Latest NBA trade rumors: Celtics discussed Griffin deal, Butler may stay with Bulls
What’s next for Kings and Pelicans after blockbuster trade?
Our NBA trade buzz tracker will keep you updated on all the latest rumors, whispers and reported discussions as the Feb. 23 deadline approaches. Here’s the latest:
Wanting to get better, the Pacers are reportedly very active days before the Feb. 23 trade deadline. And in an effort to give Paul George more help, according to ESPN, the Pacers are targeting Sixers big man Jahlil Okafor.
The Pacers are trying to show George that they want to get better and continue to build around him. George is a free agent in 2018 and could potentially leave the Pacers — the team he’s spent his whole career with — if he is unhappy with his situation. His unhappiness and general down demeanor has been a theme this season as he has complained about Pacers fans and even said that there is a dark cloud hanging over the team. We’ll see if Indiana makes this move and possibly others before the deadline.
Forget Jahlil Okafor, Lou Williams and Derrick Favors — let’s talk about the big boys. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Celtics and Clippers have engaged in trade talks involving All-Star forward Blake Griffin.
“[The Celtics] have talked intermittently with the Clippers about Blake Griffin in recent weeks, per several league sources, but a deal is extremely unlikely. Griffin will be a free agent this summer, and Boston would probably need official permission to talk to him about his future — a concession Minnesota allowed Cleveland before the Kevin Love trade. The Clips would ask for a bounty, starting with Jae Crowder and one of the Avery Bradley/Marcus Smart duo, plus picks, per league sources.”
Note that Lowe said the trade is extremely unlikely, but remember that the Kingstraded DeMarcus Cousins a few days after saying there was absolutely no way they were going to trade him. If the offer is right, teams can change their minds quickly.
The Utah Jazz are reportedly gauging league-wide interest in big man Derrick Favors. But according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, it is unclear if the Jazz are actually serious about trading Favors:
They’ve tested the market for Derrick Favors over the last few weeks, according to several league sources; Favors hasn’t been quite the same since coming back from injury, and Utah plays Favors and Rudy Gobert together for only 10 or 12 minutes per game.
Utah’s seriousness on Favors is unclear; they are mum as usual, and they don’t want to weaken their team ahead of the playoffs with Hayward heading to free agency. Favors is still an important player. They could be testing the market ahead of a trade around the draft.
With his playing time getting drastically reduced by the Pelicans’ acquistion of DeMarcus Cousins, New Orleans is looking to trade Terrence Jones. According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Jones is also in favor of a move from New Orleans:
There has been plenty of speculation that the Chicago Bulls may trade Jimmy Butler. The Boston Celtics are perhaps the main team mentioned whenever these rumors pop up. But according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Butler isn’t going anywhere as of right now :
Plenty can happen before Thursday’s 2 p.m. trade deadline, but according to multiple sources, the Bulls and Celtics haven’t held substantive talks about Butler since June, and Butler’s camp is under the impression that the Bulls won’t move the three-time All-Star this week.
Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau may be looking to reunite with Derrick Rose in Minnesota.
According to ESPN’s Ian Begley, the Timberwolves have…