NBA Thread

[Reya Serra]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[GM Franchise]

NBA Trade Deadline Roundup: A look at the trade Richter scale

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25071805/nba-trade-deadline-roundup-a-look-at-the-trade-richter-scale

All-Star Weekend is over, which means the NBA trade deadline is next. Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline means that it's time for a flurry of smoke. The question, as always, will be whether there's much in the way of fire. Another way to think about it is that there's often geological activity, but that doesn't mean an actual earthquake.

Here's a look at the vibrations going on around the league via the web:

WELCOME TO THE DRAGIC KINGDOM

Goran Dragic is one of the biggest names in talks. The situation can be simplified to this: The Suns clearly want to keep him (Yahoo), but the money situation complicates a lot for them. They basically signed two point guards to big deals and the third one, the best one, Dragic, is a free agent this summer. So they have to decide if they can re-sign him even if they offer him a max, considering the Lakers and Knicks and other teams will throw him the four-year max.

But it's been clear from Dragic's comments and body language this year that the three-point-guard system Phoenix decided to try out hasn't made him super happy. He wants his minutes and usage back, wants to have more control over the offense. Eric Bledsoe is one thing, he's able to play two-guard, is more dash-and-crash, and he and Dragic have good chemistry. But Isaiah Thomas is 26th in the league in isolation frequency, per NBA.com. He ISO's 16 percent of the time, and is in the 68th percentile in scoring in such situations. That's a lot of one-on-one basketball for a point guard.

The easy answer is "trade Thomas, use that money to re-sign Dragic" and that's clearly the Suns' preferred course (again, reported by Yahoo). But if they trade Thomas and then Dragic decides he just wants to leave, which isn't out of the question, the Suns aren't completely screwed, but they're pretty screwed. So then the question becomes, if you trade Dragic to prevent such a scenario, what do you want in return?

Yahoo says that's an All-Star "potential" player (think Tobias Harris or Nikola Vucevic or come to think of it, half the Magic roster) and a first-round pick. The teams capable of such a trade are basically Orlando, Denver, the Sixers, the Lakers (if they moved Julius Randle and even that's a stretch), and Houston (depending on how the Suns feel about Terrence Jones).

Dragic reportedly met with the Suns on Tuesday, and Tuesday night USA Today reported that Dragic will play out the season and become a free agent. Houston remains the most active pursuant in a trade, but the Rockets are probably going to need a three-way deal to get what Phoenix will want.

THE EASTERN FAULT LINE: BROOKLYN

Two teams with playoff aspirations to begin the year have come to face the reality that the dream is dead. The Nets and Nuggets know that there's no way they can make the postseason, and as such smaller trades have already gone down (Timofey Mozgov sent to Cleveland, Nate Robinson to Boston before buyout) and bigger trades have been discussed (a near-done Brook Lopez trade to OKC).

There's near universal agreement that the Nets and Nuggets will be active over the next two days but there's a lot of disagreement over whether something will happen.

Sporting News reports that the Nets remain underwhelmed by the offers for Lopez. The Nets' situation is extremely complicated. For one, they're still well within range of the playoffs, and Charlotte will be without Kemba Walker for another three weeks at least. Brooklyn can still make the postseason, boost some trade value, get some playoff revenue and then make moves in the summer. Second, the fact that Mikhail Prokhorov is looking to sell the team really screws with this entire situation. We've seen teams before (Detroit, Atlanta when they were for sale) remain stuck at the deadline because you don't want to make moves that will raise or lower interest in the team dramatically and affect sale price and valuation.

With Lopez, they have a player who was an All-Star when healthy, but is almost never healthy. He doesn't fit in with Lionel Hollins' plans, but do you put that plan with how much it has struggled out of the gate over the long-term goals? The basics of this are simple, though: The Nets want a big return, like all teams do for their best trade asset. And they'll hold out for as long as possible to seek that out. Same kind of deal with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.

The chances of a deal are decent, if only because it doesn't make sense to keep going down this road with this payroll. But the odds are probably the same that talks will continually break down as the Nets want more and more.

Nets Daily reported Monday that there's "nothing iminent" with the Nets. If anything happens, I wouldn't expect it to be before Thursday morning. If the Nets start going crazy breaking down this team, it could open a lot more trades around the league as a consequence. Likewise, if rumored deals with Lopez or for Lance Stephenson remain in limbo, that could freeze activity at the deadline. Many moves are connected to each other

THE WESTERN FAULT LINE: DENVER

The Nuggets are in a similar situation, only with better assets. That's a good thing and a bad thing. Their contracts are more reasonable than Brooklyn's, their players are younger, their guys are more movable with fewer complications (Lopez' health, Williams' decline, Johnson's age, etc.). They could get on the phone Tuesday and have 90 percent of their roster moved out by the end of the night.

But that also means they have to ask for more. The word being thrown around is that the Nuggets want multiple first-rounders for their guys, which makes sense when they got two firsts for Timofey Mozgov. But Mozgov was in part determined by the value of first-rounders, and specific to Cleveland's need and set of assets. That was also before the Nuggets totally imploded and effectively quit on themselves and their coach.

Wilson Chandler is the most likely trade target. The noise right now is about Arron Afflalo, but Chandler is A. an easier contract to move and B. a more reasonable asset to trade (as in, you don't need to get huge return for him vs. Afflalo with All-Star potential). The Blazers have been chasing Chandler for months, and CSN Northwest reports they're ready right now to give up Thomas Robinson, a first-round pick, and "another player" for the wing. That "another player" is the likely hang-up, with the Blazers thinking C.J. McCollum and the Nuggets likely wanting Nicolas Batum (that's been rumored but not reported as the scenario and it makes a lot of sense).

Afflalo, though, is a much tastier fish to chase, which is why the following teams have been linked to talks for him, all via ESPN:

OKC Thunder: They need another versatile wing and the scoring punch would be a big deal. It's basically the move they made for Dion Waiters, only for a good player.

Sacramento Kings: Afflalo has a history with GM Pete D'Allessandro and new coach George Karl. He's a weird fit with DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay being high-usage, but they do have young players (Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas), and moveable contracts (Jason Thompson).

Chicago Bulls: Weird name to pop up, and you wonder if this is connected to talk that they could move Taj Gibson. The Bulls adding another star player would push them into a higher level of contention.

Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers will take anything the Nuggets will offer on the wing and would give up almost anything they can reasonably give. They just have nothing to give. This is a pipe dream unless something really crazy goes down.

The Ty Lawson situation is the other wild card, and it's, uh... confusing. Grantland reported last week that Lawson was available in talks. The Denver Post reports the opposite, that the Nuggets aren't moving him. These seem like contradictory statements, but they're not. Here's the difference. Grantland is reporting that other executives think if you come with an offer that blows them out of the water, the Nuggets will listen and it might go down. The Post is reporting that the Nuggets aren't going to deal him, which is likely the position the Nuggets have taken in talks. In short: It depends on who you believe, indications from teams that have talked to the Nuggets and likely want to thaw their reluctance publicly, or the Nuggets who would want to maintain that freeze around Lawson at all costs, because it does not benefit them to float his name as available in the public sphere, but could also just be telling the truth -- that he's not available. Politics! Good times!

The noise out of Grantland and CSN New England this week involves the Celtics being most interested in Lawson, which makes sense. The Celtics could send Marcus Smart or Avery Bradley along with another young wing and any number of their approximately 11,000 first-round picks over the next three years, and get a speedy point guard with All-Star potential to run the show in Brad Stevens' system. Why trade Rajon Rondo only to trade for Ty Lawson? Lawson's got another two years on his contract after this. That's why. Rondo will be a free agent this summer.

The words "Nuggets fire sale" were a buzz term at All-Star Weekend, but the idea of how much they're really looking to change the team varies with who you talk to.

If this sounds like "they could trade everyone or no one," that's pretty much been their M.O. for the last month. It's all based on what deals become available, and all indications are that the Nuggets aren't going to break up the team without significant return.

ENES BANTER

Long story short, Enes Kanter wants out, and wants to be traded ASAP. The report (Yahoo) is that the Jazz want a young player and a first-rounder for Kanter. It may seem a little nuts that the Jazz are effectively asking for the same value for Kanter as the Nuggets are for Afflalo, but two things. One, you always say "we want young talent and a pick" for a player. That's just page one in the "So You're Going To Trade A Good Young Player" handbook. And two, the value of the pick matters. Portland's problem with acquiring Chandler or Afflalo is based around where their pick will land (somewhere in the 20's, possibly high). The pick for Afflalo has to be better than the pick for Kanter, and the young player for Afflalo has to be higher than the one for Kanter.

Kanter's per-36 numbers (sorry Charles Barkley) are terrific (18.4 points and 10.4 rebounds) but there's a reason he's lost minutes this season. He's regressed defensively and Rudy Gobert has been incredible in his second year. And some players aren't going to click with Quin Snyder, while others will shine. Kanter's still gifted offensively, but needs to get better at protecting the rim and work on conditioning.

He's worth a flyer for a young team in need of a big.

LAYUPS

Tayshaun Prince is reportedly unlikely to be dealt (NBA.com), which is code for "Everyone knows he'll be bought out after the deadline anyway."

Yahoo Sports reports that Draymond Green would be interested in an offer sheet with the Pistons this summer as a restricted free agent. I tend to read this as simple negotiating to keep the pressure on an already maxed-out Warriors team to remain engaged in keeping Green at all costs and to push for a quick resolution to avoid what happened to Eric Bledsoe last year happening to Green, who should probably be leading the way in Defensive Player of the Year votes at this point.

HT: HoopsHype, HoopsRumors, both indispensable during Trade Deadline season.

[GM Franchise]

Amar'e Stoudemire joins Mavs

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/12344433/amare-stoudemire-officially-member-dallas-mavericks

DALLAS -- Amar'e Stoudemire is officially a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

Stoudemire, the 13-year veteran center/forward who reached a buyout agreement with the New York Knicks during All-Star weekend, signed with the Mavs as soon as he cleared waivers at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday.

"I'm excited to be a part of a first-class organization," Stoudemire said in a statement released by the team. "To play alongside Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and other great players, I think it's a tremendous opportunity for me to compete for a championship." Stoudemire joined the Mavs on their flight to Oklahoma City on Wednesday afternoon, will participate in the morning shootaround with his new teammates and will come off the Dallas bench in Thursday night's game against the Thunder.

Stoudemire, 32, who was making $23.4 million in the final season of a five-year, $99.7 million deal, requested a buyout from the last-place Knicks because he wanted the opportunity to join a playoff contender. He quickly picked the 36-19 Mavs over other suitors such as the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns, verbally committing to Dallas on Monday night.

The Mavs could only offer Stoudemire the prorated veteran's minimum. His deal with Dallas is worth $477,150, according to sources.

The Mavs plan to use Stoudemire, a six-time All-Star who is averaging 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24 minutes per game this season, as a sixth man. The majority of his minutes are likely to come as Chandler's backup at center, and Stoudemire will also get some spot duty at power forward behind Nowitzki.

"I know what he can provide -- an incredible finisher at the rim, one of the best pick-and-roll players that we have in the game still," said Chandler, who played with Stoudemire in New York for three seasons before being traded to the Mavs last summer. "I'm excited for what he can bring. I think he can really flourish because his minutes won't be high. He'll only be asked to do what he's great at doing. That's coming in and finishing and scoring in the paint.

"I feel like he's going to be an incredible addition for us."

The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Stoudemire fills a significant void for the Mavs, who have been searching for a big man to bolster the bench since giving up Brandan Wright in the Dec. 18 deal to acquire point guard Rajon Rondo. Journeyman Greg Smith, rookie second-round pick Dwight Powell and Bernard James, who signed a 10-day contract on Feb. 11, had been Dallas' options at backup center.

"It's obvious he would be a great upgrade to our front line, especially to our thin bench on the front line," Nowitzki said.

The Mavs released swingman Ricky Ledo, a second-round pick in 2013, to make room on the roster for Stoudemire.

[GM Franchise]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It gets worse, Reya.

---

Goran Dragic: Trust in Suns is shot

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12344251/goran-dragic-says-longer-trusts-phoenix-suns

PHOENIX -- Fed up with his role on a team crowded with point guards, Goran Dragic said he has made up his mind to leave the Phoenix Suns, preferably by Thursday's trade deadline.

If not then, he has made it clear there is no way he would re-sign with the team when he becomes a free agent after this season.

"I don't trust them anymore," Dragic said after the Suns practiced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old guard's points and assists are down considerably from last season, when he was third team all-NBA. He said he doesn't like his role of "standing in the corner" and wants to go to a team where he can "be a point guard, like in the past I was my whole life."

"To be a point guard, to run the team and have the ball in my hands and try to make plays for others," Dragic said. "That's who I am."

He often found himself playing the off guard or on the wing in deference to the Suns' other point guards, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. Sometimes all three were on the court together.

"Last year was great. This year it's different," Dragic said. "...Standing in the corner, it's not my game."

Dragic's agent, Bill Duffy, told the Suns on Tuesday that there was nothing they could do to keep his client with the team.

Now the Suns are up against the wall, trying to make a deal before Thursday's deadline or see Dragic walk as a free agent with no compensation to the team when the season ends.

Dragic, in his seventh NBA season, is averaging 16.2 points per game, down from his career-best 20.3 last season, and 4.1 assists, down from 5.9 last year.

This is the personable Slovenian's second stint with the Suns. He was drafted by San Antonio, on behalf of Phoenix, as the 15th pick overall in 2008. The Suns sent him to Houston during the 2010-11 season. He returned to sign a four-year, $30 million contract in 2012, with the ability to opt out after three years.

His 2012 acquisition came after the Suns traded Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the Suns went through an awful 2012-13 season, Ryan McDonough was hired as general manager and put together a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for point guard Eric Bledsoe. Phoenix thrived last season when Dragic and Bledsoe both played, compiling a 23-11 record, and the Suns won 48 games, just missing the playoffs.

In the offseason, with Bledsoe yet to sign a new deal, the Suns surprisingly acquired a third point guard, Thomas, in a four-year, $27 million sign-and-trade deal. Then Bledsoe signed a five-year, $70 million contract.

The chemistry of the previous season wasn't there.

"It was hard, different style," Dragic said. "(In the) corner, not getting the touches I usually get. I get touches, but they are not the same. That's the most frustrating thing."

Coach Jeff Hornacek was charged with making the three point-guard thing work.

"Was it ideal? No," Hornacek said. "Would it have got back to where it was last year? Maybe. But there's no reason talking about it now until the trade deadline goes by."

As for Dragic's perception that he was standing in a corner on offense when he wanted the ball at the point, Hornacek said, "If that's what he feels, that's what he feels,"

"We swing the ball from side to side," the coach said. "He's gotten the ball on the swing. Everybody has their perception of what's happening out there. Is it what it was last year? No. But again we're four plays away from being 33-21."

Dragic said he wished no ill will to anyone in the Suns organization.

"I love the city, but it's just reached that point in my career where it's better for me and my family to move on," he said.

The Suns lost five of six going into the All-Star break. At 29-25, they are clinging to a half-game lead over Oklahoma City for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference.

They are at Minnesota on Friday night.

[GM Franchise]

Report: Kings after Suns' Goran Dragic, Celtics also in mix

http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/702677

Goran Dragic reportedly isn't long for Phoenix, but the Sacramento Kings want to keep him out west, Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears reports.


Another team that could jump into the mix is the Boston Celtics, with ESPN's Marc Stein reporting that the team has emerged as an outside contender to land the All-NBA guard.

The Celtics have young players and a bevy of draft picks to dangle. In addition, Suns general manager Ryan McDonough worked for the Celtics for 10 years, including time as assistant general manager to Celtics GM Danny Ainge.

Boston, like Sacramento, would not be afraid to trade for a pending free agent, Stein notes.

Dragic reportedly told the Suns on Tuesday that he isn't interested in re-signing with the club, so it's expected Phoenix will try to move him before Thursday's trade deadline. Dragic can opt out of his deal this coming offseason.

The point guard's preferred trade destinations are reportedly the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, while the Houston Rockets -Dragic's former team - are apparently also in strong pursuit.

The 28-year-old reportedly gave the Suns a list of seven teams he's open to re-signing with in the event of a trade.

Dragic's averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per 36 minutes in 52 starts.

---

Report: Goran Dragic tells Suns he won't re-sign, team will try to trade him

http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/702610

The Phoenix Suns are bracing for a future without point guard Goran Dragic.

Dragic, who can opt out of his contract at the end of the season, told the Suns on Tuesday that he has no intention of re-signing with them in the offseason, according to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.

The Suns' three-point guard experiment, while intriguing and sporadically successful, hasn't worked out the way the front office hoped when they inked free agent Isaiah Thomas to a 4-year, $27-million deal this past offseason.

Part of the reason for that signing (which preceded a lucrative extension for Eric Bledsoe) was likely as a bit of insurance against losing Dragic, but the addition may have ultimately helped usher him out the door. The Suns were already resigned to the reality that they'd have to trade one of their point guards, but they'd expressed their preference for trading Thomas.

Dragic declaring his intent to bolt in the offseason forces the Suns' hand. They now plan to act quickly to move Dragic before Thursday's trade deadline, according to RealGM's Shams Charania.

The Houston Rockets have long been rumored to be interested in re-acquiring Dragic, who played for them in 2011-12, but Houston isn't one of Dragic's preferred destinations, and would be unlikely to re-sign there after the season, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Instead, Dragic has listed the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks as desired landing spots, according to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

Amick reports that Dragic has given the Suns a list that runs seven teams long.

This is where things will get interesting. All of the teams presently listed have glaring needs at point guard, but they'll obviously be hesitant to give up anything of value without being at least semi-confident in their ability to re-sign Dragic in the offseason.

That would seem to knock the Rockets out of the running. But since they're the only team of the bunch that's sniffing championship contention, they may decide to meet the asking price for Dragic, even knowing that it could amount to a rental, if they believe he can push them over the top.

For the Heat, Lakers, Knicks and four other teams reportedly on Dragic's list, there may also be reticence to part with valuable assets knowing that there's a chance they can woo him in the summer. Though, attaining Dragic's Bird Rights would give any team a big leg up in free agency.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Suns countered a Lakers trade proposal late last week by offering Thomas instead. Another counter-offer from the Suns in Dragic trade talks with the Lakers would be for L.A. to remove the top-five protection on the 2015 pick it owes Phoenix stemming from the 2012 Steve Nash trade.

The NBA's Most Improved Player and an All-NBA third teamer last season, Dragic is averaging 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Suns this season, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from 3-point range.  Those numbers are down from a season ago thanks in part to the three-guard system, but it doesn't sound as if the dip has hurt Dragic's market value much.

[GM Franchise]

Suns trade Goran Dragic to Heat

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12348588/phoenix-suns-trade-goran-dragic-miami-heat

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein on Thursday.

Dragic had been on the trading block this week because he wasn't happy with his role in Phoenix's crowded backcourt. He made it clear that he wouldn't re-sign with the Suns when he becomes a free agent after this season.

"I don't trust them anymore," Dragic said after the Suns practiced Wednesday.

The 28-year-old guard's points and assists are down considerably from last season, when he was third-team All-NBA. He said he doesn't like his role of "standing in the corner" and wants to go to a team where he can "be a point guard, like in the past I was my whole life."

"To be a point guard, to run the team and have the ball in my hands and try to make plays for others," Dragic said. "That's who I am."

He often found himself playing the off guard or on the wing in deference to the Suns' other point guards, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. Sometimes all three were on the court together.

"Last year was great. This year it's different," Dragic said. "... Standing in the corner, it's not my game."

Dragic's agent, Bill Duffy, told the Suns on Tuesday that there was nothing they could do to keep his client with the team.

In a side deal, the Heat traded backup point guard Norris Cole to the New Orleans Pelicans for veteran swingman John Salmons. That deal gave the Pelicans a fill-in for the injured Jrue Holiday and the Heat some depth. Both players will be free agents at the end of the season.

---

Celtics trade for Isaiah Thomas

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12348825/boston-celtics-get-isaiah-thomas-phoenix-suns-marcus-thornton-first-round-pick

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Boston Celtics thrust themselves into the frenetic final minutes of the 2015 NBA trade deadline, acquiring point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Phoenix Suns and dealing Tayshaun Prince to the Detroit Pistons, according to ESPN.com sources.

Boston acquired Thomas in exchange for Marcus Thornton and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 first-round pick, sources told ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman.


Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had said Thursday morning that Boston was "all over the map" while examining possibilities as a buyer, seller or facilitator. For much of the early afternoon it looked like Boston might endure its third trade-less deadline in four years, but the Celtics finished with a bang.

Ainge had made Thomas a free-agent target this past summer before he landed with the Suns. With an overstocked backcourt and a disgruntled Goran Dragic, Phoenix overhauled its backcourt Thursday. The Suns traded Dragic to the Miami Heat, and shipped Thomas to the Celtics as Boston pounced on a player it coveted.

Thomas signed a modest four-year, $27 million contract this summer that actually decreases in value each season. In the hours leading up to the deadline, Ainge had noted, "We're also looking to acquire players that are already under contract. We really don't want to get rid of multiple draft picks for players with uncertainty in the free-agent market -- a situation like we were in with [Rajon] Rondo. ... We're looking for more certainty."

Now the Celtics add a pint-sized point guard who immediately becomes their best penetrator. Thomas can create off the dribble and provide a scoring punch, mixing into what will be a three-guard rotation with rookie Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley.

It's just the sort of infusion of talent that Ainge had hinted he wanted.

"We really like [the team's young guards] a lot, but you need depth and you need a lot shooting and scoring at the guard position to be a great team," said Ainge. "We like our young kids, also. But we don't have enough. The talent level that we have right now is not good enough at this moment."

Boston sits 1.5 games out of a final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics just got hyper-competitive with two other teams in the mix also upgrading their point guard position -- the Heat, who obtained Dragic, and the Detroit Pistons, who picked up Reggie Jackson from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

After acquiring Thomas, Boston's 2013 blockbuster with the Brooklyn Nets looks even better. The Celtics essentially turned the $12.9 million trade exception generated from trading Paul Pierce into Tyler Zeller and Thomas. Boston drafted James Young with Brooklyn's pick this past summer and will collect two more first-rounders in 2016 and 2018 (with an ability to swap spots in 2017).

The Nets traded Garnett to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, leaving Brooklyn with no remaining players from the Boston swap.

The Celtics were able to move Prince, a player who was headed for a buyout discussion if he was not moved. Thornton could have been a buyout candidate as well if Boston didn't find a home for him.

Boston's roster now stands at 15 players at the moment, though it's unclear if Jerebko and Datome figure into the plans moving forward. The Celtics are still comfortably under the luxury-tax line.

---

Suns acquire Knight in 3-team deal

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12348809/milwaukee-bucks-get-michael-carter-williams-miles-plumlee-tyler-ennis-3-team-trade

The Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns have agreed to a three-team trade that would send Brandon Knight to Phoenix, Michael Carter-Williams, Miles Plumlee and Tyler Ennis to Milwaukee and draft picks to Philadelphia, a source told ESPN's Marc Stein.

---

Trail Blazers acquire Arron Afflalo

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12347682/denver-nuggets-trade-arron-afflalo-portland-trail-blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers acquired Arron Afflalo from the Denver Nuggets on Thursday in a package involving five players and a first-round draft pick.


The Blazers will send Thomas Robinson, Will Barton, Victor Claver and a lottery-protected first-round pick to the Nuggets for Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.

The first-round pick sent to the Nuggets is lottery-protected in 2016 and 2017. It becomes two future second-round picks if the Blazers miss the playoffs in each of those seasons.

"Arron is a proven winner with playoff experience who will be easily integrated into our culture," Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said in a statement. "He possesses a skill set that complements our style of play on both ends of the floor and will make an immediate impact as we continue our playoff push.

"Alonzo is an elite athlete and defender who adds a unique element to our perimeter."

The Blazers, who have been on the hunt for bench help, get a veteran shooter in Afflalo, who has been a bit of a disappointment since the Nuggets traded for him last summer. He is averaging 14.5 points, but is having his worst shooting season in seven years. He has the option to become a free agent this summer.

The Nuggets' goal in the deal was to acquire another first-round pick after they picked up two in a deal for Timofey Mozgov.

Barton, Claver and Robinson are all part-time players who are all scheduled to be restricted free agents after the season.

---

Nuggets trade JaVale McGee to 76ers

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12347900/denver-nuggets-trade-javale-mcgee-philadelphia-76ers

As the Denver Nuggets continue to attempt to offload veterans and salary as part of a rebuilding project, they traded JaVale McGee to the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN.com.

The 76ers have enough salary-cap space to take on McGee, who has been plagued with injuries over the past two years and fallen out of Denver coach Brian Shaw's plans. Unloading McGee creates an $11.2 million trade exception for the Nuggets, who will also clear the $12 million McGee had coming to him next season from their books.

To do this deal, the 76ers will acquire the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2015 first-round pick, which the Nuggets got in an earlier trade for Timofey Mozgov. That pick is top-18 protected, and if it rolls to next year it would be lottery protected.

The Nuggets picked up another future first-round pick in a separate deal Thursday, sending Arron Afflalo to Portland.

---

Reggie Jackson dealt to Pistons

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12348841/enes-kanter-oklahoma-city-thunder-kendrick-perkins-utah-jazz-reggie-jackson-detroit-pistons

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded Reggie Jackson to the Detroit Pistons in a three-team deal, a source confirmed to ESPN.com.

The Thunder will acquire Utah Jazz center Enes Kanter and forward Steve Novak, Pistons forward Kyle Singler and guard D.J. Augustin, with Thunder center Kendrick Perkins going to the Jazz. According to a source, Perkins is set to be bought out by the Jazz, with potential suitors being the Clippers or Cavaliers.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal.

Jackson, 24, has expressed desire for a starting role, but with the inability to get it in Oklahoma City, his agent requested a trade. Jackson is set to be a restricted free agent this summer and is in search of a contract near the max. Jackson is averaging 12.8 points and 4.3 assists in 28.0 minutes per game, but has seen his playing time significantly dip since the Thunder added Dion Waiters in January.

On Thursday, Jackson tweeted out the news.

Just woke up from my nap a #Piston #DETROITBASKETBALL!!!

— Reggie Jackson (@rjOKCson_15) February 19, 2015

Kanter, 22, is averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes a game this season for the Jazz. Augustin, 27, is averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 assists in 23.8 minutes and will fill Jackson's former backup point guard role to Russell Westbrook. Singler, 26, is a 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc and is averaging 7.1 points in 54 games this season.

Perkins, 30, is in the final year of his contract, making $9.4 million. In 51 games this season, he's averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.

The Thunder pushed hard to acquire Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez, but he had to adjust with Lopez unwilling to agree to exercising his 2015-16 player option, according to a source.

---

Andre Miller heading to Kings

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12347831/sacramento-kings-agree-trade-ramon-sessions-washington-wizards-andre-miller

The Sacramento Kings acquired veteran Andre Miller and sent Ramon Sessions to the Washington Wizards in a swap of backup point guards, sources told ESPN.

Miller, who is in his 16th season, has a history with new Kings coach George Karl when the two were together with the Denver Nuggets. He has struggled this season, averaging career lows at 3.6 points and 2.8 assists per game.

Sessions also is having a poor season. He is averaging a career low in points at 5.4 per game and is shooting just 34 percent.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the trade.

[GM Franchise]

Agent: Kevin Garnett to Minnesota

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12348557/kevin-garnett-traded-brooklyn-nets-back-minnesota-timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin Garnett is returning to the place it all began.

Garnett agreed to drop his no-trade clause and accept a trade from the Brooklyn Nets to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Thaddeus Young, his agent confirmed Thursday on Twitter.

The move affords Garnett the chance to play out what might be his 20th and final NBA season as a member of the team that drafted him out of high school in 1995 -- and under longtime coach Flip Saunders.

Saunders remains close with Garnett and has expressed his desire to bring back the most popular player in Wolves annals as a mentor to the many youngsters on the current roster, headlined by 2014's No. 1 draft pick Andrew Wiggins.

Garnett, chosen by the Wolves with the fifth overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft, guided Minnesota to the only eight playoff appearances in franchise history and won the MVP while leading them to the Western Conference finals in 2004.

He was traded to Boston in 2007, and he won a championship in his first season with the Celtics.

The Wolves have missed the playoffs in each of the seven seasons since his departure.

ESPN first reported the possibility of the deal Wednesday night. David Aldridge of NBA.com was the first to report Garnett would waive his no-trade clause.

[GM Franchise]

Suns in 'better place' after Dragic deal

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12354644/phoenix-suns-take-shots-traded-goran-dragic-praise-new-arrival-brandon-knight

Goran Dragic made no secret of the fact he wanted off the Phoenix Suns, and on Friday, the Suns showed the feeling was more than mutual.

"We feel like we got the best player in the trade [Brandon Knight], coming or going," Phoenix general manager Ryan McDonough said a day after completing a three-way trade that most notably sent Dragic and his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat; the Suns netted Knight from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Goran Dragic, along with Eric Bledsoe, nearly led the surprising Suns to the playoffs last season. Following the success of their two-point guard attack, Phoenix added a third point guard, Isaiah Thomas, in a decision that rankled Dragic.

"Every move we make is with the goal of getting the Phoenix Suns to a championship level," McDonough said. "Sometimes, players view that as a good thing. I think they usually do. The good ones do. But, sometimes, players get a little selfish and are more worried about I, me and my than us, our and we."

The situation with Dragic came to a head earlier this week when the guard said he no longer trusted the franchise and wanted out.

Team president Lon Babby on Friday characterized those comments as "unfair and unwarranted."

In addition to the Dragics, the Suns in a separate deal shipped Thomas to the Boston Celtics. The flurry of moves at the trade deadline, along with the notion that the team's best player in Goran Dragic is gone, has forced the Phoenix front office to defend its moves.

"Our response to that, I think, is that Eric Bledsoe and Markieff Morris are still in Phoenix Suns uniforms," McDonough said.

"I feel a little ridiculous sitting up here kind of addressing the tone, some of the questions and the mood seems like we're 20 games below .500 and the season has been a disaster," McDonough added. "If the playoffs started at the All-Star break, we'd be in."

The Suns (29-25) are currently in ninth place in the Western Conference following a win by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

Phoenix will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (11-42) on Friday night in their first game since the All-Star break, but will do so with just 10 men suited up, as physicals are pending for the recently acquired players.

"At the end of the day," Babby said, "I'm absolutely convinced that we are in a better place now than we have been since I've been here."

[GM Franchise]

Here we go again...

Derrick Rose to undergo surger

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/12378016/chicago-bulls-guard-derrick-rose-undergo-surgery-repair-torn-meniscus-table-uncertain

CHICAGO -- Bulls guard Derrick Rose has a torn meniscus in his right knee and will undergo surgery, the team said Tuesday.

Rose reported earlier in the day with right knee pain. An exam and subsequent MRI confirmed the tear.

A timetable for Rose's return will be determined once he has surgery, the team said.

Rose has been dogged by injuries for the past three seasons.

He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Game 1 of the 2012 playoffs against Philadelphia. The 2011 NBA MVP missed the entire next season, then played in only 10 games last season before a right knee injury shelved him for the rest of the season.

Rose was scratched for one game last month for soreness in his left knee, and he missed four games in November with a hamstring injury.

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was one of many players reacting to the news on Twitter late Tuesday.

[Gates]

When healthy, Rose is a great player. He showed that in the first few seasons. But ever since he's been just a shell and the Bulls are always left trying to figure out how to replace him.

[Justin]

I think he strongly considers retiring after this.

[Gravedigger]

He's going to make over 40 mil for the next two seasons. Rose won't even consider retirement.

[Gates]

He might consider it from a health stand point, but he probably won't from a financial one. He'll want to milk all he can out of the deal before he gets to free agency and likely has to settle for bench duty if he continues.

Of course, we're assuming the Bulls won't try and but him out, right? I don't know how that stuff works in the NBA, but would they have that ability?

[GM Franchise]

Rose is the perfect candidate for a player/coach role. With his injuries he could be a bench guy and play less minutes but also be involved with the team. Might work out for him.

[Gravedigger]

He might consider it from a health stand point, but he probably won't from a financial one. He'll want to milk all he can out of the deal before he gets to free agency and likely has to settle for bench duty if he continues.

Of course, we're assuming the Bulls won't try and but him out, right? I don't know how that stuff works in the NBA, but would they have that ability?

Yeah, they can buy him out, but at this point the price is probably steep. I'd guess north of 20 million.