Also, more on the Suns and Jimmy Butler, which, to be honest, is little more than a clickbait story at this point.
Christmas is here, but presents under the tree — or the rush of last-minute shopping for some of us — has not slowed the NBA rumor mill. Here is the latest.
Wizards want to trade Kyle Kuzma
It’s no secret the Washington Wizards wish to be sellers at the trade deadline. We’ve known that since before the season started, this is a rebuilding team with a cast of ill-fitting veterans who might be able to help other teams. Center Jonas Valanciunas remains the Wizards most likely to be on the move.
Washington also is “eager” to trade wing Kyle Kuzma, reports Marc Stein in his latest newsletter. Kuzma as a young wing was a part of the rotation on the Lakers’ 2020 championship team, but injuries have plagued this season — tonight (Monday) will be his 10th game missed with a rib injury — and with that his numbers have fallen off. Kuzma’s minutes are down and he is averaging 15.8 points a game (down from more than 21 his first two seasons in Washington), he is shooting 27.6% from 3 (career 33.6%) and his rebounding and assist numbers have fallen off as well. Kuzma, 29, is making $23.6 million this season and has two guaranteed seasons after this at a total of $40.9 million (a descending contract that should make him more interesting to trade partners).
Would a change of scenery — Sacramento is known to be interested and other teams looking for a wing will kick the tires — be what he needs to turn things around (that and getting healthy)? The Wizards are betting that teams think so.
Bradley Beal unfazed by trade rumors
Bradley Beal’s name came up as the player who would go to Miami in a Jimmy Butler trade (keep reading; we have more on that below)… except Beal has a no-trade clause and would have to approve the deal. Beal is dealing with these rumors by not dealing with them — until something real happens, he’s not playing along. Here’s what he told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
“Until one of them come say something to me or talks to me, it’s just out there. I’m a Phoenix Sun and I’m here and I’m in the uniform. I don’t pay attention to that. They did that with me for 10 years.”
Suns interest in Jimmy Butler “genuine”
Jimmy Butler has some control over where he gets traded because he (or his agent) has reportedly told teams he will opt out of his $52.4 million contract for next season to become a free agent. Teams trading for him will have to pay up with a new deal.
One team on Butler’s list is the Phoenix Suns — and that feeling is mutual, reports Stein in his newsletter. That report says the Suns’ interest in Butler is “genuine.”
That interest is great and all, but this trade actually coming together is more Twilight Zone than reality. That’s because to make it work, as noted above, Beal has to waive his no-trade clause, and there are no signs he would be willing to do that. Even if Beal did sign off on it (he has had an interest in Miami in the past), why would Miami play along? Beal is not as good a player as Butler right now and has two years and $100.8 million guaranteed left on his contract (while the final year is a player option, it’s highly unlikely he will turn it down). That is not a win for Miami and ties up its books for years.
Stein’s report sounds like it’s sourced from the Suns, but it has little actual traction in the real world (and he hints at that). Never say never in the NBA, but Beal to the Heat stories are little more than clickbait at this point.
Kings looking to add, not trade away
Rumors of a star looking for a trade light up NBA Twitter/BlueSky/IG/whatever — and De’Aaron Fox is a shining star. Which is why the idea that the Kings are at a crossroads where Fox could ask out gains traction.
From the Kings’ perspective, they want to add, not subtract — they are looking to make a trade to upgrade the roster, specifically at the backup center spot and on the wing, something Sam Amick covers in the same Athletic story he talks about Fox considering his options. Specifically, the Kings have their eyes on the Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant, the Jazz’s John Collins, The Nets’ Cameron Johnson, and the Wizards’ Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Kuzma. Don’t be surprised if the Kings make a move to bring in more depth and talent, and with that, try to convince Fox they are trying to win with him (and get him to sign a four-year, $229 million extension this summer to stay in Sacramento).
If Fox does ask for trade, watch Spurs
If things in Sacramento go south and Fox does ask for a trade — which is possible but would suck for Kings fans who have been through so much — keep an eye on the San Antonio Spurs, Amick says.
San Antonio is building a contender around Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul is not the long-term answer at the point, but Fox could be. It seems a natural fit, and it’s something to watch.
Spurs also more likely to buy than sell
This is less of a surprise, but with the Spurs at 15-13 and looking like a play-in team in the West (currently No. 9 seed), the idea of the Spurs as sellers also appears dead. They may not be buyers — unless Fox tries to force his way out of Sacramento — but they are not going to be sellers, either. That said, expect some teams looking for a floor general or point guard depth to call about Chris Paul.
Cameron Johnson drawing plenty of interest
What team couldn’t use a 6’8″ forward/wing averaging 19.2 points a game, who can space the floor (43.1% from 3), and is a solid defender? Apparently nobody, because multiple reports have a lot of teams showing interest in the Brooklyn Net, including the Lakers and Warriors.
Add the Thunder to the list, Jake Fischer said on Bleacher Report.
While the Thunder have the best defense in the NBA, Johnson would fill the one clear hole in it — a big wing defender. Giannis Antetokounmpo exposed that problem during the NBA Cup Finals. OKC has the picks and salaries to entice the Nets, if they are serious. It’s something to watch.
Is Zeke Nnaji’s contract holding up Zach LaVine trade?
When reports of the Nuggets talking to the Bulls about trading for Zach LaVine came up — to give Denver the needed shot creation around Nikola Jokic — there was a logical trade construction that became the conventional wisdom: Zach LaVine for Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji, and a pick.
Except, the Bulls have no interest in taking on Nnaji‘s contract, reports the well-connected K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network.
Said this on @CHSN__ pregame show last night but, at least as of now, Bulls have shown no interest in taking Zeke Nnaji contract in any talks surrounding Zach LaVine.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 21, 2024
Nnaji is making $8.9 million this season and has a descending contract with three more years and $23.1 million on it. Nnaji is getting limited minutes on a team that is short on depth, which is not a good sign. The trade could still work mathematically if it were LaVine for Porter Jr., Dario Saric, and a player making around $3 million (DaRon Holmes II or Russell Westbrook), but that might not work for Denver. The Nuggets are debating internally if trading Porter Jr. is wise, according to reports, and this whole situation remains something to watch.
