Let’s take a look at the latest trade rumors as the 2024 NBA trade deadline nears.
Mavs Targeting P.J. Washington?
Multiple reports have linked Hornets forward P.J. Washington to the Mavericks and longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein hears that Josh Green could be the centerpiece of a deal.
“The Hornets love Josh Green,” Stein explained. “Josh Green is playing really well. That’s a hard move for the Mavs to make, but you’re not going to get quality unless you surrender quality”
What can the Mavs do at the trade deadline? @TheSteinLine breaks it all down. #MFFL | @dallasmavs pic.twitter.com/ULhcSBxqrr
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) February 7, 2024
Hornets-Mavs Rumors Impacting Wizards?
The latest Dallas rumors are not the first time that the Mavericks have been linked to a forward.
Longtime NBA reporter Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson indicated that the team could make a run at Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.
As we wrote in our 2024 Wizards Trade Deadline Preview, Washington could end up keeping Kuzma and balance their multi-year rebuild with both youth and a few in-their-prime players who were drafted by the Wizards’ previous regime.
Kuzma’s contract is considered valuable by some around the league with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports writing that the forward could net “legitimate first-round capital” in a trade. The legitimacy of those rumors could dictate Kuzma’s future.
On the other hand, having some sort of continuity on the court from season to season is valuable for the Wizards beyond giving season-ticket holders, fans, and tourists in The District an idea of who they’ll paying to see play basketball when they buy tickets for games at the Capital One Arena.
If Washington’s front office embraces a roster-building strategy that balances a young, higher-than-your-typical-Wizards-team ceiling with one that can be more competitive next season while maintaining some familiar faces on the roster, both Kispert and Kuzma can be a part of it.
Active Sixers
The Sixers are expected to be in the mix to make multiple trades ahead of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline.
“I would expect Philly to make one to three trades before Thursday afternoon, and I would also expect them to try — I’m not saying they’re going to accomplish this — I would expect them to try to acquire players that either have expiring contracts or that have next year salaries that are not fully guaranteed, or that could easily be offloaded,” Brian Windhorst explains on his latest podcast.
Sixers expected to make 1-3 trades before Thursday afternoon, per @WindhorstESPN.
They do indeed have interest in C Andre Drummond, per @TheSteinLine.
????(h/t @sixers_galaxy)???? pic.twitter.com/DXoOERph5F
— FortyEightMinutes⏳ (@FortyEightMins) February 7, 2024
Current Sixers injury report:
Batum (out)
Covington (out)
Embiid (out)
House (questionable)
Maxey (questionable)
Melton (out)
Morris (questionable)— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) February 7, 2024
Andre Drummond and Kelly Olynyk are among the players who have been linked to Philadelphia. Drummond previously played for the franchise before being traded to Brooklyn in the Ben Simmons‘ deal.
“I control what I can control,” Drummond said about the trade rumors this year. “I’ve been doing this for 12 years. There’s nothing I can do about it. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, great. Either way, I’m going to continue to come in and do my job on a daily basis.”
Latest From Chicago
Drummond appears the player most likely to be traded by the Bulls, though coach Billy Donovan indicated that Zach LaVine‘s season-ending foot injury might impact the team’s 2024 trade deadline strategy.
“I did not get from Arturas or Marc: ‘Hey, we were kind of going down this path, and now we’ve kind of had to course-correct and go here.’ That has not happened at all,” Donovan said referring to the team’s front office. “I’m sure they have to look at that, right? Because the hope was that when (LaVine) did go out that second time with his foot he would return, and that was the anticipation of everybody. I’m sure those guys are looking at all the scenarios.”
Heat Won’t Break Up Big Three
Miami isn’t likely to move any player of their “self-described ‘Big Three,” Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes referring to Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro.
“If the Heat’s self-described ‘Big Three’ is broken up at some point, it seems unlikely to happen before Thursday’s trade deadline, barring something unforeseen.”
Cavs Rumors
Cleveland has been linked to several forwards, including the Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith, and Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com hears that the team continues to eye 3-and-D players.
The Cavs can’t trade a first-round pick and any trade of significance would likely mean Isaac Okoro heading elsewhere, Fedor writes while mentioning several candidates for a trade, including Alex Caruso, who we’ve previously written about as a trade option for Cleveland. DFS, Washington, Lonnie Walker, Bojan Bogdanovic, and John Konchar are among the players on the Cavs’ radar, though striking a deal may ultimately be difficult for the club since they lack flexible assets.
Jason Lloyd of The Athletic writes that the team likes its current depth and because of that, staying pat is the most likely scenario for Cleveland.
They aren’t expected to be active this week, one source with knowledge of their plans told me Monday night, and that’s not a bad thing. This team is a viable threat in the Eastern Conference that has earned the right to see how far it can go as presently constructed.
…Bickerstaff likes playing nine guys ideally, but which reserve are you going to remove right now? Caris LeVert? Georges Niang? Dean Wade? Isaac Okoro, who is up to 39 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s?
Merrill seemed the most vulnerable, so I asked J.B. before Monday’s 136-110 win over the Sacramento Kings if Merrill has earned a place when everyone is healthy and there are no minutes restrictions.
“I’m hard-pressed to sit up here and tell you he hasn’t earned it,” Bickerstaff said. “I don’t like 10 (guys in a rotation), but they’ve earned it.”
Cavs Looking To Buyout Market?
Both Fedor and Lloyd indicated that the team is more likely to add someone via the buyout market. Here’s what The Athletic wrote:
The Cavs only have second-round picks to dangle unless they want to cut into their current roster and are about $3 million under the luxury tax after a generous buyout from Ricky Rubio. They’re more likely to use it in the buyout market after the deadline than anytime before Thursday.
Cleveland certainly won’t be alone as they look to collect talent from the buyout market. Former Heat point guard Kyle Lowry is among the players who could be available.
