NBA Rumors Tracker: Buying and Selling the Latest Trade Buzz

Calling all sellers, buyers and curious offer-listeners of the NBA world.

Trade deadline week is here, so you all have between now and 3 p.m. ET on Thursday to finalize your transactions and exit basketball's biggest swap market before closing time.

Early forecasts for the last days of #TradeSZN call for a quiet market. Only a handful of teams are truly out of the playoff hunt, and motivations are scarce for those teams to willingly self-destruct. The upcoming free-agent class is thin. The incoming crop of draft prospects looks underwhelming. Even if all normal fire-sale conditions are in place, external factors could lead some to decide to sit this out.

Of course, sleepy prognostications are often followed by frenzied action. Deadline time can be funny like that.

No matter where the week heads from here, we'll keep you clued in on all the latest whispers and rumblings bouncing around the rumor mill.

Julius Randle to the Hornets?

After breaking out for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018-19, Julius Randle is struggling to regain that form for the New York Knicks. His assist and rebounding rates are up, but his scoring average has slid a bit, and his efficiency has fallen off a cliff.

Last season, Randle's 60.0 true shooting percentage was well above the league average of 56.0. This season, his 52.4 is nowhere near the 56.1 average.

The Charlotte Hornets don't appear discouraged by the dropoff. And perhaps that makes sense. They signed Terry Rozier, who never approached anything resembling average efficiency prior to this season, to a three-year, $56.7 million deal this past offseason.

The interest in Randle is easier to explain, though. Randle is just 25, right around the age of Rozier (25) and Devonte' Graham (24). And it's not hard to chalk up the decline to his environment. The Knicks have struggled to keep anyone's development on an upward trajectory.

Randle on a more balanced roster, where he isn't sharing the floor with multiple players at roughly the same position, could start to rediscover what made him effective in New Orleans: relentlessly attacking the rim and getting to the line.

Last season, 56 percent of his shots came at the rim, compared to 44 percent this season. He drew more shooting fouls last year, as well.

On a team that spreads the floor like Charlotte (10th in three-point-attempt rate), Randle would have more room to operate in driving lanes and the paint.

Is Danny Ainge Bluffing?

"Active" feels like a good word to describe Danny Ainge's tenure in the Boston Celtics' front office. Year after year, Boston is attached to scores of rumors regarding trades and free agency. This week, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported their interest in Clint Capela (more on that below).

Ainge appears to be telling a different story unless you consider Capela an "end of the bench" guy.

Such an approach would make sense for Boston. When Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are all on the floor, the Celtics are plus-13.6 points per 100 possessions (97th percentile). They've just had everyone in that group miss some time this season.

If Boston can get and stay healthy, it looks like a legitimate challenger to make the conference finals. No one has shown enough to put themselves on the Milwaukee Bucks' tier, but the Celtics are right there with the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat in the next level.

Walker's shot-making, especially when surrounded by the versatility of the positionless wings, makes for a dynamic attack. Holding on to that group, allowing it to continue to develop chemistry and augmenting it in the trade market makes sense.

But you always have to wonder if there's a certain amount of gamesmanship with Ainge's comments. Perhaps he's throwing other teams off the scent. Capela's fit in Boston is intriguing, though it remains to be seen how he performs in a role in which Harden isn't spoon-feeding him wide-open dunks.

And with decent salary-matching deals in Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter on the books, Capela isn't the only potential target.

Andre Iguodala Playing Hardball

"Per league sources, Andre Iguodala is prepared to sit out the rest of this season if Memphis isn't able to orchestrate a trade with one of the agreed-upon teams he designated by Thursday's trade deadline," The Athletic's David Aldridge tweeted. "Iguodala and Memphis mutually agreed he would not report to the Grizzlies while the team tried to find a trade partner."

Iguodala may be on the sweetest deal in professional sports. The veteran wing is being paid $17.2 million by the Memphis Grizzlies this season, and he has absolutely no intention of logging a single minute for the team paying him.

Of course, years of experience, multiple All-Defensive selections, three titles and one All-Star nod earned him the leverage necessary to work out this deal with Memphis. But it's at least a little jarring at this point. The Grizzlies are actually good—currently in eighth place and rocking an 11.4 percent chance to make the playoffs—and Iggy would make them better.

But they're certainly not title contenders, and that's apparently all Iguodala has time for these days. The 2015 Finals MVP is 36 years old and may be facing basketball mortality.

This stance from the veteran playmaker may not provide Memphis with any additional motivation to make a deal, though. The Grizzlies have likely already considered this possibility. And unless Iguodala is willing to forfeit a good chunk of his salary, what's the incentive for them to buy him out?

If some team wants to offer real value for Iguodala, the Grizzlies will surely bite. If not, goodwill with an agent (or agents) may be all that's lost (which is a real consideration).

In the end, this report may go down as little more than posturing. Teams and agents often take a hardline approach a few days before the deadline. On the day itself, the clock often ticks loud enough to spur some movement in cases like this.

                 

Can Celtics Afford Capela? Should They Try?

The Houston Rockets are talking Clint Capela trades, and the Boston Celtics have joined those discussions, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

After Boston lost both Al Horford and Aron Baynes over the offseason, a frontcourt upgrade has long seemed a natural move for the Shamrocks. While they've gotten decent mileage from the Daniel Theis-Enes Kanter-Robert Williams III trio, that's probably not getting it done in a playoff series with teams as big as the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.

Is Capela the answer? He's certainly a more interesting option than Andre Drummond, as he's younger, more mobile and far less costly (at least in terms of salary). Boston can only spend so much without sacrificing a core player, and Capela's $14.9 million salary might be just cheap enough to work into the budget. If the Celtics are willing to send out a package of picks and prospects (to Houston or a third team), it might have a deal.

Theis is a must, both to match money and potentially slide into Houston's interior rotation. He's a decent defender in space, and he's willing to launch from distance, a necessity to work in a Mike D'Antoni offense. From there, Boston is probably piecing together some youngsters and a draft pick. Romeo Langford would surely interest a rebuilder, and Semi Ojeleye might have value in Houston as a versatile frontcourt stopper.

To finalize the pot-sweetening, the Celtics can add an upcoming first-rounder (either their own or the Milwaukee Bucks'). Boston should have three firsts in this draft (including the Memphis Grizzlies'), and it doesn't need three more young players on the roster. Houston, in turn, could use the pick to help find an upgrade on the wing.

Is that worth it for the Celtics? As long as they think this group has a championship ceiling—they have the Association's second-best net rating, so they should—it would be, provided that package is enough. Capela's above-the-rim play adds another element to this offense (and defense), and even if he's not the bulkiest big, his length and athleticism could bother Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

But if Marcus Smart or another core contributor is needed to facilitate the deal, Boston should decline.

   

Do Timberwolves, Knicks Have a Shot at D'Angelo?

The Minnesota Timberwolves, in desperate need of a Karl-Anthony Towns co-star, have been chasing D'Angelo Russell since the summer. They're "still in hot pursuit," per ESPN's Zach Lowe, and they aren't the only ones.

The New York Knicks are also in the Russell sweepstakes and have "discussed potential packages," per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski. The two scribes also report the Warriors and Timberwolves are encountering obstacles in regard to draft compensation. Basically, Golden State wants "significant" draft pick compensation, and a rebuilding Minnesota team is "reluctant" to part with too much.

What does our crystal ball see in Russell's future?

Let's start by eliminating the Knicks. While their method of throwing a thousand point guards at the wall and seeing which one sticks hasn't worked (can you believe it?), their involvement here is likely a leverage point for the Warriors. The names entering the Golden State-New York conversations are Bobby Portis and Frank Ntilikina, per SNY's Ian Begley, so...yeah. That's not happening.

Minnesota is interesting. Towns and Russell are good friends, and the top two picks from the 2015 draft would be tremendous on-court partners. They can shoot, score and set the table for others. Even if defense isn't a strong suit for either one, they could overwhelm a lot of opponents with offense.

The fit makes sense, but does the cost? The Athletic report says Minnesota "is believed to have drawn a line in the sand in any Russell trade talks with the Warriors, that being an unwillingness to part with its unprotected 2020 first-round pick." The Wolves have lost 11 straight, so that apprehension is understandable.

But it's also the reason Russell is likely still a Warrior this time next week. Given what Golden State could potentially find in exchange for him and its own first-rounder this summer, only a knock-your-socks-off offer now would make sense. An unprotected pick might qualify—though, again, this isn't a great draft—but that's a moot point if Minnesota won't let it go.

                 

Could Houston Hurt Championship Chances By Avoiding Luxury Tax?

The Houston Rockets will most likely be active at the trade deadline—general manager Daryl Morey is behind the wheel, after all—but maybe not in the way we all think.

While Houston is in the market for upgrades, it's also focused on the bottom line. CNBC's Jabari Young reported Rockets owner Tilman Feritta wants to "shed additional salary off the team's nearly $140 million payroll hoping to avoid a luxury tax."

We aren't in the business of telling anyone how to spend their money. With that said, there are few worse times to prioritize cost-cutting than when your best players are 30 (James Harden) and 31 (Russell Westbrook) years old. Their prime windows won't stay open forever, and the opportunity to win big with them has an expiration date.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Rockets have discussed dealing starting center Clint Capela, who's making $14.9 million this season and will collect $51.3 million over the next three. Woj didn't frame this as a cost-cutting maneuver, but rather one in which Houston hoped to upgrade its wing collection and find a replacement center. Accounting for Young's report, though, it's fair to wonder if trimming salaries is a goal in that deal, too.

Young added that executives believe Morey is under pressure from Feritta "to decrease salary while at the same time staying competitive." Maybe that's possible if the Rockets surrender the necessary assets—they could move their upcoming first-rounder—but anything sacrificed to help the business side might carry a basketball cost.

The Rockets already face an uphill climb out of the West, and any mandate to trim the payroll would only make things more challenging.

               

Can Tristan Thompson Help a Contender?

In case the Cleveland Cavaliers' 13-37 record didn't give it away, they are in "asset accumulation mode," according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

That pursuit has compelled them to put Tristan Thompson on the trading block, Haynes reported.

Some might assume—maybe rightfully so—that he's been available all along. They are worlds removed from contending. He's a 28-year-old playing out the final months of his contract. There have been rumblings they might hope to keep the relationship going, but there were business and basketball reasons to think that was unlikely.

This might all hinge on the return. Thompson has never looked better. His 11.9 points and 10.4 rebounds are both career highs. He's limited on offense, but he could beef up a contender's frontcourt. His $18.5 million salary isn't the easiest to work into the payroll, but the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics could all use someone with his skill set.

Boston seems the least likely destination of the three given the cap gymnastics needed to bring him onboard. The Clippers might have enough to make it happen—Maurice Harkless, a pick and salary filler?—but they can only afford one big-ticket purchase at the deadline, and they might aim higher (initially, at least). Miami is interesting. If it can't land someone like Jrue Holiday or Danilo Gallinari, Thompson could be worth a look.

If the Cavs value Thompson as much as they say, they probably don't feel like they have to move him, but they certainly need to know his market. We're guessing its robust enough that it's more likely than not he'll be heading somewhere.

                  

Any Hope Cavs, Pistons Can Unload Expensive Bigs?

The Cleveland Cavaliers were thrust into a rebuild once LeBron James left for Los Angeles in 2018. The Detroit Pistons appear in desperate need of a reset now that Blake Griffin has undergone two knee surgeries in the past calendar year.

An ideal deadline, then, would see both squads shed the burdensome pacts owed to, respectively, Kevin Love (three more seasons for $91.5 million) and Andre Drummond ($28.8 million player option for 2020-21).

But this isn't an ideal world. The Cavs have "very little market" for Love, per ESPN's Zach Lowe, who also categorized Drummond's market as "cooled" but not "completely dormant."

Love has a long injury history, severe defensive limitations and, at this stage of his career, only a complementary set of offensive skills. Add his contract to the mix, and he's almost certainly going nowhere unless Cleveland attaches an asset (or more) to the transaction.

Drummond isn't a scoring threat away from the basket, and he's never graded out as the interior defender his size and athleticism say he could be. His rebounding and rim-running would have purpose, but you can get enough of both without breaking the bank.

They are established enough that proposals will surely change hands, but it's tough to picture either one changing jerseys.

                  

Knicks Can't Keep Marcus Morris Sr., Right?

The New York Knicks are spiraling toward a seventh consecutive lottery finish. Marcus Morris Sr. is a 30-year-old with an expiring contract and career marks in points (19.4), threes (2.7) and three-point percentage (43.8).

Clearly, these two have no business coexisting beyond the deadline. Except when you remember these are the Knicks.

"Sources say the Knicks seem hell-bent on keeping Marcus Morris Sr.," Lowe reported.

As good as Morris has looked, this rebuilder can transform a one-year pact with a veteran role player into a first-rounder. Even in a down year for the draft, that's a no-brainer. The Knicks might be starting to come around; ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that while they remain "enthusiastic" about re-signing Morris, they are "open to [the] idea of moving him."

Contenders need Morris' toughness and versatility. New York needs more young talent. This should be straightforward, even for the Knicks.

              

Can Nuggets, Heat Land Jrue?

The recent, explosive return of top pick Zion Williamson has put the New Orleans Pelicans in an interesting position. They could keep their roster intact and see how it fares around the dynamic youngster (both this season and beyond), or they might view his age (19) and their place in the standings (12th in the West) as reasons to sell.

Win-now shoppers are hoping the Pels get antsy and move steady two-way guard Jrue Holiday. "Many teams" have expressed interest in Holiday, per Lowe, with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat at the forefront.

But it's unclear if New Orleans is receptive to those overtures, and right now, it doesn't sound like his market is nearing Godfather offer territory. The Heat are "unlikely" to deal rookie shooting guard Tyler Herro, per Lowe, and the Nuggets "aren't trading" surging freshman forward Michael Porter Jr. Each club can cobble up Holiday offers around other pieces, but those are the ones who would really make the Pels think.

Lowe adds that the Heat are also being linked to the Oklahoma City Thunder's Danilo Gallinari, and the Pelicans are shooing away JJ Redick suitors. But maybe the most important words from Lowe's report are the following three: "Everything is fluid."

              

Is Bogdanovic an Option for Lakers, Hornets?

The Sacramento Kings aren't short on funds now, but they could be in the near future. Their 2020-21 ledger includes four salaries north of $12 million, including major money owed to Buddy Hield ($26.4 million) and Harrison Barnes ($22.2 million). De'Aaron Fox is extension-eligible this summer, and Marvin Bagley III will be next year.

That all makes for a tricky venture into restricted free agency for Bogdan Bogdanovic—unless the Kings abandon ship before it gets that far. Rather than risk him leaving for nothing (while Sacramento could match any offer, it might not have the flexibility to do so), the team could move him for an asset now.

Lowe says that decision "could go to the wire," and both the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets have expressed interest in a Bogdanovic deal. The 27-year-old is only in his third NBA season and has already established himself as a capable shooter, scorer and shot-creator.

Lowe adds the Kings should fetch "at least a first-round pick" in a Bogdanovic swap, which should give them plenty to think about. Fox is 22 years old, and Bagley is only 20. As much as Sacramento might want to compete for a playoff berth now, this core's best days could be several years down the line.

If the Kings covet draft considerations, that's bad news for the Lakers. They effectively can't trade a first-rounder after the Anthony Davis deal, and they couldn't gain traction on a Kyle Kuzma-for-Bogdanovic offer. Their itch for more playmaking may need to be scratched elsewhere.

                    

Why Are Teams Calling About John Collins?

Bouncy 22-year-old big man John Collins is a nightly supplier of near-All-Star numbers. He's one of only five players averaging at least 19 points and 10 rebounds, and he's displaying substantial growth as a shooter and shot-blocker.

Why on earth would the rebuilding Atlanta Hawks ever consider letting him go? Good question, and one they couldn't even answer.

When Atlanta has gone center-searching, some clubs have asked about Collins, per ESPN's Zach Lowe, thinking the Hawks might be fretting over upcoming extension talks. But Atlanta has "shown no interest in dealing Collins on any of the general terms bandied about."

Does this mean he's untouchable? Probably not. Few players are. Even with his growing comfort on the perimeter, he's still most lethal when exploding to the rim, which could get tricky if the Hawks invest heavily in an interior anchor.

But that's a dilemma for a different day. Unless Atlanta is blown away by an offer, it shouldn't give a second thought to any Collins inquiries.

                           

Is Robert Covington Really Worth Multiple Firsts?

Who could use another three-and-D wing? In today's NBA, probably all 30 teams, right?

That seems to be the Minnesota Timberwolves' rationale in seeking out a substantial return for swingman Robert Covington. They want not one but two first-rounders in a RoCo deal, per Marc Stein of the New York Times.

In any negotiation, it's worth opening with an ambitious ask, and maybe that's all this is. But with less-than-flattering feedback on the upcoming draft, perhaps picks won't be valued like normal.

For a role player, Covington should command extensive interest. Three-and-D players could actually be relabeled as Covington types. Since 2014-15—his first season as a rotation player—he has buried the 15th-most triples and ranks 14th among non-centers in defensive win shares.

He's also on a reasonable contract through 2021-21, so it's not as if Minnesota is asking for multiple picks for a rental. Still, it's a big ask for a non-star, and our crystal ball isn't convinced anyone will pay it. He has a clear (and maybe robust) market—with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers at the forefront, per Stein—and this seems like the Wolves' attempt to maximize the return.

                  

Are the Rockets Finally Ready to Trade Capela?

Whenever the trade market seems like it could be silent, at least we can all count on Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to liven things up.

With the club appearing more good than great—tied for ninth in winning percentage, eighth in net efficiency—and James Harden not getting any younger, the Rockets could use an upgrade. But after extending Eric Gordon (thus making him unmovable before the summer) and seeing the Association rework Nene's contract (thus making him less impactful as a trade chip), Houston's hands could've been tied.

Morey had other ideas.

The Rockets are "actively discussing several trade scenarios" involving Clint Capela, Wojnarowski reported. Houston has examined multiteam possibilities that could fetch draft assets, which it later plans to convert into "an impact wing player." If a Capela deal (and maybe more deals after that) goes down, the Rockets want to walk away from the deadline with both a wing and a center.

The 25-year-old rim-runner might have universal appeal, at least among those seeking frontcourt prospects. He offers either plug-and-play potential for win-now shoppers or enough youth (and contract security) to entice rebuilders.

Is Capela enough of an upgrade for the Boston Celtics to rethink their stance on not moving a core player? Did the Atlanta Hawks just find their alternative to an Andre Drummond gamble? Capela will surely have suitors, and if the Rockets acquire the right trade chips, maybe they just found their path to Robert Covington, Marcus Morris or Andre Iguodala.

     

Does Anyone Have a Lottery Pick for D-Rose?

Want your team to get involved in the Derrick Rose sweepstakes? It'll cost a hefty price.

Detroit covets "a lottery-level first-round pick" for the former MVP, per Charania.

That would have been a laughable request in recent seasons, as a rash of injuries kept the scoring guard on the sideline. He hasn't played 67-plus games since 2010-11. Oh, he also exited Sunday's tilt with groin soreness, so health concerns are far from quieted.

Still, any team with a backcourt opening and an itch for offense has to give a look. The 31-year-old is posting personal bests in points per 36 minutes (25.2) and true shooting percentage (56.4)—yes, superior marks to his MVP season. He's also signed at a reasonable rate for this season ($7.3 million) and next ($7.7 million), so he should fit most any budget.

That said, a lottery pick seems an ambitious ask, if only for the fact that most win-now buyers can't supply one. Would the Pistons settle for the top-20-protected pick the Philadelphia 76ers could supply (via the Oklahoma City Thunder)? Or how about a prospect, like 24-year-old Michigan native Kyle Kuzma? Both the Sixers and Los Angeles Lakers have eyes on Rose, per Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.

               

How Active Will the Warriors Be This Week?

With Kevin Durant long gone and both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson shelved by the injury bug, the Golden State Warriors have spent much of this season in the shadows.

That could change this week.

An NBA finalist each of the past five years, the Dubs are suddenly sellers under this new reality. The rentals they acquired in hopes of contending for the crown could instead assist someone else's championship run. As Stein reported, "Golden State is widely expected to trade Alec Burks and/or Glenn Robinson III this week."

But those might be the appetizers. Stein also relayed the Warriors "are listening to pitches" involving D'Angelo Russell, a player the Minnesota Timberwolves have coveted since the summer.

Russell made his All-Star debut last season, and he has upped his scoring average since. More impressively, his shooting rates haven't fallen with the increased volume or the lack of offensive assistance around him.

It still feels most likely the Warriors would punt this decision to the summer since they could package the point guard with what will be an early draft pick for a potentially massive return. But maybe this signals other intentions for that selection. Or perhaps this is simply a willingness to keep an ear open in case anyone makes an absurd offer.