As the 2017 NBA trade deadline draws closer, here’s a look around the league at the latest scuttlebutt:
* In a trade rumor notebook at HoopsHype.com, Alex Kennedy touches on a number of teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers. Regarding the Blazers, Kennedy notes outside of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, “the rest of their roster may be available for the right offer.” According to a rival GM, writes Kennedy, Portland is looking to cut payroll and acquire picks, “would listen to offers for Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, Al-Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis among others if the potential trades allowed them to stockpile draft picks and save some money.
* Kennedy also reports the Los Angeles Lakers have shopped guard Lou Williams: As previously mentioned, the Lakers have a lot riding on this year’s lottery, so moving Williams increases the likelihood that they keep their 2017 and 2019 first-round picks, gives the younger backcourt players more minutes and brings in assets (such as another young player or a pick). Williams is averaging a career-best 18.4 points per game, along with 3.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 24.2 minutes off the bench for the Lakers this season.
* ESPN’s Zach Lowe says the Detroit Pistons have “quietly explored” the trade market for starters Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, but has been “disappointed with the potential return.” Lowe notes that while a Drummond deal is a long shot, “but Jackson remains in play for Minnesota, Orlando, New Orleans, or some mystery destination.”
* According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, the Denver Nuggets may not be done dealing after swapping Jusuf Nurkic for Mason Plumlee over the weekend: “League sources said yesterday they did not think Denver was done dealing and pegged both Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari as available. There continues to be a belief that Denver might also be open to trading guard Emmanuel Mudiay if the returning package were right.”
* A week ago, Jahlil Okafor was as good as gone in Philadelphia. Now, as Keith Pompey of Philly.com reports, those trade talks have slowed: “Jahlil Okafor has rejoined the 76ers and is likely to play Wednesday night in Boston because the team is not as close to trading the second-year center as it seemed to be in recent days, sources said. The trade talks continue.” Okafor has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans and Chicago Bulls in recent trade rumors.
* In the latest chapter of the never-ending Knicks drama, forward Carmelo Anthony is saying he expects to remain with New York past the trade deadline.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 23 at noon PT.
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