The NBA Draft is here and we have seen the first domino fall — Giannis Antetokounmpo is moving on to a warmer climate in Miami. Now the floodgates are open, and trade rumors are flying around the league. Here are some of the latest.
Fool me once…. Twice in the past handful of years, the Boston Celtics have made Jaylen Brown available in a trade for a superstar, first Kevin Durant and this past week for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Both times the deal didn’t go through, but now the fallout is hitting Boston.
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The Celtics have been taking calls and listening to offers for Brown, ESPN’s Shams Charania said on the network’s pre-draft show.
“Jaylen Brown and two unprotected first-round picks was the Celtics’ offer. Boston was the other finalist for Giannis before Miami got him. They wanted Giannis in Boston, but now they deal with the fallout. There are going to be more conversations there that they’re going to have.
“The Celtics have been aggressive also today, in taking calls, in making calls, listening in on potential offers for Jaylen Brown.”
Other front offices are making calls and preparing for what could be a bidding war, which ESPN’s Brian Windhorst discussed on the network’s “Get Up.”
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“What I expect to happen is a bidding war for Jaylen Brown. In the most recent days, teams have been preparing for this eventuality, that it wouldn’t be the Boston Celtics who won the Giannis sweepstakes and that there would be a Jaylen Brown market. And now we’re going to watch that. I think it’ll take time to play out.”
Houston and Atlanta should be the frontrunners for his services, and expect Portland to get in the mix (keep reading to find out more about the Rockets and Trail Blazers). Plenty of other teams will line up too, but matching his $57.1 million salary — he has three years and about $183 million left on his contract — will not be easy. However, it might be worth it for Brown, who averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game last season.
Teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard’s availability
What are the Clippers going to do this offseason? Are they going to be able to reach a contract extension with Kawhi Leonard? If not, might he push for a trade?
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Nobody knows, but teams are monitoring to see if Kawhi Leonard becomes available, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (hat tip RealGM).
“There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard here over the next few weeks… I don’t think the draft is necessarily dependent on Kawhi Leonard’s future, but I think in the coming days and weeks we’ll start to learn a little bit more about the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and a potential outside team as well.”
Leonard is entering the final year of his contract, making $50.3 million, and while he and the Clippers are talking contract extension, they reportedly remain far apart. The Clippers want Leonard, who is about to turn 35 and has a long track record of injuries and missed time, to take a healthy pay cut. Coming off an All-NBA season where he averaged 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, Leonard does not want to do so.
Owner Steve Ballmer reportedly does not want to trade Leonard, but if these negotiations get messy, Leonard could ask out. Other teams are watching.
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Rockets open to trading anyone except Thompson
After a first-round playoff exit at the hands of a Lakers team without Luka Doncic, Houston’s front office was understandably shaken up. They lost to a Lakers team that was completely outclassed by Oklahoma City (which in turn lost to San Antonio). There’s a gap, and Houston knows it, which has made them open to shaking up their roster — everyone is available in a trade. Well, except Amen Thompson, reports Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports.
“Houston isn’t actively shopping its All-Stars or other key members, sources said, but are merely expressing more of a willingness to listen than at previous junctures.”
This gets interesting if Boston does start seriously listening to trade offers for Jaylen Brown — Houston could put together a very good offer for the 2024 NBA Finals MVP. Look for Houston to do something this summer, although just having a healthy Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams would already make this team demonstrably better.
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The Pelicans know that 29 other teams could use a 6’8″ two-way wing who can create his own shot, scored 21.5 points per game while shooting 37.9% from 3 last season, and is a plus defender. It’s why New Orleans‘ asking price for Murphy has remained so high (enough that other teams have yet to meet it).
The Warriors are among the teams with an eye on Murphy, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype.
“Golden State has also been one of many interested suitors in New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, and the two teams have discussed concepts involving the No. 11 pick… Before this past trade deadline, several teams, including the Warriors, Pistons, Pacers, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Lakers, called to express interest in trading for Murphy, league sources told HoopsHype.”
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Keep an eye on Murphy heading into draft night.
New Portland owner Tom Dundon wants to make a splash — and not the kind where the league is shaking its head at the contract he pushed new coach Micah Nori to sign (one guaranteed year plus a bunch of team options). He wants to land a star player in a trade, to announce his presence with authority.
Anthony Davis could be that guy, if the Washington Wizards make him available, reports NBA insider Jake Fischer on Bleacher Report (hat tip BasketNews).
“Portland, to our understanding, as they have been floating around and poking around in Giannis trade conversations, we’ve been told that they would look to pivot to Anthony Davis on the trade market. They obviously have Jaylen Brown interest as well… We’ve been told that Portland will be waiting there, with open arms, potentially, to trade for Anthony Davis in that event [that he becomes available].”
If a star becomes available in a trade, expect Portland to put its name in the hat.
