Following the blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers and Bruce Brown with three first-round picks north of the border to the Toronto Raptors, all eyes are on the next big trade candidate to change teams in the coming weeks.
With that in mind, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on trade talks surrounding Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, including reported interest from the Lakers, Knicks, Nets, 76ers, Pistons, Heat, Spurs, and Warriors. Plus, reporting on Knicks trade targets, what’s next for the Pacers after acquiring Siakam and their frontcourt logjam, how the Mavericks could try to upgrade at power forward, trade talks surrounding Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones, the latest on Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon and Jerami Grant, and future trade candidates for the Pelicans.
Hawks: Dejounte Murray trade talks
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Hawks guard Dejounte Murray becomes the most notable trade candidate following the Pascal Siakam trade.
Atlanta is looking for at least two first-round picks, according to The Ringer. The Hawks are not looking to take back salary past this season, league sources told HoopsHype.
With that in mind, the Lakers have been arguably the team most linked to Murray due to his representation at Klutch Sports, the agency for various Lakers on the current team.
Any framework for a Murray trade to the Lakers would likely involve guard D’Angelo Russell, league sources told HoopsHype. However, that would be contingent on Russell being flipped to a third team from Atlanta in the process. Russell’s $18.69 million player option for next season and his playing style next to Trae Young isn’t viewed as a fit for the Hawks.
As ESPN reported, Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick would almost assuredly have to be included.
How else could Los Angeles get to Atlanta’s asking price of two first-round picks? Perhaps rookie first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino could be included in trade talks if they advance further, but it’s worth noting Atlanta chose Kobe Bufkin over him in the draft months ago.
The Hawks coveted Lakers guard Austin Reaves in trade talks surrounding Murray but were denied by Los Angeles, league sources said.
Another big market, New York, was first reported to have interest in Murray by HoopsHype. Since acquiring OG Anunoby and the team’s recent success, however, the Knicks aren’t in a rush to push their chips all in for Murray at this time. (More on their pursuit of Murray and other Knicks intel in the section below).
The Nets began as a suggested fit for Murray by ESPN’s Bobby Marks during an appearance on The HoopsHype Podcast. Brooklyn has since had reported interest, according to NetsDaily, and touched based on a Murray trade involving Spencer Dinwiddie – one of HoopsHype’s top trade candidates – according to SNY.
Thus far, Brooklyn is shying away from Atlanta’s asking price of at least two first-round picks for Murray, HoopsHype has learned. Since December 26, the Nets have won only one game, with a Friday night matchup against the Lakers next on their schedule.
The Sixers have been linked to Murray, but would Daryl Morey give up multiple picks for a guard who’s a questionable fit next to Tyrese Maxey, his franchise cornerstone alongside Joel Embiid?
Rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype expect Morey to continue gauging the trade market through the deadline.
The Pistons were also linked to Murray as a potential suitor, but that’s not considered a realistic fit, given Detroit’s young backcourt core of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.
Despite speculation of the Heat making a run for Murray, the Miami Herald reported the team won’t make an aggressive push to land him.
The Spurs, Murray’s former team, was also linked to him.
“Pop is like a father to me, I would welcome that,” Murray said regarding the report. “But right now, I’m a Hawk, I’m going to stay professional and play the right way.”
San Antonio has the assets to land Murray, but it’s unclear if they’ll do so while in the midst of a rebuild around Victor Wembanyama.
Lastly, the Warriors were mentioned as a possible suitor for Murray, given the expiring contract of Chris Paul. However, it’s hard to fathom that fit with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as the entrenched backcourt.
With Golden State hesitant to make a strong run at Siakam given his impending free agency and sizable upcoming pay raise, it’s also unlikely Golden State would prioritize splurging on a lesser coveted position for the team at Murray’s $25.5 million salary for next season.
Knicks: Trade targets
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The New York Knicks are primarily dangling the expiring contract of Evan Fournier, young asset Quentin Grimes, and draft pick compensation for a potential upgrade, league sources told HoopsHype.
While the Knicks have been linked to Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, as previously reported here on HoopsHype, New York is gauging the market to see what else that potential package can fetch.
Given the recent success the Knicks have had following the OG Anunoby acquisition, New York isn’t in a rush to push their chips in for Murray, league sources told HoopsHype. Several rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype are already unofficially penciling in Anunoby to re-sign with the Knicks this offseason.
New York is considering waiting until the offseason, when another star could potentially become available depending on the asking price fluctuation for Murray and other players over the next few weeks before the deadline.
The Knicks are doing their due diligence and looking at various players across the league, including Hornets guard Terry Rozier, Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon, former Tom Thibodeau favorite Alec Burks, sources said.
In addition, the Knicks are surveying the trade market for a backup power forward, league sources told HoopsHype.
Pacers: What’s next after the Pascal Siakam trade?
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Following the acquisition of Pascal Siakam, rival executives applauded Indiana’s ability to retain young assets Bennedict Mathurin, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, and Ben Sheppard, along with the expiring contract of Buddy Hield.
The result, however, creates a logjam within Indiana’s frontcourt, with Jalen Smith, Toppin, and Walker competing for limited playing time behind Siakam.
Given Indiana’s newfound frontcourt conundrum and the notion outside the organization that Hield would eventually be moved to give Mathurin, Nembhard, and Sheppard more playing time looking ahead, rival executives believe the Pacers could make another trade to bolster their team before the deadline.
Mavericks: How can the Mavericks upgrade at forward?
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The Dallas Mavericks are gauging the trade market to see if there’s a notable forward upgrade that can further their chances of contention, league sources told HoopsHype.
Dallas attempted to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic at last year’s trade deadline and turned to Pascal Siakam recently before Indiana acquired him.
The Mavericks have kept tabs on Jerami Grant in Portland, league sources told HoopsHype. Perhaps Kyle Kuzma could be added to this list in the coming weeks.
Rival executives point to some combination of Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, Grant Williams, and draft compensation as Dallas’ best chance of making a trade for a frontcourt upgrade.
Mavericks center Dereck Lively has drawn trade interest from rival teams, but Dallas has told those who’ve called he’s not for sale, league sources told HoopsHype.
Thus far, Dallas hasn’t been a healthy team, and will use the next few weeks to evaluate their team further to determine if a move is warranted.
Wizards: Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones trade talks
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Wizards are an intriguing team that rival executives are monitoring ahead of the trade deadline.
Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has drawn exploratory trade interest from several teams around the league, league sources told HoopsHype, and that interest could intensify with teams missing out on Pascal Siakam.
Kuzma is well-liked within Washington’s organization due to his championship pedigree with the Lakers and after choosing to re-sign with the Wizards this summer over interest from other teams, including the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, as Kings beat reporter James Ham discussed on The HoopsHype Podcast.
Following reports that Washington wants two first-round picks to potentially part with Kuzma, there is further clarity and caveats to that. The Wizards would need future first-round picks beyond the 2024 draft with the potential to become lottery picks to consider parting with their best player, league sources told HoopsHype.
Given Kuzma’s descending contract, there’s no immediate urgency for the Wizards to part with their leading scorer, given he’ll retain his value going forward and is considered a positive asset by rival executives.
Another coveted Wizard on the trade market is point guard Tyus Jones, who’s sported one of the top assist-to-turnover ratios in the league over the past few seasons.
Jones, 27, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is a player the Wizards would like to re-sign, if possible, HoopsHype has learned.
As a full-time starter for the first time in his career – a role Jones wants to ideally retain during any free agency courtship according to league sources – Jones is averaging career-highs across the board in points (12.8), field goal percentage (.521), 3-point percentage (.420), assists (5.6), and steals (1.2).
The belief is Washington would covet a first-round pick to consider trading Jones, according to rival NBA executives who’ve spoken with HoopsHype. Should a team dangle a future first-round pick past the 2024 draft that could become a Top 20 pick down the line, the Wizards are expected to consider such an offer, league sources told HoopsHype.
In addition, Washington has a boatload of trade exceptions and will look to use those to take on salary dumps from other teams for future draft picks and young players to bolster their rebuilding effort, league sources told HoopsHype.
Washington has several TPEs (traded player exceptions), including a $12.35 million TPE (traded player exception) from the Kristaps Porzingis trade, a $9.8 million TPE from the Monte Morris trade, a $5.38 million TPE from the Bradley Beal trade, and a $3.5 million TPE from the Mike Muscala trade.
Trail Blazers: Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon trade interest
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With Pascal Siakam off the trade market, the next tier of potential frontcourt trade candidates NBA executives are eying includes Washington’s Kyle Kuzma and Portland’s Jerami Grant.
However, despite an initial belief from various executives around the league that Grant would become a strong trade candidate following his extension with the Blazers and after trading franchise star Damian Lillard to the Bucks, the Blazers have signaled to rival teams that they won’t part with Grant easily ahead of the deadline.
In Portland, Grant is viewed as a good locker room leader, a compliment to the team’s core of young guards on the roster, and has maintained his two-way versatility and efficient three-point shooting at a career-high clip of 41.2 percent.
The question some executives are asking is whether Grant could be the missing piece to a championship contender the way Aaron Gordon fit seamlessly for the Nuggets as a combo forward and eventually helped them win a title.
As a result, rival executives say Portland is viewing Grant as a positive trade asset, whereas some were hoping the Blazers would sell high on Grant early in his five-year contract as more of a neutral asset. Thus, executives believe Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon is more likely to be dealt than Grant if Portland makes a trade at the deadline since he’s considered less expensive to acquire. Rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe a fair asking price for Brogdon is a first-round pick and salary filler.
When asked by HoopsHype what Brogdon has meant to Portland this season, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups replied, “He’s like our voice and one of our leaders. When he talks, you listen. He’s in a tough spot here. He’s coming off the bench, and sometimes he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. He’s a point guard, but he understands where we’re at and what we’re doing. When he plays, he’s always a plus player. I love having him here. He’s an extension of me out there and in that locker room. He’s a leader. His presence is felt every day.”
As Billups explained and Brogdon admitted when chatting with HoopsHype, the 31-year-old guard’s role has been an adjustment and challenge.
“The most mentally tough guys in the league go through challenges and have to adjust with different teams in different roles while persevering regardless,” Brogdon explained to HoopsHype. “My goal is to persevere no matter what role I’m put in.”
It’s not just a new role Brogdon is facing. It’s a sharp decrease in team expectations going from a Finals contender with the Celtics to a rebuilding Blazers team.
“At times, it’s been tough, but there’s something very gratifying about coming to a team where your voice and leadership is really valued and you play a different role,” Brogdon told HoopsHype. “I’m embracing that role. I enjoy playing with these young guys. They’re hungry and want to win. They’re incredibly coachable. More than anything, I enjoy being under Chauncey’s wing and being coached by him. I have the most respect for him. He’s a guy I’d run through a wall for.”
Brogdon has closed games for Portland when healthy, but eventually, Portland will want to hand the keys over to No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson full-time and continue to give young guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe more playing time to hasten their development.
Pelicans: Will looming luxury tax concerns break up the team this summer?
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When New Orleans traded Kira Lewis and a second-round pick to offload his salary, the Pelicans ducked under the luxury tax and saved $18 million in the process, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted.
Following the move, there was a question circulating quietly among NBA executives looking toward the summer. Which Pelican could be on the move this summer to help New Orleans avoid the tax again?
Starting center Jonas Valanciunas is eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer and is considered a top center with Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton on the market. Valanciunas has been mentioned in trade rumors previously. Will the Pelicans pay up to keep him after he turns 32 in May?
Rising young forward Trey Murphy III is eligible for a rookie scale extension during the summer and a significant pay raise down the line. How much will he command and do the Pelicans want to pay that figure?
Herb Jones has All-Defensive potential and is admired from afar by many rival teams. Would New Orleans gauge the market on his value?
CJ McCollum has remained a steady veteran presence and continued his efficient production since being acquired from the Blazers thus far, but would the Pelicans sell high on him as he turns 33 in September?
Pelicans stars Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have come up in trade speculation in the past, but that was to acquire another star in return or the possibility of a high draft pick that could be a franchise-caliber game changer. Would the Pelicans grow frustrated enough with Williamson’s injury history and weight fluctuation to move him?
Rival executives are eagerly awaiting the answers to all these questions and will be ready to pounce on the next available Pelican.
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