NBA Rumors: Pre-2023 Deadline Trade Buzz on Fred VanVleet, Eric Gordon and More
It's been an exciting week for NBA fans. The Brooklyn Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks to kick it off, LeBron James broke the NBA's all-time points record Tuesday, and with Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline rapidly approaching, the action is likely to continue.
Irving represents only the first trade domino to fall, and his former teammate, Kevin Durant, could enter the trade picture before the deadline—though that appears unlikely.
"So far, the Nets have insisted to Durant and inquiring teams that the organization has no intention of moving him prior to Thursday afternoon's trade deadline, sources said," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote Wednesday.
Even if Durant isn't destined to be on the move, several noteworthy players could be. Here, we'll dive into the latest pre-deadline buzz.
Fred VanVleet Is Drawing Serious Interest
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The Toronto Raptors appear to be at the center of several trade discussions, and Fred VanVleet could be the next star point guard to change teams. According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, multiple organizations are interested in the 2022 All-Star.
"Several opposing executives have since labeled VanVleet as the most likely Raptor to be traded ahead of Thursday's deadline," Fischer wrote. "A pair of Western Conference contenders in the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns have been often mentioned as VanVleet suitors. The Lakers, Magic and Timberwolves have also registered interest in VanVleet, sources said."
The Lakers' interest isn't surprising. Los Angeles tried to get Irving before he was sent to Dallas, even offering its 2027 and 2029 first-round picks along with Russell Westbrook, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
However, the Raptors may not be interested in taking on Westbrook's contract. With the Clippers and Suns motivated to land VanVleet, it feels more likely that he'll land with one of the top teams in the West.
VanVleet is a quality player, but a trade could make sense for the Raptors. He has a player option for next season and is "expected" to seek a new deal in the four-year, $130 million range, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. That could be too pricey for the Raptors, who at 25-30, may not view themselves as near-future contenders.
Clippers, Suns Interested in Eric Gordon too
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The Clippers and Suns—who currently rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Western Conference—appear eager to add talent before the deadline.
According to The Athletic's Kelly Iko, both franchises are eyeing guard/forward Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets.
"This week, the list of teams with serious interest in acquiring the former Sixth Man of the Year has been whittled down to a handful of contenders—including the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns—according to multiple league sources who were all granted anonymity in this piece to speak freely," Iko wrote.
Gordon, who is averaging 13.2 points and shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range, would be a solid addition for a contender. The Rockets (13-41) aren't that, and Gordon has wanted out of Houston for some time.
"He's made his preference for a trade known to management at different points starting as far back as last offseason, sources said—but has been professional and played his role throughout his time in a Rockets uniform," Iko wrote.
Now is the perfect time for the Rockets to do right by Gordon and flip him to a playoff-caliber team—if, of course, an enticing offer comes in before Thursday. Gordon is under contract through next season and too valuable to move for proverbial pennies.
Warriors Could Move James Wiseman for Financial Reasons
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The Golden State Warriors don't typically make big in-season trades, but they could be inclined to move 2020 second overall pick James Wiseman. The former Memphis standout doesn't have a notable role in the rotation, and trading him could end up saving the Warriors a lot of money because of the luxury-tax implications.
From The Athletic's John Hollinger:
"He's owed $9.6 million this year and $12.2 million next year, meaning that San Antonio, Detroit, Utah or Indiana could trade for him without sending anything back. Such a transaction would save the Warriors about $51 million in salary and tax this year and an estimated $85 million in salary and tax next year; a total of $131 million in savings to dump a guy who rarely plays."
This doesn't mean that Golden State will definitely move Wiseman—especially if it still believes he can develop into a quality contributor—but the Warriors are reportedly very open to the idea of being sellers.
"The noise around the league the last couple of days is an increased willingness from the Warriors to engage in conversation and explore the idea of moving their younger, out-of-the-rotation players if a significant enough upgrade is offered," The Athletic's Anthony Slater wrote.
While Wiseman might not help a contender win now, he could be an attractive trade target for a franchise interested in continuing his development.
Contract information via Spotrac.
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