As part of the trade, the Nuggets will send a protected first-round pick in 2029 to OKC. In exchange, they are receiving the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thunder’s less-favorable first-round selection in 2024, and a 2024 second-rounder.

The Thunder could have four first-round picks in the 2024 Draft, including their own, top 4-protected from Houston Rockets, unprotected from the LA Clippers, and top 10-protected from the Utah Jazz. 

Denver’s motivation for the trade is clear. They are trying to get some draft assets that they can use to add young players on cheap contracts or use in trades. Nuggets’ championship is wide open and is expected to remain so in the next few years, so general manager Calvin Booth wants to maximize his team’s opportunities.

OKC, on the other hand, hopes that the Nuggets will fall off a cliff towards the end of the decade, giving them a valuable selection. OKC already owns Denver’s Top-5 protected first-round pick in 2027, which they received as part of the JaMychal Green trade. They currently have 15 first-round picks, including their own and those acquired in trades, through 2029.

The post Nuggets and OKC Swap Picks in a Rare NBA Finals Trade appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Shams Charania reports that the framework of the trade would see Westbrook heading to the Utah Jazz alongside the Lakers’ Top 4 protected pick in 2027. The Timberwolves are getting veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. and a second-rounder, while the Lakers will get Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.

For the Lakers, the deal was about turning Westbrook into multiple players that can contribute right away and are a better fit with their two best players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They are definitely getting that in this deal, especially with Russell, who will bring badly-needed shooting to the team. It is a sort of homecoming for Russell, who started his career with the Lakers as the team’s second overall pick in 2015.

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, wanted to move Russell as they didn’t see him as a long-term part of their future. They are getting an experienced guard in Conley, who has a good relationship with their center Rudy Gobert and is well respected for the leadership he brings.

Finally, for Utah, it is all about collecting assets. They are not only receiving a highly-desirable Lakers’ pick that will come in the post-LeBron James era but also Westbrook’s mammoth expiring contract that will bring them the necessary salary cap reset during this rebuild.

Westbrook, who was demoted to the bench role by the Lakers this season, isn’t expected to suit up for the Jazz at any point. He will most likely get a buyout in the coming days and sign with either Miami Heat or the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Lakers Trade Away Russell Westbrook, Get D’Angelo Russell in a 3-Team Trade appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Indiana confirmed the news on their social media on Monday via post in which they’ve wished LeVert “all the best in Cleveland.”

The Pacers have been looking to reshuffle their roster for a while, so trading LeVert isn’t shocking. Indiana receives healthy draft compensation while also getting some money off their books next season with Rubio’s expiring contract. The team is expected to remain active ahead of the NBA trade deadline and has already shown willingness to entertain offers for All-Star Domantas Sabonis and talented big Myles Turner.

The Cavs, on the other hand, add another talented player to their young core. Caris LeVert played well when taking the floor for the Pacers this season and is currently averaging 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in 2021-22. Cleveland expects LeVert to give them a scoring boost moving forward and help them continue their postseason push. The franchise also has long-term plans for the 27-year-old and reportedly plans to sign him to an extension in the offseason. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers has been performing above all expectations this season and is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 33-21 record. The Cavaliers are also just one game behind the top-seeded Miami Heat.

The post Pacers Trade Caris LeVert to Cavaliers for Ricky Rubio and Picks appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Vanderbilt began his NBA career in 2018, as the 41st overall pick in the NBA Draft. He played for the Denver Nuggets over two seasons before making the move to the Timberwolves on February 5th, 2020.

The 22-year-old forward has experienced a difficult start to his professional basketball career as the result of numerous injuries. Over the last two-plus seasons, Vanderbilt has appeared in just 28 games for both Denver and Minnesota combined, averaging 5.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in a little under 18 minutes per game.

Last season was the first full season that Vanderbilt was able to play through without injuries since his junior year of high school. During his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt was only able to feature in 14 games, averaging 5.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.

The post Jarred Vanderbilt Agrees to Remain with Timberwolves on 3-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Jordan is not expected to suit up for the Pistons. The two sides are close to reaching a buyout agreement that would allow the player to sign with another team. After this happens, the 33-year-old big man will most likely join the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jordan still has two years left on a four-year, $40 million deal he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

Brooklyn were motivated to trade Jordan purely from a financial standpoint. The deal saves them close to $50 million in salary and tax while also giving them some flexibility in terms of the salary cap.

Pistons, on the other hand, move on from two players that never managed to carve a significant role on their team. But the true value for Detroit is the picks that will help them during their ongoing rebuilding process.

DeAndre Jordan joined the Nets as part of the free agency that also saw the franchise land All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Reportedly, Durant and Irving played a key role in bringing Jordan to Brooklyn at the time and even gave up some money so the team could sign him. However, Jordan failed to impress in the Nets’ jersey, averaging just 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds in the past two seasons.

The post DeAndre Jordan Headed to Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Fall is the latest addition to the Cavs’ strong array of front-line players, including the likes of Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, fellow recent signing Lauri Markkanen, and Evan Mobley, the overall number 3 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Prior to his impending arrival in Cleveland, Fall represented the Boston Celtics for two seasons. During his time there, the 25-year-old big man averaged 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 26 appearances. Standing at 7 foot 5, Fall was revered by Celtics fans due to his imposing stature and ability to boss the court.

Fall may be young and unproven on the NBA court, but teams are impressed with his potential for a handful of reasons. As much as the NBA has evolved over the years, it’s still a big man’s game, and this Fall’s tremendous gives them a substantial advantage in many scenarios on the court.

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Tacko Fall On 1-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following the signing of this deal, Haslem will become just the fifth NBA player in history to spend an entire career of 19 seasons or over with a single franchise. He follows in the steps of Dirk Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant, who remained with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons, and Tim Duncan and John Stockton, who spent 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz, respectively.

While Haslem only enjoys sporadic appearances for the Heat, appearing in just one game last season, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra remains adamant that Haslem is a key component of the Heat squad.

According to Spoelstra, Haslem has been effective at guiding the team’s younger players in training as well as exhibiting a raw passion for the sport. “UD is a legacy player,” Spoelstra confirmed. “One player, one city, one Team. Thank you, UD, for coming back to lead again in your city, your organization and your team.”

The post Udonis Haslem Commits to Miami Heat appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

All three players were traded in separate deals, with Vucevic heading to the Chicago Bulls, Gordon joining the Denver Nuggets, and Fournier becoming a new member of Boston Celtics.

Magic got the biggest haul for Vucevic, receiving two first-round picks (2021, 2023), veteran Otto Porter, and former No.7 pick Wendell Carter Jr. from the Bulls.  The 30-year-old picked up his second All-Star nod this season and averages career-high 24.5 points to go with 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Nuggets had to pay a steep price to get their hands on Gordon as well. Denver gave up first-rounders, guard Gary Harris, and R.J. Hampton, their top selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Reportedly, Orlando’s forward Gary Clarke is also included in the trade and will follow Gordon.

Gordon, who was the No.4 pick in 2014, is putting up 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season.

It seems like the Celtics got the best deal, only parting with two second-round picks to land Fournier. The 28-year-old Frenchman is having a career-year at the moment, scoring 19.7 points on average.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Keith Smith, this trade could be expanded by the end of the trade deadline, as two teams remain engaged in talks about few other players.

Orlando Magic disappointed in 2020/21 despite entering the season with playoff aspirations. They currently own the second-worst record in Eastern Conference, and the likely chance to pick high in the lottery this year probably influenced the franchise’s decision to move on from their best players.

While the Magic might be a bad team short-term after these deals, their future does look bright. The trades allowed them to gain valuable draft capital and promising players while already having a talented young core with former No.6 pick Jonathan Isaac and ex-first overall pick Markelle Fultz.

The post Orlando Magic Trade Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier in Separate Deals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Drummond, who was acquired by Cleveland in a trade last February, is in the last year of a five-year contract and does not figure into Cleveland’s plans as they move forward in 2021.

The former Pistons star has been productive this season, averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game on 47% shooting for the 10-18 Cavs. As the team looks to make an unlikely playoff run, they have decided that they prefer to deal him away to acquire future assets.

The decision not to play Drummond has to do with the team’s acquisition of Jarrett Allen earlier this season. Since they view him as their starting center of the future, they’ve decided that they prefer to give him playing time as they work to ship Drummond out.

Trade rumors have placed the Toronto Raptors as a possible destination for the 27-year-old big man, but the team will have more than a month left to find the best possible deal for the two-time All-Star as they continue to look to rebuild.

The post Cavs Will Reportedly Not Play Andre Drummond as They Look to Trade Him appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The New Orleans Pelicans are the latest team to come up in trade rumors, with two names in particular popping up: JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball. According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans are open to trading either of them if the right deal came along.

Ball is no stranger to being in the center of trade talks. Two years ago, when he was on the Los Angeles Lakers, he and his teammates all came up in trade discussions. This was back when the Lakers were trying to acquire Anthony Davis, who was on the Pelicans at the time.

Then, during that 2019 summer, all of that speculation turned into reality, with Ball getting traded to New Orleans for Davis. In addition to Ball, the Lakers also sent Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to the Pelicans.

But although Ingram has thrived in a Pelicans uniform, even becoming an All-Star during his first year with them, Ball has failed to find himself an ideal niche. This season, Ball has only averaged 12 points per game, to go with 3.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He’s also been shooting a woeful 29.1% from behind the three-point arc.

JJ Redick has always been a well-respected player around the league, thriving in his role as a three-point sniper. However, he too has only averaged 8.1 points a game this season.

It will be interesting to see if Redick or Ball will get traded. And more importantly, who New Orleans might be able to get in return.

The post Pelicans Open to Trading JJ Redick or Lonzo Ball appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As part of the trade, the Nuggets will send a protected first-round pick in 2029 to OKC. In exchange, they are receiving the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Thunder’s less-favorable first-round selection in 2024, and a 2024 second-rounder.

The Thunder could have four first-round picks in the 2024 Draft, including their own, top 4-protected from Houston Rockets, unprotected from the LA Clippers, and top 10-protected from the Utah Jazz. 

Denver’s motivation for the trade is clear. They are trying to get some draft assets that they can use to add young players on cheap contracts or use in trades. Nuggets’ championship is wide open and is expected to remain so in the next few years, so general manager Calvin Booth wants to maximize his team’s opportunities.

OKC, on the other hand, hopes that the Nuggets will fall off a cliff towards the end of the decade, giving them a valuable selection. OKC already owns Denver’s Top-5 protected first-round pick in 2027, which they received as part of the JaMychal Green trade. They currently have 15 first-round picks, including their own and those acquired in trades, through 2029.

The post Nuggets and OKC Swap Picks in a Rare NBA Finals Trade appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Shams Charania reports that the framework of the trade would see Westbrook heading to the Utah Jazz alongside the Lakers’ Top 4 protected pick in 2027. The Timberwolves are getting veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. and a second-rounder, while the Lakers will get Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt.

For the Lakers, the deal was about turning Westbrook into multiple players that can contribute right away and are a better fit with their two best players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They are definitely getting that in this deal, especially with Russell, who will bring badly-needed shooting to the team. It is a sort of homecoming for Russell, who started his career with the Lakers as the team’s second overall pick in 2015.

The Timberwolves, on the other hand, wanted to move Russell as they didn’t see him as a long-term part of their future. They are getting an experienced guard in Conley, who has a good relationship with their center Rudy Gobert and is well respected for the leadership he brings.

Finally, for Utah, it is all about collecting assets. They are not only receiving a highly-desirable Lakers’ pick that will come in the post-LeBron James era but also Westbrook’s mammoth expiring contract that will bring them the necessary salary cap reset during this rebuild.

Westbrook, who was demoted to the bench role by the Lakers this season, isn’t expected to suit up for the Jazz at any point. He will most likely get a buyout in the coming days and sign with either Miami Heat or the Los Angeles Clippers.

The post Lakers Trade Away Russell Westbrook, Get D’Angelo Russell in a 3-Team Trade appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Indiana confirmed the news on their social media on Monday via post in which they’ve wished LeVert “all the best in Cleveland.”

The Pacers have been looking to reshuffle their roster for a while, so trading LeVert isn’t shocking. Indiana receives healthy draft compensation while also getting some money off their books next season with Rubio’s expiring contract. The team is expected to remain active ahead of the NBA trade deadline and has already shown willingness to entertain offers for All-Star Domantas Sabonis and talented big Myles Turner.

The Cavs, on the other hand, add another talented player to their young core. Caris LeVert played well when taking the floor for the Pacers this season and is currently averaging 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in 2021-22. Cleveland expects LeVert to give them a scoring boost moving forward and help them continue their postseason push. The franchise also has long-term plans for the 27-year-old and reportedly plans to sign him to an extension in the offseason. 

The Cleveland Cavaliers has been performing above all expectations this season and is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 33-21 record. The Cavaliers are also just one game behind the top-seeded Miami Heat.

The post Pacers Trade Caris LeVert to Cavaliers for Ricky Rubio and Picks appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Vanderbilt began his NBA career in 2018, as the 41st overall pick in the NBA Draft. He played for the Denver Nuggets over two seasons before making the move to the Timberwolves on February 5th, 2020.

The 22-year-old forward has experienced a difficult start to his professional basketball career as the result of numerous injuries. Over the last two-plus seasons, Vanderbilt has appeared in just 28 games for both Denver and Minnesota combined, averaging 5.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in a little under 18 minutes per game.

Last season was the first full season that Vanderbilt was able to play through without injuries since his junior year of high school. During his time with the Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt was only able to feature in 14 games, averaging 5.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in 17 minutes per game.

The post Jarred Vanderbilt Agrees to Remain with Timberwolves on 3-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

However, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Jordan is not expected to suit up for the Pistons. The two sides are close to reaching a buyout agreement that would allow the player to sign with another team. After this happens, the 33-year-old big man will most likely join the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jordan still has two years left on a four-year, $40 million deal he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

Brooklyn were motivated to trade Jordan purely from a financial standpoint. The deal saves them close to $50 million in salary and tax while also giving them some flexibility in terms of the salary cap.

Pistons, on the other hand, move on from two players that never managed to carve a significant role on their team. But the true value for Detroit is the picks that will help them during their ongoing rebuilding process.

DeAndre Jordan joined the Nets as part of the free agency that also saw the franchise land All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Reportedly, Durant and Irving played a key role in bringing Jordan to Brooklyn at the time and even gave up some money so the team could sign him. However, Jordan failed to impress in the Nets’ jersey, averaging just 7.9 points and 8.7 rebounds in the past two seasons.

The post DeAndre Jordan Headed to Lakers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Fall is the latest addition to the Cavs’ strong array of front-line players, including the likes of Kevin Love, Jarrett Allen, fellow recent signing Lauri Markkanen, and Evan Mobley, the overall number 3 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Prior to his impending arrival in Cleveland, Fall represented the Boston Celtics for two seasons. During his time there, the 25-year-old big man averaged 2.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 26 appearances. Standing at 7 foot 5, Fall was revered by Celtics fans due to his imposing stature and ability to boss the court.

Fall may be young and unproven on the NBA court, but teams are impressed with his potential for a handful of reasons. As much as the NBA has evolved over the years, it’s still a big man’s game, and this Fall’s tremendous gives them a substantial advantage in many scenarios on the court.

The post Cleveland Cavaliers Sign Tacko Fall On 1-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Following the signing of this deal, Haslem will become just the fifth NBA player in history to spend an entire career of 19 seasons or over with a single franchise. He follows in the steps of Dirk Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant, who remained with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons, and Tim Duncan and John Stockton, who spent 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs and the Utah Jazz, respectively.

While Haslem only enjoys sporadic appearances for the Heat, appearing in just one game last season, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra remains adamant that Haslem is a key component of the Heat squad.

According to Spoelstra, Haslem has been effective at guiding the team’s younger players in training as well as exhibiting a raw passion for the sport. “UD is a legacy player,” Spoelstra confirmed. “One player, one city, one Team. Thank you, UD, for coming back to lead again in your city, your organization and your team.”

The post Udonis Haslem Commits to Miami Heat appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

All three players were traded in separate deals, with Vucevic heading to the Chicago Bulls, Gordon joining the Denver Nuggets, and Fournier becoming a new member of Boston Celtics.

Magic got the biggest haul for Vucevic, receiving two first-round picks (2021, 2023), veteran Otto Porter, and former No.7 pick Wendell Carter Jr. from the Bulls.  The 30-year-old picked up his second All-Star nod this season and averages career-high 24.5 points to go with 11.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Nuggets had to pay a steep price to get their hands on Gordon as well. Denver gave up first-rounders, guard Gary Harris, and R.J. Hampton, their top selection in the 2020 NBA Draft. Reportedly, Orlando’s forward Gary Clarke is also included in the trade and will follow Gordon.

Gordon, who was the No.4 pick in 2014, is putting up 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season.

It seems like the Celtics got the best deal, only parting with two second-round picks to land Fournier. The 28-year-old Frenchman is having a career-year at the moment, scoring 19.7 points on average.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Keith Smith, this trade could be expanded by the end of the trade deadline, as two teams remain engaged in talks about few other players.

Orlando Magic disappointed in 2020/21 despite entering the season with playoff aspirations. They currently own the second-worst record in Eastern Conference, and the likely chance to pick high in the lottery this year probably influenced the franchise’s decision to move on from their best players.

While the Magic might be a bad team short-term after these deals, their future does look bright. The trades allowed them to gain valuable draft capital and promising players while already having a talented young core with former No.6 pick Jonathan Isaac and ex-first overall pick Markelle Fultz.

The post Orlando Magic Trade Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier in Separate Deals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Drummond, who was acquired by Cleveland in a trade last February, is in the last year of a five-year contract and does not figure into Cleveland’s plans as they move forward in 2021.

The former Pistons star has been productive this season, averaging 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game on 47% shooting for the 10-18 Cavs. As the team looks to make an unlikely playoff run, they have decided that they prefer to deal him away to acquire future assets.

The decision not to play Drummond has to do with the team’s acquisition of Jarrett Allen earlier this season. Since they view him as their starting center of the future, they’ve decided that they prefer to give him playing time as they work to ship Drummond out.

Trade rumors have placed the Toronto Raptors as a possible destination for the 27-year-old big man, but the team will have more than a month left to find the best possible deal for the two-time All-Star as they continue to look to rebuild.

The post Cavs Will Reportedly Not Play Andre Drummond as They Look to Trade Him appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The New Orleans Pelicans are the latest team to come up in trade rumors, with two names in particular popping up: JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball. According to the Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Pelicans are open to trading either of them if the right deal came along.

Ball is no stranger to being in the center of trade talks. Two years ago, when he was on the Los Angeles Lakers, he and his teammates all came up in trade discussions. This was back when the Lakers were trying to acquire Anthony Davis, who was on the Pelicans at the time.

Then, during that 2019 summer, all of that speculation turned into reality, with Ball getting traded to New Orleans for Davis. In addition to Ball, the Lakers also sent Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart to the Pelicans.

But although Ingram has thrived in a Pelicans uniform, even becoming an All-Star during his first year with them, Ball has failed to find himself an ideal niche. This season, Ball has only averaged 12 points per game, to go with 3.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He’s also been shooting a woeful 29.1% from behind the three-point arc.

JJ Redick has always been a well-respected player around the league, thriving in his role as a three-point sniper. However, he too has only averaged 8.1 points a game this season.

It will be interesting to see if Redick or Ball will get traded. And more importantly, who New Orleans might be able to get in return.

The post Pelicans Open to Trading JJ Redick or Lonzo Ball appeared first on yoursportspot.com.