Category: Rumors

Rumor: NBA teams interested in Josh Giddey’s trade availability

Rumor: NBA teams interested in Josh Giddey’s trade availability, could call the Thunder prior to the trade deadline.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will need to make a decision about Josh Giddey and that could happen as soon as this season’s trade deadline.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Thunder will likely start getting calls from opposing teams on Giddey’s availability. The 21-year-old is in his third season and will be eligible for a contract extension this summer.

Giddey can technically wait and enter restricted free agency in 2025, but the Thunder historically like to decide on a player’s long-term fit before reaching that point.

The fit with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was always a bit wonky. Both are ball-dominant guards. The former has risen to superstardom, so he has to have the ball in his hands more times than not when he’s on the court.

Still though, despite the odd fit, Giddey had two solid seasons to start his career for OKC. He did a fine job adjusting to playing out of character and was not a negative on the floor as he is right now.

However, Giddey is going through the worst season of his career. He’s averaging career lows in points, rebounds and assists. He has a 47.9 true-shooting percentage. He’s also averaging career lows in assist percentage and is a negative-11.9 in on-off splits.

Off the court, Giddey is being investigated by both the NBA and police in California over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. According to Fischer, the results of the investigations can play a role in how interested teams could be — but he ultimately still expects teams to call OKC.

“Come February, opposing front offices will surely call Oklahoma City about the trade prospects of Josh Giddey as well, depending on the outcome of the NBA’s investigation regarding his alleged off-court relations. Before the social-media accusations that Giddey had an improper relationship with a minor, other front offices were beginning to pinpoint Giddey as a quiet trade possibility in his own right, this being his third season without improving into a viable 3-point shooter next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Australian playmaker becomes extension eligible this summer.”

It’ll be quite surprising if a Giddey trade materializes by the trade deadline. Even before the allegations surfaced, OKC preached patience when it came to figuring out its young core. The Thunder seem willing to stick it out with Giddey’s current on-court struggles before making any drastic decisions.

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Rumor: OKC Thunder viewed as potential suitor for Lauri Markkanen

Rumor: OKC Thunder viewed as potential suitor for Lauri Markkanen.

A quarter into the 2023-24 regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder have graduated to playoff contender status. At 15-8, OKC possesses one of the best records in the league.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rise to superstardom can be attributed to that. The arrival of Chet Holmgren and improvement of Jalen Williams also deserves a slice of the credit pie.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Thunder will make their first playoff appearance since 2020. This means they can be viewed as potential buyers in February’s trade deadline.

The biggest potential available player in this year’s deadline could be Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. The 26-year-old forward is fresh off a career season last year when he was named an All-Star.

This season, Markkanen is averaging 23.7 points on 48.7% shooting and 8.6 rebounds in 16 games. He’s shooting 39% from 3 on 8.5 attempts.

Markkanen is in the third year of a four-year contract. He is owed up to $35.3 million until the end of the 2024-25 season.

As the Jazz continue to fall in the standings and collect lottery balls as one of the worst teams in the league, it only makes sense Utah flips its best asset for draft capital and young players.

The Thunder have been mentioned by league personnel as one of three teams that could be a potential suitor for Markkenen, per NBA insider Jake Fischer. The other two are the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks.

“The Thunder have so far been resistant to spend their draft capital and add to a burgeoning young playoff core, not wanting to rush past their breakfast and get to dinner before even thinking about lunch. But there is Davis Bertans’ $17 million salary to play with, plus OKC explored trading young guard Tre Mann prior to the season, sources said.”

Considering the tier of player Markkanen is and who the Thunder will be dealing with in Danny Ainge, odds are it’ll require more than just a package of future draft picks to acquire the All-Star forward. OKC will likely need to depart with some of the young talent that’s helped propel it to its current record.

The trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are likely off the table, but everybody else could be fair game. This means that the Jazz will likely demand some combination of Cason Wallace, Josh Giddey and Ousmane Dieng to headline any potential package to go along with several draft picks.

At that point, Sam Presti and the rest of the front office will discuss if it’s worth parting with young players on long-term controllable contracts for someone who could leave in 2025 but can make an immediate impact right now.

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‘They can get anyone they want’: NBA exec believes OKC Thunder can make win-now moves

‘They can get anyone they want’: NBA exec believes OKC Thunder can make win-now moves.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (11-6) are off to their best start in recent memory and are just two games out of first place in the Western Conference.

Much of OKC’s fast start can be credited to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. The guard-big duo have played like two of the best players in the league.

After an All-NBA season last year, Gilgeous-Alexander has picked up right where he left off. He is averaging 30.5 points on 53.8% shooting, six rebounds and 6.1 assists.

Holmgren has headlined this year’s rookie class with averages of 17.9 points, eight rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

With the Thunder looking to be one of the better teams in the Western Conference, an NBA executive told HoopsHype he believes they could go all in this season and make some win-now moves prior to the trade deadline.

“Chet Holmgren is a stud, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a top-five or top-10 guy in the league,” an NBA executive told HoopsHype. “They’re in line for a top-four seed and homecourt advantage in the playoffs. They can win a series. They have every pick in the world and contracts of all sizes. They can get anyone they want.”

In the article, NBA insider Michael Scotto suggested OKC has the salaries to create a trade package for someone making a lofty salary this season.

“Armed with a treasure chest of future draft picks, young talent, and movable contracts, several executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe the Thunder have the best assets to acquire any player in the league and could look to make a trade, given Oklahoma City’s hot start to the season.”

In all likelihood, the Thunder will stand pat for this year’s trade deadline. OKC has historically seldom made large in-season moves. As Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in his preseason presser, OKC will wait to see what it has with its young core before making any major roster moves.

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Report: Browns never seriously considered Jacoby Brissett or other veteran QB

One insider says the team never seriously targeted a QB

Despite other reports and questions about quarterback Deshaun Watson, Mary Kay Cabot said in her most recent report the team never seriously considered either Jacoby Brissett or another veteran quarterback. The Cleveland Browns are far too talented of a team to waste the season with awful quarterback play. However, the investment in Watson makes it impossible to go another route.

“As for Brissett, the Browns didn’t feel the need to give up assets for him with Watson on the verge of coming back. Brissett may have started only one game — if that — and the Browns likely would’ve had to surrender at least a fourth-round pick for him.”

This explanation makes the most sense, there is no reason to make a move if your guy is on the verge of return. But Mary Kay makes another great point about the team not knowing if Watson’s play and health will hold up for the rest of the season.

It all starts today with the Cardinals, the team took a gamble rolling with what they got but if Watson isn’t the guy the team will not go where they want.

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OKC Thunder rumors: Potential 2023-24 City Edition uniforms leaked

The Thunder’s 2023-24 City Edition uniform was potentially leaked online, take a look at it:

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2023-24 city edition uniform was potentially leaked online on Sunday.

With the regular season kicking off on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Thunder have yet to officially release this year’s city edition uniform. However, according to a leak by X user Bradon1an, who leaked the entire league’s city edition jerseys, the uniform contains a dark grey mixed with orange and yellow colors.

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The Thunder are scheduled to debut their city edition uniform on Nov. 3 against the Golden State Warriors.

OKC will wear the uniform four times throughout the first half of the season — the other three times are Nov. 10 at the Sacramento Kings, Nov. 14 against the San Antonio Spurs and Dec. 31 against the Brooklyn Nets.

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Report: Browns both buyers and sellers at trade deadline; looking for OL and WR

Could the Browns make a move or two before the trade deadline?

The Cleveland Browns enter a stretch of very winnable games if they play up to the talent on their roster. Cleveland has the NFL’s best defense that has been on a ridiculous start and if the offense can catch up they will be major contenders in the back half of their season.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini is reporting that general manager Andrew Berry has been calling around as both a buyer and a seller.

“The Cleveland Browns have been calling around as both buyers and sellers. They’ve been scanning the market looking for some affordable options. I’m told they are looking to possibly add a receiver and an offensive lineman.”

The offensive lineman part makes perfect sense, the unit as a whole hasn’t been great and outside of one game it has been an awful start for Jedrick Wills Jr. He has been allowing a ridiculous amount of pressure and if you can’t rely on your left tackle in the playoffs it would be a disaster. I think the team is looking at options to replace him.

The wide receiver portion of it is interesting as I feel like the issues in the passing game have been mostly on the quarterback play. But I also believe there is a good chance the Browns try to move Donovan Peoples-Jones for future draft assets.

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Robb: Boston Celtics ‘not done tweaking the roster’ after trading for Jrue Holiday

Per Robb, the “timing of subsequent moves will be dependent on a few factors,” presumably at least some of which rides on how players like Neemias Queta and Wenyan Gabriel look in training camp.

The Boston Celtics traded for Jrue Holiday from the Milwaukee Bucks, giving up Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon two first round picks. Holiday is a two-time All-Defensive First Team member and a two-time All-Star, and a versatile guard who can play both on and off the ball.

The trade is a surprise because the Celtics were already one of the best teams in the league, and Holiday makes them even better — but according to recent reporting from MassLive’s Brian Robb, the team might have more moves left to make. Per the MassLive reporter, “Boston is not done tweaking the roster after acquiring Holiday with training camp on the horizon this week.”

After dealing away Williams as part of the outgoing contracts to land Holiday, that makes sense given the shallow state of the Celtics’ frontcourt.

According to Robb, the “timing of subsequent moves will be dependent on a few factors,” presumably at least some of which rides on how players like Neemias Queta and Wenyan Gabriel look in training camp and preseason play.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Blazers originally sought four to five firsts for Jrue Holiday, demanded Robert Williams III

Boston reportedly had the green light to do “whatever it takes” to win a banner this season from the team’s ownership group.

Fans of the Boston Celtics who are looking at the trade for Jrue Holiday as a very expensive one should know that the original asking price, per a recent article by the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, was considerably steeper than what the Celtics ultimately paid.

“Portland was seeking a haul that included four or five future first-round picks,” writes Himmelsbach, noting that Boston had the green light to do “whatever it takes” to win a banner this season from the team’s ownership group. “The Blazers were not required to make a deal that suited Holiday, but a league source said the guard’s camp provided Portland with a short list of preferred destinations, and the Celtics were on it,” added the Globe reporter.

Many fans hoped Boston would be able to find a way to get Holiday on the team’s roster without dealing away big man Robert Williams III or veteran forward Al Horford.

But the “Blazers made it clear that Williams, the oft-injured but athletic big man who has shown flashes of dominance, needed to be part of the deal”, which, with several other teams alo in pursuit of Holiday, seems like an unavoidable outcome in retrospect.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics president Brad Stevens opens up about Malcolm Brogdon being in trade talks

“Some stuff has been talked about with the Brogdon stuff, you just have conversations about it,” explained Stevens.

By now it is no secret that the Boston Celtics held trade talks regarding the NBA’s 2023 Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon — and that those talks continue even now. That was further corroborated in a recent interview of team president Brad Stevens with the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.

“Some stuff has been talked about with the Brogdon stuff, you just have conversations about it,” explained Stevens. “You understand why a person would feel angry about that. But at the same time, that’s why you have those conversations. You work together. Obviously, in almost all scenarios, you’re talking about unbelievable players on all sides.”

“That’s the other part of the recognition being discussed,” he added. “Again, a lot of the stuff that you read, we’re making calls all year.”

“The other 29 teams know who we like on their team because we tell them,” continued the Celtics president. “And we know who they like on our team because they tell us.”

“Does that become a rumor? You have to have an idea who you’d like to target and who’s attainable and who’s not.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Report: Boston Celtics’ pursuit of Jrue Holiday ‘remains alive’ but with a ‘significant gap’

Boston may not be able to comfortably reach the ask that the Blazers will require to part with the UCLA alum, but at least for now, they are not out of the running either.

The Boston Celtics reportedly remain in pursuit of now Portland Trail Blazers veteran point guard Jrue Holiday per new reporting from the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, but for the present at least, it seems the Celtics and the Blazers are still far from close to making a deal.

Per the Globe reporter, the “Celtics’ pursuit of Jrue Holiday remains alive, I’m told.” However, likely due to other offers from ball clubs in pursuit of the champion floor general, “there’s still a significant gap” between what Portland is likely looking for and what Boston can offer in the framework of a deal that makes sense on their end.

With a number of other contending teams in the mix to land Holiday, Boston may not be able to comfortably reach the ask that the Blazers will require to part with the UCLA alum, but at least for now, they are not out of the running either.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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