Also, who the Knicks are targeting and the Raptors are selling.
The league has gone from a slow jog to a full sprint as it approaches the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline. Here are the latest rumors from around the Association.
Does Zion want out of New Orleans?
Take this with a grain of salt for a few reasons, but ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported that Zion Williamson wants out of New Orleans (allegedly his being late to a team flight was a sign of that). His reported preference is to land in a major market — Los Angeles, New York — to improve his marketability.
Cool.
First, Zion said previously that he wants to stay in New Orleans. The Pelicans have not pushed a trade. This is more smoke than fire with the Zion rumors around the deadline, despite the fact there has been a buzz from almost the day he was drafted of him (or at least some of the people around him) thinking the grass looks greener elsewhere.
More importantly, Zion’s marketability isn’t struggling because he is in a small market — it’s his play. Or lack thereof. In the last four seasons (including the current one), Zion has played in 37.4% of the Pelicans games due to injury. This is a roster built around his unquestionably impressive skills getting buckets inside, but you have to play and win to be marketable — LaMelo Ball isn’t winning but he’s on the court this season putting on a show and fans respond to that. Injuries happen, but Zion getting suspended a game for chronic tardiness (being late to practices, a team flight to Philadelphia) and him physically not holding up feel like part of the same thread. Fans notice professionalism and it matters.
The Pelicans are not going to trade Zion at the deadline because it would be difficult to move his $36.7 million contract and because the offers they are getting are reportedly lowball. They could waive him this summer for not meeting his contract’s unique game’s played clause, but that’s not happening according to reports. The most likely outcome is the Pelicans try to trade him this summer to a team willing to roll the dice on the three years, more than $123 million still on his contract. Some team might take a flier. But don’t bet on it being one of those big market teams, none of them should be that desperate.
Nets Cameron Johnson hottest name on market
Buzz continues to grow around the Nets’ Cameron Johnson — he is the player most likely to be moved before the deadline, report Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
A lot of teams covet him and with good reason, Johnson is one guy on the board who could really improve a team, a 6’8″ wing averaging 19.6 points per game and shooting 42% from 3-point range, and he is a plus defender at a position of need.
With that, the price for him — rumored to be multiple first-rounders — remains high. (While the price is a little lower, the same is reportedly true for Nets center Nic Claxton, who has drawn some interest in league circles.)
Among the teams interested in Johnson is Cleveland — they are a title contender and the one clear hole on the team is at the wing (Cleveland started Dean Wade at the three against Oklahoma City Thursday night). Cleveland is absolutely interested, reports Joe Varden at The Athletic. Putting together that trade is not easy, but there are constructions that work (Max Strus, Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, and the Cavaliers 2026 and 2028 firsts for Johnson work in a trade machine, but that’s a steep price). Just finding one the teams agree to is the challenge.
Knicks could target Jonas Valanciunas
New York is still betting on Mitchell Robinson returning, being a defensive force, and balancing out their frontcourt with Karl-Anthony Towns. If that doesn’t happen, or Robinson isn’t himself, the Knicks could target Jonas Valanciunas, reports Ian Begley of SNY.
The Knicks hold “solid belief” that Mitchell Robinson will return to the court around early February, says @IanBegley
Jonas Valanciunas is a name to keep an eye on if the Knicks elect to move on from Robinson
Ian, @JLEdwardsIII, and @SirDennyBlanco on The Putback with Ian… pic.twitter.com/iz6z9T2vIN
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 14, 2025
The Lakers are among a number of other teams also looking at Valanciunas as a trade option at the deadline.
Curry, Green, Kerr want Warriors to be patient
The Golden State Warriors are not one player away from contending. This is a team a game below .500 with the 20th-ranked offense in the league — despite having Stephen Curry. If the postseason started today, the 19-20 Warriors wouldn’t even make the play-in.
Despite that, the Warriors’ core — Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr — all said publicly that the Warriors should not make a desperate trade at the deadline. Green summed up the trio’s thoughts best, speaking to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
“The beautiful part about being in the space that we’re in is, Steve Kerr, Steph Curry and myself all disagree with mortgaging off the future of this organization, saying that we’re going for it right now, Bad teams do that. Bad organizations do that. We’re not neither one.”
Read between the lines of what those three said and it’s “Don’t trade four guys for Jimmy Butler. Don’t give up a bunch of players and picks get Zach LaVine.” That is exactly the right attitude. It’s not like we’re talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic being available, the big names the Warriors could chance for are expensive and don’t move the needle that much.
The Warriors are looking at smaller deals, particularly ones that can add some frontcourt depth. The Warriors have had some talks about adding one of Nikola Vucevic, John Collins, Jonas Valanciunas or Robert Williams III, reports Michael Scotto at HoopsHype.
Suns can’t find taker for Nurkic
Phoenix upgraded its athleticism at center trading for center Nick Richards from the Hornets. That leaves four centers on the Suns roster and they would like to trade the most expensive one, Jusuf Nurkic, for a player who can help them now.
The Suns can’t find a team willing to take him on, reports John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. Part of what is putting teams off is the $19.4 million he is guaranteed next season, which is a lot of money to take on. Still, the Suns are looking.
Raptors to be sellers at deadline
Toronto is open to being the third team (or at least, one of the teams) in a Jimmy Butler trade, but that’s not the only thing decision-maker Masai Ujiri is considering.
Bruce Brown and Chris Boucher are two players, both on expiring contracts, that the Raptors are testing the market for, reports Marc Stein and Jake Fischer at the Stein Line.
Brown is 28 and GMs will remember how much his two-way play helped Denver win a title in 2023. What makes teams hesitant is Brown was out until December with a knee injury and hasn’t found his footing since his return. He is making $23 million, and while that’s expiring in the summer teams still have to match that salary and send a draft pick (or young player) back to Toronto — what player are they getting for that price?
Boucher has been showcased more of late by the Raptors and is averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 boards a game off the bench.
Hornets still listening to offers
Center Nick Richards is out the door but the Hornets are open to making another trade, team president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson telling reporters he is still open to a trade (via Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer).
“I think at this point, look, we are going to listen to everything. We are not going to do anything to compromise the future, but we are going to do what’s best for the organization that we see going forward in order to be sustainable going forward.”
Cavaliers a trendy destination?
Players want to win. Well, to put it in the proper order, players want to get paid, but going to a winning situation is second. Especially if it looks like the team has good chemistry and is having fun on the court.
Enter the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Players are telling agents they would like to get to Cleveland, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ESPN Cleveland. That is about both sides of the equation, the idea that owner Dan Gilbert will pay to keep good players around, plus the Cavaliers are sharing the rock, having fun and winning.
This all sounds good, but money is about to get tight in Cleveland. Things get very expensive starting next season when Darius Garland makes $39.5 million, Donovan Mitchell $46.4 million on his new contract, Evan Mobley $38.7 million on his new contract extension, and Jarrett Allen is at $20 million with huge raises ahead. With the tax aprons, the Cavaliers are going to have hard choices in the coming years, but they also have a window now.
Rockets reportedly Devin Booker “fans”
Houston is not getting in the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes to bring the 35-year-old back home. If – or more likely, when — Houston takes a big swing on a superstar player, it will be more about someone closer to their young core’s timeline.
The Rockets are big Devin Booker fans, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on the Hoop Collective podcast. No doubt they are, good luck finding a front office that is not a fan of Booker. The man is wearing a gold medal for a reason.
Phoenix has zero interest in trading Booker. To reiterate, the Suns are not considering a Booker trade. He has three years (at more than $171 million) after this season locked in on his contract, so there is no motivation for Phoenix to consider a trade. If the Booker/Kevin Durant era falls apart in a few years as his contract nears its end, maybe this is a different conversation, but we’re years away from finding out. For now, this is all just wishful thinking by Houston.
