Let’s get you caught up on all the latest trade rumors from around the NBA.
Latest Lakers’ Trade Talk
There were some within the Lakers organization that believed the front office was going to trade for Myles Turner and Buddy Hield over the summer, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin tells Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post.
That trade may no longer be feasible with Indiana remaining competitive but McMenamin still gets the sense from the team that they want to make a deal that adds win-now pieces around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The ESPN scribe cautions that Los Angeles won’t make a “hasty” move and could be content going into the offseason with their major trade assets intact with an eye on making a move at that time.
James has been putting pressure on the organization to upgrade the roster, though it’s unclear if there’s a mandate to do anything before this year’s trade deadline. While Lowe believes LBJ wants something done, if he “had to bet,” he’d wager on James finishing his career with the Lakers.
Once the offseason arrives, the Lakers will have an additional draft pick available to trade (after they send their 2023 pick to New Orleans). It’s quite possible that Los Angeles is saving the chips it has left to make a bigger deal during the offseason.
Toronto Open To Shake Up
The Raptors are willing to listen to offers on their core players, though as Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports reports, the team is actively shopping them.
Toronto would need “king’s ransom” to move either Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby (both have been the subject of trade rumors over the past couple of seasons, though it’s possible that the chatter came from other teams).
Scottie Barnes is reportedly the only untouchable on the Raptors’ roster.
Latest on Cavs’ Pursuits
The Cavaliers have their eye on Tim Hardaway Jr., though he’s not the only wing on Cleveland’s radar. Saddiq Bey has some fans within the organization, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes while adding that Detroit still values Bey highly and it wouldn’t likely take the Pistons to lower their asking price for the Villanova product to come to Cleveland.
Gordon Hayward is another option for Cleveland, yet that would likely require Kevin Love to be included. Love was rumored to be available in previous seasons, though, since the acquisition of Donovan Mitchell and Love’s acceptance of a veteran role off the bench, there hasn’t been much in terms of rumblings about Love leaving the team. Fedor reports that while Love will be a free agent after the season, there’s mutual interest in the two sides extending their work relationship.
Other players that Cleveland could target include Dorian Finney-Smith (Mavs), Josh Richardson (Spurs), Kyle Anderson (Wolves), and Jae’Sean Tate (Rockets). Fedor also makes a point that the Cavaliers are not interested in Magic guard Terrence Ross, noting that Cleveland could have acquired him multiple times if they wanted to.
Warriors Looking For Depth
The Warriors would like to add some help in the frontcourt, as Monte Poole of NBC Sports relays.
Golden State has been active on the trade market, looking to add size and shooting in order to give Draymond Green and Kevon Looney more rest.
“I’m really proud of them, of that whole group, but of Loon and Draymond in particular, given the circumstances,” Coach Steve Kerr said. “What they’ve done for us the last couple weeks, keeping us afloat, has been really impressive. But, yes, it would be nice to give them a little rest.”
