We’re down to two days before the NBA trade deadline, and now more names are surfacing among possible candidates to be dealt.
Rajon Rondo — will he or won’t he? That remains to be seen, but as of Tuesday it appears the All-Star point guard is still being targeted.
According to the Toronto Sun, the Raptors are making a push for Rondo, who the Boston Celtics are reportedly dangling. Toronto could need a new point guard if they elect to ship Kyle Lowry to the New York Knicks. Yesterday, it was reported the Celtics are demanding two first-round picks for Rondo as the team looks to stock up on young building blocks.
The Brooklyn Nets were considered sleepers over the past few weeks until yesterday when it was reported the team was chasing after Cleveland Cavaliers veteran point guard Jarrett Jack. Now signs point to the Nets chasing after an even bigger target.
According to Yahoo Sports, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Lakers are discussing a deal centered around injured forward Jordan Hill. The Nets would use a $5.25M disabled player exception to help absorb the $3.5 million remaining on Hill’s expiring contract. Still, the team would be left with a luxury tax penalty of almost $17 million, but the addition of Hill gives Brooklyn another body in the frontcourt during the stretch run toward the postseason. He’s currently averaging 8.5 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers.
Team sources confirm @WojYahooNBA report on Nets and Lakers discussing deal for Jordan Hill for Disabled Player Exception
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 17, 2014
Yahoo Sports also reported the Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies are working on a deal that would send forward Chase Budinger and guard J.J. Barea to Memphis in exchange for forward Tayshaun Prince and guard Tony Allen. The pieces of the potential trade are still fluid, according to the report.
The Grizzlies have been aggressively shopping Prince and his bloated salary for this year and next, as the veteran is due $7.2 million this season and $7.7 million in 2014-15. Minnesota general manager Flip Saunders is reportedly interested in adding a defender to the T-Wolves, which makes Allen a fit.
Budinger has missed much of the first half of the season as he recovers from knee surgery. He’s averaged six points in 17.7 minutes per game thus far. Barea has averaged 8.7 points in 18 minutes per game this year.
Should Barea get moved to Memphis, the Timberwolves may be in the market for a new backup point guard. According to ESPN, you can add Minnesota to the list of teams interested in dealing for embattled guard Andre Miller of the Denver Nuggets. The Washington Wizards lead the list of contenders who have also checked in on Miller.
Hearing Minnesota among teams expressing interest in trading for Denver’s Andre Miller … provided JJ Barea moves elsewhere before deadline
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 18, 2014
Check out more of the latest NBA Trade Rumors and updates as the NBA trade deadline approaches!
