His journey to the Trail Blazers was less complicated. Portland had a clear need for a four-man, and many rival executives believed the organization would target Oklahoma City’s Danilo Gallinari or Cleveland’s Kevin Love in a trade after the loss of Collins. But as the losses piled up, and its franchise star Damian Lillard clearly needed more support, Portland needed to acquire someone immediately. The Trail Blazers made the call to Anthony and his representative, and one question remained within Anthony: Is this real — or a waste of time?
Tag: trade
Kevin Love will not force trade
Even with him, the Cavs are likely a long shot for a playoff spot in the East. But Love insists that he isn’t forcing a change. “I’ve been committed to Cleveland since Day 1,” Love said. “I know it’s been a little shaky at some points. It’s been really great at some points. But now I’ve found some semblance of balance in my life, not only on the court but away from it.”
But going public with the details of …
But going public with the details of his panic attack — and his ongoing involvement in the conversation about the need to take care of mental health — has not left Love feeling vulnerable. He’s more at peace than anything else, and that’s why the rumors that are out there aren’t gnawing at him. “I’m just going to let the chips fall,” Love said. “I know that this is a young team. I think I can help them. I’m going to do right by Cleveland, the organization. This is a league where teams want to rebuild, teams want to go young but certain teams are looking for a piece, a guy who’s played in the finals, a guy who has playoff experience. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think it definitely lessens the burden and the anxiety.”
Before that bucket, the Aaron Holiday …
Before that bucket, the Aaron Holiday who made the in-and-out dribble to freeze 6-11 shot-blocker Jonathan Isaac before converting a left-handed layup looks like an All-Star. Pacers adviser Larry Bird has been so high on the 6-foot guard that he believes Holiday can blossom into an All-Star someday. At least, that was his perspective after the Pacers (9-6) almost moved him nine months ago during his rookie season. That’s what a league source told IndyStar then, after also reporting that Holiday had been informed he could be traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal to bring in Mike Conley.
The Orlando Magic, Saturday night’s …
The Orlando Magic, Saturday night’s opponent, were a possible trade destination for Aaron Holiday, too. (They ended up acquiring Markelle Fultz from Philadelphia.) The Phoenix Suns liked him as well. (They ended up with Ricky Rubio at $17 million per year, the Pacers’ fallback option at $13 million had they not acquired Malcolm Brogdon.)
Grizzlies not trading Andre Iguodala?
[Wojnarowski] The message that Memphis has delivered to teams like the Lakers, Clippers and Rockets is that you’re going to have to trade for him [Iguodala]. We are not buying him out. He will not be on the free agent market.
The questions about where Paul will …
The questions about where Paul will hoop are going to follow him through this season’s trade deadline. And if he’s not moved, then they’ll track him through the summer. Rival executives don’t see a robust market for Paul, particularly when you view him as a 34-year-old with more than $80 million and two more years left on his contract.
Anthony Chiang: Jimmy Butler on what he …
Anthony Chiang: Jimmy Butler on what he expects from Philadelphia crowd tomorrow: “To tell you the truth, I don’t care. I was there, gave it my all for them. Now I’m here. So however they want to welcome me back. We’re there to do a job anyway. We’re trying to get a [win].”
Hornets to pursue Andre Drummond?
The Hornets are remaking the roster and they’ve gotten themselves pretty well stocked with young guards and wings in the process, plus Washington. But there’s still a glaring hole in the middle and as the Hornets are primed to finally be rid of some of the albatross contracts that have weighed the franchise since its last playoff appearance (in 2016). At long last, they are in position to fill that void. The target, according to league sources: Pistons big man Andre Drummond, a player in whom the Hornets have had an interest for at least a year.
It could be time for the Hornets to do …
It could be time for the Hornets to do something the franchise does not typically do: get aggressive. “He’ll be a priority there,” one league executive told Heavy.com. “It’s just a matter of whether they make him a priority now and give up something to get him or try to make the move later. It’s a very cautious group, Mitch Kupchak and those guys. But they might want to get this guy into the fold sooner rather than later, there’s just a lot of incentive there on both sides.”