Trade-talk roundup: What we know
ESPN.com
What's the latest trade intel? Our reporters are on the case. We'll be updating this file all through Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. Refresh and follow along with us.
--------------------------
Bookmark this link for ESPN'S latest updates.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...lkRoundup-2010
Here's the latest as of 9:45 p.m.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 7:51 p.m. ET
Stoudemire
J.A. Adande: With rampant speculation that Miami is trying to pry Amare Stoudemire from the Phoenix Suns before the Cleveland Cavaliers can get him, here are two possible scenarios.
According to an NBA source, the Heat are offering Daequan Cook, Quentin Richardson, Dorell Wright, Mario Chalmers and draft picks to the Suns. Cook is the only player among that group who is under contract for next season (Chalmers has a team option for $847,000). It is believed that the Suns would rather have a package from Cleveland that would include Zydrunas Ilgauskas, J.J. Hickson and a draft pick, with the young Hickson as the most appealing part of the package.
Another league source said the Suns would like to attach Jason Richardson to a Stoudemire trade, which would relieve Phoenix from having to pay Richardson's $14 million salary next season. The combined $29 million of outgoing salary from Stoudemire and Richardson this season would be too difficult for Cleveland to match to make a trade work under the salary-cap guidelines. Miami, however, could add the $23 million expiring salary of Jermaine O'Neal to the previously mentioned offer and come within the 25 percent range of matching salaries. I have yet to hear that the Heat are willing to do so, I am merely mentioning the possibility.
That would have obvious appeal to the Suns, allowing them to escape from luxury-tax land next season and positioning them to go after a major free agent this summer.
The Suns would be looking at nine players under contract for a total of about $33 million next season: Steve Nash ($10.3 million), Leandro Barbosa ($7.1 million), Grant Hill ($3.3 million player option), Channing Frye ($2 million player option), Goran Dragic ($2 million), Earl Clark ($1.9 million), Robin Lopez ($1.9 million), Jared Dudley ($2.2 million) and Cook ($2.2 million).
The Heat would be stuck with Richardson's contract and could potentially have Stoudemire opt out and leave them as a free agent. But they would also have Stoudemire's Larry Bird rights, enabling them to offer a longer and more lucrative contract than any other team. And they would have demonstrated to Dwyane Wade that they would do whatever it takes to bring another All-Star to play alongside him.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 6:02 p.m. ET
Chad Ford: The Knicks have had discussions with both the Rockets and Bulls about deals that would bring Tracy McGrady and Tyrus Thomas, respectively, to New York.
However, as of Tuesday afternoon, the Knicks say they aren't sure where they stand with either team.
McGrady's agent, Arn Tellem, initiated talks with the Knicks and has been trying to make a deal happen, according to a source close to the process. The Knicks believe McGrady still can play and hope he can both lead them to a playoff berth and help persuade LeBron James to come to New York in the summer. Even if McGrady can do neither, he would allow the Knicks to get further under the cap this summer if the deal included Jared Jeffries.
But the Rockets' asking price is steep if they have to take back Jeffries and the $6.6 million remaining on his contract next season.
The same source said the Rockets want expiring contracts, 2009 first-round pick Jordan Hill and future first-rounders from New York to make it happen. That's too rich for the Knicks' blood. Although they'd love to clear Jeffries' contract off the books, it'd be too big of a risk. If the Knicks didn't land a marquee free agent or two in the summer, they'd have given away up to three high draft picks for nothing.
If the Rockets drop the request for the future 2012 first-rounder, the Knicks might be game for a deal that would send Larry Hughes, Jeffries and Hill to Houston for McGrady. Still, a source close to the process believes the Rockets may have better options for McGrady if the Knicks aren't willing to meet their demands.
Meanwhile, New York also has initiated discussions with the Bulls about a Thomas swap. The Knicks are willing to offer Chicago Al Harrington for Thomas and Jerome James. But although Harrington would be a plus for the Bulls this season, Chicago has been hoping to get a future asset (preferably a first-round pick or a good player) in return for Thomas.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 4:31 p.m. ET
O'Neal
Marc Stein: Cleveland's interest in Antawn Jamison dates to last season and apparently has spawned some radio rumblings in the D.C. area about the Wizards and Cavs discussing a deal that would swap Jamison and Mike Miller for Shaquille O'Neal.
I've been encouraged by both teams to dispel that notion in the strongest possible terms. Both teams resoundingly shot down the idea when we checked with them. Got a flat "no" from one of the two teams and a louder "BIG no" from the other.
The Cavs still covet Jamison, but giving up Shaq to get him makes no sense, even if they do successfully strike a deal for Amare Stoudemire before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline.
On top of the fact that the Cavs are very pleased with Shaq's first 50-plus games in town, they need him for potential down-the-road playoff matchups against Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, etc. Cleveland, remember, thinks defense first.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 3:51 p.m. ET
Jefferson
Chad Ford: The Wolves continue to rebuff teams looking into the availability of Al Jefferson.
A source close to the process told ESPN.com that the Wolves recently said no to a potential Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas for Jefferson deal, telling the Bulls that they aren't going to move Jefferson by the trade deadline, which is consistent with what Wolves GM David Kahn has been saying for weeks. However, a Deng-and-Thomas deal was the most realistic trade scenario we've heard for Jefferson.
Jefferson was one of the first big names to get mentioned in trade deadline buzz when word came out that the Pacers had rebuffed an offer of Jefferson for Danny Granger. Since then, Kahn has been adamant that he's not trading any member of his young core by the trade deadline. Kahn has maintained he wants an entire season to evaluate the talent he has on the roster.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 3:34 p.m. ET
Kaman
Marc Stein: The Clippers fended off interest in newly minted All-Star center Chris Kaman before trading Marcus Camby to Portland on Monday.
Detroit needs a big man who can score and, according to sources close to the situation, recently followed up its interest in Utah's Carlos Boozer and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire by trying to pry Kaman away from the Clips with a package headlined by Tayshaun Prince.
Don't forget that Kaman, besides ranking as one of the few players in the league averaging at least 20 points and nine rebounds this season, is a Michigan native.
Yet sources say the Clips made it clear that Kaman -- who has two seasons left on his contract after this one at a combined $23.5 million, compared to one more year left for Prince at $11.1 million -- was not available.
So with DeAndre Jordan in the Clips' center rotation as well, they decided to ship Camby to the Blazers for Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake and $1.5 million in cash, setting up Jordan as Kaman's new backup and leaving open the possibility that L.A. will be a free-agent factor this summer if it can ship out Al Thornton and/or Sebastian Telfair.
ESPN.com
What's the latest trade intel? Our reporters are on the case. We'll be updating this file all through Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. Refresh and follow along with us.
--------------------------
Bookmark this link for ESPN'S latest updates.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...lkRoundup-2010
Here's the latest as of 9:45 p.m.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 7:51 p.m. ET
J.A. Adande: With rampant speculation that Miami is trying to pry Amare Stoudemire from the Phoenix Suns before the Cleveland Cavaliers can get him, here are two possible scenarios.
According to an NBA source, the Heat are offering Daequan Cook, Quentin Richardson, Dorell Wright, Mario Chalmers and draft picks to the Suns. Cook is the only player among that group who is under contract for next season (Chalmers has a team option for $847,000). It is believed that the Suns would rather have a package from Cleveland that would include Zydrunas Ilgauskas, J.J. Hickson and a draft pick, with the young Hickson as the most appealing part of the package.
Another league source said the Suns would like to attach Jason Richardson to a Stoudemire trade, which would relieve Phoenix from having to pay Richardson's $14 million salary next season. The combined $29 million of outgoing salary from Stoudemire and Richardson this season would be too difficult for Cleveland to match to make a trade work under the salary-cap guidelines. Miami, however, could add the $23 million expiring salary of Jermaine O'Neal to the previously mentioned offer and come within the 25 percent range of matching salaries. I have yet to hear that the Heat are willing to do so, I am merely mentioning the possibility.
That would have obvious appeal to the Suns, allowing them to escape from luxury-tax land next season and positioning them to go after a major free agent this summer.
The Suns would be looking at nine players under contract for a total of about $33 million next season: Steve Nash ($10.3 million), Leandro Barbosa ($7.1 million), Grant Hill ($3.3 million player option), Channing Frye ($2 million player option), Goran Dragic ($2 million), Earl Clark ($1.9 million), Robin Lopez ($1.9 million), Jared Dudley ($2.2 million) and Cook ($2.2 million).
The Heat would be stuck with Richardson's contract and could potentially have Stoudemire opt out and leave them as a free agent. But they would also have Stoudemire's Larry Bird rights, enabling them to offer a longer and more lucrative contract than any other team. And they would have demonstrated to Dwyane Wade that they would do whatever it takes to bring another All-Star to play alongside him.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 6:02 p.m. ET
Chad Ford: The Knicks have had discussions with both the Rockets and Bulls about deals that would bring Tracy McGrady and Tyrus Thomas, respectively, to New York.
However, as of Tuesday afternoon, the Knicks say they aren't sure where they stand with either team.
McGrady's agent, Arn Tellem, initiated talks with the Knicks and has been trying to make a deal happen, according to a source close to the process. The Knicks believe McGrady still can play and hope he can both lead them to a playoff berth and help persuade LeBron James to come to New York in the summer. Even if McGrady can do neither, he would allow the Knicks to get further under the cap this summer if the deal included Jared Jeffries.
But the Rockets' asking price is steep if they have to take back Jeffries and the $6.6 million remaining on his contract next season.
The same source said the Rockets want expiring contracts, 2009 first-round pick Jordan Hill and future first-rounders from New York to make it happen. That's too rich for the Knicks' blood. Although they'd love to clear Jeffries' contract off the books, it'd be too big of a risk. If the Knicks didn't land a marquee free agent or two in the summer, they'd have given away up to three high draft picks for nothing.
If the Rockets drop the request for the future 2012 first-rounder, the Knicks might be game for a deal that would send Larry Hughes, Jeffries and Hill to Houston for McGrady. Still, a source close to the process believes the Rockets may have better options for McGrady if the Knicks aren't willing to meet their demands.
Meanwhile, New York also has initiated discussions with the Bulls about a Thomas swap. The Knicks are willing to offer Chicago Al Harrington for Thomas and Jerome James. But although Harrington would be a plus for the Bulls this season, Chicago has been hoping to get a future asset (preferably a first-round pick or a good player) in return for Thomas.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 4:31 p.m. ET
Marc Stein: Cleveland's interest in Antawn Jamison dates to last season and apparently has spawned some radio rumblings in the D.C. area about the Wizards and Cavs discussing a deal that would swap Jamison and Mike Miller for Shaquille O'Neal.
I've been encouraged by both teams to dispel that notion in the strongest possible terms. Both teams resoundingly shot down the idea when we checked with them. Got a flat "no" from one of the two teams and a louder "BIG no" from the other.
The Cavs still covet Jamison, but giving up Shaq to get him makes no sense, even if they do successfully strike a deal for Amare Stoudemire before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline.
On top of the fact that the Cavs are very pleased with Shaq's first 50-plus games in town, they need him for potential down-the-road playoff matchups against Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum, etc. Cleveland, remember, thinks defense first.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 3:51 p.m. ET
Chad Ford: The Wolves continue to rebuff teams looking into the availability of Al Jefferson.
A source close to the process told ESPN.com that the Wolves recently said no to a potential Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas for Jefferson deal, telling the Bulls that they aren't going to move Jefferson by the trade deadline, which is consistent with what Wolves GM David Kahn has been saying for weeks. However, a Deng-and-Thomas deal was the most realistic trade scenario we've heard for Jefferson.
Jefferson was one of the first big names to get mentioned in trade deadline buzz when word came out that the Pacers had rebuffed an offer of Jefferson for Danny Granger. Since then, Kahn has been adamant that he's not trading any member of his young core by the trade deadline. Kahn has maintained he wants an entire season to evaluate the talent he has on the roster.
POSTED: Feb. 16 -- 3:34 p.m. ET
Marc Stein: The Clippers fended off interest in newly minted All-Star center Chris Kaman before trading Marcus Camby to Portland on Monday.
Detroit needs a big man who can score and, according to sources close to the situation, recently followed up its interest in Utah's Carlos Boozer and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire by trying to pry Kaman away from the Clips with a package headlined by Tayshaun Prince.
Don't forget that Kaman, besides ranking as one of the few players in the league averaging at least 20 points and nine rebounds this season, is a Michigan native.
Yet sources say the Clips made it clear that Kaman -- who has two seasons left on his contract after this one at a combined $23.5 million, compared to one more year left for Prince at $11.1 million -- was not available.
So with DeAndre Jordan in the Clips' center rotation as well, they decided to ship Camby to the Blazers for Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake and $1.5 million in cash, setting up Jordan as Kaman's new backup and leaving open the possibility that L.A. will be a free-agent factor this summer if it can ship out Al Thornton and/or Sebastian Telfair.
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