NBA rumors

Former NBA guard Austin Rivers has delivered a blunt message to NBA front offices, urging them to abandon the idea of constantly trying to draft the “next” Kevin Durant.

According to Rivers, Durant’s unique dominance has distorted draft evaluations for years, leading teams to overvalue certain physical profiles in the hope of replicating his success.

“KD got 100,000 guys drafted because people thought in their delusional minds they’re getting another KD,” Rivers said. “He’s a one-of-one type of player.”

Rivers criticized the tendency to label tall, skinny prospects as Durant-like without considering the rare skill set that made the future Hall of Famer special. He pointed to examples where teams rushed to comparisons that were never realistic.

“I’m tired of people seeing someone like Thon Maker and saying, ‘Kevin Durant!’” Rivers added. “There’s only one KD.”

Rivers’ comments reflect a broader concern about player evaluation in the modern NBA, where chasing archetypes can sometimes overshadow realistic development paths and individual strengths.

News reported on Reddit.

The trade market for Trae Young appears far less active than it might seem, according to a recent league-wide assessment shared by an NBA insider.

“I don’t even know if anybody’s even debating this thing anymore,” the source said, explaining that they reached out to a league executive to gain clarity on Young’s trade value. “Just give me a kind of breakdown of the Trae Young trade market.”

The response was notably blunt. According to the executive, it is difficult to identify a contending team that would truly benefit from adding Young this season, especially when considering the cost required to make a deal work financially.

“It’s hard to think of a team that’s trying to win this season that Trae would help,” the source explained. “Once you factor in what that team would have to give up in matching salary, the appeal fades.”

Concerns were also raised about Young’s on-court impact beyond scoring. The executive pointed to deficiencies in defense and rebounding, while also suggesting that his playing style has created friction within locker rooms.

“He doesn’t defend. He doesn’t rebound. Guys hate playing with him,” the source concluded.

According to Evan Sidery of Forbes, the San Antonio Spurs are likely to view Kelly Olynyk’s $13.4 million expiring contract as a useful trade chip.

Sidery noted that San Antonio is not expected to pursue a blockbuster move ahead of the trade deadline, but could look to slightly improve the rotation by using Olynyk’s contract as salary ballast along with draft assets.

This season, Olynyk has played in 18 games, posting averages of 4.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from beyond the arc.

The veteran big man has offered important depth in the frontcourt, particularly while franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama was sidelined with a calf strain.

San Antonio acquired Olynyk last summer from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, and a 2026 second-round draft pick.

Now 34 years old and in his 13th NBA campaign, Olynyk previously spent four seasons each with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, and carries career averages of 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 37 percent shooting from three-point range.

The Spurs currently hold a 23–9 record, placing them second in the Western Conference standings.

“The Hawks are heavily pursuing Anthony Davis,” @BrettSiegelNBA reports, adding there has been “direct communication” between the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks. The discussions reportedly covered what “both sides want.”

Siegel states: “We can confirm that there has been direct communication discussing what both sides want.” The post frames Atlanta’s interest as aggressive and ongoing.

The key detail is the proposed price: “I’ve been told the Hawks have signaled directly to the Mavs that they would trade Zaccharie Risacher to acquire Davis.” That’s the core claim in the report regarding how talks could be structured.

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to build a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to @JamalCollier.
In the meantime, multiple team and league sources say the team has been “active in pursuing the trade market.”

Those sources describe internal conversations involving several targets.
Among them is Sacramento’s Zach LaVine, a player Milwaukee has had interest in and previous chances to acquire.

The list also includes Malik Monk and Portland’s Jerami Grant.
The report underscores Milwaukee’s ongoing activity as it explores ways to upgrade the roster.

The Atlanta Hawks are “indicating that they’re looking for the exit ramp with Trae Young,” according to @BannedMacMahon.
The report points to the team’s contract posture as the key indicator.

“They did not make any attempt to get him signed to an extension,” the quote says.
And when that happens with the face of the franchise, “that’s a pretty clear message.”

The takeaway is blunt: “the end could be near.”
A statement that intensifies speculation around Trae Young’s future in Atlanta.

As reported by Michael Scotto, multiple NBA general managers have expressed interest in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, reaching out to Milwaukee Bucks GM Jon Horst.
The conversations reflect the league-wide value of the two-time MVP.

However, the response from Milwaukee has been consistent.
“He’s not going anywhere,” is what executives have been told when contacting Horst.

Despite ongoing speculation, the Bucks have drawn a firm line.
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a cornerstone of the franchise with no plans to move him.

Veteran 7-foot center Mo Bamba has agreed to a one-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, his representatives Mark Bartelstein and Greer Love told ESPN.
Bamba now joins Toronto in his eighth NBA season, bringing much-needed frontcourt size.

Bamba averaged 16.5 points and 12 rebounds with the G League’s Salt Lake City Stars before this move.
Last season, he played for the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans, posting 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 12.9 minutes in 32 games.

According to NBA on Prime insider Chris Haynes, the Golden State Warriors have emerged as another team keeping a close eye on Anthony Davis.

Golden State has been in the market for a rim-protecting center for quite some time, and recent discussions have reportedly shifted toward evaluating potential paths to acquire Davis. However, a direct deal appears unlikely, as the Mavericks are said to have little interest in the Warriors’ current assets, making the involvement of a third team a necessity to complete any trade.

Despite the challenges, the Warriors remain focused on adding a significant presence in the frontcourt for the latter part of the regular season, with the goal of strengthening their championship push alongside Curry, Butler and Green.

According to Chris Haynes, the Atlanta Hawks remain very interested in the possibility of trading for Anthony Davis.

The reporter adds that a potential deal with Atlanta would not include Trae Young, with Dallas instead seeking expiring contracts, young assets, draft picks, and possibly last year’s No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.

Davis is currently expected to miss multiple games due to a groin strain.

According to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime, the Golden State Warriors are active on the trade market looking to add an athletic big man — a classic rim protector — to their roster.

“They are looking for a player with size and athleticism. If you look at the Warriors, they’re in the bottom half of the league in rebounding and blocked shots, and they are actually last in points in the paint. That’s why they’re searching for an athletic center,” Haynes explained.

Haynes then named three potential targets: Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks, Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets, and Robert Williams of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“These are three of the names on the Golden State Warriors’ list,” Haynes added. “I’ve been told they are really serious, that they are trying to do everything they can to try to get the team back to being of the caliber of a championship contending-type.”

The Warriors are currently ninth in the Western Conference with 13 wins in 28 games.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said he’s “locked in” on getting healthy and can’t control reports about his future with the Milwaukee Bucks. Before Thursday’s game vs the Toronto Raptors, he stated that if his agent is speaking with the organization, that’s the agent’s decision — and that he personally hasn’t had that conversation with the Bucks.

Giannis largely sidestepped deeper future questions, stressing the reports don’t change his work or his relationships with teammates, coach, or the front office. He emphasized urgency with Milwaukee sitting at 11-16 and said the team can’t be consumed by headlines when “we’ve got to win a game.”

Sidelined since Dec. 3 with a right calf strain, Antetokounmpo said he’s spoken with the coach and with individual teammates who asked about the reports because it could impact their own lives and careers. He also acknowledged that rushing back from a prior issue likely contributed to the current setback, describing the pressure he feels as a leader to return too quickly to help the team.

The Brooklyn Nets are “expected to gauge the market” for Cam Thomas, but “there simply isn’t one,” according to @NYPost_Lewis. The report cites “multiple league sources” who believe there’s no real trade demand at this time.

Thomas reportedly rejected a two-year, $30 million offer that included a team option in the second season. He also turned down a one-year, $9.5 million deal with incentives up to $11 million, while waiving his no-trade clause.

The core point remains: “There has to be a market” for a deal to happen, and the Post’s reporting says league sources insist that market “simply isn’t” there right now.

Source: New York Post

The Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Spurs in the NBA Cup once again highlighted a familiar issue. As Marc Stein notes, the game underlined L.A.’s need for on-ball perimeter defenders.

According to Stein, the Lakers are expected to prioritize three-and-D players at the trade deadline, with a limited pool beyond names like Keon Ellis of the Kings.

For the Atlanta Hawks, any major trade deadline moves are expected to run through Kristaps Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract, per Marc Stein.
The recent news that Porzingis will miss at least two weeks due to illness complicates matters, especially given his lingering health issues from last year’s playoffs.

Those concerns add a layer of uncertainty to Atlanta’s ability to leverage his expiring deal.
One name not expected to surface in trade talks is Jalen Johnson, whom the Hawks view as central to their current level of competitiveness.

With Trae Young limited to just five games because of a knee injury, Johnson has stepped forward in a big way.
He logged his fourth straight triple-double on Sunday, tying Nikola Jokic, while the Hawks are 12-9 without Young and he averages 23.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, teams around the league are still waiting for a signal from the Milwaukee Bucks.

So far, there has been no indication Giannis Antetokounmpo is being made available, even after a 45-point loss to Brooklyn.

Rival executives are monitoring for any shift in direction, but the Bucks have not hinted at moving their franchise star.

Instead, there is growing belief that Milwaukee will try to reinforce the roster around Antetokounmpo rather than pursue a teardown.

If Giannis Antetokounmpo ever hit the market, the list of suitors might already be shrinking.

Stein reports that the Spurs, Rockets and Thunder are expected to remove themselves from any bidding for the two-time MVP.

Source: Hoops Wire / The Stein Line

The “Giannis Watch” remains quiet, as the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks continues to hang over the trade market. According to Afseth, there have been no meaningful developments in recent days.

Rival executives still tend to view the Knicks as the leading contender if Milwaukee ever opens the door to a trade. New York is widely seen as the most likely destination in that scenario.

The Heat and Spurs are also mentioned as teams closely monitoring the situation around Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP’s uncertain future continues to shape the wider NBA trade landscape.

The Dallas Mavericks are not actively shopping Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford or D’Angelo Russell, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.

Dallas has signaled to rival teams that it is in an evaluation phase, assessing both its on-court product and the broader trade market with a focus on long-term planning.

Around the league, the sense is that the Mavs are operating opportunistically rather than as deadline sellers, with any move needing to align with the organization’s long-term outlook.

A Davis trade is described as far from inevitable, with sources insisting there is “no sense” in moving him unless the market is exactly right.

Notably, Kyrie Irving has not been part of exploratory talks, as Dallas wants to see him alongside rookie Cooper Flagg and believes the veteran guard can speed up Flagg’s development once healthy.

While Pistons, Hawks and Raptors have been linked to Davis, only Toronto is viewed as a clean on-court fit, and any serious Thompson discussions are expected to respect his preference to play for a contender.

Source: Hoops Wire / Grant Afseth

The New York Knicks are eyeing Jose Alvarado as they look to bolster their backcourt depth ahead of trade season. Per SNY, New York wants another point guard in the rotation and views the New Orleans Pelicans guard as an appealing target thanks to his manageable deal: $4.5 million this season with a $4.5 million player option for next year.

While there’s no indication yet that the Pelicans are actively shopping Alvarado, they are known to be open to offers for their veteran players. With the Knicks sitting just over $148K below the second-apron hard cap, Alvarado’s low salary could make him an attainable piece – and potentially allow New York to shed some money in the process.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade chatter has a new twist: alongside the New York Knicks, the Miami Heat are now being linked as a preferred destination.
On Zach Lowe’s podcast, Howard Beck reported that Miami was suggested by league sources as a place Giannis “would really love to land” if it’s not New York.

This comes as Antetokounmpo, his agent and the Milwaukee Bucks continue talks about his future, with a resolution expected “in the coming weeks,” per Shams Charania.
One person familiar with the situation told Charania that “the writing is on the wall” regarding a potential trade, fueling speculation around the league.

The Knicks had an exclusive negotiating window over the summer, but that advantage is now gone, with New York no longer the sole preferred destination in possible trade talks.
With Miami Heat entering the picture, the market around Giannis could quickly become a full-on bidding war if he formally asks out.

On the floor, Antetokounmpo has been in MVP-level form, averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists, though he is currently out with a calf injury.
Whichever franchise ultimately lands him would receive an instant title-contender boost, reshaping the NBA landscape overnight.

The Golden State Warriors are reportedly only willing to trade Draymond Green in one specific scenario: to land Giannis Antetokounmpo.
According to Jake Fischer, Golden State could build an “intriguing package” for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Fischer claims that «the only player I think in the league that Golden State would be willing to move Draymond Green for would be Giannis Antetokounmpo».
Combined with Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors’ offer could become particularly appealing.

Even so, this doesn’t mean Green is broadly on the trade block: his deal, like Jimmy Butler’s, wouldn’t be pushed into talks for anyone short of a superstar.
The message is simple: Golden State won’t move Draymond Green unless it’s for an elite name at Giannis’ level.

The New York Knicks will no longer have an exclusive negotiating window for Giannis Antetokounmpo in potential trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Over the summer, Milwaukee had granted them that privilege, as Giannis made it known he preferred New York, but talks ultimately fell apart despite Knicks offers.

If Antetokounmpo requests a trade in-season, the Bucks will open discussions to the entire NBA, even if the superstar big man continues to favor the Knicks.
“The writing is on the wall,” one source said, hinting at an increasingly uncertain future for Giannis in Milwaukee.

The Bucks have minimal means left to upgrade the roster around their star, with just one tradable first-round pick and limited young talent to include in deals.
In that landscape, New York no longer controls the board alone — any Giannis Antetokounmpo trade would now be a league-wide sweepstakes.

Jonathan Kuminga’s DNP in the Golden State Warriors’ 123-91 win over the Chicago Bulls has only intensified questions about his future in the Bay.
On a two-year, $46.8 million deal, the 23-year-old forward becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15.

Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Golden State is “expected to explore the Kuminga trade market in the weeks ahead,” with a “strong” probability of a split before February’s deadline.
This comes after a hot start in which Kuminga averaged 17.5 points on 55.4% shooting, including 45% from three, over the first six games.

Since then, though, Steve Kerr has again struggled to balance Kuminga’s minutes with what he feels is best for the team, culminating in a DNP in a 32-point blowout.
With his trade value no higher than it was in the summer, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. still hopes for a meaningful return, but at some point both sides may need to accept what’s on the table and make a clean break.

Source: Joseph Zucker

The Cleveland Cavaliers sit at 14-11, far off last season’s 64 wins, and rival executives are watching closely.

Per Hoops Wire, many around the league believe president Koby Altman may eventually need a major roster shakeup if Cleveland falls short again in the spring.

The name that comes up most often is Darius Garland, viewed as the swing piece in any potential reset. A home loss to a Warriors team missing Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green only deepened the frustration, with the locker room described as quiet and somber.

According to U.S. reporter Lou Canellis (FOX News), the Los Angeles Lakers have entered the mix as potential suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Luka Doncic is also involved in the story, reportedly wanting to see if a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks could be worked out.

In recent days, rumors around Antetokounmpo’s future have intensified, and now Kanellis claims the Lakers have requested information. “I can tell you that the Lakers asked for information, as did Luka Doncic himself, trying to see if they could reach an agreement with the Bucks,” the FOX News journalist said.

The spark was lit by Shams Charania, who two days earlier reported on talks between Giannis’ camp and the Bucks about his future. Since then, potential trade scenarios for the Greek Freak have multiplied across the NBA landscape, fueling speculation about the next chapter of his career.

REPORT: Luka Doncic asked the Lakers to see if they can acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo 👀

“I can tell you that the Lakers inquired and Luka Doncic himself inquired, trying to see if the Lakers could work out a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.”

(Via @LouCanellis) pic.twitter.com/ZWNiY9gt0j

— CourtSideHeat (@CourtSideHeat) December 4, 2025

The Chicago Bulls have held internal discussions about a potential trade for Anthony Davis, per ESPN.

The team believes the Dallas Mavericks star could address its issues with rim protection and interior defense.

The Golden State Warriors are bringing back Seth Curry on a deal through the end of the season, according to Shams Charania.

Steph’s brother was waived near the end of training camp, in part to avoid getting too close to the second apron threshold.

The reunion had long been expected by many league insiders, and now only the official announcement is missing.

Seth Curry intends to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors on Monday to a deal for the remainder of the season, sources tell ESPN. Curry – who shot an NBA-best 45.6% from 3-point range in 2024-25 – joins older brother Stephen on the Warriors for his 12th season in the league. https://t.co/umwvhCy4OX

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 30, 2025

Il 35enne ex Duke ha medie-carriera di 10 punti in 22 minuti a partita, con un ottimo 43% nel tiro dalla lunga distanza.