It might be Super Bowl week, but the NBA trade deadline is also nearly upon us.
All of the rumors that have been swirling around for the last few weeks are going to come in full force now as we inch closer and closer to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Though it doesn’t seem like there will be much movement this time around (we’ll see!), there are still some pretty big names attached to some juicy rumors going around the league. And you can best believe LeBron James’ Lakers are certainly in the middle of plenty of them.
Here’s a look at the latest from around the rumor mill.
1
LeBron James
Alright. Let’s nip this in the bud early, folks. LeBron James is not being traded. He was never going to be traded. Deep down, despite all the trade rumors and the flirtations with the Knicks, we all knew that.
Rich Paul (hilariously) confirmed as much, too. LeBron James will be a Laker for the rest of this season, at the very least. Don’t waste your time thinking otherwise.
2
Dejounte Murray
Dejounte Murray seemed like a hot trade target leading up to this week, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is willing to spend what it takes to get him.
Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer writes that it feels more likely that he’ll remain a Hawk once the deadline passes.
“For Murray, it should be noted that Atlanta will have a much easier time finding the draft capital — at least two first-round picks, sources said — it seeks for the former All-Star point guard this summer, when teams will gain access to future picks once the calendar flips to 2024-25. The Lakers, for example, will be eligible to deal two more future selections come draft time.“
Don’t hold your breath on that Dejounte deal, folks.
3
D'Angelo Russell
D’Angelo Russell’s name has been involved in trade rumors, too, along with Gabe Vincent’s, according to Fischer.
We’ve heard plenty of D’Angelo Russell’s involvement in the Los Angeles Lakers’ trade conversations to fortify the unit around LeBron James, Anthony Davis and front-office favorite Austin Reaves. Let it be known that Los Angeles has also been including injured point guard Gabe Vincent, who’s played just five games due to a knee injury, in various trade talks, sources said.
Russell is playing a lot better as of late. What remains to be seen, though, is whether that makes him more or less likely to be shipped out of LA again.
4
Kyle Kuzma
Kuzma is currently a target for both the Kings and the Mavericks, Fischer writes. The Wizards are looking for high-level pick compensation in return for him, according to HoopsHype.
Washington isn’t necessarily guaranteed to let Kuzma go, though, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Kuzma has enjoyed his time in D.C. and has emerged as a leader in the locker room. He’s under contract for the next four seasons. There’s no reason to rush a deal if one isn’t there.
5
Alex Caruso
I’ll be honest, man. The Bulls really don’t seem all that interested in trading Alex Caruso.
First, Chicago wanted a hoard of picks for him. Now, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is saying the Bulls want an “OG Anunoby-type deal” for him. The Knicks traded two contributing players and a second-round pick to Toronto for OG. That’s a steep price for Caruso, who is three years older than Anunoby and playing a different position on the wing.
That’s a tough sell, man.
6
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown was reportedly being eyed by the Lakers, according to The Action Network’s Matt Moore, but LA has moved on after seeing Toronto’s asking price. The Knicks also view him as more of a “plan B or C,” according to Moore.
It looks like the market for Brown won’t be as robust as we once thought it would. But ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski still expects Brown to be moved.
7
Tyus Jones
Jones has been an excellent lead guard for the Wizards, but Washington still seems willing to move off of him. Yahoo!’s Jake Fischer reports that the Wizards would be willing to take back multiple second-round picks for Jones in any deal.
8
Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine’s trade market was considered “barren,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowksi, even before he had season-ending surgery. Now that he’s out for the year the market will likely be even worse considering the size of his contract.
9
DeMar DeRozan
Just like with LaVine and Caruso, it seems likely that DeMar DeRozan will remain in Chicago after the trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“The intel in the league right now… is that despite the LaVine injury, the Bulls are not actively looking to trade those guys. … There is not an expectation that DeRozan is gonna get traded, and I have heard ‘0.0’ on Caruso,” he said on The Hoop Collective podcast.
The Bulls might be standing pat here.
10
Andrew Wiggins
There’s a market developing for Andrew Wiggins in Golden State. Both the Pacers and the Mavericks are interested in the Warriors’ wing, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
"The Mavericks and Pacers are two teams, I'm told, that are expressing interest in [Andrew] Wiggins."@ShamsCharania updates on the the Warriors trade deadline plans. pic.twitter.com/XfkOHNW4XP
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 5, 2024
“The Mavericks and Pacers are two teams, I’m told, expressing interest in Wiggins to keep an eye on. But I don’t think they’re just going to move guys to move guys. The Warriors need true reasons to move.”
There’s a chance a move happens, but it feels slim. We’ll see.
11
Miles Bridges
Bridges is currently being coveted by the Suns, according to Fischer, who are reportedly willing to move Josh Okogie and Nassir Little along with the few remaining second-round picks Phoenix has left to acquire the Hornets’ forward. Charlotte is looking for a first-round pick return, however, so there’s no guarantee a deal would happen.
12
Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges has generated interest from the Rockets, Fischer writes, who seemed to be willing to include former No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green in the deal. The Nets held steady, though, and the deal reportedly gained to traction.
The Pelicans were reported to have sent a substantial offer to Brooklyn for the forward, per Matt Moore, but were also sent away just as the Rockets were.
Brooklyn doesn’t seem to want to let go of the 27-year-old forward just yet.
