[h=1]Interest growing in Eric Gordon?[/h][h=3]Emptying the notebook with the latest trade talk around the NBA[/h]By Chris Broussard | ESPN Insider
With the trade deadline just a week away, there's plenty of talking going on around the league. Most of the discussions will lead to nothing, and much of what you hear as a reporter is not worthy of a full-fledged story. But scuttlebutt is interesting nonetheless and can give you an idea of what teams are thinking and what they might seek to do in the future.
So here's what I'm hearing. I'm emptying the notebook this week to share what's blowing in the trade winds right now.
We all know Eric Gordon wanted to sign with Phoenix last summer and many around the league believe he would still rather not be in New Orleans. That's prompted several clubs to call the Hornets about Gordon's availability. Those calls, in turn, led New Orleans to start calling around to gauge Gordon's trade value.
So would New Orleans trade him?
<offer>I'm told a Gordon trade this season is highly unlikely, with one source with knowledge of the situation telling ESPN.com this week that, as things stand, there's "less than a 10 percent chance'' New Orleans would move Gordon before the deadline. Still, the fact that the Hornets made calls around the league implies that they are at least warming up to the idea of moving him at some point.
Word is Dallas, Houston and Golden State are among the teams that have inquired about him. Houston envisions playing him alongside James Harden and Jeremy Lin in its fast-paced system, with Harden at small forward.
Of course, both Houston and Dallas view Gordon as Plan B. Both clubs are saving their max cap room this summer to make a run at the disgruntled one, Dwight Howard. If that falls through, the loser(s) will turn their eyes to Gordon, among others.
Gordon is only one of the many options Houston would consider if it can't land Howard. Several executives have said the Rockets have interest in Philadelphia's Andrew Bynum, assuming Bynum returns from his knee injury for a significant chunk of the season's second half and plays up to his typical All-Star form. That might be a big assumption, though, with Bynum's recent comments about still suffering pain in his knee.
Whatever the case, the Rockets aren't expected to be as active next week as they typically are around the deadline because of their desire to save their cap space for the summer. I'm told they're not in play for Zach Randolph, Danny Granger or Pau Gasol, as has been often rumored.
• For all the talk about Indiana trading Granger -- and many execs believe the Pacers would like to do just that -- I'm told by a person close to the situation that the small forward will be going nowhere before the deadline. The Pacers like the thought of sliding All-Star Paul George to the shooting guard position to make room for Granger in the starting lineup. One of Indiana's main concerns is strengthening its bench, and it feels moving current starting two-guard Lance Stephenson into a reserve role will accomplish that.
The Pacers are, however, open to moving backups Tyler Hansbrough, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green. I'm told they offered up the names of Hansbrough and Augustin when trying to pry J.J. Redick out of Orlando. But the Magic aren't interested in a move like that. Orlando might yet keep Redick, who wants to stay in Orlando, but only if the sharp-shooting backup settles for less than he might get on the open market this summer. Despite Redick's name being one of the most prominent in trade rumors, some executives are beginning to believe the Magic will not move him.
The Josh Smith saga
Many executives around the league believe Atlanta GM Danny Ferry is intent on moving Josh Smith before the deadline. On Wednesday, three opposing GMs told me definitively that Ferry has decided not to re-sign Smith in free agency this summer and is trying hard to move him within the next week.
The Nets remain one of the most interested teams and with Smith's recent statement that he wants a max deal, some clubs believe Brooklyn's offer of Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks might be the best Atlanta gets. If that's the case, Ferry, who has interest in Brooks but not necessarily Humphries, may not budge and instead might keep Smith for the rest of the season.
"Danny's a Spur,'' one rival executive said, referring to Ferry's past work in San Antonio's front office. "So he won't give him away, but if someone comes with a good offer, Josh Smith is gone. I don't think Danny takes the Nets' deal. I think someone has to do better than that.''
In addition to Smith, the Hawks have also had talks about moving Anthony Morrow and Kyle Korver.
What else I'm hearing
Phoenix is also among the most active teams in terms of talk. In addition to speaking with the Knicks about a possible Jared Dudley-for-Iman Shumpert trade (that deal is not happening, sources tell me), the Suns have spoken with Utah about Al Jefferson. Those talks haven't gained much traction, though. Clubs calling the Suns have been mostly interested in Dudley, Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris.
• While most believe the Jazz will trade Paul Millsap instead of Jefferson, one person close to the situation told me he's under the impression that Utah will keep Millsap. The Jazz want to start featuring Derrick Favors for the future, it's hard to envision them re-signing both Jefferson and Millsap, though, so many expect Utah to make some sort of trade. Portland, which could end up moving J.J. Hickson, is one team that likes Millsap.
• Several clubs say that while Boston is not shopping Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, it has made calls to gauge the two players' trade value. But the feeling here is that the Celtics' strong play since Rajon Rondo was injured will lead Boston to try to make one last stand with the two superstars.
There was one interesting scenario that a few execs mentioned to me involving the Los Angeles Clippers. At the end of the day, it won't happen but it's worth mentioning just for fun. It's the notion that the Clippers might move DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler before the deadline in an attempt to clear cap space to sign Dwight Howard to a max deal this summer.
While his time with the Lakers has been a nightmare, Howard loves living in Los Angeles.
The above move sounds good for the Clippers, who could get a decent return for Jordan, but there are some holes in this scenario. For one, even if they traded those two, the Clippers would still need to deplete their roster even more to clear enough room to sign Howard. They could buy out Grant Hill's deal for next season, renounce free agent-to-be Ronny Turiaf, and opt out of deals with Trey Thompkins and Willie Green and still not have enough room for Howard.
If they moved Eric Bledsoe, they could get closer to having max room, but remember, they could only get back expiring contracts in any trades they made -- if the plan is to clear room for Howard.
The Clippers have heard the scuttlebutt about this scenario, but would never consider such a thing without assurances from Howard and his camp that he would leave the extra $30 million the Lakers can offer him on the table and sign down the hall with them. And even if such assurances came, Howard's word lately hasn't exactly been steadfast.
So while it's fun to consider, the Clippers aren't breaking up their current title contender for a pipe dream.
And one more thing on the Clippers: You can forget about the idea of Phil Jackson being the club's next coach. Still bothered by Jackson's verbal jabs at the Clippers during his tenure with the Lakers, Clips owner Donald Sterling has let it be known throughout team headquarters he will not pay the Zen Master one penny to coach his team.
</offer>
With the trade deadline just a week away, there's plenty of talking going on around the league. Most of the discussions will lead to nothing, and much of what you hear as a reporter is not worthy of a full-fledged story. But scuttlebutt is interesting nonetheless and can give you an idea of what teams are thinking and what they might seek to do in the future.
So here's what I'm hearing. I'm emptying the notebook this week to share what's blowing in the trade winds right now.
We all know Eric Gordon wanted to sign with Phoenix last summer and many around the league believe he would still rather not be in New Orleans. That's prompted several clubs to call the Hornets about Gordon's availability. Those calls, in turn, led New Orleans to start calling around to gauge Gordon's trade value.
So would New Orleans trade him?
<offer>I'm told a Gordon trade this season is highly unlikely, with one source with knowledge of the situation telling ESPN.com this week that, as things stand, there's "less than a 10 percent chance'' New Orleans would move Gordon before the deadline. Still, the fact that the Hornets made calls around the league implies that they are at least warming up to the idea of moving him at some point.
Word is Dallas, Houston and Golden State are among the teams that have inquired about him. Houston envisions playing him alongside James Harden and Jeremy Lin in its fast-paced system, with Harden at small forward.
Of course, both Houston and Dallas view Gordon as Plan B. Both clubs are saving their max cap room this summer to make a run at the disgruntled one, Dwight Howard. If that falls through, the loser(s) will turn their eyes to Gordon, among others.
Gordon is only one of the many options Houston would consider if it can't land Howard. Several executives have said the Rockets have interest in Philadelphia's Andrew Bynum, assuming Bynum returns from his knee injury for a significant chunk of the season's second half and plays up to his typical All-Star form. That might be a big assumption, though, with Bynum's recent comments about still suffering pain in his knee.
Whatever the case, the Rockets aren't expected to be as active next week as they typically are around the deadline because of their desire to save their cap space for the summer. I'm told they're not in play for Zach Randolph, Danny Granger or Pau Gasol, as has been often rumored.
• For all the talk about Indiana trading Granger -- and many execs believe the Pacers would like to do just that -- I'm told by a person close to the situation that the small forward will be going nowhere before the deadline. The Pacers like the thought of sliding All-Star Paul George to the shooting guard position to make room for Granger in the starting lineup. One of Indiana's main concerns is strengthening its bench, and it feels moving current starting two-guard Lance Stephenson into a reserve role will accomplish that.
The Pacers are, however, open to moving backups Tyler Hansbrough, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green. I'm told they offered up the names of Hansbrough and Augustin when trying to pry J.J. Redick out of Orlando. But the Magic aren't interested in a move like that. Orlando might yet keep Redick, who wants to stay in Orlando, but only if the sharp-shooting backup settles for less than he might get on the open market this summer. Despite Redick's name being one of the most prominent in trade rumors, some executives are beginning to believe the Magic will not move him.
The Josh Smith saga
Many executives around the league believe Atlanta GM Danny Ferry is intent on moving Josh Smith before the deadline. On Wednesday, three opposing GMs told me definitively that Ferry has decided not to re-sign Smith in free agency this summer and is trying hard to move him within the next week.
The Nets remain one of the most interested teams and with Smith's recent statement that he wants a max deal, some clubs believe Brooklyn's offer of Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks might be the best Atlanta gets. If that's the case, Ferry, who has interest in Brooks but not necessarily Humphries, may not budge and instead might keep Smith for the rest of the season.
"Danny's a Spur,'' one rival executive said, referring to Ferry's past work in San Antonio's front office. "So he won't give him away, but if someone comes with a good offer, Josh Smith is gone. I don't think Danny takes the Nets' deal. I think someone has to do better than that.''
In addition to Smith, the Hawks have also had talks about moving Anthony Morrow and Kyle Korver.
What else I'm hearing
Phoenix is also among the most active teams in terms of talk. In addition to speaking with the Knicks about a possible Jared Dudley-for-Iman Shumpert trade (that deal is not happening, sources tell me), the Suns have spoken with Utah about Al Jefferson. Those talks haven't gained much traction, though. Clubs calling the Suns have been mostly interested in Dudley, Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris.
• While most believe the Jazz will trade Paul Millsap instead of Jefferson, one person close to the situation told me he's under the impression that Utah will keep Millsap. The Jazz want to start featuring Derrick Favors for the future, it's hard to envision them re-signing both Jefferson and Millsap, though, so many expect Utah to make some sort of trade. Portland, which could end up moving J.J. Hickson, is one team that likes Millsap.
• Several clubs say that while Boston is not shopping Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, it has made calls to gauge the two players' trade value. But the feeling here is that the Celtics' strong play since Rajon Rondo was injured will lead Boston to try to make one last stand with the two superstars.
There was one interesting scenario that a few execs mentioned to me involving the Los Angeles Clippers. At the end of the day, it won't happen but it's worth mentioning just for fun. It's the notion that the Clippers might move DeAndre Jordan and Caron Butler before the deadline in an attempt to clear cap space to sign Dwight Howard to a max deal this summer.
While his time with the Lakers has been a nightmare, Howard loves living in Los Angeles.
The above move sounds good for the Clippers, who could get a decent return for Jordan, but there are some holes in this scenario. For one, even if they traded those two, the Clippers would still need to deplete their roster even more to clear enough room to sign Howard. They could buy out Grant Hill's deal for next season, renounce free agent-to-be Ronny Turiaf, and opt out of deals with Trey Thompkins and Willie Green and still not have enough room for Howard.
If they moved Eric Bledsoe, they could get closer to having max room, but remember, they could only get back expiring contracts in any trades they made -- if the plan is to clear room for Howard.
The Clippers have heard the scuttlebutt about this scenario, but would never consider such a thing without assurances from Howard and his camp that he would leave the extra $30 million the Lakers can offer him on the table and sign down the hall with them. And even if such assurances came, Howard's word lately hasn't exactly been steadfast.
So while it's fun to consider, the Clippers aren't breaking up their current title contender for a pipe dream.
And one more thing on the Clippers: You can forget about the idea of Phil Jackson being the club's next coach. Still bothered by Jackson's verbal jabs at the Clippers during his tenure with the Lakers, Clips owner Donald Sterling has let it be known throughout team headquarters he will not pay the Zen Master one penny to coach his team.
</offer>
