Let this year be a reminder that no matter how dry a trade deadline may seem, it can flip in a mere instant. Just a week ago, fans were wondering if any deals were going to happen, and if they were, the biggest names being shipped were possibly going to be Zach LaVine or DeAndre Ayton, not legitimate MVP candidates like we ended up seeing with Luka Doncic on the move.
While that move was obviously enormous, it may not even be the biggest deal of the year. Teams like the Golden State Warriors are plotting, scheming, calling every GM they can in order to make a move, with reports indicating that the Warriors are up to something quite devious.
The deadline is only three days away, but there is still tons of time for teams to crack their knuckles, dial away, make some magic happen, then light up a cigar and kick their feet up in their office.
Here are the latest rumors surrounding the upcoming NBA trade deadline.
Warriors are asking for anyone and everyone
The Golden State Warriors are three years removed from their last championship, but still believe Steph Curry and company have at least one more in the tank. All they need is another superstar teammate to push them over the edge.
During the Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Shams Charania revealed that the Warriors are making calls, looking to make a deal for any All-Star player they can.
The Warriors aren’t just looking for a fringe star either. They’re looking to add a future Hall of Famer, someone like LeBron James, Paul George, or possibly bringing Kevin Durant back to the Bay Area.
Charania also notes that the Warriors have called about Jimmy Butler, whose name has been thrown around a lot at the deadline, given his unhappiness in Miami. However, if the Warriors are asking for players like Durant, George, and James, Butler seems be a clear step down from the rest of the pack.
LeBron James likely not going anywhere
With the addition of Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers are doing what no team has ever had the guts to do before: look past LeBron James. Although James is still a terrific player, it’s no secret that he could retire any day now, especially since he’s now had the opportunity to play alongside his son.
There are many experts who believe now is the perfect opportunity for the Lakers to trade LeBron. After all, why would they continue building around him when they can get picks and start building around their new star player. That said, The Los Angeles Times‘ Dan Woike reports that LeBron likely won’t be dealt.
LeBron has stated in the past that he hopes to finish his career in Los Angeles, and to leave the Lakers, the same team where his son plays, would be an odd choice for someone in the twilight of his career. With James being one of only two players in the NBA (Bradley Beal) with full no-trade clauses, the Lakers likely won’t have a choice, meaning LeBron is almost certainly not headed anywhere this season.
Suns are hesitant, but ‘listening’ to offers for KD
Insider Jake Fischer reports that the Suns do not plan on moving Kevin Durant at the deadline, but are very aware of the interest that teams have. Fischer notes that the fact that Phoenix is even acknowledging the interest shows that for the right price, Durant could certainly be on the move.
While Phoenix did reportedly attempt to land Jimmy Butler to bolster their championship odds, the Heat were unwilling to take on Bradley Beal’s contract to make that happen, making the trade for Butler all but impossible. That said, given the Suns’ supposed interest in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, the Warriors might be the most likely team to get a deal done.
The Bulls are not done dealing
With Zach LaVine in Sacramento now, the Bulls have done their job. They were able to get one of their massive contracts off their books. However, the team likely isn’t done just yet. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Bulls are still looking to deal Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, and Coby White before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Marks makes it clear that the Bulls are in full rebuild mode and looking to accumulate more draft capital, which they started to accrue with the LaVine trade. Unfortunately for Chicago, both Vucevic and Ball are earning over $20 million per year, making a deal more difficult to achieve. They’ll likely have to settle for less than their players are worth to get any teams to take on those contracts. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes that, at the very worst, Ball could wind up being a buyout candidate.