Adam Hunger is a reporter.
Most of the players who signed contracts as free agents last summer will be eligible for trade on December 15. The calls to rival front offices have been divided among high-ranking personnel. The league has a few major dominoes that could spur further movement.
The Lakers, Celtics, Nets, Pacers, and many others could be affected by the possible trade of Ben Simmons. The Philadelphia 76ers have made it clear that any Simmons trade will still require an All-Star caliber player from their wish list of some two-dozen dream partners for Embiid.
Philadelphia has always believed that a true star will eventually be available. The Philadelphia 76ers and other teams around the league are optimistic that Damian Lillard will eventually request a trade prior to the 2022-23 season. Philadelphia needs one other All-Star to find a new team. Maybe it's Bradley Beal, who hasn't re-signed with Washington. James Harden declined a contract extension with Brooklyn earlier this season and would certainly become a key target for the 76ers if he were to leave.
The Simmons dynamic has not been affected by the possibility of landing Harden. Harden was known around the league to have been happy when Philadelphia nearly shipped Simmons to Houston in January. There are whispers that if a trade for Simmons doesn't happen this season, Harden will join Simmons with Embiid and return to Morey.
Sean Marks doesn't think moving Harden for Simmons makes sense because he doesn't know if Brooklyn will stay atop the Eastern Conference. Brooklyn is eager to upgrade its roster ahead of the trade deadline and free agency. The Nets are not the favorite to win the title.
Sources told B/R that Brooklyn has been open to discussing trades for Irving, although none of those calls have generated much traction. According to league sources, Brooklyn has expressed a willingness to discuss Joe Harris, though he would surely require a pricey offer. One assistant general manager said it was crazy that he was their only real three-and-D player. His name keeps popping up.
The Nets quietly gauged Nic's value during the 2021 draft, and Rival executives believe he could become available. The third-year forward has performed well for Brooklyn, but ahead of Claxton's restricted free agency this summer, rival executives believe he could be the outgoing player Brooklyn trades to take back a veteran into either the $6 million trade exception or the $11.5 million trade.
The Los Angeles Lakers are seen as less flexible than Brooklyn. Los Angeles has limited options for other significant changes despite the chatter of head coach Frank Vogel's job security. Talen Horton-Tucker and Kendrick Nunn are seen by other front offices as Lakers role players with legitimate trade value.
League sources told B/R that the Lakers have held internal discussions on trade scenarios for Russell Westbrook, who is on a two-year, $91 million contract.
Sources tell B/R that the LA Lakers have internal conversations about trading Russell Westbrook, but no serious talks have materialized with potential trade partners.
Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio would match the salaries of the other two players. Sources said that the structure would have little interest from the side of the Cavaliers. Outside of Love, there are only a few other players who are close to his earnings, including John Wall, who was traded to Washington last summer.
Ben Simmons is one of those players. The Lakers have interest in Simmons, but his salary is outside of James and Davis, according to The Athletic. According to league sources, the Lakers never developed any discussions with the 76ers about the possibility of a trade, and even if they did, they wouldn't be a player on the list of hopeful returns.
Philadelphia is believed to be interested in Jaylen Brown, a Celtics swingman.
Boston has not entertained the idea of splitting up Brown and Tatum during early calls with rival teams. One assistant general manager said that the only two people that were not considered to be above board were in Boston.
Speculation about Brown's availability has increased around the league while the Celtics appear committed to building around Brown and Tatum. Sources familiar with both players are discussing it. It is highly unlikely that Brown will be moved until after this season. If the Celtics move closer to a new direction, league personnel will keep an eye on Brown's status.
An assistant general manager said that they don't think he and Tatum can coexist.
One general manager told B/R that they don't work together. Unless ownership adds pressure on Brad Stevens, I don't see them doing anything.
Boston has seemed to value Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III in a second tier behind Brown and Tatum, but the two veterans stand as the most accomplished Boston players rival executives believe are available for trade this season. Another strong trade candidate is Dennis Schroder, who has produced both as a starter and reserve. His upcoming free agency next summer is shaping into a more lucrative stint on the open market than this past August, which could price him out of Boston's roster construction.
The Boston Celtics are expected to consider releasing Jaylen Brown if they continue their poor play.
The Pacers have made their intentions of reshuffling their roster known around the league and are considered the most likely to make a significant move. There is a belief that Indiana could become a true seller like last season. There is little expectation that Indiana's ownership and head coach Rick Carlisle would be involved in a full-scale rebuild with his four-year, $29 million contract.
One assistant general manager said thatCarlisle wouldn't allow that to happen. They are going to build a middle build. They are going to go with a sense of competing.
Simmons would be a move for the present and future if the Pacers brought him in. Indiana doesn't have an All-Star piece that would pair well with him. If the Pacers were to acquire Simmons, they would need to send one of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, or even Caris LeVert or T.J. Warren to a third team that wants a star.
Rival teams think one of Turner or Sabonis will be traded by February. Which big man gets moved depends on which player drives the highest price from interested suitors.
Sources told B/R that Indiana has always valued Turner highly on the trade market and even turned down the New Orleans No. 4 pick in the draft.
There are several teams in the playoff picture, such as the Kings and the Blazers, which team executives have pointed to as potential landing spots. The Trail Blazers have two players available. Since last season's trade deadline, Sacramento has weighed trade interest for each of Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley, and Harrison Barnes, and Carlisle is known to have an affinity for Barnes from their time together in Dallas.
Rival executives think Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson are the best players in Indiana. Malcolm was given a contract extension in October. An assistant general manager said that all of them can be had at the right price.
There are trade rumors around the league.
According to league sources, the Detroit Pistons are getting calls for Jerami Grant. Rivals wondered if the Pistons would move Grant last season, during the best campaign of his career, but it is now believed that Detroit is focused on trading Grant before his contract ends in 2022-23.
The Portland Trail blazers are expected to gauge trade interest in Nurkic and Covington, but Larry Nance Jr. seems to be a target among rival front offices.
Sources said that the Hawks have been searching for a first-round pick in exchange for Reddish, who is in the final year of his contract. If Boston were to ever explore moving Jaylen Brown, the Hawks would entertain calls on Hunter for packages that would return an established impact veteran, something that would keep in mind if the Hawks ever entertained calls on Hunter for a package that would return an established impact veteran.
The Utah Jazz have been interested in getting more defensive-minded wing players since the summer draft, according to league sources. The Jazz are looking for a player who can bolster their starting lineup and are willing to give up a future first-round pick. Their next first-round pick to trade doesn't come until 2027.
The Knicks are interested in trading Kevin Knox, but it's not clear what the Kentucky product's worth on the open market.
The San Antonio Spurs have been linked with a number of players, including the Phoenix Suns' Jalen Smith. The Spurs are rumored to have strong interest in acquiring Young from Phoenix.
According to league sources, the Denver Nuggets are looking for improvements to their wing. JaMychal Green is available to that end.
League sources say that the Houston Rockets are looking for trades that will clear a roster spot to make room for two-way star Garrison Mathews. Veterans D.J. Augustin, Danuel House Jr., Daniel Theis and Eric Gordon are all seen as trade candidates. Houston is willing to listen to offers on Christian Wood, but it would require a first-round pick and more capital.
The New Orleans Pelicans are still expected to be buyers ahead of the trade deadline, with an eye toward competing for the play-in tournament. The No. 8 pick in the NBA draft is available for trade, league sources said.
