NBA: Breaking News Updates
Mavericks Acquire Kristaps Porzingis: The Dallas Mavericks made noise on January 31st with their addition of All-Star Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks. Along with Porzingis, who averaged 22.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last year, came guards Trey Burke, Courtney Lee, and Tim Hardaway Jr. Hardaway is averaging 19.1 points and 2.7 assists per game and should fit in well with the Mavericks. As for the Knicks, their goal was to clear cap space in order to sign multiple max-players this summer. In the mean time, though, they get back DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and Dennis Smith Jr. Smith is averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game in a limited role next to Luka Doncic. Neither team is headed for the playoffs this year, so this trade was all about next season and beyond.
Trail Blazers Acquire Rodney Hood: The Portland Trail Blazers were looking to add a two-way wing player for a run in the playoffs, and they felt that former-Duke guard Rodney Hood would suffice. After getting traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers this time last year, Hood is on the move again. And he'll be in the postseason this time too with Portland. It's not clear what his role with be with the Trail Blazers, but in Cleveland this year, he's put up a respectable 12.2 points and 2.0 assists per game. The Cavaliers, who are in a complete and utter rebuild, are doing just about everything they can to lose games at this point (and it's working). In this trade, they're getting back Nik Stauskas, who continues to bounce around the league. Stauskas is having arguably his best year, with 6.4 points and 1.4 assists per game.
Lakers Acquire Reggie Bullock: The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt for Reggie Bullock in exchange for Svi Mykhailiuk. Bullock is one of the most underrated players in the league and is a very consistent three-point shooter and perimeter defender. He is averaging 12.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 39.8 percent from deep, while also hitting 85.0 percent from the line. He is virtually another Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for the Lakers. We're not sure if this trade is a prelude to more deals for either organization, but it certainly could be as they're both barely on the outside of the playoff picture. It was reported by Sporting News that Detroit is gunning for Mike Conley Jr. and this could free up cap space for that. Mykhailiuk is averaging 3.2 points as a rookie.
76ers Acquire Tobias Harris: The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers have engaged in a rare "we both got what we wanted" trade. The reason this deal works so well for both ends is because they want different things. The 76ers are going all in on winning this year. They've acquired Tobias Harris, who's averaging 20.9 points and 7.9 rebounds, to pair him with Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons to create arguably the most talented roster in the East. For the Clippers, they wanted to clear cap space in order to try and sign Anthony Davis and/or Kawhi Leonard this summer and they needed to get rid of Harris in order to do so. In return, the Clippers are getting Wilson Chandler and Landry Shamet. Shamet, a rookie out of Wichita State, is having a solid year with 8.3 points per outing.
Pistons Acquire Thon Maker: The Detroit Pistons have made another deal at the deadline (not the one we're waiting for though), this time trading for former 10th overall pick Thon Maker. According to Sports Illustrated, Maker requested a trade in order to get more playing time and the Milwaukee Bucks decided to give him what he wished for. A change of scenery is likely going to help Maker, while the same could be said for Stanley Johnson. Johnson was moved out of the starting lineup at the beginning of this year, and the former 8th overall pick is now headed to Milwaukee, where he'll look to find key minutes off the bench. Neither player is going to start, but it seemed like they both wanted out. Maker is averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds, while Johnson is sitting at 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.
Suns Acquire Tyler Johnson: The Phoenix Suns have traded for guard, Tyler Johnson, sending Ryan Anderson to the Miami Heat. Wayne Ellington, the 2009 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, is also headed to Phoenix. According to Clutch Points, though, the Suns are already working on a buy out with Ellington so he can sign with a contender in time for the playoffs. Johnson is the only real key player in the mix because he'll be apart of the Suns' future for at least the time being. Phoenix doesn't have any point guard depth, so Johnson might start immediately. He's averaging 10.8 points and 2.5 assists per game as the back-up for the Heat. While Phoenix gets the guard they had wished for, the Heat clear cap space in order to go after a superstar free agent in a couple of months.
Kings Acquire Harrison Barnes: The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to trade Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. This is huge for the Kings as they get Barnes averaging nearly 18 points a game, who they hope will help push them into the playoff picture. Sacramento may have won this trade for the season but the Mavericks are thinking big picture. They acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. last week from the New York Knicks and getting rid of Barnes clears up $25 million in cap space going into the summer. Randolph has not yet been activated this season who will probably be waived and look to sign with another team. The Mavericks also get Jackson, who is in his sophomore season and has a lot of potential. Both teams get what they wanted here.
Bulls Acquire Otto Porter Jr: The Chicago Bulls have traded for Otto Porter Jr. from the Washington Wizards. Porter is averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in his sixth season in the league after being drafted 3rd overall by Washington. The Wizards have made it known that they are trying to clear cap space and were even considering trading their best player: Bradley Beal. Washington has given up all hope of reaching the postseason, and have decided to sell at the deadline. In return for Porter, they'll receive Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis. Parker, the former 2nd overall pick by the Bucks, is averaging 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his lone season with the Bulls. Parker is on a one-year deal so the Wizards won't have to worry about paying him in the future.
Rockets Acquire Iman Shumpert: According to ESPN, the Sacramento Kings have dealt Iman Shumpert in a three-team deal with the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Shumpert is headed to Houston, and is averaging 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He'll immediately add some defense, playoff experience, and three-point shooting. In the deal, the Kings are acquiring Wade Baldwin, Alec Burks, and Nik Stauskas. Burks was in his first year with the Cavs coming over from the Utah Jazz. Stauskas was just traded to the Cavaliers yesterday and will now be on his third team in less than 40 hours. It's also reported that the former Big Ten Player of the Year, will be traded again to the Indiana Pacers and then waived. Cleveland is receiving Brandon Knight, Marquese Chriss, and a future lottery pick.
Bucks Acquire Nikola Mirotic: The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Stanley Johnson to the New Orleans Pelicans for Nikola Mirotic. He is averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He is one of the top shooter as a big man in the league and made a huge difference for the Pelicans during his time in New Orleans. Mirotic came over last season and quickly helped the Pels defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs. Now, a year later, and he'll add more depth to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Johnson was just acquired from the Detroit Pistons a day ago, in a deal that involved Thon Maker. It's not yet clear if Johnson is going to be apart of the Pelicans' future but they've given up on the playoffs at this point and will look to earn a high draft pick.
Raptors Acquire Marc Gasol: The Toronto Raptors are the latest top tier Eastern Conference team to make a move at the deadline. The Sixers traded for Tobias Harris, while Mirotic is headed to the Bucks. Toronto felt they needed to make one more deal to push their team to the next level, and this was it. Gasol spent his entire 11-year career In Memphis with the Grizzlies, and he was one of the best players in franchise history. He was a three-time All-Star and won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013. Gasol, who is 34-years-old, is averaging 15.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game with the Grizzlies. According to Yahoo, Memphis is getting Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles, and a 2024 draft pick. Valanciunas is averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Magic Acquire Markelle Fultz: The Orlando Magic have traded for the former No. 1 overall pick, Markelle Fultz, and have sent Jonathon Simmons to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was obvious that the Sixers had decided to move on from Fultz as he had not lived up to the hype during his first two years in the NBA. Fultz, an extremely talented athlete, dealt with a few injuries in Philly and never seemed to get it going fully. A fresh start is likely what he needed and he'll now be able to do that in Orlando, alongside another promising talent in Mo Bamba. Fultz put up 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in limited action this year. On the other hand, the Magic unload Simmons who has some playoff experience with the San Antonio Spurs and is averaging 6.9 points per game.
Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated.