Trade season is right around the corner in the NBA. Although the deadline won’t be until February 8, that date, December 15, serves as the unofficial start of trade season around the league as most players who signed new deals in free agency last summer are now trade-eligible. We may not get much action until after the new year, but you can bet teams are already preparing for what is expected to be a buyer’s market with very few sellers.
But even with so few vendors identified at the moment, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of action to follow. Because if the NBA has taught us anything regarding trade rumors, we should expect at least one wild thing to happen. With that said, here’s a look at the latest rumors around the league as each team prepares for the start of the trade season.
There hasn’t been an entirely solid trade market for LaVine, who is currently sidelined for at least four weeks with foot soreness. That’s partly due to the massive contract he’s still owed — $137.98 million over the next three years — in an era when every team is trying to be strategic with its spending. But there are other factors at play: injury history, his defensive liability, and most recently the fact that the Bulls have looked competent and watchable without him. Add it all up, and the Bulls have very few dance partners to pull off a deal for LaVine.
The team most linked to the All-Star guard is the Lakers, but there has been no traction on that front. The Philadelphia 76ers have also been mentioned as a possible destination. However, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reported that the Sixers are not expected to make any major moves until the Feb. 8 deadline approaches. The Sacramento Kings have been mentioned as a “team to watch” as a potential suitor for LaVine, and while it’s not clear if the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in the shooting guard, the Bulls have reached out to the Cavs about the possibility of trading LaVine for Darius Garland. But given Garland’s recent injury – A.J A broken jaw will keep him out of action for several weeks – Chicago may have backed away from this idea.
It looks like we may not be getting a LaVine deal anytime soon based on all this information, which isn’t entirely surprising considering we’re only a quarter of the way into the season and most teams are still eyeing the postseason. That could change quickly with a major injury or the team just wanting to succeed, but it looks like LaVine isn’t going anywhere just yet.
Toronto’s many assets
Once again, teams are circling the Raptors like the Eagles as they face big decisions regarding Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Fisher reported that both players are receiving interest from the same teams with the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings all at the top of the list. The Hawks were specifically linked to Siakam going back to last offseason when they tried to make a trade for the champion forward. As far as the Pacers and Kings go, while both are interested in Siakam, their biggest priority will be acquiring Anunoby, according to Fisher. If the Kings enter into trade talks with the Raptors for Anunoby, Toronto will reportedly target Keegan Murray in return.
But other than Siakam and Anunoby, another name that could be available is Gary Trent Jr., per Fisher, who is also in the final year of his contract. Trent Jr.’s production is down from last year, as is his efficiency, but he remains a consistent three-point threat that would be a valuable addition to a championship-caliber team.
Several teams have reportedly inquired about Markkanen, who earned his first nod with Utah last season. But as Fisher reported, the Jazz are in no rush to move him, especially after they were rumored to be interested in acquiring Damian Lillard and then Jrue Holiday over the summer. But Utah State is said to be “willing to listen to everyone’s calls,” including Markkanen if the price is right. With an 8-16 start to the season, Utah may become more inclined to trade Markkanen if its season continues to trend as it has. The teams currently interested in Markkanen are the Kings, Hawks and Thunder, with the latter having a treasure trove of assets that could certainly make a deal happen.
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TJ McConnell has gained interest in the commercial market
If you watched any of the Pacers’ heroics during the season, you probably thought at some point, “Man, McConnell sure would look great in a championship… [insert desired team name] He’s been a key component of Indiana’s hot start, serving as a cure-all for the Pacers when Tyrese Haliburton sits on the bench. He can facilitate scoring and scoring, is a scourge on defense and has a knack for clearing shots. , diving on the ground and generally playing noisy games. So it’s no surprise that he’s gaining interest from playoff teams, according to Fisher. But given how important he is to Indiana, parting ways with him is probably unlikely unless the Pacers make a big swing before the trade deadline that could require moving him.
The NBA offseason is always filled with excitement and rumors, and the latest buzz surrounding the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers has fans talking. According to a recent report, the Bulls have offered a trade to the Cavaliers that would involve sending Zach LaVine in exchange for Darius Garland. This potential deal has sparked a lot of speculation and debate among fans and analysts, as both players have shown promise and potential in their respective careers. As the trade rumors continue to swirl, it will be interesting to see if this rumored deal comes to fruition and how it will impact both teams moving forward.