Today is the day. The fans for every mid-tier NBA team are convinced the next six and a half hours could be their salvation. Just use our handy NBA Trade Deadline page to stay abreast of all the latest wheelings and dealings. We’ll be watching the wires like everyone, and we’ll try to relay the information as it comes across, but let’s all settle down. There are probably four or five teams who can win the title this season, and only two with realistic odds. The deadline is unlikely to drastically change that pecking order, but we’ll have the news and what it means of the team and league as it finalizes.
Without further ado, here’s what you might have missed through the night.
–Here are 10 players who will NOT get traded before 3 p.m. ET today. We can say that with 100 percent certainty. And yes, Kevin Durant is not on that list. His status as a free agent this summer means the Thunder will at least listen to sweetheart moves for the 2014 MVP. They will not trade him because Sam Presti has an IQ above 80, but they’ll listen; they have to.
-The Rockets are going to wait until the last minute before finalizing anything. GM Daryl Morey isn’t going to trade Ty Lawson, Dwight Howard or anyone else until he’s sure he can get the best return (especially with his dud-of-a-deal for Lawson after this past summer). That said, here’s why the reported Trey Burke/Lawson swap in the works with Utah makes sense for both sides. Marc Stein of ESPN says the Rockets might just waive Lawson if the Jazz deal doesn’t happen.
-The Rockets turned down a deal of Al Jefferson and Spencer Hawes in exchange for Howard, reports Stein.
-Kevin Love will probably stay in Cleveland, but the Cavs are intrigued with the Pellies stretch four, Ryan Anderson, so you never know; they do play the same position.
-Blake Griffin is likewise unlikely to be dealt, but Doc might be exploring offers for him this summer if the Clippers again fail to make the Conference Finals.
-The Cavs want Joe Johnson, but Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com hears that he’s looking to stay in Brooklyn and could even sign an extension. Sources tell Steven Kyler of Basketball Insiders, he’s unwilling to accept a buyout.
-The Pellies are looking to unload Eric Gordon and Omer Asik, reports John Reid of the Times Picayune. They wanted Rudy Gay earlier this year, and offered Gordon and Alonzo Gee for him, but were rebuffed. They’ve also discussed Asik with the Cavs. Expect both Gordon and Asik to move before the deadline, but for less than you might expect.
-The C’s were willing to part with the unprotected Nets pick in order to obtain Blake Griffin, but not Kevin Love or Al Horford, reports Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
-League sources tell The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Pau Gasol has no interest in taking a two-month flier on a different team to finish the year. He’s allegedly “resisted” a trade and would like to sign an extension when he opts out of his deal this summer. (He’s owed more than $7.7 million next year, but can command almost double that if he opts out.)
The weird thing about Gasol is that teams are reportedly hesitant to make a move with Gar Forman, who has been including Gasol in possible trade scenarios, because they know he’s got some serious love for the Windy City. That said, there have been discussions about sending Gasol and reserve wing Tony Snell to the Kings for Ben McLemore, Kosta Koufos and the lowering of the top-10-protected pick the Kings owe the Bulls in 2016.
-The Sixers could make a call at the last second to acquire Jeff Teague or Dennis Schroder from the Hawks, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey adds that it’ll probably take Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel to get either of the two Atlanta guards. With Joel Embiid still having yet to play an NBA game as he recuperates, the Sixers aren’t sure they want to part with either young front-court player. Stein adds it’ll take a “motherlode” offer to pry either away from Sam Hinkie, Colangelo and Co.
We’ll have more as it happens.
