We are exactly at the one-month mark up to the 2020-21 NBA trading deadline, so it’s time for a special edition of our commercial rumors rating series.
We normally launch a new part of this series every Monday, but as we approach the negotiation deadline, we will start to increase the frequency of our commercial rumors articles.
And judging by some of the names that are starting to be considered, it’s probably a good idea on our part.
Below, check out the five players who have appeared most frequently on our Trade Rumors page in the past few days, ranked in order of appearance.
5 Kyle Lowry (Toronto)
Kyle Lowry has a winning contract and, although he is a legend of the Toronto Raptors, that didn’t stop the team president Masai Ujiri to deal with a player of your caliber before. This, in addition to the fact that Toronto has made a long-term commitment to Fred VanVleet In the last off-season, many believe that Lowry’s days with the Raptors may be numbered.
And considering that Lowry is still a very productive floor general, averaging 18.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game, shooting at almost 40 percent beyond the arc, the interest in acquiring it will be high in the commercial market.
Three teams that are already being discussed as potential landing sites for Lowry include their hometown, Philadelphia 76ers, as well as the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers, all franchises with great aspirations this season.
However, if the recent reports are reliable, Lowry’s preference would be to return home to Philadelphia (via The Philadelphia Inquirer):
A source said Lowry would like to be in Philadelphia. The source believes the Sixers and Raptors may be able to do something. But if it gets to that point, Toronto will probably want some choices, young players and veterans with contracts winning for Lowry, who is winning $ 30 million this season.
The report continued to say the following:
Kyle Lowry would be a perfect fit for the 76ers. The same can be said about the Miami Heat. The best place for the native owner of Philly and the Toronto Raptors, however, is the Los Angeles Clippers. According to sources, these three teams could become potential commercial destinations for the former standout of Cardinal Dougherty High School and Villanova. That, of course, if Lowry chooses not to end the season with the Raptors.
Even at almost 35, Lowry is still one of the best playmakers in the game and, most importantly, the one who has proven he can help lead a team to a championship.
If Toronto takes Lowry’s move seriously, the market for him will heat up quickly, with competitors likely battling for his services.
For more information on Kyle Lowry’s commercial front, click here.
4 Austin Rivers (New York)
There has been no concrete report on Austin Rivers’ future with the New York Knicks recently, but when talking to the media recently, the two-way guard essentially seemed to be preparing to be transferred (via the New York Post):
Knicks guard Austin Rivers arrived as a veteran team leader who was supposed to close games as a reserve. On Wednesday, in his first comments since the negotiation with Derrick Rose, he looked like a man about to be negotiated, sometimes frustratingly forging into his Knicks past. “I cannot control whether I am traded today, tomorrow or the next day. What I can control is how I am as a player and what I can bring to this team every day. This is always ready, no matter if my name is called or not, and to help young people, young people to be ready to play. I will remain ready to play here while I am here, for how long. ”
Rivers had a somewhat relaxed season, averaging 7.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 21 games, hitting 36.4 percent in three in the process. He hadn’t seen the Knicks since February 13, either.
Still, Rivers has a lot of playoff experience and defends his position well, and is expected to earn just $ 3.5 million this year, while sources told HoopsHype that his 2021-22 is totally unsecured, which makes it even more attractive. for a pickup for a competitor looking for depth in the backcourt.
New York should have no trouble finding a new home for him next month.
For more information on the Austin Rivers trade, click here.
3 Bradley Beal (Washington)
Although each sign indicates Bradley Beal he’s not going anywhere this season, that hasn’t stopped his name from constantly appearing in exchange rumors – and this week was no different.
Based in New York ESPN Radio presenter Michael Kay said on his program on Tuesday that he had heard William Wesley, better known as World Wide Wes, who works for the Knicks office, is using backchannels to push Beal’s camp to request an exchange this season (via New York Daily News):
“The Knicks have the World Wide Wes on their side,” said Kay. “And he’s been listening to some of Beal’s people and he’s kind of nudging them, saying this might be the time to press for an exchange.” World Wide Wes, whose real name is William Wesley, was hired by the Knicks in June to work with his former associate Leon Rose. It is Wesley’s first official job with an NBA team after decades as a powerful backstage broker who leveraged influential relationships. World Wide Wes, which has the attention of James Dolan, is an animated figure behind the scenes this season, both on the road and on the MSG, but he never spoke publicly.
This is a pretty heavy accusation, which could get the Knicks into a ton of trouble if it were discovered, but in reality, it’s not that surprising; this type of backchannel recruitment is likely to happen frequently in the NBA, especially when it involves big names in the market.
However, the Washington Wizards are playing much better recently and Beal is leading the league in scoring. The chances of it being traded next month are slim.
For more information on Bradley Beal’s commercial front, click here.
2 Andre Drummond (Cleveland)
Two teams were recently connected to Andre Drummond in the last few days: the Dallas Mavericks and the Knicks.
The first were mentioned by Bleacher report Jake Fischer, who reported the following:
For now, Dallas seems at first interested in adding a center to help supplement Porzingis, the sources said. The Mavericks surrounded Andre Drummond while the Cleveland Cavaliers seek to move in a different direction from the front line, but Dallas has expressed no interest in parting ways with Porzingis in these particular negotiations. “They want a great match with him,” said a league source. “Obviously, with physicality, recovery, resistance.”
While the latter were mentioned by Marc Berman in New York Post, who wrote the following:
According to an NBA source who is in contact with the Knicks, the club has made no decision, but it is “analyzing” whether a move for Cavaliers center Andre Drummond makes sense from the point of view of chemistry and victory. . The Knicks are the team with the lowest score in the NBA.
Much is said of Drummond’s salary, expiring, but paying him $ 28.8 million this season, and his sometimes weak defensive effort, but the 27-year-old is a doubling machine that is an elite finisher in pick-and-roll and is an absolute force on the glass – at both ends.
So there is no doubt that he would help a needy contender on the attacking court if he were to be traded for one next month.
For more information on Andre Drummond’s commercial front, click here.
1 Kristaps Porzingis (Dallas)
For the first time since moving from New York to the Dallas Mavericks, Kristaps Porzingis started to appear in reliable trade rumors and although the owner of the Mavs Mark Cuban denied, more than one means of communication that reports gives credit to the potential worth believing in.
First, Bleacher report Fischer reported the following on Tuesday:
In fact, Dallas has quietly measured Porzingis’ trading market, according to league sources, while the Mavericks have begun to reassess whether the 25-year-old can really support Doncic as a second choice in a candidate. “They kicked everyone on their list who isn’t called Luka,” said a person with knowledge of Dallas’s thinking. “You know Donnie; they are always moving. “” They definitely sniffed him, “an assistant general manager told B / R.” They’re taking the temperature, because they know that at some point it will change. “
Then, Ian Begley in SNY reiterated that Dallas discussed Porzingis’ negotiations with several teams while assessing their value. One of those teams? The Golden State Warriors (via SNY on YouTube):
Ian Begley in Kristaps Porzingis: (The Dallas Mavericks) talked to several teams just silently assessing their value in the trade market. One team they talked to was the Golden State. I don’t know if things have gone far. I don’t know if they are serious about moving it, but at least they are assessing its value around the league now.
Porzingis is performing well this season, averaging 20.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, but his three-point percentage has remained negligible, 35.2, and there are legitimate doubts about his ability to be the second option of a true contender.
And considering Dallas’s slow start to the season (15-15 and No. 9 in the west to this point), it’s easy to see why the team he would be be sniffing around to see what they could achieve in exchange for their big man of floor spacing and shot blocking.
For more information on the Kristaps Porzingis trade front, click here.