NBA rumors

Simone Fontecchio could change teams before the deadline. Zach Lowe of ESPN and Tony Jones of The Athletic agree.

Simone Fontecchio’s contract

Let’s start with the contract. Simone Fontecchio earns just over $3 million this season, the last of his two-year rookie contract.

In the summer he will be Restricted Free Agent with a $3.8 million qualifying offer.

The Future

In his podcast, Lowe states that there are franchises “definitely interested in Fontecchio”, while admitting that he does not know what the Jazz’s plans are for him.

The player has established himself as a quintet man, with defensive presence on the wing, a good outside shot, and the ability to play handler.

According to Lowe, Fontecchio will eventually remain in Utah, given the high ratio between performance and cost, even next season unless there are sensational offers in the summer.

According to Tony Jones, instead, there would be more chances for an immediate farewell to the Utah Jazz. Interested in Fontecchio are Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics, in search of reinforcements for the ‘second unit’. Boston, above all, would have first choices to put into play.

According to reports from Yahoo Sports, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for ways to strengthen the team, partly due to Joel Embiid’s knee surgery.

Their goal is to acquire more immediate first-round picks, as the first tradeable pick will not be available until 2026.

Among the players in the Sixers’ sights are Buddy Hield of the Pacers and Bojan Bogdanović of the Pistons. Hield, with a salary of $18.5 million, would fit into the Sixers’ expiring contracts without burdening their future budget, while Bogdanović, with a $20 million salary for this season and only $2 million guaranteed for 2024-25, is another attractive option.

However, Detroit has shown no interest in giving up Bogdanović, despite the Pistons’ interest in reacquiring Tobias Harris, whom Philadelphia does not seem to want to trade.

Andrew Wiggins looms as the Golden State Warriors’ most valuable bargaining chip ahead of the deadline, but realising a deal is proving complicated.

The market offers few alternatives comparable to Siakam, and other options such as the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray do not fit the Warriors’ needs.

Wiggins has attracted the interest of teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and the Milwaukee Bucks, but a possible trade with the Bucks would require the inclusion of Bobby Portis, which Milwaukee is carefully considering.

The Warriors could therefore move towards minor roster adjustments, rather than a big trade.

Source Yahoo

Renewed interest around Detroit Pistons point guard Monté Morris, according to The Athletic.

The Minnesota Timberwolves emerge as one of the franchises most interested in the player, confirming what was already known at the time of the Wizards.

Despite the interest expressed by several teams, the Pistons appreciate the qualities Morris brings to the court as a veteran guard, adept at handling the ball and able to contribute significantly on the shot clock.

His presence is seen as an added value for Detroit, which seems intent on retaining the player, valuing his experiential contribution and technical capabilities within the roster.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris is once again at the centre of market rumours that he is of interest to the Detroit Pistons, a team he played for between 2016 and 2018.

According to the Athletic, the Pistons’ interest in the talented shooter is nothing new, having already been mentioned in reports dating back to December.

The final decision will very much depend on the 76ers’ demand for Harris; consequently, Detroit could opt for a wait-and-see strategy, considering signing him this summer without sacrificing assets.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz are the only teams to have made concrete offers to the Atlanta Hawks for one-time All-Star Dejounte Murray, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer.

During an episode of the podcast with NBA insider Marc Stein, Fischer shared the latest updates on Murray’s situation.

Fischer stated that real offers are only coming from the Lakers and Jazz, but the Lakers don’t have a clear and defined package that meets the Hawks’ demands in terms of draft picks and a desired player without a contract that is considered onerous long-term.

Several teams, including the Golden State Warriors, would have inquired about Alex Caruso. This was reported by KC Johnson, Chicago Bulls insider for NBC.

The Chicago Bulls had rejected any move, but that was before Zach LaVine’s final stop. Will anything change in the next few hours?

Caruso, who is earning nearly $10 million this season, has one year left on a similar contract, but to be guaranteed by 30 June.

The Houston Rockets acquired Memphis Grizzlies centre Steven Adams in a trade involving guard Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks.

As part of the trade, the Grizzlies will receive a 2024 second-round pick via Oklahoma City, a conditional ’24 second-round pick, which will be the most favourable pick between the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State, and a more favourable 2025 second-round pick from Houston, according to sources.

Adams, 30, has been out since January 2023 after undergoing surgery on his right knee, but is expected to be fully recovered by the 2024-25 season.

The Rockets are looking forward to his physicality, rebounding presence and leadership as a backup to emerging star centre Alperen Sengun. Before his knee injury last season, Adams averaged 11.5 total rebounds in 42 games.

The trade reduces the Grizzlies’ guaranteed salary for the 2024-25 season by $12.4 million, dropping it about $17 million below the $190 million salary cap level, known as the second apron. Oladipo, who has an expiring contract, has no set timeline for his return to the court.

The Memphis Grizzlies are trading Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2024

Mikal Bridges is unlikely to leave the Brookly Nets before the deadline.

According to The Athletic, the Brookly Nets would have no interest in working on trades involving the Villanova wing, who is producing 21.9 points on average.

Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns are reportedly on the trail of Jae’Sean Tate, The Athletic reports.

The Houston Rockets’ wing is averaging 4.6 points with 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists this season.

The Houston Rockets would be interested in trading some of the draft picks they got for James Harden: the target would be Mikal Bridges according to Mike Scotto.

“Recently the Houston Rockets were among the teams that expressed interest in Bridges. Houston was willing to send some of its unused picks back to Brooklyn as part of the James Harden deal, but negotiations never got to that point because the Nets refused to deal for Bridges when Houston inquired.”

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly considering trade opportunities for Bones Hyland according to Mike Scotto.

The point guard is averaging 6.4 points this season.

The Lakers are willing to offer D’Angelo Russell and Jalen Hood-Schifino for Dejounte Murray according to Brett Siegel.

“The Lakers have already submitted an offer, a deal that includes the likes of D’Angelo Russell, rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft compensation, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints.”

Meanwhile, the two faced off on the night, with the Hawks’ victory over the Lakers 138-122. Murray, in 33 minutes, produced 24 points and 9 assists with 11/19 from the field. For Russell, 9 points in 27′ with 3/11 from the field and 5 assists.

D’Angelo Russell and Dejounte Murray sharing a moment postgame (with a cameo from Austin Reaves) pic.twitter.com/cRbMzqjtWy

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 31, 2024

Bogdan Bogdanovic has entered the Minnesota Timberwolves’ crosshairs in recent weeks, according to Brett Siegel.

However, the Serbian’s newly signed contract, which includes almost $52 million guaranteed for this and two more seasons, would be the main obstacle.

The New York Knicks reportedly plan to get Tari Eason from the Houston Rockets before the deadline.

“New York wants Tari Eason, but a trade for [Quentin] Grimes may be necessary, leaving the Knicks short at guard,” writes SNY’s David Vertsberger.

Eason has been out for most of the month with a leg injury. His last appearance was on New Year’s Day, in the win against the Detroit Pistons. On that occasion he put up 17 points, four rebounds, one assist and three steals.

He currently averages 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game on 46.6 per cent shooting from the field and 36.0 per cent from beyond the arc.

Kyle Lowry will be at the centre of the market in the event of a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets, and the feeling is that the former Toronto and Miami player could end up in a title contender.

A new preferred destination has recently emerged. Given Lowry’s ties to his hometown of Philadelphia and his previous relationship with coach Nick Nurse, league insiders, as reported by Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, predict Lowry could sign with Philadelphia.

The question: are the 76ers a contender today?

A complex season for the Golden State Warriors, but no sudden revolutions would be on the horizon. Not according to Ramona Shelburne.

Currently the franchise that has marked this NBA generation is out of the play-in game in the Western, with a 19-24 record.

At the end of the season Klay Thompson will be expiring, while Curry and Green still have a few years left on their contracts.

But, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, there would be no trades in sight, at least not involving the franchise’s history-making axis: ‘They’re not going to move that core and dismantle that team unless he’s on board with that idea.

That “he” is Steph Curry.

“They are not gonna make moves to that core and break up that dynastic team unless he’s on board with that idea.”

Ramona Shelburne doesn’t see the Warriors making a trade unless Steph Curry agrees to it 🗣️

(via @ESPNNBA)pic.twitter.com/KpmWEO1iXh

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 29, 2024

There would never be a negotiation between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks for Dejounte Murray. According to Marc Stein, the track for a trade before the trade deadline was described as ‘unrealistic’.

In fact, the Hawks are not interested in D’Angelo Russell, who, moreover, has started to play better since he has been reintegrated into the starting five.

Los Angeles would have offered Russell, a 2029 first-round pick, and a future first-round pick as the basis of a package for Murray. But any deal was contingent on finding a third team to take Russell.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is finalizing a contract extension that’s expected to take him through the end of the decade, sources tell ESPN.

The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Dave Joerger and Rex Kalamian as assistant coaches on the staff of Doc Rivers.

Joerger worked with Rivers with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Kalamian was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will remain sidelined for at least another week due to the ankle sprain suffered on 18 January. However, it is not ruled out that the player will remain out until the trade deadline.

‘I don’t know,’ the Bulls coach Billy Donovan’s response on the matter.

LaVine had already missed 17 games due to a foot problem.

The Toronto Raptors remain operational ahead of the February 8 trade deadline according to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.

Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett are the only players on the roster considered untouchable.

Bruce Brown has reportedly attracted interest from several teams, including the Lakers and Knicks.

Dejounte Murray to the Los Angeles Lakers? The trade with the Atlanta Hawks would be complex according to The Athletic.

According to reports, the Hawks would not be interested in receiving D’Angelo Russell in the trade for Murray.

But, in order to break even on the salary in the deal, the Lakers would almost certainly have to include Russell in the proposals for Murray.

If a trade for Murray were to materialise, it is likely that the Lakers and Hawks would have to find a third team willing to take Russell.

Wes Unseld jr won’t be anymore the head coach of the Washington Wizards.

Unseld is out as head coach with the Wizards that have a 7-36 record.

The Wizards will hire an interim head coach till the end of the season and a full time coach in the postseason.

The news was reported by Shams Charania.

If the Milwaukee Bucks are going to try to reach an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers for Matisse Thybulle, there would be no guarantees on the player’s willingness as of today.

Jake Fischer recently linked Thybulle to the Bucks, looking for improvements on perimeter defence. But the player’s past under Rivers’ orders could lead him to say ‘no’ to the trade.

This season, Thybulle is averaging 5.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, shooting 41.5% from the field and 36.7% from distance. He has twice earned All-Defensive honours in his NBA career, making him a solid asset in that area of the court. He is currently in his second season with the Blazers.