Boston isn’t interested in an
Aldridge deal (more on that below) and Miami is unlikely to put together the package of players needed to make one work. Barring something unforeseen, league sources see it as more likely that Aldridge is bought out after the deadline.
The
Celtics have been focused on Kings forward Harrison Barnes in recent weeks, with Detroit sending signals that it has no interest in trading rising forward Jerami Grant. Boston won’t force a deal, with team officials seeing value in holding on to the exception into free agency. But expect the Celtics to pursue Barnes right up until the deadline.
Only Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz considered untouchable. Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier are available, as is All-Star center Nikola Vucevic. The
Magic have been looking for point guard help, kicking the tires on Ricky Rubio recently. Celtics guard Kemba Walker remains a favorite of Magic coach Steve Clifford, but it’s unlikely Boston, without much depth behind Walker, will part with him at this point.
Lowry’s salary ($30 million) makes him difficult to deal. Rival executives have linked Lowry to the Clippers (who are searching for point guard help) and Philadelphia (Lowry’s hometown, where the 76ers see Lowry as a piece to a championship puzzle). Finding a deal will be difficult, however, and with the Raptors still in the playoff picture, it’s unlikely Lowry will get bought out after the deadline.
The
Clippers are no so quietly shopping for point guard help. Patrick Beverley is solid while Lou Williams continues to provide scoring off the bench. But neither Williams (3.6 assists) or Beverley (career-low 2.1) is much of a playmaker, and L.A. needs one to take pressure off of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. There continues to be strong internal interest in Terry Rozier, who is having a breakout season in Charlotte. Rubio and Oklahoma City’s George Hill are in play, too. An obvious issue: L.A. has limited draft capital to sweeten any deal.
P.J. Tucker, whose numbers have dipped precipitously this season, is expected to be traded, with rival executives pointing to Miami as the favorite. Victor
Oladipo rejected a two-year, $45 million contract extension last month, and while that’s not necessarily an indicator that Oladipo wants out (Oladipo can and will secure a longer term deal as a free agent) Houston may not roll the dice on losing Oladipo for nothing next summer. Miami, again, is a projected suitor for Oladipo.
The
Thunder will listen to offers for Horford, but OKC has been satisfied with how Horford has played alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC isn’t looking to just give him away. The Thunder are expected to offload Trevor Ariza, who has reported to Oklahoma City this season after being acquired in an offseason deal. Ariza, however, has not played since last March, opting out of the NBA bubble and it’s fair to wonder just how much the 35-year old swingman can offer at this point.
New York has interest in Andre Drummond should Drummond be bought out after the trade deadline. Tom Thibodeau has urged the front office to be active—Thibs was a driving force behind the Knicks re-acquiring Derrick Rose last month—but thus far New York has shown little interest in dealing any of its top young players or absorbing a long term salary.
The
Nuggets are active, with the usual suspects—Gary Harris, Will Barton, Bol Bol, etc—available for a deal that would bring back a reliable third option to play alongside Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, with Gordon among the players in the mix. Denver isn’t shopping Porter Jr., who has been on an offensive tear since mid-February. But several rival execs have wondered if Denver would look to sell high on the dynamic second-year forward. Still, it would take something big for the Nuggets to part with Porter Jr., and that deal may not be out there this month.
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