The Cleveland Cavaliers want to deal Luol Deng, but are having trouble finding suitors. Woj has details: “Forward Luol Deng’s reluctance to commit to a long-term extension with any team before July free agency makes it unlikely that the Cleveland Cavaliers can find a willing trade partner before Thursday’s NBA deadline, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Cavaliers have had conversations with several teams, including Dallas, Detroit and Indiana about Deng, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Nevertheless, there’s no traction on a deal and no team seems inclined to give up valuable assets for a player who could walk away in free agency. Deng is determined to investigate free agency in July before making a decision to stay with Cleveland, sources said. Cleveland has tried to get a sense of Deng’s openness to re-signing this summer, and Deng has expressed a willingness to consider the possibility, league sources said.”
- Another team the Cavaliers talked to about Deng is Golden State, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio: “In making Luol Deng available, as reported by ESPN, sources say Cavs have spoken with Kings and Warriors.”
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Chauncey Billups’ forgettable season got worse, according to Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News: “Pistons veteran guard Chauncey Billups will have knee surgery to repair his right meniscus, sources told The Detroit News on Wednesday. Billups, 37, has been in and out of the lineup since early in the season, usually held out of back-to-back games to preserve his health. This injury isn’t thought to be season-ending or career-threatening. The recovery time on meniscus surgeries certainly vary, as younger guards Derrick Rose (Chicago), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City) and Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix) have all suffered from different forms of the same injury.”
- The Houston Rockets are interested in Rajon Rondo, but it would take at least Chandler Parsons to make that happen, according to Stein of ESPN: “Close relationship between Danny Ainge and Daryl Morey means talks are always easy to fire up but Celts’ demands for Rondo are very high. Celtics, I’m told, would insist on Chandler Parsons in a theoretical Rondo deal. And Rockets, by all accounts, NOT willing to surrender CP.”
The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to move Gary Neal, according to Shams Charania of RealGM: “The Milwaukee Bucks have steadily progressed with several teams in discussions on a trade of Gary Neal and await a franchise to advance toward completion, a league source told RealGM. Neal has remained prepared for a change of scenery on a playoff contender, and the Bucks’ front office has worked hard to find an amicable trade to part ways. No deal is imminent, and there’s strong belief negotiations will push Thursday’s afternoon deadline. A free agent signing of the Bucks last July, Neal quickly fell out of the rotation and has gone large portions of the season without receiving playing time. He achieved individual and team success as a sharpshooting reserve for the San Antonio Spurs from 2010 to 2013, averaging 9.4 points on 47 percent three-point shooting in last year’s NBA Finals.”
The Sacramento Kings have made Isaiah Thomas available for trade, according to Stein of ESPN: “It would be wrong to say that the Sacramento Kings are shopping backcourt dynamo Isaiah Thomas. However … Sources with knowledge of the situation say that Thomas can indeed be plucked from the Kings this week … provided someone meets their presumably high asking price for him. Which is still fairly surprising to hear when Thomas is having a breakout season. The Kings, though, are in a tough spot. They can’t really rush out with the same zeal shown Tuesday, when GM Pete D’Alessandro forcefully quashed the notion that high-flying rookie Ben McLemore is in any way on the table because Sacramento has no choice but to investigate every option with Thomas as he inches closer to restricted free agency in July.”
Tim Duncan denied the notion that he may be looking to retire after this season, from Mike Monroe of Express News: “The rumor propagated by former Nuggets coach George Karl that Tim Duncan has made up his mind to retire at season’s end was shot down by the Spurs captain after he helped the Spurs score a 113-103 win over the Clippers at Staples Center on Tuesday night. Citing “whispers” and phone calls, including from San Antonio, about Duncan’s plans, Karl told ESPN on Tuesday he had heard of Duncan’s plan to exercise his player option to walk away from the final season of his three-year deal with the Spurs and retire after this season. “I’d like to know who he talked to,” Duncan said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do so I don’t know how he knows what I’m going to do.” Duncan said he has given no thought to his future plans. “I don’t worry about that stuff,” he said. “It will take care of itself.”
- J.J. Redick will be sidelined for a while once again, this time due to a bulging disc, from NBA.com: “The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that guard J.J. Redick will be sidelined indefinitely with a bulging disc in his lower back. Redick last played on Feb. 3 against Denver, and has missed the last four games with complications stemming from the lower back injury. The seven-year veteran is averaging 15.7 points and 2.2 assists in 30 games for the Clippers this season. He is shooting a team-high 39.6 percent from 3-point range and leads the NBA in free throw shooting (94.1 percent). Redick had previously missed 21 games this season with a right hand fracture/torn right wrist ligament.”
Rajon Rondo says it is a goal of his to return to the All-Star game for next season and believes he is nearing his prime age, from Gary Washburn of Boston Globe: ““It didn’t motivate me, but I plan on being back there next year,” he said of the All-Star Game. “That’s an individual goal of mine. At the end of the day, I just want to get back to 100 percent. And continue to improve my game. The rest of this year and this summer, just get better, become a better player.”… “Yeah, I believe so,” he said when asked if he was approaching his prime. “You can say that. I can still get better. I don’t think I’ve reached my peak. Some guys may reach their peak at 25 and max out, but I think I can continue to still get better and will get better.”… “I think 28 is your prime,” he said. “Talking to a lot of the older guys, like I said, KG, Pierce, they are a certain age. So I have at least probably four or five more good years that I know that I can compete at a high level. And I had basically almost a year off, so subtract that. I’m about 27.”
- The Charlotte Bobcats may be interested in acquiring Anthony Morrow, from Sean Deveney of Sporting News: “One target that has emerged, league sources told Sporting News, is shooting guard Anthony Morrow, a player who interested the Bobcats before he signed in New Orleans last summer. Morrow leads the league in 3-point shooting, at 48.0 percent, which would boost a Charlotte roster short on shooters. The Bobcats are 17th in the NBA in 3-point percentage and 28th in 3-point attempts. Morrow has a player option next summer and is expected to opt out.
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. You can find him on twitter @SheridanBlog.
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Salaries don’t work in Blake deal. Blake getting 4 Million and Brooks and Bazemore combine for under 2 million. Any idea, Jim, what the missing explanation is that apparently not even Woj knows about? CBA says that for non taxpayers (Warriors) can only receive 150% + $100,000. That means Warriors can only receive about 3.1 million in salary.
However, the trade clearly saves Lakers $, which as long as they find a taker (ATL?) for Kaman using Disabled Player Exception, will get them under the Luxury Tax (71.6 Million).
Billy King already has the OK to take Jordan Hill with the DPE despite cost Prokhorov over $17 million in luxury taxes.
Regarding Reggie Evans being traded from Nets: If only he had listened to my advice instead of “blocking” me on Twitter, he might still be with team. Last year I tweeted that he should be fined by front office if he doesn’t pass the ball within 2 secs of getting a rebound. This year he even found it funny when he was blocked (on court) by various bigs, trying to make reckless drives to basket, and jumping about 3″ off the ground. Apparently Billy King didn’t find it funny. Prokhorov earlier this season compare Reggie to a Russian tank. Last season Reggie led league in 3 sec calls as well as most rebounds taken away from teammates (lol).
@jerry25: Trade was actually made of 3 separate deals. First, Golden State had an $4M traded player exception (TPE) which they used to absorb Blake’s salary. That created TPE for Lakers, which they used to absorb Brooks. That also created a TPE for them equal to the difference between two player’s salaries ($2,789,920), which they can use till February 20th 2015. Third part was Lakers taking Bazemore via the minimum salary exception.
Thanks. You obviously are an insider, unless the Warrior beat writers had the details already (before Woj).
Not sure then why Lakers would take on the additional salary of Brooks and Bazemore, if not necessary, before insuring that they got below the luxury tax (now requires both Hill and Kaman to be traded without taking back salary).
I do know as a Nets fan, that Brooks can still be a mini-Lite Kobe on offense and would do well (on offense) for a team that gives him a chance. Nets (and other teams) have given up on expecting more on defense.
I can only assume he is THAT bad on defense to have gotten less of a chance to play than Kent Bazemore. I saw plenty of him during his rookie season with the Nets so I do know he’s got an offensive game, but if you can’t stop anyone or understand the fundamentals of team defense, it’s gonna be hard to play.
I now see that Mark Deeks (Shamsports) has revealed the details of the complicated trade).