Let’s get you caught up on the latest buzz from around the league, including Atlanta Hawks trade rumors and news from the Lakers’ road trip.
Latest on Hawks Trade Talks
The Hawks continue to have trade talks with other teams about John Collins with the latest report from Shams Charania indicating that Atlanta had discussed a three-team trade with the Suns and Jazz. In the proposal, John Collins would have been headed to Utah with Jae Crowder going to Atlanta; Phoenix would have received Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt and Utah would have also received additional assets.
The talks came to halt, however, with the Jazz looking for multiple first-round picks to take back Collins. As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors details, Utah’s stance may indicate give a window into how the front office views Collins’ long-term contract (three years, $78.5 million remaining after this year) and/or how much they value Beasley and Vanderbilt.
Collins is no stranger to trade rumors, as reports of Atlanta being open to moving him have been circulating for quite some time.
More NBA Buzz
- Reports of James Harden being open to a Rockets reunion continue to circulate and ESPN’s Zach Lowe hears that if Harden re-signs with the Sixers, he could prefer a shorter contract in order to maintain flexibility. Lowe mentions the one-plus-one model (signing a two-year deal with a player option for year two) as a possibility for the former MVP.
- Russell Westbrook continues to embrace his role off the bench for the Lakers, as he told Rob Parks of FortyEightMinutes and other media after a recent game against the Magic. “I’m a hooper,” Westbrook said. “I can do anything, anytime, anywhere. I’ll continue to do whatever is asked of me until further notice.” While there have been a plethora of Westbrook trade rumors, a recent report by The Athletic insists that it’s unlikely that the team trades him before this year’s trade deadline.
- Kevin Durant is the latest star who is impressed by the play of Evan Mobley. “A lot of guys coming into the league who can do pretty much all things on a court, and he’s one of those guys that can dribble, that can guard, block shots, shoot threes, finish over the rim,” Durant said (via The Athletic). “So, he showcased that this summer. Seeing his work ethic up close is something I wanted to see as a fan of the game because you can see the potential if you see a guy work.”
