trade rumors

Stephen A. Smith Defends Damian Lillard’s Miami Heat Trade Demand

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The Damian Lillard saga continues. While the Blazers have asked teams to send their “best offers”, Lillard’s agent has been warning teams not to make offers for the star. According to his agent, teams who are not the Miami Heat will be receiving an “unhappy” version of Lillard who will not be playing his best basketball.

However, Lillard’s camp are also in a tough position. Despite the influence that comes with his longevity with the club, he has very little power in the trade discussions. Lillard is under contract for two years, having already exercised his player option for 2024-25. The 2023/24 season is still months away, meaning that there is very little threat of Lillard sitting out games. Furthermore, Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. This means that he gets absolutely no say in where he’s heading either.

Stephen A Says Lillard Has Earned The Right To Dictate Trade

“Damian Lillard has earned the right to want out,” Smith began. “More importantly, a player of his caliber has earned the right to go where he wants to go. And if people are gonna open their mouth and sit up and say ‘Well hey, if you’re gonna give the impression that you’re not going to be happy.’ Well listen, they’re probably not lying but so what? Why should he go some place where he’s not going to be happy? Listen, he is good in Portland. He wanted them to be a better franchise. He wanted them to win, he wanted them to put the pieces in place. In Portland, you’re not going to be able to go out there and recruit marquee free agents. Since you can’t get anyone to come there, you’re going to have to go elsewhere.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by many fans and figures around the league. Lillard put his heart into playing his best basketball in Portland. He ends his time in Portland as a seven-time all-star and averaging 25.2 points per game. Furthermore, he comes off the best season of his career. He scored 32.2 points per game, third in the league. However, the Blazers need to try and save face, not acquiescing to the demands of their star player. Despite this, it seems that we are nowhere near a conclusion to this trade. Where do you think Dame will end up? Let us know in the comments. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Knicks News: What Does The Mo Bamba Signing Mean For Joel Embiid?

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The Sixers signed Mo Bamba on Wednesday, adding the former sixth-overall pick to their rotation. Bamba was traded midway through the 2022-23 season, leaving Orlando for the Lakers. However, he played just nine games for LA and was officially waived in late June. Bamba has never really lived up to his sixth-overall selection, especially considering the other players taken in that 2018 draft. In fact, Orlando eventually replaced Bamba with the guy taken one pick after him, Wendall Carter Jr.

However, he will provide some depth behind MVP Joel Embiid at the center position, especially if the Sixers let current backup center Paul Reed go in free agency. But an interesting thread that can be pulled with the Bamba signing is where this leaves recent rumors connecting the New York Knicks to Sixers starter Joel Embiid.

Could The Knicks Make A Play For Embiid?

Joel Embiid
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 14: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in game seven of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at TD Garden on May 14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

It’s no secret that the Knicks want Embiid. They have reportedly been eyeing the MVP center for some time and are reportedly serious about potentially trying to swing a massive trade for him. While the Sixers have been fairly adamant that there’s no way Embiid will be leaving the team, the Knicks remain hopeful. Now, the Sixers have gone and signed a serviceable player at Embiid’s position. Naturally, the intention is for Bamba to play behind Embiid. But could he play instead of him?

Furthermore, the Sixers are in a state of flux. They are currently trying to work out a trade for James Harden, who has made it clear he wants out of Philly. Meanwhile, the Knicks are in the perfect place to make a ridiculously lucrative trade for Embiid. They have nine first-round picks between now and 2030. They could also have two more first-rounders, depending on how badly the Wizards and Pistons play for the next couple of years. Additionally, they have a stable of young talent that the Sixers could immediately utilize. So while the trade is unlikely, it’s possible at the very least. And now the Sixers have stacked up at the position affected most by it.

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Trail Blazers Tell Teams To “Bring Their Best Offer” For Damian Lillard

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The Portland Trail Blazers have issued a very clear message to teams interested in Damian Lillard. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Blazers are starting to get serious about moving Lillard. “For teams calling about trading for Damian Lillard, the message from the Portland Trail Blazers has been unambiguous: Bring your best offer and make your team our preferred trade destination,” writes Wojnarowski. “General manager Joe Cronin doesn’t plan to operate a transfer portal to the Miami Heat and dutifully deliver history’s greatest Blazer to his targeted team.”

Despite wielding a lot of influence with the Blazers, Damian Lillard has very little tangible power when it comes to this trade. Sure, he can request a trade, but the Blazers hold all the cards that come with that. Lillard is under contract for two years, having already exercised his player option for 2024-25. The 2023/24 season is still months away, meaning that there is very little threat of Lillard sitting out games. Furthermore, Lillard doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. This means that he gets absolutely no say in where he’s heading either. However, Lillard has made it very clear that his preference is the Miami Heat.

Lillard’s Agent Adds To Drama

Damian Lillard
PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Moda Center on March 14, 2023 in Portland, Oregon. The New York Knicks won 123-107. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

However, there may be an additional angle to all of this stemming from Dame’s camp. In the same ESPN+ article in which Woj revealed the Blazers’ message, the veteran reporter also dropped another bomb. Dame’s agent, Aaron Gordon, has reportedly been attempting to engineer a trade to Miami. According to Woj, Gordon has been “calling prospective trade partners” and “warning against trading for his client”. Woj continues that Gordon has told teams that they will be getting an “unhappy” version of Dame if he isn’t traded to the Heat.

So why won’t the Blazers simply trade Lillard to Miami? Firstly, it’s about saving face for the organization. They have royally screwed the Lillard situation, failing to build anything resembling a contender around their generational talent. As a result of this, the Blazers can’t simply acquiesce to Lillard’s preferred trade partner without looking powerless. Furthermore, the Heat are very eager to include Tyler Herro in a deal for Lillard. Unfortunately, the Blazers have absolutely no interest in acquiring Herro. That means Miami would need to find a third team to trade with and build a three-team package the Blazers would actually want. Regardless, it doesn’t look like the Lillard situation is getting resolved anytime soon.

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New York Knicks Linked With OG Anunoby Trade

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The Toronto Raptors are doing something this offseason, but no one’s quite sure what that thing is. They have a new head coach in Darko Rajaković but the team he will lead remains to be seen. So far, Toronto’s only free agency moves have been to re-sign Jakob Poeltl for $80 million and bring in Dennis Schröder on a two-year deal. While the Raptors have a lot of young talent, it’s still unclear if they are going full youth rebuild or not.

The two players that will decide this are Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Siakam led the Raptors in points and rebounds last season, while Anunonby led the team in steals. However, rumors have persisted all offseason about whether they will be moving on from the team. While Siakam has gotten a lot of buzz, he has also made it clear that it’s Toronto-or-bust in regards to his career. Despite this, a team could be willing to essentially take him on a rental for one year. Meanwhile, Anunoby’s name is now starting to pop up more and more in trade talks.

Read More: Dame to the Celtics? It’s more likely than you think

Toronto Cagey Despite Interest In Anunoby

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors goes to the basket against Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

Per Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the New York Knicks have Anunoby high on their watch list. Anunoby had some of the best defensive metrics in the league last year. Acquiring him is something that would really solidify the Knicks as a contender. However, the problem appears to lie with Toronto. The Raptors are reportedly asking for a minimum of three first-round picks in exchange for Anunoby. Anunoby is under contract for two more seasons, with a player option for the 2024-25 season. At the very least, the multiple first-round pick figure was what the Raptors gave back in January when the Hawks tried to explore a trade. However, that was January, when the Raptors were doing much better than their .500 finish to the season.

Anunoby is a known favorite of Raptors president Masai Ujiri. It’s possible that Anunoby might not even be truly available. Instead, the team just naming a price to see if anyone calls the bluff. If that’s the case, the Knicks might pivot to their backup trade. Reportedly, the Knicks are very interested in trying to swing a trade for Sixers center and reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. These rumors have been floating around for a couple of months. However, the main thing is that they haven’t completely gone away. Regardless, it appears that the Knicks could target Anunoby…if the Raptors are willing to be reasonable.

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Ben Simmons Could Reportedly Be Part Of Damian Lillard Trade

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Ben Simmons has been one of the most roasted players in the entire NBA over the past few months. Overall, it is easy to see why this is the case. He has not been playing good basketball, and fans are fed up. Moreover, he has been hit with a ton of injuries that have not helped matters very much. Needless to say, there are very few redeeming qualities about his game right now. This may be harsh to say, however, it is very much the truth.

At this point, the Brooklyn Nets have made it very clear that they would rather get rid of him. However, there is very little trade value left in Simmons. Few teams want him on their team, and even if they do, they don’t want to give up a whole lot. Overall, it is a massive fall from grace. That said, with the offseason in full swing, there are now quite a few rumors about Simmons. In fact, one of them revolves around the Damian Lillard situation.

Read More: Ben Simmons Confident About Bounce Back Next Season

Ben Simmons Trade Rumors

According to Greg Sylvander, the Nets are thinking of doing a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Miami Heat. Damian Lillard wants to go to the Heat and the only way he can really get there is if a third team gets into the mix. Theoretically, this is a trade that would see Simmons go on over to Portland, where he would be surrounded by young talent. Of course, this is simply a rumor for right now, and there is no telling what will happen amid the Lillard sweepstakes.

The Trail Blazers are looking to play hard ball with every single team they can. After all, why give up your franchise player for nothing? The Blazers need an incentive to give up one of the top 3 point guards in the entire NBA. Let us know which team you think Simmons should go to, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the basketball world.

Read More: Ben Simmons Reveals He Is Back On The Court

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Houston Rockets Look To Trade Kenyon Martin Jr

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Kenyon Martin Jr. is the latest NBA player to be linked with a trade this offseason. As the start of free agency approaches, more and more news is emerging about the various plans of some of the league’s biggest stars. June 30 began with indications that a deal to send James Harden to the Clippers was in the works. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving has gone from one team interested in him to at least six. One of those teams is the Houston Rockets, who are now looking to potentially trade Martin.

Kenyon Martin Jr. played in 82 games this season, starting 49 of them. He averaged a per-game line of 12.5/5.5/1.5. That left him 6th on the Rockets in points per game and 4th in rebounds per game. Taken in the second round of the 2020 draft, Martin Jr. took some major leaps forward in his most recent season. It may be that massive improvement that has the Rockets seeing him as a valuable trade piece.

Rockets Look To Cash In On Martin Jr

Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, trade talks surrounding Martin Jr. has increased in recent days. “To be clear, Martin has not requested a trade since this time last season. But with Houston still seeking avenues to improve their financial flexibility heading into July, Martin’s combination of age, upside and salary makes him an attractive candidate on the market.” Furthermore, the Rockets drafted Villanova SF Cam Whitmore in the first round of the draft. Whitmore’s slide to #20 was one of the biggest surprises of the draft. However, the reality of the situation is that Martin would be battling for minutes with the highly-touted rookie.

Furthermore, as mentioned, trading Martin Jr. is just one of the many threads linked to Houston. It appears that new head coach Ime Udoka is looking to build a blend of balance and youth as the Rockets attempt to finalize their rebuild. The Rockets have their stable of young stars – Whitmore, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, etc. However, they have also been linked to a number of big-name veterans. These include Kyrie Irving, Fred VanVleet, and Dillon Brooks. It appears that the Rockets are going to been one of the most interesting teams to watch in the coming weeks. Follow all the latest NBA updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Clippers Make Ivica Zubac Available Amid James Harden Speculation

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It appears that the needle has swung back towards ” trade” in the James Harden saga. Furthermore, it appears that the Clippers are the primary landing spot for the 10-time all-star. Per Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Harden has identified the Clippers as his preferred destination. Furthermore, trade talks between the two sides are already underway. Additionally, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are both reportedly “on board” with the addition of Harden, per league sources.

With Harden essentially pushing for a trade, the Sixers can’t exactly push for a king’s ransom. However, the Clippers can’t exactly swindle the Sixers given the need to offset Harden’s $35.6 million salary. A package involving Norman Powell, another player with a big enough salary, and some picks would likely get the deal done. No formal trade has been agreed to yet, However, both sides will likely be eager to get the trade completed quickly so they can better focus on free agency. Now it appears that the Clippers are starting to make some moves to accommodate Harden.

Ivica Zubac Joins Trade Block

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Clippers have added Ivica Zubac to the trade block. Zubac put up 10.8/9.9/1.0 in 76 starts for the Clippers last season, marking career highs in ppg and pg. His 9.9 rebounds per game were 11th-highest in the league and overall, he was a solid contributor for the team. Furthermore, he has been a top-tier interior defender in his five seasons with the Clips. Zubac has played at least 70 games in each of the last four seasons.

It’s not confirmed that Zubac would be part of the return for Harden. However, it’s hard to see the Sixers needing Zubac, given he plays the same position as reigning MVP Joel Embiid. It’s hard to see the Sixers agreeing to take on Zubac’s $22 million for essentially a backup center. However, Zubac’s trade availability may only be tangentially related to the Harden trade. The case could be that the Clippers want to build a superteam around Harden-George-Leonard and Zubac simply doesn’t fit into that idea. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Pistons Reveal Steep Price For Bojan Bogdanovic

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Bojan Bogdanović had a great year for the Detroit Pistons. Starting 59 games, Bogdanović put up 21.6/3.8/2.6 per game. Arguably his best season since the 2019-20 campaign, Bogdanović was a veteran contributor as the Pistons continue to rebuild. Despite this, the Pistons finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, winning just 17 games. While that was the worst record in the NBA, they did not win the sweepstakes for Victor Wembanyama. At the NBA Draft Lottery, the Pistons came away with the fifth-overall pick.

The team’s young core will look to climb the standings under new head coach Monty Williams. Meanwhile, Bogdanović keeps the Pistons on the hook for a team-high $19.5 million. However, it appears that the Pistons have been trying to move on from Bogdanović. Despite this, trade talks are not going well. Furthermore, fault seems to lie with the Pistons and their valuation of Bogdanović.

Bojan Bogdanović Trade Price Revealed

Per Matt Moore of Action Network, the Detroit Pistons are looking for a first-round pick and multiple second-round picks for Bogdanović. According to Moore, this has put off any potential suitors due to being too steep. When the Pistons traded for Bogdanović in September 2022, they sent Saben Lee and Kelly Olymk to Utah in exchange for him. Granted, Bogdanović led the Pistons with a career-high points per game. However, it’s not like Bogdanović suddenly turned into an MVP. Bradley Beal had better numbers across the board than Bogdanović, but the Wizards didn’t get a first-round pick for him.

Read More: Chicago Bulls reportedly finding trade for Zach LaVine impossible amongst steep demands

Bogdanović, who starts a two-year, $39 million extension this season, does not represent a lynchpin for the Pistons if he stays or leaves. He is the veteran leader of the Pistons’ developing young core. With some believing that Detroit could be a dark horse in the East, team expectations will be centered on big years from Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, and Jalen Ivey. If the Pistons can grab some draft capital for Bogdanović, great. However, it appears they have a very unique perspective on what he’s worth.

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LA Clippers Most Likely Destination For James Harden

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The NBA offseason got its latest twist when James Harden exercised his player option with the Sixers hours before he would have become a free agent. However, that didn’t mean that Harden was staying in Philly. Per Shams Charania, Harden exercised his option year so that he and the Sixers could work out a trade. It’s a bizarre turn of events after Harden was reportedly “pretty on board with everything that Nick Nurse was saying in terms of trying new ways to optimize him, trying new ways to kind of re-vamp or re-tool that Philadelphia 76ers offense.”

Later, there were reports that a Harden trade wasn’t a guarantee. Instead, it was believed he could stay with the Sixers if an equitable trade to a contender wasn’t possible. Despite this, the Clippers and Knicks were both floated as interested parties. Now, it appears that the needle has swung back towards ” trade”. Furthermore, it appears that the Clippers are the primary landing spot for the 10-time all-star.

Sixers, Clippers Reportedly Working On Harden Trade

Per Sam Amick and Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Harden has identified the Clippers as his preferred destination. Furthermore, trade talks between the two sides are already underway. Furthermore, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are both reportedly “on board” with the addition of Harden, per league sources. The question will be as to what the Sixers will want in return.

Read More: Kyrie Irving sets up shock meeting with Phoenix Suns at the start of free agency

With Harden essentially pushing for a trade, the Sixers can’t exactly push for a king’s ransom. However, the Clippers can’t exactly swindle the Sixers given the need to offset Harden’s $35.6 million salary. A package involving Norman Powell, another player with a big enough salary, and some picks would likely get the deal done. No formal trade has been agreed to yet, However, both sides will likely be eager to get the trade completed quickly so they can better focus on free agency, which officially begins at 6pm ET on June 30. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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James Harden Exercises Player Option, Trade Expected

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In the latest twist of the NBA offseason, James Harden has exercised his $35.6 million player option with the Sixers. This means, unlike almost expectations, Harden will not test free agency. The news was somewhat expected, given the most recent reports of a positive meeting between Harden and new Sixers coach Nick Nurse. However, that’s where things stop making sense.

Per Shams Charania, Harden has opted-in into his option year so that he and the Sixers can work out a trade to send him out of Philly. It’s a bizarre turn of events after Harden was reportedly “pretty on board with everything that Nick Nurse was saying in terms of trying new ways to optimize him, trying new ways to kind of re-vamp or re-tool that Philadelphia 76ers offense.”

Read More: Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks to pursue Bruce Brown in free agency

Sixers To Trade Harden

The move comes about 25 hours before the start of free agency. It has been suggested that the move comes as a result of a muted free agency market for the 10-time all-star. Now, the Sixers will be able to work within the bounds of Harden’s existing contract, while trying to find an equitable trade for the veteran player. Per additional reporting from Charaina, the Clippers are expected to emerge as suitors for Harden’s services. However, it is still very much a developing story, so more teams could make themselves known in the coming days.

Read More: Kyrie Irving surprises everyone with free agency meeting with the Suns

Earlier in the offseason, the Clippers were in line to acquire Malcolm Brogdon from the Celtics. However, that deal fell through over dubious medicals. Brogdon remains in Boston, with Marcus Smart heading to Memphis as part of a three-team trade to get Boston Kristaps Porziņģis. However, the Clippers do have the space to accommodate Harden. A trade including the likes of Marcus Morris and Normal Powell could work out for the two sides. Where do you think Harden will land? Let us know in the comments. Furthermore, this is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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