As the NBA All-Star break approaches, teams around the league have a few more games to survive before finally getting to rest. An East vs. West clash on Tuesday between the Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers should be a very interesting matchup. Both teams are quite talented and are looking to climb up the standings.
The Clippers are within striking distance of their rivals, the Lakers, for the top spot in the Western Conference. They enter the week just three games back and are playing some good basketball heading into the break. With seven wins in their last 10 games, they could improve a bit in their consistency, but overall the new-look Clippers are right where they need to be for a second-half run. One worrying sign for Los Angeles could be Kawhi Leonard’s workload. The league’s seventh-highest scorer has already sat out 13 games this season due to injuries and fatigue.
For the Sixers, the situation is a bit more pressing. Everyone knows they have the talent to compete with any team in the league, but their performances and results this season have left a lot to be desired. Despite a current two-game winning streak, Philadelphia is just 5-5 in its last 10 games. Head coach Brett Brown has received the dreaded vote of confidence from general manager Elton Brand. However, if the Sixers don’t start living up to their potential in the second half of the season, some changes are likely to be made.
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On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!
1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.
5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.
7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.
13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?
16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?
20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.
25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.
32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.
37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.
39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.
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The Los Angeles Clippers have geared up to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a run at the 2020 NBA Championship.
The Los Angeles Clippers are tooling up for a run to the 2020 NBA Finals and enlisted some veteran help in the closing minutes before the NBA trade deadline as they hope to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers later this year.
The Clippers landed Marcus Morris from the New York Knicks, as well as Isaiah Thomas from the Washington Wizards, in a three-team deal, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Clippers sent native New Yorker Moe Harkless and their 2020 1st round pick to the Knicks while the Wizards got shooting guard Jerome Robinson from the Clippers. Altogether, it cost quite a bit but the Clippers added to their team for a potential showdown with the Lakers.
Morris adds another body and six fouls to throw at LeBron James while Thomas gives them an emergency point guard who can provide scoring and ballhandling in a pinch. If Lou Williams turns an ankle or gets in foul trouble, Thomas is the perfect fit to fill in. Also considering the Lakers weakness in the backcourt, Thomas could do well in a Lakers matchup.
Thomas has had a bounceback season after a hip injury derailed his past few years, averaging 12 points and four assists per game while shooting 41.3% from the 3-point line. Morris averaged a career-high 19.6 points and shot nearly 44% from the 3-point line in 43 games this season with the Knicks.
The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t give in on including Kyle Kuzma in a reported trade for New York’s Marcus Morris.
The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly been engaged in serious discussions with the New York Knicks, along with their hallway rivals the Los Angeles Clippers, regarding forward Marcus Morris. However, any deals for the Lakers to improve their team would have likely had to include third-year forward Kyle Kuzma. And Kuzma, according to the latest intel on the trade talks, was a bridge too far for L.A.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported minutes ago that the Lakers have removed Kuzma from trade talks with the Knicks. However, the Clippers appear closer than ever to acquiring Morris to give them another body to throw at LeBron James in the playoffs.
Knicks are in significant talks to move Marcus Morris to the Clippers for Moe Harkless and other assets, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA@Stadium. Lakers have informed Knicks that Kyle Kuzma has been removed from discussions, sources said.
The Lakers were reportedly looking for help for the past few months, but with Kuzma finally healthy and understanding his role within the Lakers, they don’t need to be in a rush to move him. Also, should Kuzma have a solid performance once the Lakers get to the playoffs, his value will only rise between now and the NBA Draft.
On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy and Frank Urbina preview the 2020 NBA trade deadline. They discuss the teams and players to keep an eye on over the next 24 hours. Time-stamps are below!
1:15: The New York Knicks are reportedly open for business since firing Steve Mills. Now, they’re apparently open to trading Marcus Morris. They’re also one of the teams in the mix for D’Angelo Russell.
4:45: Discussing what the Los Angeles Lakers may do ahead of the deadline. They’ve shown interest in Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Schroeder and Darren Collison among others, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Also, will Kyle Kuzma be traded?
8:15: The Los Angeles Clippers are keeping tabs on what the Lakers are doing and they’re competing for many of the same players. Alex and Frank discuss the Clippers’ options. If they land Morris, how much better would they be?
12:15: The Phoenix Suns are reportedly listening to offers for Kelly Oubre all of a sudden, which is somewhat surprising. Are the Suns sellers?
13:40: Discussing the Golden State Warriors’ trade talks, including their options with D’Angelo Russell, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III.
21:20: The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers reportedly want to add a shooter, but Milwaukee doesn’t want to disrupt their chemistry and Philadelphia doesn’t have many trade chips.
26:55: Prior to the Warriors-Nets game in Brooklyn, Alec Burks was on the phone for a while and then was consoled by Warriors staffers, according to HoopsHype’s Bryan Kalbrosky. Alex and Frank react to this as well as the fact that Burks and Robinson III were held out of tonight’s game.
28:35: Breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder’s options leading up to the deadline. They’re open to selling Schroeder, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams, but they have reportedly fielded some calls as a buyer too.
31:30: The Miami Heat have expressed in Gallinari and Iguodala (who they traded for shortly after this was recorded). Alex and Frank discuss Miami’s options, Iguodala’s fit with the Heat and more.
34:50: What will the San Antonio Spurs do ahead of the deadline? They’ve reportedly had conversations about DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay, but they’re asking for a lot. They’ve also made calls that indicate they could be a buyer.
37:15: Discussing the Detroit Pistons’ options in regards to Andre Drummond, Markieff Morris and Derrick Rose.
40:55: Breaking down the Toronto Raptors’ approach to the deadline. They are reportedly a buyer. Will Masai Ujiri make a move? And how tough is it for Masai to make a trade these days after fleecing so many rival executives?
43:40: Alex and Frank each share a trade that they’d love to see happen prior to the deadline.
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The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are assessing themselves and each other during the 2020 NBA trade deadline.
Chasing so many of the same types of player this trade deadline, the two Los Angeles teams wouldn’t just be bolstering their roster with a trade. They would also be hampering the other pursuit of improvement.
Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe talked about the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers on the ESPN2’s Trade Deadline Special on Wednesday afternoon.
“There’s no question each is kind of looking wearily at the other,” Wojnarowski said. “This is a true arms race in LA.”
Lowe and Wojnarowski focused on Memphis Grizzlies wing Andre Iguodala and New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris as trade targets.
“Iguodala is a player both teams hope doesn’t get traded and somehow gets a buyout in Memphis,” Wojnarowski said — but added that Memphis “insists” that won’t happen.
The Lakers have “shown more inclination” to make a trade happen for Iguodala, Wojnarowski said.
As for Morris, both teams have been in increased contact with the New York Knicks over the last couple days as the Knicks regime changed and opened up to the idea of a Morris trade. Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times corroborated the interest of Morris from both L.A. teams.
“Both teams, the last couple days, have really been probing for (Morris) and trying to get a sense of ‘What’s the other guy doing? What’s the other guy willing to offer? How far should we go?’ Wojnarowski said.
The Lakers have also inquired about Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Dennis Schroder, the ESPN reporters said. Free-agent Darren Collison also came up on the TV special.
The Lakers would likely have to give up Kuzma in any deal that improves their team for the upcoming playoff run. Due to the Anthony Davis trade, they can’t trade this year’s pick, while protections on future draft picks limit them through 2025.
Los Angeles must weigh the win-now expectations against holding onto Kuzma, a player the team can continue to develop while on a rookie deal worth $2 million this season. Kuzma could also sign an extension next summer, which may come cheaper than expected after a down year for L.A. this season with a smaller role.
“If you’re trading him for an established veteran player, he’s probably making maybe six, seven, eight times (more than Kuzma),” Wojnarowski said. “How do you stack up the contracts to make the money work without cutting into your depth?”
But from the way Wojnarowski spoke, the Lakers still don’t sound sold on Kuzma as a playoff piece in the immediate future.
Wojnarowski said the Lakers need to consider whether Kuzma is ready for the high-pressure stage of the playoffs.
“‘We need to know we can count on this guy, we can put him on the floor in end-game situations in the playoffs and the NBA Finals.’ I don’t know if they think that’s who he is yet.”
The Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly been gauging the value of Kuzma around the league with less than two days until the trade deadline.
The NBA trade deadline is now less than 44 hours away and there has been little movement out on the trade front. As for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are looking to improve their squad in preparation for a potential run to the NBA Finals, what moves they end up making will likely depend on whether they choose to move on from third-year forward Kyle Kuzma.
We’ve heard Kuzma’s name in connection with Sacramento’s Nemanja Bjelica and Detroit’s Derrick Rose, but we heard him connected to another team on Tuesday night: the New York Knicks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Knicks have had exploratory conversations on Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA@Stadium.
Now, it’s unclear if there is an actual connection between the interests of the Knicks in Kuzma and that of the Lakers in Morris. Morris, however, has been connected since the summer to the Clippers, who could be looking to add Morris to their team to have another player who can take six fouls against LeBron James.
Luckily, any mysteries that are currently floating around the NBA regarding the trade deadline will be solved by 3 p.m. Thursday.
Alex Kennedy is joined by one of the top NBA reporters in the business, Shams Charania, who is the lead NBA insider for The Athletic and Stadium. They discuss the latest NBA trade rumors, every notable player surfacing in trade talks, which teams are being the most aggressive as the deadline approaches and more. Time-stamps are below!
:55: Shams is hosting a trade-deadline show on Stadium this Thursday, starting at 2:30 ET. He discusses what they have planned.
1:50: Will this be a very active trade deadline or will all of the moves last offseason lead to less activity?
2:25: D’Angelo Russell’s name has surfaced quite a bit leading up to the deadline. Shams discusses the latest on Russell, including the Golden State Warriors’ talks with the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
5:05: If Russell isn’t traded before the deadline, what does his future hold in Golden State? Is there any thought of keeping him long-term or would trade talks just resume in the offseason?
6:00: Shams discusses which teams have talked to the Detroit Pistons about Andre Drummond and why the big man may not be moved by Thursday.
7:00: The market for Kevin Love is stagnant, as Shams recently reported. He discusses why he’d be surprised to see Love traded before the deadline.
8:00: Jrue Holiday has made it know that he’d like to stay in New Orleans, but will the Pelicans listen to offers anyway? If so, which teams have shown interest?
9:40: Kyle Kuzma has surfaced in trade rumors more than just about any other player this season. Have the Los Angeles Lakers decided to keep him and what are the Lakers looking to do as the deadline approaches?
11:25: Minnesota has had talks about moving Robert Covington and several executives told HoopsHype that they expect him to be traded. Shams talks about his market and which teams are possible suitors for the wing.
12:40: What’s the latest on Clint Capela and which teams are a possible landing spot for the big man?
13:50: The New York Knicks want a lottery-level pick in exchange for Marcus Morris, according to Shams. He discusses the market for Morris and how the Knicks are approaching the deadline.
15:20: Will a team budge and meet the Memphis Grizzlies’ asking price for Andre Iguodala? Or will he be bought out or possibly even retire?
16:30: Teams have shown interest in Derrick Rose, but will the Detroit Pistons trade him? Shams discusses the Pistons’ asking price.
17:25: Darren Collison shocked everyone when he retired over the offseason, but he may make a comeback now as a free agent. Shams talks about which teams have expressed interest in the veteran point guard.
18:10: Which players may be possible buyout candidates if they don’t get traded?
18:45: Shams discusses which teams are being the most aggressive as the deadline approaches.
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HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in trade rumors over the past week, including Warriors guard D’Angelo Russell.
So far this season, we’ve seen five trades go down, with the most impactful being the Utah Jazz acquiring Jordan Clarkson from the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers landing Trevor Ariza, who has acclimated wonderfully to his new team. Some of the other moves that have gone down include the Dallas Mavericks trading for Willie Cauley-Stein and the Atlanta Hawks bringing Jeff Teague back to play a reserve role behind Trae Young, though neither player has done much for their new club quite yet.
Now, as we enter the home stretch before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, there’s a chance we see the action pick up at least a bit.
Below, HoopsHype ranks the five players who have popped up the most in rumors on the site’s Trade page over the past week.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. D’ANGELO RUSSELL
Scuttle has picked up recently on D’Angelo Russell’s trade prospects, but that doesn’t mean a move is imminent. Rather, we know where it’s possible he could end up over the summer, once the Golden State Warriors have Steph Curry and Klay Thompson back at full health and many believe they’ll look to move their third All-Star guard.
According to reports, the Minnesota Timberwolves continue to be the likeliest landing spot for Russell, due to the fact that they have a massive need at ball-handler and know that Russell is close with their best player, Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Part of the motivation for Minnesota’s Russell chase, quite clearly, is his relationship with Towns. They are close friends. Towns was part of the contingent that pitched Russell hard this summer. The Wolves know that acquiring Russell not only gets Towns his preferred pick-and-roll partner but also buys them time and faith. The Warriors are aware of this dynamic. It automatically bumps up Russell’s market value in conversations with the Wolves. Minnesota has dangled Andrew Wiggins, who is on a similar contract as Russell and fills a greater positional need.”
Andrew Wiggins for Russell might not be the perfect like-for-like swap talent-wise, but it could a good starting point for the two teams. We’ll see where this goes over the offseason.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
4. MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST
The Charlotte Hornets sit at 16-33 as we approach the trade deadline, five games out of the East’s final playoff spot with little chance of actually making that push to get over the hump. So it’s only natural they’re considered prime candidates to ship out some veterans over the next week.
One such player is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who is an able perimeter defender and on the final year of his contract, two factors that could make him appealing to contenders.
And apparently, one team has taken notice, as it was reported this week that Dallas has kicked the tires on a potential deal for Kidd-Gilchrist:
Reporting with @rick_bonnell, Mavericks are mulling whether to add a 3/4 defender. I'm told they have "kicked tires" on Charlotte's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Toronto's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, but purely exploratory at this point. Trade deadline is one week from today.
The 26-year-old defensive specialist might be a savvy pickup for Dallas, as his point-stopping prowess would mesh nicely with fellow wing Dorian Finney-Smith, and his low-usage style of play wouldn’t take away scoring looks from the team’s stars, Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
3. DEWAYNE DEDMON
Sacramento Kings big man Dewayne Dedmon has already seen himself removed from his team’s rotation, requested a trade, fined, gotten added back into the rotation and reconciled with Sacramento, all within the past month.
Pretty busy stretch for a player averaging just north of six points per game for his career, but such is the way things work in the modern NBA.
Dedmon’s rim-protecting, floor-spacing chops would fit nicely with what Atlanta needs at the 5-spot, and his veteran leadership could help promising power forward John Collins.
In particular, there has been a lot of steam that the Los Angeles Clippers are hoping the Knicks change their mind on keeping Morris through the trade deadline so they can swoop in and add to their frontcourt.
Morris is having a fantastic campaign for New York, arguably his best since reaching the NBA, averaging over 19 points per game and knocking down a career-best 43.8 percent of his outside chances. That, plus his defensive versatility and overall toughness, would make him a fantastic addition to any contender.
But it looks like both Morris and the Knicks are set on sticking it out and agreeing to a long-term contract this summer. We’ll see if that changes.
And as long as the Detroit Pistons don’t lower their expectations on a potential return – they want expiring money and an asset, either in the form of a first-round draft pick or a high-upside, young player – that’s not likely to change, because Drummond, for as productive as he is, doesn’t make much sense as a trade target right now. The All-Star center is on the final year of his deal and wants to get paid on his next contract, so whoever trades for him is committing to not just half a season of Drummond, but at least four or five years of him, at max or near-max money.
Why lose assets on a trade for the double-double machine when you’re also going to lose a ton of flexibility after acquiring him? Especially when they can just sign him this offseason when he hits unrestricted free agency? It just wouldn’t be smart roster-building to trade for Drummond right now – at least not at that price.
Just in case Detroit does lower their asking price, the team that has been connected with him most in recent reports are the New York Knicks, who are desperate for All-Star-level production wherever they can get it.
You can follow Frank Urbina on Twitter: @FrankUrbina_.
