NBA trade deadline rumors post (updated all day)

By Kurt HelinFeb 24, 2011, 4:20 PM EST

There are more rumors swirling around the NBA today then there were groupies swirling around All-Star Game parties last weekend in Los Angeles. Okay, we exaggerate; there could not possibly be that many. But there are a lot of rumors. So we are putting them here, new ones at the top, and updating this post all day. Bookmark this and come back between now and 3 p.m. Eastern as we give you everything we hear. (Well, except for some of the stuff about the groupies.)

LAST UPDATE 4:30 pm EST (deadline passed, deals still rolling in)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have approached Leon Powe about buying out his contract.

And it’s officially dead — O.J. Mayo was not traded to the Pacers, team owner Michael Heisley told David Aldridge of NBA.com. Of course, Heisley blamed the Pacers.

Rip Hamilton almost became a Cavalier, but that deal fell apart when Rip declined a buyout of his current deal.

Not so fast on our previously reported O.J. Mayo to Indiana trade — the teams may have missed the 3 p.m. (Eastern) trade deadline. We’re all waiting to hear from the league.

Aaron Brooks in the Phoenix Suns up-and-down the ourt offense could be scary. Houston traded Brooks to Phoenix for Goran Dragic and a first round draft pick. Like that for both teams, at first glance.

Look for Mike Bibby to seek a buyout of his contract, he doesn’t want to back up John Wall on a losing team, according to the folks at NBA TV.

The Gerald Wallace to Portland trade ended up being for Joel Przybilla and two first round draft picks. That’s still quite a steal for Portland in terms of talent.

Boston made other moves as well as the big one, such as Boston has trading Semih Erdan and Luke Harangody to Cleveland for a second-round pick.

How does a wing pairing of Danny Granger and O.J. Mayo sound? The Grizzlies have traded O.J. Mayo to the Pacers for Josh McRobertsand a first-round pick, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Gerald Wallace has been traded from Charlotte to the Portland Trail Blazers. No word on what is headed back, but apparently the Bobcats relented on their demand for Nicolas Batum. (Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski)

The Thunder are making a collection of centers, also getting Nazr Mohammed from Charlotte for Mo Pete’s expiring and D.J. White. I love this deal for OKC — they just filled their biggest weakness. They will miss Green some but they still have Westbrook and Durant.

Remember that Kendrick Perkins could be a free agent, there may have been concern from Boston they could lose him and get nothing. But still, he is the rock on the back line of that defense. What if the face Orlando in the playoffs? Is Shaq, Jermaine O’Neal and Krstic enough?

The Seattle Times is tweeting that Nate Robinson is also going to the Thunder. So Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic? There has to be something I’m missing here because that is not a win for Boston. Why break up the core?

The Rockets did make a deal, sending Aaron Brooks to the Phoenix Suns. (ESPN)

The previously discussed here Shane Battier to Memphis for Hasheem Thabeet and a pick trade has become a reality. (Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski)

WOW! Boston has agreed to send Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a exchange for Jeff Green and Krstic. That is a stunner. (Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski)

The Bulls really want Courtney Lee and have offered multiple picks, but they refuse to give up the big man Omer Asik the Rockets have demanded. Just 10 minutes left for someone to blink. (Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson)

The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Golden State Warriors for a deal that would send Antawn Jamison to the Bay Area. (ESPN)

The Rockets are making one last big push to get a deal done, going hard at Marcus Camby from Portland. The problem is the deal is complex and could involve Jonny Flynn and the Timberwolves as a third team. Those deals are hard to pull off under pressure. (CBSSports’ Ken Berger)

The smart bet on the guy to be moved right before the deadline — Anthony Parker of the Cavaliers. Boston is interested, Chicago is interested, and now two new teams have entered the mix as dark horses. Something will happen here. (CBSSports Ken Berger)

Friend of this blog A. Sherrod Blakely says that the Celtics are targeting the Cavs Anthony Parker, and if not him they will try to get Rasual Butler. But they don’t think Marquis Daniels is coming back and they want help there.

The Washington Wizards say they are done making deals. They should be, how can you top getting Mike Bibby? (ESPN’s John Hollinger)

The Rockets seem to be eager to make a deal. We told you about maybe Shane Battier to the Grizzlies. There also were rumors he and Arron Brooks and Battier could be headed to Portland for Marcus Camby, but that rumor now seem to be dead according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.

There are some rumors out there that the Celtics will trade Ray Allen (to the Bucks). I’m not repeating them here other than to tell you we know those not to be true. Not even close. Ray-Ray s

The Jazz say that nobody on their roster is untouchable. You would think the Deron Williams trade would have made that evident, but they said it again anyway. If they shed $5 million in salary they go under the luxury tax. (Salt Lake Tribune)

One possible reason that nobody is jumping in to trade for Rip Hamilton, teams are hoping that the Pistons will buy him out and they can just snatch him up that way. Don’t bet on that buyout, though. (Fran Isola, New York Daily News)

The Detroit Pistons are still taking calls from teams interested in Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, but a deal for either seems unlikely. (CBSSport’s Ken Berger)

Mo Williams has waived his early termination option, which means he is locked in with this deal ad the Clippers through the summer of 2013. (Well, they could trade him someday.) This is still a great deal for the Clips. (NBA.com’s Scott Howard Cooper)

The Gerald Wallace to Portland deal went from rumor to seeming almost done to dead in one day. Why did it die? Because the Bobcats kept demanding that Nicolas Batum be part of the package headed back to Charlotte. The Blazers are not trading him and have been clear about that with everyone from the start. But the Bobcats would not back off it. (Marc Stein, ESPN)

The Orlando Magic have no plans to make any deadline deals, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Which makes sense, everything is just fine there.

Denver has no interest in sending J.R. Smith to Dallas. (Well, that or they had no interest in what Dallas was sending back. Either way it’s the same result.) (ESPN’s Marc Stein)

There is value in big men who can defend and rebound, so for that reason there were rumors the Kings might try to move Samuel Dalembert. Looks like no. (ESPN’s Chad Ford)

Golden State just got Troy Murphy from New Jersey, but rather than just buy him out they are trying to flip him into another pick, according to Matt Steinmetz at CSN Bay Area.

The Pacers seem unable to find a good trading partner to take on T.J. Ford, so they may just buy him out. Miami is begging them to do that. (Ken Berger, CBSSports)

Those Jonny Flynn rumors (read the next paragraph) apparently involve either Aaron Brooks or Jared Jeffries going to Minny for Flynn. That is a terrible trade for the Rockets, so it really must be about the pressure to get under the luxury tax threshold and save money.

The Rockets are getting a lot of calls about Courtney Lee but are holding out for a big. The pressure is on the Bulls with Omer Asik, who they don’t want to give up. (Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski)

Minnesota has interest in Raja Bell. The Suns would love someone, anyone, to take on that contract. They’re talking. (CBSSport’s Ken Berger)

Boston is dangling Nate Robinson plus a first round pick to get someone to replace Marquis Daniels. Or they will even trade Daniels. So far, no takers.

Sharpshooter Jason Kapono may get bought out by the Sixers. If so, look for the Lakers, Celtics, Thunder, Hornets and pretty much everyone else to go after him. (Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski)

The Rockets and Timberwolves are talking about a deal for Jonny Flynn. Why? It gets the Rockets under the luxury tax line. But shockingly the Wolves are getting a lot of interest in Flynn. (ESPN’s Marc Stein)

The Bulls are making a last-ditched push to get Courtney Lee or O.J. Mayo to fill in their hole at the two.

The Mavericks would really like to get Tayshaun Prince out of Detroit or J.R. Smith out of Denver. I would like to drive a Maserati. They have about the same chance of happening.

The Blazers have won six in a row so they are starting to pull back from big trades. Do they really think they have something to build toward a title with?

A lot of teams would love to get Jared Dudley out of Phoenix, but the Suns seem to know what they have and are not looking to move him.

No, you can’t have Andre Iguodala, either.

Nor Jeff Foster… although that one makes less sense.

One guy who might be available is Toronto’s Reggie Evans. The man is a beast of a rebounder. But because he provides little offense there seems to be no interest.

Hart will be free agent this summer seeking new contract, ‘would love for it to be New York’

By Kurt HelinMar 21, 2023, 6:36 PM EDT

Josh Hart‘s play since coming to the Knicks has made him a lot of money.

Already a darling of many front offices, Hart has been a seamless fit in New York, averaging 11.1 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Tom Thibodeau, playing quality defense, and being the kind of plug-and-play wing every team can use. He’s quickly become a fan favorite in New York, but the Knicks will have to pay up to keep him. Hart has a player option for $12.9 million next season that he is widely expected to decline — there’s a lot more money and years available to him on the open market.

Hart told Marc Spears of ESPN’s Andscape he wants to find a home, and he hopes that it is in New York.

“I want bigger things for my wife and myself,” Hart said. “Just find a home somewhere where we are valued and really like living there. And I think that can be New York. I would love for it to be New York and hopefully the organization feels the same way. Coming up, this contract is hopefully my biggest one, one where I’m making sure my family’s fully taken care of. So, I’ve also got to take that into account, too.”

That is the polite way of saying, “I like it here but you’re not getting a discount.”

While Hart will have made a tidy $33 million in his career when this season ends, his next four-year contract will be worth more than double that amount — this is the deal that sets up generational wealth for Hart’s family. This is a business and he has to make the decision best for him, as much as he may love the Knicks.

Expect the Knicks to pay up, especially as long as Thibodeau is around. This is a deal that should come together.

But first, Hart and the Knicks are headed to the playoffs, and Madison Square Garden will be rocking. It’s going to be the kind of experience that makes a guy want to stay with a team.

Hall of Famer, Knicks legend Willis Reed dies at 80

By Kurt HelinMar 21, 2023, 5:08 PM EDT

Willis Reed, the legendary Knicks’ center whose dramatic entrance onto the Madison Square Garden floor minutes before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals sparked the team to its first title, has died at the age of 80.

The National Basketball Retired Players Association announced Reed’s passing. While no cause of death was announced, it was known Reed had been in poor health for some time.

“Willis Reed was the ultimate team player and consummate leader,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “My earliest and fondest memories of NBA basketball are of watching Willis, who embodied the winning spirit that defined the New York Knicks’ championship teams in the early 1970s. He played the game with remarkable passion and determination, and his inspiring comeback in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals remains one of the most iconic moments in all of sports.

“As a league MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP and member of the NBA’s 50^th and 75^th Anniversary Teams, Willis was a decorated player who took great pride in his consistency. Following his playing career, Willis mentored the next generation as a coach, team executive and proud HBCU alumnus. We send our deepest condolences to Willis’ wife, Gale, his family, and many friends and fans.”

Reed had an amazing career — highlighted by the two NBA titles and two NBA Finals MVP awards, plus being a seven-time All-Star — but he is best remembered for a legendary 1969-70 season. That year he became the first player to sweep the regular season, All-Star Game and NBA Finals MVP awards.

However, it was him walking out on the court for Game 7 of the Finals in 1970 — after he suffered a thigh injury in Game 5 and had to miss Game 6 of the series, and the Knicks had no answer for the Lakers’ Wilt Chamberlain without him — that became the moment of legend. Reed scored four early points that game, and while he was limited the rest of the way he sparked the team to its first title (Walt Frazier’s 36 points and 19 assists had something to do with the win, too).

Our Captain. pic.twitter.com/2Bg1ro4y37

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) March 21, 2023

Reed was born in 1942 in Hico, Louisiana, and stayed in the state through college, leading Grambling State to the 1961 NAIA title. Considered an undersized center at 6’9 “, teams quickly learned he played much bigger than that as he went on to win the 1965 Rookie of the Year award.

Reed averaged 18.7 points and 12.9 rebounds a season over the course of his career, and he had his No.19 retired by the Knicks. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1982.

Reported optimism Towns, Edwards to return to Timberwolves Wednesday

By Kurt HelinMar 21, 2023, 1:42 PM EDT

The Timberwolves could finally get their roster whole this week — just in time for a final postseason push — with the return of both Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.

That could happen as soon as Wednesday, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.

There is optimism that Minnesota Timberwolves stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards (ankle) could return as soon as Wednesday vs. Atlanta Hawks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Towns, sidelined since Nov. 28 with Grade 3 calf strain, is on the cusp of a major return.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 21, 2023

Facing the Hawks and their bottom-10 defense could be a soft landing spot to bring Towns and Edwards back.

Towns suffered a strained calf in November that was expected to keep him out for 4-6 weeks. However, he had a setback in January, reports Jon Krawczynski at The Athletic, and it has taken until now to get back. Towns averaged 21.4 points and 8.5 rebounds a game this season before the injury, but his efficiency was down (32.8% from 3), and his fit with Rudy Gobert and Edwards was clunky. The trio needed more time to sort everything out, but the injury robbed them of that.

Edwards rolled his ankle last week and it looked much more severe at the time, but he was listed as day-to-day and has bounced back quickly. Edwards is a player who prides himself on playing nightly and pushing through nagging injuries.

https://twitter.com/WolvesRadio/status/1637205927299526656

The return has come at a critical time for the Timberwolves, who sit as the No.8 seed as of this writing (tied for 8-10, officially) in a West where 1.5 games separate the No. 7 and 12 seeds. The Timberwolves need wins and getting their two best offensive players back should be a boost.

However, the fit of this Timberwolves roster — radically overhauled last offseason — was rough in the season’s opening month before Towns was injured. Now the players are being thrown back together for the first time since then. Having a real floor general and pass-first point guard in Mike Conley now should smooth the transition, but the Timberwolves don’t have a lot of season left to work out the kinks, and they need wins now to ensure they make the postseason (ideally as a No.7-8 seed to have an easier path out of the play-in).

Watch Dillon Brooks pick up 18th technical, will get suspended another game

By Kurt HelinMar 21, 2023, 10:55 AM EDT

Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Dillon Brooks sat out the Grizzlies’ March 5 loss to the Clippers after reaching 16 technical fouls this season — hit that number and the league gives a player an automatic one-game suspension. After that, with every two more technicals a player earns another suspension.

Brooks had gotten another and was up to 17 heading into a critical game Monday night against Dallas, when he did this:

Dillon Brooks received his 18TH TECH of the season for taunting Mavs bench after this dunk 😨

He could be suspended Wednesday if not rescinded pic.twitter.com/puo16oYPbp

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 21, 2023

Brooks will likely be suspended by the league Wednesday against Houston, the game where it appears Ja Morant will return to the court. Don’t look for the Grizzlies to appeal and try to get this technical rescinded, as coach Taylor Jenkins said, via Joe Varden of The Athletic.

“At this point, I don’t think we even try anymore,” Brooks said.

What was Brooks doing? Telling Theo Pinson he was a cheerleader.

I got some real estate I see..😂 https://t.co/V81QyWfxbf

— Theo pinson (@tpinsonn) March 21, 2023

Brooks’ rough night included him trying to do a jersey swap with Kyrie Irving after the game, but Irving not accepting Brook’s jersey (Brooks stepped on Irving’s foot during the game, aggravating an injury and had Irving leaving the building in a walking boot). After the game, Brooks admitted he needs to rein things in a little.

“I’ve got to tone it down and get back to my mindfulness practice and find ways to channel it better,” Brooks said.

Brooks needs to do this for the sake of his pocketbook — this is two game checks lost to suspension, and that doesn’t even include the $35,000 fine for shoving a cameraman.

Brooks plays with an edge, it’s part of what makes him effective — he’s the guy that gets under the other team’s skin. However, it’s one thing to walk the line and another to step over it constantly. Brooks needs to do better at knowing where that line is.

The good news for the Grizzlies and Brooks is the technical count gets wiped out for the playoffs and starts over (with suspensions starting at seven).

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