Following blockbuster trades involving Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, and De’Aaron Fox, groups are transferring urgently, solely two days earlier than the NBA commerce deadline.
HoopsHype has gathered the most recent intel on commerce talks involving Bulls heart Nikola Vucevic and guard Lonzo Ball, Pelicans ahead Brandon Ingram, and extra, together with updates on the Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, Bucks, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pistons, Hawks, and Hornets.
Nikola Vucevic commerce curiosity
Following the commerce of star guard Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, the Chicago Bulls are gearing in direction of a rebuild, and with two-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic needing a win-now state of affairs, there’s a rising sense the Bulls will look to maneuver Vucevic forward of the deadline.
Vucevic has drawn commerce curiosity from the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, most notably, league sources advised HoopsHype. Each the Warriors and Lakers intrigue Vucevic from afar, HoopsHype has realized.
The Warriors are scouring the commerce market, hoping to enhance the roster round franchise star Stephen Curry to offer him one of the best probability to compete for a championship within the remaining years of his profession.
Following the acquisition of Luka Doncic, the Lakers are additionally poised to contend for the foreseeable future.
The Bulls have held out hope for a first-round decide for Vucevic however could need to accept a number of second-round picks in the event that they transfer him forward of the deadline within the eyes of NBA executives who spoke with HoopsHype.
The 34-year-old heart is having an environment friendly season, averaging 19.9 factors on 55.1 p.c taking pictures from the sector and 40.1 p.c from past the arc, 10.4 rebounds, and three.6 assists.
Lonzo Ball commerce curiosity
Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has been arguably one of the best comeback story within the league after returning this season from knee accidents that sidelined him since January 14, 2022.
Ball has obtained commerce curiosity from a number of groups, together with the Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, and others, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Some groups are additionally monitoring whether or not Ball might hit the buyout market.
Ball has regarded spry currently, averaging 10.2 factors on 40.3 p.c taking pictures from past the arc, 3.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 24.7 minutes by means of his final 11 video games whereas on an expiring contract price $21.4 million.
What’s subsequent for the Bulls?
Along with doubtlessly buying and selling Nikola Vucevic and Lonzo Ball, as talked about, the Chicago Bulls have a number of extra gadgets on their agenda earlier than the deadline.
The Bulls are additionally exploring the potential for rerouting newly acquired guards Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter, league sources advised HoopsHype, and as reported by KC Johnson.
Jones is on an expiring contract price $9.1 million, and Huerter is owed $34.82 million by means of the 2025-26 season.
Basically, Chicago is trying to clear future cap house and desires to keep away from taking again future wage in commerce talks ideally, league sources stated.
After re-acquiring their authentic 2025 first-round decide again from the San Antonio Spurs within the three-team Zach LaVine commerce involving the Sacramento Kings, Chicago is predicted to deal with creating its youthful gamers and rebuilding.
Brandon Ingram commerce talks with the Pelicans and Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are among the many groups who’ve referred to as the New Orleans Pelicans to gauge the worth tag on ahead Brandon Ingram, league sources advised HoopsHype, and as reported by The Stein Line.
The Hawks have explored the commerce market on veterans Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, as beforehand reported by HoopsHype. Hawks ahead De’Andre Hunter has additionally drawn commerce curiosity from the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources advised HoopsHype.
In talks between the Hawks and Pelicans, league sources advised HoopsHype the Pelicans can be reluctant to take again future wage, together with Bogdanovic, who’s owed $16 million for the 2025-26 season and has a staff choice price $16 million for the 2026-27 season.
Beforehand, the Pelicans did their due diligence on Capela this previous offseason earlier than drafting Yves Missi, as reported by HoopsHype. Capela is on an expiring $22.27 million deal.
Along with gauging the Ingram commerce market, one other merchandise on the agenda for the Pelicans is ducking the posh tax, league sources advised HoopsHype. With that in thoughts, NBA executives across the league are monitoring New Orleans to presumably commerce two of the next gamers: Daniel Theis, Javonte Inexperienced, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
Following the commerce deadline, there’s a powerful perception the Pelicans will convert two-way guard Brandon Boston Jr. to an ordinary NBA contract, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Boston Jr. is averaging a career-high 10.7 factors in 23.9 minutes per recreation.
What’s subsequent for the Bucks?
The Milwaukee Bucks have been energetic on the commerce market involving conversations centered round Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Marjon Beauchamp, and their 2031 first-round decide, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Milwaukee has circled the wagon on numerous gamers trying to enhance the roster whereas Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are of their primes, together with six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, Kyle Kuzma, and position participant upgrades, together with Cody Martin, and many others.
As reported by HoopsHype since January 16, with the Bucks $6.5 million over the second apron, executives on groups trying to be commerce facilitators, have been monitoring Connaughton as a candidate to be moved.
Connaughton has a $9.42 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season, which he’s anticipated to train for the 2025-26 season, HoopsHype has realized.
The 32-year-old swingman has appeared in 28 video games this season, averaging 4.5 factors in 14.9 minutes.
Middleton has a $34 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season, with the expectation across the league that he’ll train it.
The 33-year-old swingman has appeared in solely 23 video games this season, however has shot the ball nicely at a 51.2 p.c clip from the sector and 40.7 p.c from downtown for 12.6 factors in 23.2 minutes.
Portis has a $13.45 million participant choice for the 2025-26 season. It’s unclear at this juncture which path Portis will select relating to his participant choice.
Portis, who turns 30 on February tenth, has put up comparable numbers to final season, averaging 13.4 factors and seven.9 rebounds in 41 video games.
Following the Phoenix Suns breaking apart their 2031 first-round decide for 3 first-round picks in a commerce with the Utah Jazz, a number of NBA executives have expressed curiosity in equally attempting to accumulate Milwaukee’s 2031 first-round decide for a number of first-round picks, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Cody Martin drawing commerce curiosity
Charlotte Hornets swingman Cody Martin has obtained commerce curiosity from a number of groups, together with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Denver Nuggets, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Beforehand, the Phoenix Suns tried to accumulate Martin in a much bigger commerce that may’ve despatched Jusuf Nurkic to the Hornets, as reported by HoopsHype on January sixteenth.
As well as, Martin and future second-round draft picks from Charlotte have been mentioned in sign-and-trade discussions for Cleveland Cavaliers swingman Isaac Okoro this summer time, which fell by means of as soon as Okoro agreed to re-sign with Cleveland, league sources advised HoopsHype.
Martin has averaged 7.8 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and a pair of.3 assists in 24.8 minutes for the Hornets this season. He’s owed $8.12 million this season and has a non-guaranteed $8.68 million for the 2025-26 season.
Knicks heart Jericho Sims’ commerce market
New York Knicks heart Jericho Sims has drawn curiosity on the commerce market from groups, together with the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks, league sources advised HoopsHype.
The 26-year-old heart and former Slam Dunk Contest participant is on an expiring $2 million contract.
The Knicks have a frontcourt logjam in All-Star Karl-Anthony Cities, the anticipated return of Mitchell Robinson ought to he stay in New York previous the deadline, Treasured Achiuwa, Sims, and Ariel Hukporti whereas solely $535,301 under the second apron.
Will the Denver Nuggets make a commerce?
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone stated ahead Michael Porter Jr. gained’t be traded throughout a latest postgame press convention.
Porter Jr. beforehand got here up in reported commerce talks surrounding Zach LaVine when he was on the Bulls earlier this season. Chicago, nevertheless, was proof against taking up Zeke Nnaji’s four-year, $32 million contract, as beforehand reported by HoopsHype. On the basketball court docket, there have been additionally inner questions on whether or not LaVine and Nuggets guard Jamal Murray might’ve coexisted successfully on either side of the ball.
The Nuggets have continued to gauge the commerce market on Nnaji and likewise Dario Saric, league sources advised HoopsHype.
With Denver missing draft capital to commerce, groups have countered by asking for the provision of Denver’s youthful rotation gamers comparable to Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. Nuggets starter Christian Braun has additionally drawn commerce curiosity, nevertheless it’s been rebuffed by Denver.
As reported above by HoopsHype, the Nuggets have expressed curiosity in Cody Martin. The Nuggets have additionally been linked to Philadelphia 76ers ahead Guerschon Yabusele, as reported by HoopsHype on January thirtieth.
Denver will proceed to scout the commerce marketplace for potential bench upgrades forward of the deadline.
You possibly can comply with Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, previously often called Twitter.
This text initially appeared on Hoops Hype: NBA Intel: Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Brandon Ingram Commerce Talks; Lakers, Warriors, Knicks, extra
