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If the trade deadline is approaching and the PG situation isn’t getting better, what trade(s) would you pursue if you were Tim Connelly? — @nrcslim Jon Krawczynski: It is hard to put a name on that right now because we don’t know which teams will be playing well and which teams will be stumbling. What I do know is that if point guard is not solidified and the rest of the team looks primed for another deep playoff run, Connelly will not hesitate to pull the trigger on a big trade. That is the way he’s built these Wolves, and it won’t stop now. Maybe the Spurs would part with De’Aaron Fox if things aren’t going well there, though the money would give me pause. Maybe one of the Jones brothers could be had in Chicago or Orlando.
Zach Lowe: Giannis Antetokounmpo is considering his options. And I think just because Thanasis resigned for a one-year deal and Giannis is going to start the season with the Bucks and probably play this whole season, that the Bucks considering a trade is such a massive undertaking with the aprons and all that that, doing it without a team that has any cap space to facilitate the trade, the Nets will eventually run out of cap space… is very difficult. But I wouldn't just sort of put this one to bed. And next off-season is really then shaping up to be an interesting one because next off-season is when Giannis becomes extension eligible and it's like four years 300 million, some crazy number I can't remember what it is and that's that's the line in the sand. He either signs that or he doesn't and then 26-27 is the last guaranteed year on his contract; he has a player option after that for $63 million.
Dirk Nowitzki discussing a hands-on role with the Mavs: I gave it a try, but it was weird being around without a clear role
After the Luka Doncic trade and comments that were made about your relationship with the Mavericks, how would you characterize where you are now with the organization, including the front office and ownership? Nowitzki: I’m still sort of involved, but not really on the day to day. I tried that a couple of years ago. It was a little weird for me to be there and not really knowing my role. Since then, I’ve kind of pulled back a bit again. The last two years, I really haven’t been involved in anything front office related. Speaking of the Luka trade, I was as surprised and as shocked as everybody. I had no idea this was even in the works.
Shaq Wanted to fight Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak before trade to Miami
Shaquille O’Neal: I was eating Frosted Flakes, watching ESPN, listening to what people were saying. And then they said Mitch Kupchak said he will take offers on Shaq. So, I told my agent to call him, and they said, "Hey, you going to want to trade?" So, I got in my police car and I went there, but they wouldn't let me in cuz I was going to f*** Mitch Kupchak up. I’m a cop. I went down there, and actually, the cops were waiting for me like ‘Shaq, we can't let you in’. I was like, I'm just going to go get my stuff. I was going to f*** Kupchak up. I promise you. I promise you. Cuz my thing is I understand the business, but show me a little more respect. Call me and say, "Hey man, we had a good run." Like, "But you do that." I'm sitting there eating Frost Flakes to Little Shareef, and he's looking at me. I'm looking at him like, "Damn, we're getting traded?" I was going to kill that dude.
There were some strong rumbles last month that Miami was looking to offload Fontecchio. But that was before the Haywood Highsmith-to-Brooklyn trade that gave the Heat some financial wiggle room under the luxury tax ... and before Fontecchio delivered a reminder of his shooting prowess with those seven 3s Sunday.
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Mark Cuban: I love (Kyrie Irving) to death, right? Like when he was having all his problems in Brooklyn—and before that, Boston— we were trying to get another star to pair with Luka. Initially, I was like: Kyrie? You know, everybody called him a cancer. Everywhere he went, they were ready to get rid of him. But every player I talked to loved him." "And I would start watching his old games. After every game, you know, guys dap up and trade jerseys— but with Kyrie, people were hugging him like he was a cousin they hadn’t seen in forever, right? They just loved the guy. And everyone I talked to said the same thing. So I’m like, 'Okay, we’re going to go out and pull this trade off.' Because he was, you know, a fallen angel. And so, we could get him for a good deal. I’m like, 'We’re going to pull the trigger. We’re just going to give him a lot of attention and talk to him.' And... it paid off.
Mark Cuban: "Yeah, I mean—look. Like I tried to explain to people before the trade: Luka’s Slovenian, right? He's Slavic. Look at Jokic—same part of the world. Boban—same part of the world. Just a different mental perspective on the game and personal life. They're going to have drinks—that’s what they do. I never had a problem with it. I was like—respect their culture and who they are. As you get older, you mature, and your time will come."
What's been the hardest part of going from a majority owner to now a minority?" Mark Cuban: "Not making the final personnel decisions, right?" Host: "That's what I was going to get to." Mark Cuban: "You know, oh yeah—let's trade one of the top three players in the NBA, right? I wouldn't have done it, but it's done. And so, you know, sometimes the basketball gods smile on you and you get Cooper Flagg and the number one pick, right? But yeah, that's been the toughest part: just not being the final decision maker when it comes to on-court decisions.
Celtics still willing to discuss Anfernee Simons trade
In terms of trade possibilities, one general manager told Heavy on Celtics flatly, “They’re still very much willing to talk about Simons.” There’s also the huge matter of whether Boston would be able to re-sign him if he does stay the year, but that’s a bridge off which the club may never have to jump.
“I don’t know what the Celtics are thinking, but other than Jaylen Brown, there’s not a better scorer than Simons on that roster,” he said. “I mean, they obviously aren’t going to play the same way they played when they had (Kristaps) Porzingis and (Al) Horford and Holiday. Joe Mazzulla’s going to have to completely change the style of play. And Simons… nobody can score like him on that team other than Brown. He’s the second-best scorer, and it’s not even close.”
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Jeanie Buss on Luka Doncic: 'I've never had a player come to the Lakers and be as sad as he was'
Jeanie Buss on Slovenian Radio: “Nobody knew the trade was going to happen. I knew but Luka didn't know. I've never had a player come to the Lakers & be as sad as he was because the trade was a huge surprise to him, so he had to process it. I think now he's embraced the Lakers and he's all about LA”
Delaware Blue Coats: 🚨 TRADE ALERT! 🚨 TRADE: In a three-team deal, the Blue Coats have acquired the returning player rights to Malcolm Hill and the South Bay Lakers’ 2026 first-round pick. Birmingham receives the returning player rights to Jared Brownridge, the Delaware 2026 first-round pick, and the South Bay Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick. South Bay receives the returning player rights to Jarron Cumberland.
Heat potentially interested in buying out Terry Rozier?
Sources say Miami still hopes to part with veteran guard Terry Rozier even though there is said to be scant trade interest in the 31-year-old. Rozier is scheduled to make $26.6 million this season and the Heat are said to have some interest in buying him out. To be clear, though, no buyout appears imminent.
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