The NBA trade deadline is less than 24 hours away, and teams already have started to make deals.
A few trades were completed Tuesday, including one that sent Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for forward Ersan Ilyasova and guard Brandon Jennings. It’s a great deal for the Pistons, who are trying to lock down one of the last few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
There are two clear favorites for the NBA championship: the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs. Every other team is playing catch up, and it will be interesting to see how second-tier teams — most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Oklahoma City Thunder — upgrade their rosters for a deep playoff run.
Keep it right here all Wednesday for the latest rumors, news and completed trades.
Top 35 NBA players most likely to be dealt >>
11:40 p.m.: The Pau Gasol talks seem to be on a seesaw as well.
Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Gasol would like to sign a contract extension with the Bulls this summer, but the Bulls have had discussions with the Sacramento Kings about a trade that would send Gasol and Snell to the Kings for Kosta Koufos, Ben McLemore and a lowering of the lottery-protected first-round pick the Kings owe Chicago this season.
That pick is currently protected in the top 10, but should the trade go through it would be easier for the Bulls to use the selection in the 2016 NBA Draft.
11:15 p.m.: About those superstars going to Boston … don’t count your eggs before they’re hatched.
The Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett reported Wednesday night that the Celtics aren’t interested in Al Horford, would only surrender the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected 2016 first-round pick in a deal for Blake Griffin (as opposed to Horford or Kevin Love), and that the Love deal probably isn’t happening, either.
10:05 p.m.: Danny Ainge is relentless in his pursuit of a superstar.
It appears the Boston Celtics have found a new third team to help them acquire Cavaliers forward Kevin Love: the New Orleans Pelicans.
Boston reportedly is the other team involved in Cleveland’s discussions regarding Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson, according to CSNNE’s A. Sherrod Blakely. The centerpiece of the deal involves Cleveland receiving Anderson and Boston receiving Love.
9:25 p.m.: Pau Gasol seems to like the idea of Memphis.
As for Brook Lopez, don’t expect the Brooklyn Nets big man to be going anywhere.
6:40 p.m.: It looks like the Rockets really want to move Dwight Howard.
Point guard Ty Lawson, unsurprisingly, is being shopped as well.
6:30 p.m.: It looks like the Chicago Bulls, as predicted, are shopping big man Pau Gasol, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Chicago Bulls are aggressively shopping All-Star forward Pau Gasol, league sources told The Vertical.
Gasol, 35, can opt out of his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent, and Bulls general manager Gar Forman seems determined to move him before Thursday’s trade deadline with the hope of bringing back value.
Gasol is an enticing option for several teams looking for a veteran, inside presence — like the Boston Celtics, for example. His price tag could be lowered, too, given that he reportedly plans to opt out of his contract at season’s end.
4:55 p.m.: The Cavs will be a team to watch as the deadline approaches.
4:40 p.m.: It appears the Anderson-to-Cleveland rumors have some traction.
4:27 p.m.: Don’t sleep on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who reportedly are working on a three-team deal involving Kevin Love and New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson.
3:50 p.m.: Could Al Horford to the Boston Celtics become a reality? A league source told CSN New England’s A. Sherrod Blakely the Celtics have emerged as one of the favorites to land the Atlanta Hawks All-Star.
3:32 p.m: The Clippers still have Lance Stephenson on the market. He’s been the subject of a potential trade with the Orlando Magic involving Channing Frye.
2:30 p.m.: Here’s what Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov had to say about the Sean Marks-to-Brooklyn rumors:
1:45 p.m.: It appears there’s some interest around the league in Chicago Bulls big man Pau Gasol. But are the Bulls ready to give him up?
1 p.m.: USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt reports Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe isn’t going to be traded before the deadline, citing “two people with direct knowledge of the situation.”
12:55 p.m.: Who can blame him? Brooklyn has almost no assets to work with in its ongoing rebuild.
12:30 p.m.: This isn’t a surprise given what the Pelicans gave up to acquire Jrue Holliday.
10:30 a.m.: This kind of offer isn’t going to haul in a player of Blake Griffin’s caliber, but nice try, Orlando.
10 a.m.: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported, citing league sources, that the New Orleans Pelicans are “pushing hard” to trade forward Ryan Anderson because of his impending UFA status.
9:30 a.m.: The Cavs are looking to make moves, it seems. Timofey Mozgov isn’t a fit for when Cleveland goes with its small-ball lineup.
9:15 a.m.: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported, citing league sources, that Nuggets forward J.J. Hickson, Celtics forward David Lee and Nets forward Andrea Bargnani will “almost assuredly” be bought out if not traded before the deadline.
8:10 a.m.: The Kings aren’t going to make the playoffs, but this would be a good trade moving forward.
7:15 a.m.: Milwaukee has been one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season.
7 a.m.: It doesn’t look like Minnesota will trade its starting point guard before the deadline.
6:30 a.m.: The Mavs would add valuable scoring depth and outside shooting with Kevin Martin.
6:20 a.m. ET: The Nets appear to be making progress on their GM search.
Recap: Tuesday’s NBA trade activity/rumors roundup >>
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
