May 2023 Basketball Wiretap

Knicks Looking For Multiple First-Round Picks For Mitchell Robinson

Sep 30, 2023 1:23 AM

The New York Knicks would ask for multiple first-round picks in exchange for Mitchell Robinson, sources told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sports.

Robinson averaged 7.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks last season.

The 25-year-old signed a four-year, $60 million contract last summer.

The Knicks are also reportedly interested in acquiring Jrue Holiday

Vincent Goodwill/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Knicks Interested In Jrue Holiday

Sep 30, 2023 1:13 AM

The New York Knicks are one of several teams with an interest in Jrue Holiday, according to Ian Begley of SNY.

Holiday also has interest from the Heat, Clippers, Lakers, and Celtics, among other teams. 

Sam Amick of The Athletic adds that the Kings are no longer interested in Holiday

Ian Begley/SNY

Tags: Jrue Holiday, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Clippers Remain Interested In Trading For Malcolm Brogdon

Sep 29, 2023 2:04 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers have continued to engage the Boston Celtics on a potential trade for Malcolm Brogdon this offseason, sources told Jared Weiss of The Athletic.

The Clippers backed out of a trade for Brogdon in June to medical concerns.

The Celtics pivoted to a trade where they send Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis. 

Boston is believed to be committed to Derrick White as their starting point guard.

The Celtics and Clippers are each also interested in Jrue Holiday.

Jared Weiss/The Athletic

Tags: Malcolm Brogdon, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Suns Interested In Trading For TJ McConnell

Sep 29, 2023 8:33 AM

The Phoenix Suns made a move to improve their depth, when they added Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen and Nassir Little this week. But Phoenix isn't done tinkering with their roster.

The Suns remain interested in trading for Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell. Phoenix has Jordan Goodwin as the only pure point guard on their roster right now, and seemingly wants more depth at that position.

McConnell has spent the last four seasons with the Pacers, after spending the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. Last season, McConnell averaged 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 20.3 minutes per game off Indiana's bench.

The eight-year veteran point guard will turn 32 years old in late-March. McConnell is under contract for $8.7 million this season and $5 million of his $9.3 million deal is guaranteed for the 2024-25 season.

Jake Fischer/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor

Discuss
Jrue Holiday Interested In Heat, Clippers, Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Sixers

Sep 28, 2023 11:02 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to trade Jrue Holiday to another team after acquiring him from the Milwaukee Bucks in the Damian Lillard trade.

Holiday has a player option worth $37.4 million for the 24-25 season, which could give him some level of control over where he is traded.

Sources tell the Miami Herald that the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are teams that appeal to Holiday. 

Holiday was traded by the New Orleans Pelicans to the Bucks during the 2020 offseason and helped the Bucks win the NBA championship that season.

Anthony Chiang, Barry Jackson/Miami Herald

Tags: Jrue Holiday, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia Sixers, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
NBA Intervened To Improve Communication Between Blazers, Damian Lillard's Camp

Sep 28, 2023 10:52 PM

The situation between Damian Lillard's camp and the Portland Trail Blazers became so contentious during the month of September that the NBA league office intervened. 

A Zoom meeting was organized by the NBA on Sept. 23rd with league officials, Joe Cronin, Damian Lillard, Aaron Goodwin and NBPA general counsel Ron Klempner attending.

The meeting was scheduled with the purpose of opening up the lines of communication between the Blazers and Lillard's camp.

Both sides expressed their trust issues with the other during the meeting.

Cronin promised to do a better job communicating and started to do so again with Goodwin.

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Tags: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Blazers Rejected Damian Lillard's Ask To Rescind Trade Request

Sep 28, 2023 10:41 PM

During a September 5th meeting when the Portland Trail Blazers made it clear a trade with the Miami Heat was unlikely, Damian Lillard asked to rescind his trade request to remain with the franchise.

Joe Cronin responded by saying to Lillard that there was no coming back.

Sources tell Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report that "Lillard was shocked."

Lillard began showing up to work out at the Blazers' practice facility on Sept. 11th and went in for eight days. Lillard said Cronin did not address him once.

"I went into the facility because I was still on the roster and usually that time of the year is when team activities start to pick up as a group. I wasn't confident I would be moved so I showed up to be in the mix," Lillard told Bleacher Report.

Lillard met with Aaron Goodwin on Sept. 17 to discuss a contingency plan with the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets the preferred alternative teams. 

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Tags: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Bucks Did Not Consult Giannis Antetokounmpo Before Making Damian Lillard Trade

Sep 28, 2023 3:17 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks did not approach Giannis Antetokounmpo before they moved forward with their trade of Jrue Holiday for Damian Lillard.

"Directly, he literally played no role," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "In fact, Jon Horst did not bring this trade idea or sign off on it to Giannis Antetokounmpo because Jrue Holiday was involved. And the relationship there and the reverence that this organization and these players have for Holiday. He did not want to put that to Giannis Antetokounmpo and have him have that on his conscious necessarily that he might sign off or not sign off on it."

The Bucks believe their trade for Lillard improves their title odds, while also increasing the likelihood Antetokounmpo chooses to eventually sign an extension.

Milwaukee also didn't approach Antetokounmpo on whether he would commit long-term if they traded for Lillard.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Damian Lillard Expanded Trade List To Bucks, Nets While Resisting Raptors

Sep 28, 2023 11:58 AM

Damian Lillard communicated to the Portland Trail Blazers that he was willing to be patient and let the season play out if it meant he could eventually be traded to the Miami Heat.

Lillard has been working out at the Blazers' practice facility over the past two weeks, interacting with players and coaches.

Joe Cronin expressed skepticism about Lillard beginning training camp with the Blazers and it became clear they would try to resolve the trade situation before media day on Oct. 2.

Lillard believed his loyalty to the Blazers since he was drafted in 2012 meant they would accommodate him with his trade request to the Heat. Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a workable deal with the Heat and that wish went unfulfilled. 

Lillard's camp had a realization that he would need to begin to seriously consider the possibility of playing somewhere other than Miami.

Cronin stopped responding to all communication from Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, in mid-September as tension increased between both sides.

Once Lillard was convinced a trade to the Heat was virtually impossible, sources say he came open to the prospect of playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. The Toronto Raptors had serious interest in trading for Lillard, but his resistance to playing for that franchise remained an obstacle. 

Shams Charania, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Blazers Asked Heat For Either Jimmy Butler Or Bam Adebayo Be Included In Damian Lillard Trade

Sep 28, 2023 11:48 AM

When the Portland Trail Blazers first spoke with the Miami Heat on a potential Damian Lillard trade, they asked for either Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo back in return.

The Blazers and Heat had multiple conversations in July, but sources say the two sides never engaged in substantive negotiations. The Heat believed the Blazers had little interest in engaging on a trade with them.

Sources say the Heat were prepared in July and August to offer up to three first round picks with Tyler Herro going to a third team plus multiple second rounders, expiring contracts and Nikola Jovic.

Lillard wanted the Blazers to try to find a deal with the Heat, but those wishes went unfulfilled in his mind.

The Blazers eventually traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks with Jrue Holiday as the centerpiece return, which they will now attempt to trade elsewhere. 

Shams Charania, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

Discuss
Deandre Ayton From Suns To Blazers Was In Place Before Damian Lillard Trade Talks Ramped Up

Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Celtics Have Been Looking To Trade Malcolm Brogdon Throughout Offseason

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Aaron Goodwin: Heat Did Everything They Could To Acquire Damian Lillard

Anthony Chiang/Miami Herald

Jrue Holiday On Eve Of Trade: I Don't Want To Play For Any Team Other Than Bucks

Jim Owczarski/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Blazers Engaged With Other Teams On Jrue Holiday Trade

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Bucks Acquire Damian Lillard From Blazers In Three-Team Trade With Suns

Adrian Wojnraowski/ESPN

Blazers Believe Trade Of Damian Lillard To Heat 'Unlikely'

Anthony Chiang/Miami Herald

Heat Initially Offered Blazers Tyler Herro, Two First Round Picks For Damian Lillard

Marc J. Spears/ESPN

Buddy Hield Open To Trade, No Deal Imminent

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Raptors Considered Current Frontrunners To Trade For Damian Lillard

Marc J. Spears/ESPN

Raptors' Interest In Damian Lillard Trade Considered 'Genuine'

Marc Stein/Substack

James Harden Still Hopes For Trade To Clippers

Jake Fischer/Yahoo! Sports

Marcus Morris Will Not Stay Away From Clippers Despite Trade Rumors

Law Murray/The Athletic

Jazz, Bulls, Hornets, Nets Interested In Acquiring Tyler Herro

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Bulls, Raptors Discuss Damian Lillard Trade With Blazers

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Blazers Intensify Damian Lillard Talks, No Trade Imminent

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Blazers Want To Make Damian Lillard Trade Before Training Camp

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Windhorst On Donovan Mitchell: 'I Do Not Expect Him To Sign An Extension' This Summer

Brian Windhorst/ESPN

Mavs, Sixers, Bucks Have Registered Interest In Buddy Hield

Shams Charania/The Rally

Pacers Begin Trade Talks On Buddy Hield

Shams Charania/The Athletic