As the NBA’s trade deadline nears, NBA team executives have noticed a somewhat abnormal trade market over the past few weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic impacting the league and positive cases, contact tracing and injuries making teams pause to fully understand their rosters.
“The last thing you want to do is panic,” one high-ranking team executive said.
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“The season has played a part,” another team executive said. “So much time is spent on protocols and roster and injury management that we don’t know exactly what we have yet.”
So far, the Nets, Pacers, Rockets and Cavaliers have completed a four-team trade involving James Harden, Victor Oladipo, Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. The Cavaliers traded 2019 first-round pick Kevin Porter Jr. to the Rockets on Jan. 21. Then on Feb. 7, the Knicks and Pistons completed the third most significant trade of the season, with New York acquiring Derrick Rose for Dennis Smith Jr. and a 2021 second-round pick via Charlotte.
There is, however, a developing market for teams who could pursue big men. The Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets have been identified as teams searching for additional frontcourt depth. Other playoff contenders — such as Dallas, the Lakers and Portland — could emerge as a destination for frontcourt players closer to the trade deadline or in the contract buyout market.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have two centers — two-time All-Star Andre Drummond and JaVale McGee — as potential trade candidates on the market. The Cavaliers’ acquisition of Allen in the multi-team, Harden blockbuster trade gave the franchise a starting center of the future, and the team, at 10-18 and firmly in the postseason picture this season, is finding a balance of veterans and young talent.
The Raptors and Cavaliers are engaged in active talks on a deal that would send Drummond to Toronto/Tampa, sources tell The Athletic. Discussions between the two sides have occurred in the last few days, and Drummond was pulled from the lineup in Sunday’s game against the Clippers due to “rest” with Cleveland on a back-to-back at the Clippers and the Warriors on Monday. Multiple sources told The Athletic that Drummond was pulled from the lineup also in part due to his “attitude and play” recently, and sources say Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff has had multiple sit-down conversations with the big man.
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Drummond has averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per night in 25 games this season, his ninth campaign and yet another productive one. Cleveland acquired him in a trade with the Pistons last season.
For the Raptors, a deal structure could include several contracts to reach Drummond’s $28.7 million salary this season, and it could involve multiple other teams. Such a deal could take a while to come together. The Raptors are currently starting Aron Baynes at center. While Toronto has expressed trade interest, several other teams, such as Brooklyn and Dallas, would have interest in Drummond via buyout, sources said. The Cavaliers have been in the postseason hunt in the Eastern Conference, so it is unclear how open the franchise would be toward a buyout after the trade deadline should the team be in the playoff hunt, but the franchise has certainly acknowledged Drummond’s likely desire to be on a contending team. A buyout is clearly not the preference.
Drummond, 27, will be a free agent after the season.
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As our Sam Amick reported, the Hawks have shown a willingness to listen to offers on John Collins. Collins is an integral part of the Hawks’ core, averaging 18.1 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point land. Atlanta has so far sought a high first-round, lottery-level pick if it is to move Collins, sources said.
Brooklyn Nets
Before signing Iman Shumpert, the Brooklyn Nets considered a deal with veteran forward Andre Roberson, sources said. The Nets looked into Roberson as a wing signing who can provide defense and experience. Roberson showed to the Nets that he is healthy and moving well. In seven NBA seasons, Roberson has averaged. 4.5 points and four rebounds per game, making the All-Defensive second team in 2017.
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Also, a former Net who is working out in Los Angeles toward a hopeful NBA return: Kenneth Faried. An eight-year veteran, Faried hasn’t played since the 2018-19 season but is known as an energetic, athletic big man. He’s averaged 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in his career while playing for Denver, Brooklyn and Houston.
Charlotte Hornets
Hornets guard Terry Rozier is having a tremendous shooting season: He’s in the top 10 in 3-pointers made (3.3 per game) and 22nd in 3-point percentage (44.2 percent).
Among the teams that have interest in Lonzo Ball and could pursue him: The Bulls, sources said. The sides so far have not had dialogue, per sources. Ball, 23, represents a starting point guard who is entering restricted free agency in the offseason. Ball, a two-way guard, has averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.
Portland Trail Blazers
Rival teams are continuing to monitor the growth of Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons. The young guard is playing behind All-NBA star Damian Lillard but has shown flashes of scoring ability and playmaking in his career. He’s currently averaging 8.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
DeMar DeRozan is making a strong All-Star case this season, averaging nearly 20 points, 6.9 assists and 5 rebounds — a stat line only four other players (LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, James Harden) in the NBA hold. The Spurs are a legitimate postseason contender this season at 16-11, blending their veteran talent like DeRozan among a young talented core of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker IV.
— Joe Vardon contributed to the reporting for this story.
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(Photo: Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
