Siakam.

Below is the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on the Harden trade talks and how they could affect Joel Embiid and PJ Tucker, free agency updates on Rudy Gay, Edmond Sumner, and Nerlens Noel, along with notes on the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks, Mavericks, and more on HoopsHype.

Four potential Pascal Siakam trade destinations

Here are four teams that could be good fits for Pascal Siakam and make an appealing offer for him.

The Toronto Raptors may finally be ready to make a big change to their group. At last year’s trade deadline, they listened to offers on all their best players but ultimately did not move any of them. Things backfired for them when they missed the playoffs and lost Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets in free agency.

The loss of VanVleet fractured an already middling offense and they may not be able to find a suitable replacement before the season starts. While the additions of Dennis Schroeder and Jalen McDaniels suggest that they’re still trying to be competitive, media reports believe otherwise.

According to SportNet’s Michael Grange, Pascal Siakam’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors and the Atlanta Hawks have been pursuing him. Marc Stein echoes similar sentiments and reports that the Indiana Pacers are a legitimate suitor to acquire him.

Trading Siakam could signal a shift toward a rebuild or retool considering the two-time All-NBA forward is their best player. He reportedly wants to remain in Toronto and does not want to discuss an extension with other teams, which could hurt his trade value. This season will be Siakam’s last with supermax eligibility, meaning he can qualify for it if he earns All-NBA honors this season.

If the Raptors do decide to move Siakam, here are some teams that make sense and what they could offer.

NBA Rumors: Paul George, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Mavs, Bucks, Celtics, more

Reporting on Knicks trade talks for Paul George involving RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the end of the NBA’s moratorium and Vegas Summer League beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Knicks trade talks for Paul George, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and much more.

James Harden to the Clippers? Here’s what a trade could look like

Here are what the different trade packages by the Clippers could look like for James Harden.

For over six months, we’ve been led to believe that James Harden would either re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers or return to the Houston Rockets this summer. It turns out there was a Plan C all along.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Sixers are looking to accommodate Harden with a trade after he picked up his $35.6 million player option. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers and Knicks are expected to show interest.

There could be more teams that generate interest, but the Clippers seem like the most viable one so far. That’s because they have a need for a playmaker like Harden, they have the salaries to match for him, and they have different asset types to interest the Sixers.

Here is what a Clippers trade for Harden could look like.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson leaps Brandon Miller at No. 2; Free Agency News

NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson moves ahead of Brandon Miller for the No. 2 pick. Dereck Lively drawing lottery pick consideration. Plus, free agency reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel around the league and projected where the top prospects currently stand by compiling 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the final edition of the aggregate mock draft.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

Kristaps Porzingis traded to the Celtics: How it impacts them, Clippers, and Wizards

Analyzing the Kristaps Porzingis trade and how it impacts the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, and Washington Wizards.

The Washington Wizards rebuild is full steam ahead. After agreeing to trade Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns, they are trading Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal with the Clippers. The Clippers are getting Malcolm Brogdon, while the Wizards are acquiring the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft, Amir Coffey, and the expiring contracts of Marcus Morris and Danilo Gallinari.

Note: These are all the details reported when this was published, and it’s possible Washington may get additional draft compensation from the Celtics.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Trade Talks; Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, Brandin Podziemski rise

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports on which teams could trade their picks in a new NBA mock draft. Plus, which players are rising on boards.

Following the NBA draft’s early entry deadline, mock draft boards have shifted, with several players rising, including Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, and Brandin Podziemski, making major first-round leaps. Julian Phillips, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Ben Sheppard, Jordan Walsh, Emoni Bates, Seth Lundy, and others rose in the second round.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Brandon Miller climbs to No. 2; Taylor Hendricks rising

HoopsHype’s aggregate NBA mock draft reports which teams may trade their picks and lists rising players, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, and more.

Following the NBA Draft Combine, mock draft boards have shifted with the lottery results unveiled and several players rising, including Brandon Miller, Taylor Hendricks, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Ben Sheppard.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

Clippers offseason primer: Russell Westbrook’s future, Kawhi Leonard, more

The Clippers are in a good position to run their team back despite the increased expenses and team building restrictions coming their way.

The Los Angeles Clippers had championship aspirations when they put together their team featuring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. So far they’ve fallen far below expectations with only one trip to the Western Conference Finals to show on their resumé. Injuries stifled them in their first-round matchup against the Suns this year, but they were inconsistent throughout the regular season while healthy. They might still have lost this series if their roster was entirely available.

After four years we could finally start getting closer to the end of this iteration of the Clippers. New CBA changes were designed to prevent teams from spending as much as they’ve had over the years. The Clips could still keep this group together but after a couple of years, it could become untenable if they continue to fall below expectations.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Los Angeles Clippers.