We’re just over a month away from the February 8 NBA trade deadline and we’ve made a significant trade – OG Anunoby to Knicks – and discussions on other subjects accelerate. Here’s a roundup of some of the latest buzz.
• The Nets are not looking to trade Mikal Bridges. The Nets have looked as bad as any team (except maybe the Pistons) over the last few weeks, leading to speculation that the Nets will make moves to shake things up. Many teams covet Mikal Bridges, so these trade rumors arise, but during a Q&A session on the discussions, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Nets were not looking to move Bridges but instead wanted to build around him. That might be true, it’s also what the Nets would disclose if they tried to increase their offers on Bridges. That said, the smart money is on Bridges being a Net in March.
• Lots of buyers, not many sellers in what could be a quiet deadline. Wojnarowski also said this during his Q&A discussions.
“Part of this is due to the Play-In tournament, which allowed more teams to try to reach the playoffs instead of falling into the lottery. Also, this is not considered a class solid draft pick at the top, so there’s even less motivation to trade a playoff spot for a few extra ping pong balls in the lottery.
Trades will take place, but this could be a deadline for trades.
• The Atlanta Hawks are open for business. In that same Threads Q&A, Wojnarowski confirmed multiple reports that the Atlanta Hawks are open for business and looking to make trades. Trae Young will remain the anchor in Atlanta but players such as Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter and Clint Capela are absolutely available at the right price. Teams will ask about Jalen Johnson, but the Hawks won’t move the star without a massive return.
Atlanta has long been linked to Pascal Siakam. The Raptors made him available following the Anunoby trade as Toronto builds around Scottie Barnes and now Immanuel Quickley.
•The Lakers and Zach LaVine have linked up again. Another report that the Lakers are interested in Zach LaVine comes from Jeff Zillgitt at USA Today. As previously reported, league sources told NBC Sports that LaVine to the Lakers was unlikely, and that hasn’t changed. However, with the Lakers playing flat since the In-Season Touramet (3-8), pressure could be mounting on general manager Rob Pelinka to do something.
Teams are still calling the Bulls about DeMar DeRozan (the bull most likely to be traded), Alex Caruso and Nikola Vucevic as well.
• Thunder aren’t looking to add at the trade deadline like what they have. After beating the Nuggets, Timberwolves and Celtics in the span of a week – move to the top of the NBC Sports NBA Power rankings – the Thunder look every bit the contender right now and are unlikely to make any significant moves at the trade deadline, Shams Charnia of The Athletic said on Run It Back. Why should they? If the goal is to build a contender, it appears OKC already has one with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren as its core. The Thunder have a plethora of draft picks over the next seven years, but can use them to keep a reserve of affordable young talent around their stars, or trade for a role player if necessary. This year, expect the Thunder to make do with what they have and see how far that takes them in the playoffs.
• The Knicks are still looking for a superstar. Part of the reason the Anunoby trade was a win for the Knicks right now is because they retained their first-round picks and a lot of young talent that allows them to chase a superstar if a superstar is available. reports Ian Begley on SNY.TV.
New York has eight tradeable first-round picks, including four clean picks. The four choices of the other teams are protected. Some have significant protections. As for players, Evan Fournier ($18 million expiring contract), Randle, Quentin Grimes, Donte DiVincenzo, Mitchell Robinson, Jericho Sims and Isaiah Hartenstein are all trade eligible. Josh Hart and Miles McBride cannot be traded before the 2024 deadline.
Two names are worth mentioning here. One of them is Karl-Anthony Towns – the Timberwolves are approaching a financial cliff starting next season and the feeling around the league is that Towns will be the guy without a chair when the music stops. As Begley notes, there are extensive ties between the Knicks front office and Towns, although New York must ask itself: Is putting Towns next to Julius Randle really the big move that makes New York a threat to Boston and Milwaukee?
The other is Donovan Mitchell, the New York native who has also long been linked to the franchise. Cleveland is not making him available at the trade deadline, according to multiple reports. The Cavaliers’ plan is to get Evan Mobley and Darius Garland healthy, see what kind of playoff run they can make with that core, and then see if Mitchell signs an extension with the team next summer. The answer to these questions sheds light on the Cavaliers’ next moves. However, the Knicks must ask themselves the same question as with Towns: “Is this the player that puts us over the top?” Mitchell is a top-15 player in the league (give or take, depending on your personal rankings) and an elite scorer, but he’s not the Joel Embiid/Luka Doncic-level superstar the Knicks are hoping to land.
(Also, Knicks fans, you won’t get Mitchell as a free agent in 2025 unless you want to clear the roster. Assuming the team re-signs Anunoby and considers extending Randle and Jalen Brunson – both of whom can opt out before the summer of 2025, when Mitchell is a free agent – then there isn’t the cap space to land a major free agent. To be clear, New York can’t quite simply not keep the core they have and add Mitchell as a free agent. That can only happen via trade.)
