June 2024 Basketball Wiretap

Bulls Gave 'Real Consideration' To Trade Of Alex Caruso To Warriors

Feb 20, 2024 3:07 PM

The Chicago Bulls gave "real consideration" to a trade of Alex Caruso to the Golden State Warriors ahead of the deadline, sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

The Bulls had maintained for weeks that they wouldn't trade Caruso, who is signed next season on a $9.89 million deal. Caruso is one of the league's best perimeter defenders and is hooting 40.1 percent on three-pointers this season.

Caruso is represented by Greg Lawrence of Wasserman.

The Warriors also reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers on a trade for LeBron James.

Marc Stein/Substack

Tags: Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Nikola Jokic: If Luka Doncic Gets Pissed Off In Dallas, He Can Come To Denver

Feb 20, 2024 12:32 PM

After the All-Star Game on Sunday, Nikola Jokic was asked if he and Luka Doncic could someday play together. Jokic and Doncic appeared to connect as teammates on the Western Conference at the All-Star Game.

"I don't know," said Jokic in the interview translated by Miroslav Cuk. "It's possible. I don't want to leave Denver. I like it there. It's a great organization. But if Luka gets pissed off in Dallas, he can come."

The future of Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks has come into question in recent years as they missed the playoffs in 2023 after reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2022. Doncic cannot become a free agent until 2026.

Denver owes future first round picks to the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder.

DNVR Sports

Tags: Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Pelicans Agree To Two-Way Deal

Feb 16, 2024 9:53 PM

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl has agreed to a new two-year standard NBA deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Robinson-Earl was previously on a Two-Way contract with the Pelicans.

In 21 games with the Pelicans this season, Robinson-Earl is averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.0 minutes.

Robinson-Earl is represented by Ron Shade and Alex Saratsis.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Plan To Pursue 'Difference-Making Perimeter Talent' Via Trade

Feb 16, 2024 1:31 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers plan on pursuing a trade for a "difference-making perimeter talent" this offseason, sources tell ESPN's Zach Lowe.

The Lakers kept all of their remaining future draft picks at the 2024 trade deadline and will have three first rounders available to trade starting at the draft.

The Lakers have been linked with Dejounte Murray and Trae Young should the Atlanta Hawks decide to make either player available. 

During the 2023 offseason, the Lakers re-signed D'Angelo Russell and also added Gabe Vincent. Vincent has appeared in only five games this season as he's been limited by injury.

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Stephen Curry: Warriors' Pursuit Of LeBron James 'Nice Little Surprise'

Feb 15, 2024 2:47 PM

Stephen Curry was asked to respond to reporting that surfaced this week that the Golden State Warriors tried to acquire LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline.

"No, never surprised," Curry told reporters. "It's always a surprise when stuff like that gets out because I'm assuming that every team is making calls that if every fanbase or media group would know about it, it would normalize the conversations that happen in the front office, especially around the trade deadline when you're exploring around the league who's available and who's not.

"Obviously, a guy like Bron, you would probably call just to see. I don't know what the depths of the conversations were, but it was a nice little surprise this morning for sure."

Jordan Elliott/NBC Sports

Tags: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Prefer To Keep LeBron James; Rival Execs Think He May Want To Leave

Feb 15, 2024 8:41 AM

Despite receiving interest from the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers were never close to trading LeBron James. In fact, the Lakers have made it known that their preference is to keep James moving forward.

Rival executives don't know if James has the same feelings towards the Lakers.

There remains speculation that James desire to play with his son Bronny will be a major factor in what team he plays for in the future. If another team drafts the younger James, his superstar father could choose to go to that team. There's also a belief that the elder James desire to play with his son could push the Lakers to draft Bronny.

The Lakers ability to potentially land a star ballhandler could factor into James' willingness to stay too. Los Angeles is known to have some level of interest in Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine. The Lakers could also think bigger and could look to add an All-Star level player like Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell or Kyrie Irving.

Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, Jovan Buha/The Athletic

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Spurs, Hawks Discussed Trae Young Deal Before Trade Deadline

Feb 15, 2024 1:18 AM

The Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs discussed a trade involving Trae Young ahead of last week's trade deadline, according to Howard Beck of The Ringer.

Young has been the subject of several trade rumors, with the Lakers also reportedly interested.

The Hawks also kept Dejounte Murray past the trade deadline.

Beck adds that it is a "near certainty" that the Hawks will trade one or both of the players this summer.

Howard Beck/The Ringer

Tags: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

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LeBron James Focused On Remaining With Lakers Next Season

Feb 14, 2024 11:09 AM

LeBron James remains focused on remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, sources tell ESPN.

If James does remain with the Lakers, he will likely decline his $51.4 million option for a new deal that would allow him an annual raise.

The Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers pursued a trade for James ahead of the deadline.

If James decides he would prefer to play for another team, he would likely exercise his option as part of a trade.

Adrian Wojnarowski, Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Sixers Called Lakers On LeBron James; Suns On Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal

Feb 14, 2024 8:38 AM

The Philadelphia 76ers called the Los Angeles Lakers as to the availability of LeBron James via trade. Daryl Morey reportedly made this call after James cryptically posted an hourglass emoji in the days leading up to the deadline.

When the Lakers countered by asking about the availability of Joel Embiid, Morey turned his sites to the Phoenix Suns. The Sixers first asked about Kevin Durant, before inquiring about Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Going after stars isn't a new tactic for Morey. He's known as one of the league's more aggressive executives in pursuing stars via trade. Morey going star-hunting at this deadline may give some insight into his offseason plans.

The 76ers are likely to hit the offseason with somewhere between $40 and $60 million in cap space. That could go a long way towards trading for a star to team Embiid and a re-sign Tyrese Maxey.

Adrian Wojnarowski, Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia Sixers, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Warriors Tried To Trade For LeBron James At Deadline

Feb 14, 2024 8:28 AM

The Golden State Warriors only ended up making one small deal at the trade deadline, but they tried to make a mega deal as they inquired with the Los Angeles Lakers on a trade for LeBron James.

Draymond Green made the initial push to the team's ownership and management, before also consulting Rich Paul, who represents both Green and James. Joe Lacob had a conversation with Jeanie Buss about the idea. Buss told Lacob that the Lakers had no desire to trade James, but referred the Warriors to discuss it directly with James' representation.

James and Paul said that he preferred to remain with the Lakers. Rob Pelinka also confirmed that the team had no desire to trade their superstar.

One notable aspect is that these trade discussions started with the teams' owners. That indicates a level of seriousness that is generally not present in initial conversations. The other notable thing is that the Lakers left the decision up to James on whether or not trade talks should happen.

The Warriors could revisit their pursuit of James in the offseason as he holds a $51.4 million player option. 

Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: LeBron James, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kyle Kuzma Turned Down Chance To Be Traded By Wizards To Mavericks

Josh Robbins/The Athletic

Sixers Weren't Willing To Trade Tobias Harris For Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

LeBron James Believed To Prefer To Spend Remainder Of Career With Lakers

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Wizards Were 'Close' To Trading Kyle Kuzma To Mavericks

Josh Robbins/The Athletic

Lakers To Use Three Future 1sts To Pursue Star Trade Targeting Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving

Jovan Buha/The Athletic

Hornets Would Like To Re-Sign Miles Bridges

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Mavericks Were Determined To Trade Grant Williams, 'Rubbed A Lot Of People The Wrong Way'

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Bulls Ownership Gave Green Light To Arturas Karnisovas To Reshape Roster

K.C. Johnson/NBC Sports Chicago

Several Teams Believe Trae Young Could Be Traded By Hawks In Offseason

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Sixers Plan On Pursuing Paul George In Free Agency If He Doesn't Extend With Clippers

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Warriors Discussed Alex Caruso Trade With Bulls Ahead Of Deadline

Shams Charania/The Athletic

PJ Tucker Won't Request Buyout From Clippers

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Warriors Trade Cory Joseph To Pacers

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Raptors Keep Bruce Brown Jr., Could Revisit Options In Offseason

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Celtics Trade Dalano Banton To Blazers

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Celtics Acquire Jaden Springer From Sixers For 2nd Rounder

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Raptors Waive Spencer Dinwiddie; Lakers, Mavericks, Pelicans, Sixers Interested

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Robin Lopez To Be Waived By Kings Following Trade From Bucks

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Hawks Keep Dejounte Murray Past Trade Deadline

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Pacers Acquire Doug McDermott From Spurs For 2nd Rounder

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN