NBA Rumors: Hottest Gossip Ahead of 2024 Trade Deadline
As the 2023-24 NBA season continues to unfold, Thursday marks a potential pivot point. The league's trade deadline is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, and it could have a massive impact on the playoff race.
Teams have between now and Thursday to decide whether to buy or sell at the deadline and what sort of moves can be made. This year's deadline could be especially interesting too, as the upcoming offseason is set to bring a myriad of new restrictions to teams above the second luxury tax apron.
Because of these impending restrictions, franchises may consider making moves for the future and not just for the stretch run.
With the deadline just over 48 hours away, let's dive into some of the latest trade buzz.
Knicks Eyeing P.J. Washington, Bruce Brown Jr.
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The New York Knicks are one of the league's hottest teams right now, having won nine of their last 10 and resting in fourth place in the East.
However, New York may not be content to stick with its current lineup through the trade deadline. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Knicks are eyeing a couple of potential trade targets.
Per Fischer, the Knicks have interest in Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington and Toronto Raptors guard Bruce Brown Jr.—with Brown reportedly the preferred target.
The Raptors, according to Fischer, are seeking "some return in the range of a first-round pick" for Brown. While that's a steep price, it's less than the Atlanta Hawks are asking for guard Dejounte Murray—"two picks and then some," per Fischer.
While it's unclear which players New York might be willing to jettison in a trade, Fischer reports that 2021 first-round pick Quentin Grimes isn't high on the list:
"It's become clear the Knicks aren't willing to part with Quentin Grimes unless New York is trading the young swingman for a perceived upgrade, sources said, as opposed to swapping him for a different back-of-the-rotation piece."
Expect Grimes to remain in New York through the week. It'll be interesting to see if Washington or Brown joins him.
Only Two Teams Have Made Offers for Dejounte Murray
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Murray might be viewed as the prize of this year's trade deadline. The 27-year-old is averaging 21.4 points and 5.2 assists and has an upcoming extension that runs through the 2026-27 season with a player option for 2027-28.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz are the only teams who have made offers for Murray, according to Fischer.
"The only teams I've really heard actual offers about have been from the Lakers and from Utah, and the Lakers just don't have a clear, obvious package that's gonna give the Hawks the picks they want, a player they want and a player who doesn't have what's considered to be bad long-term salary," Fischer told The Saturday Stein Line with Marc Stein (h/t Peter Dewey of Lakers Daily).
The Lakers could be the biggest team to watch here, as they should be eager to maximize what's left of LeBron James' time with the franchise. However, L.A. may have to get creative to land Murray, as its 2029 first-round pick is its most obvious trade asset.
The Hawks have reportedly asked for Austin Reaves in a trade with L.A. However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski doesn't see that as a realistic possibility.
"I would be shocked if Austin Reaves was in a Dejounte Murray deal, I just don't see it," Wojnarowski said on The Woj Pod (h/t Rexwell Villas of ClutchPoints).
The good news for L.A. and Utah is that other teams don't appear poised to drive up Murray's price point.
Celtics Looking to Add Another Piece
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While the Knicks, Jazz and Lakers are looking to forge legitimate contenders via the trade deadline, the Boston Celtics already have a top roster. With 38 wins, the Celtics have the best record in the NBA, though they're reportedly interested in adding more pieces to the proverbial puzzle.
Boston has expressed interest in a wide range of trade targets, including Kelly Olynyk, Delon Wright, Andre Drummond and others, league sources told HoopsHype," Michael Scotto of HoopsHype wrote on Monday.
According to Scotto, the Celtics would prefer to part with draft picks and/or back-end-of-the-roster players to make a deal.
Because of this, Drummond is probably the most logical trade target for Boston. With a base salary of just $3.4 million, he could theoretically be acquired for picks alone, using the traded player exception to absorb his salary.
If the Celtics do settle on Drummond, though, they're likely to have competition. According to Scotto, the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns are also interested.
Drummond is an attractive trade target because of his salary and his production off the bench for the Chicago Bulls. In 50 games this season, he has averaged 15.8 minutes, 7.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
Pacers, Mavericks Interested in Andrew Wiggins
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The Golden State Warriors, who are currently 12th in the Western Conference, may be sellers at the trade deadline. We've become accustomed to seeing Golden State firmly in the playoff race at this point in the season, but the current Warriors group has struggled early and often this year.
Andrew Wiggins is dealing with a foot injury and has averaged just 12.2 points per game this year, but he's drawing interest from the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
"The Mavericks and Pacers are two teams, I'm told, that are expressing interest in Wiggins, but I don't think they're going to move guys just to move guys," Charania said on Run It Back. "I think the Warriors need true reasons if they're going to trade, whether it's a Wiggins, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul."
It would likely take a very enticing offer to pry the 28-year-old away from Golden State. While his numbers are down this season, he's performed well for the Warriors in the past. Wiggins averaged more than 17 points and two assists in each of the previous four years.
Wiggins is also under contract through 2026 with a player option for the 2026-27 season.
*Contract information via Spotrac.
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