Dec 20, 2019; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Paul (3) against Phoenix Suns guard Ricky Rubio (11) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
With the NBA Draft set for next Wednesday and the 2020-21 season launching about a month later, it’s a good time to take stock of the league.
The Lakers are still soaking in the sunshine of winning the title in the bubble and are favored to go back-to-back like they’re on the cover of Lethal Weapon. However, several other contenders (we’re looking at you, Clippers and Bucks) are chomping at the bit to overtake them. At the same time, there are a handful of veteran teams that shouldn’t be slept on, such as the Celtics, Nets, 76ers, and Warriors. Oh, and there’s that pesky team that pushed the Lakers to six games in the Finals.
Everyone’s gunning for L.A. next year, and the Lakers will have a tall task overcoming the many talented teams coming for the throne.
While it’s tempting to speculate on future outcomes now—isn’t that what fandom is all about?!—there’s still a lot that could happen before the league tips Dec. 22. We’re here to give you a recap on the most buzzworthy noise around the league right now. The most recent rumors will be at the top of the post and this will be updated over the next few weeks.
Harden Open to Trade to Sixers or Other Top Contenders
With Russell Westbrook now traded, all eyes of the NBA world are on James Harden, who has yet to show up to camp in Houston. In fact, Harden has been spotted partying in Las Vegas, which seems like a pretty clear message that he wants to be moved. We still don't know if a trade will happen, but according to Woj, Harden is now open to being dealt to the Sixers or other contenders. The other contenders aren't listed, but before this, it was reported that Harden would only welcome a trade to the Nets.
Westbrook for John Wall Trade?
We know that the Rockets are looking to trade Russell Westbrook but could a deal for John Wall be on the horizon? According to Shams, the Rockets and Wizards have talked about a deal, but the Rockets are looking for more assets. We haven't seen Wall play in a few years, but this would be an interesting move for both teams.
Nets & Rockets Have Verbal Agreement on Harden Trade?
Is this really about to happen? We already know that James Harden has requested a trade out of Houston and wants to join Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn, but is a deal already in place? According to FrontOfficeSports, sources around the league believe that a verbal agreement is in place for the deal to get done. That would be a wild development, especially since Woj reported last night that no real traction had been made. We'll be following this one closely, but buckle up.
CP3 to Suns
With NBA teams now allowed to make trades, the Suns have struck a deal for Chris Paul. The deal is for Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, and some other pieces. This is not only a huge move for the Suns, but further signals that the Thunder are in a full rebuild move. The deals are now moving and things are about to get crazy.
Schroder to the Lakers?
Things are heating up. We now know that NBA trades can officially happen on Monday afternoon. With that news now official, both Shams and Woj just tweeted that the Lakers are engaged in serious talks with the Thunder on a deal that would send Dennis Schroder to Los Angeles for Danny Green and the 28th overall pick. This would be a massive upgrade for the Lakers and give them great depth at point guard next season.
James Harden to the Nets?
There's been a lack of rumors today as we wait for the NBA to actually open up the transaction period, but we did get some a James Harden to the Nets smoke. According to SI, the Rockets and Nets have talked about a Harden deal that would match the former MVP up with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. That would be insane. We know the Nets are aggressively looking for another star, but this would be crazy. It's worth noting that Shams said earlier this week that Harden wasn't looking to leave Houston. But are the Rockets looking to trade him? That's the question. According to the Houston Chronicle, Harden has indeed asked for a trade from the Rockets and is pushing to join the Nets. And now according to Shams, Harden would also welcome a trade to the Sixers.
Lakers Are Interested in DeMar DeRozan
The Lakers are always one of the biggest questions heading into free agency and trade season, and this year is no differnet. And even though they're coming off a title, we know that no LeBron James teams ever stop tring to improve. Many have wondered what they might try and do, and Jared Dudley even told us that they'll be aggressive in adding talent. Well, according to Kevin O'Connor, the Lakers have interest in trading for DeRozan in a move that would send Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma to the Spurs. Things are heating up.
Celtics Pursuing Jrue Holiday
There seems to be many suitors who are looking to add Jrue Holiday to their team, and according to The Ringer, the Boston Celtics are also looking into to get into the party. According to the report, the Celtics are looking to use their three first round picks to get into the lottery and then send that pick to New Orleans. The Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks had previously been mentioned as suitors for Holiday, who seems to be on his way out of New Orleans.
Russell Westbrook to the Hornets?
Now that we know that Russell Westbrook has requested a trade, Shams is reporting that the Charlotte Hornets have emerged as a suitor for the former MVP. We can't ignore the Jordan Brand connection here nor the fact that MJ likes to make a splash when going after talent. Who knows if Westbrook would be for a trade to Charlotte, but it certainly sounds like he's done with Houston.
LaMelo Ball the First Pick?
Many mock drafts—including our own—have Anthony Edwards going No. 1 in the draft. Others have James Wiseman being first off the board. But there’s reportedly a growing belief that LaMelo Ball, son of LaVar and youngest of the Ball brothers, will be the top pick.
“Most NBA front offices are operating under the assumption that Ball is going No. 1—either to the Minnesota Timberwolves or a team that trades up to select him,” reports ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, who covers the draft with as much depth as anyone.
Givony reports that teams were dissatisfied with Edwards’ televised pro day Oct. 29. However, it’s not a sure thing the T-Wolves will hold onto that pick. Front office execs reportedly think the Bulls (currently at No. 4), Pistons (No. 7), or Thunder (No. 25) could make a move to trade up and pick Ball.
Ball is a big point guard (6’8”) who’s a maestro with the ball in his hands. Though his shot could be improved, he’s a generational passer with tremendous feel for the game. He’s been compared to Penny Hardaway.
Chris Paul to the Suns?
The guy who was traded for Westbrook, CP3, is also involved in trade rumors. Like Russ, the veteran All-Star also showed he’s still got plenty in the tank during an impressive 2019-20 season. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon played 31.5 MPG and averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 APG, and 5.0 RPG while shooting 36.5 percent from outside. He’s 35, but still schooling these young bloods.
The Thunder are expected to enter a rebuild this offseason, though they outperformed expectations last season, and that begins with getting the aging Paul off the books. Per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps, the Phoenix Suns are interested in CP3. They reported that discussions between the Suns and Thunder “have been ongoing and have continued to gather traction, but there is no deal imminent.”
The Suns finished 8-0 in the bubble and, behind young up-and-comers Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, think they’re on the verge of contending. They also have plenty of salary-cap space, which is necessary because Paul has a whopping $86 million over two years left on his deal.
Further, Phoenix coach Monty Williams coached Paul in New Orleans, and the two reportedly think highly of each other. The Suns have plenty of young assets and roster flexibility to make a deal work.
This one makes a lot of sense for both sides. We’d be surprised if Paul doesn’t end up in Arizona.
Russell Westbrook on the Move?
The Rockets will already look different next season. After a second-round exit via the Lakers, Houston cut ties with longtime franchise general manager Daryl Morey and coach Mike D’Antoni.
Could one of the team’s star players be gone, too? According to Shams and others, that's exactly the case.
The rumor mill says the Rockets are shopping Russell Westbrook, who played very well during his first season in H-town, averaging 27.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 7.0 APG. He’s 32 as of Thursday, though, and Houston is clearly intent on shaking things up heading into next season.
So, where’s he headed? Per The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the Clippers and Knicks are both in the mix.
“I’ve heard the Clippers have interest,” O’Connor said on The Mismatch podcast. “I’ve heard the Knicks have interest in Westbrook, and whether anything materializes there, who knows.”
Though Westbrook is still clearly an impact player, his contract could make pulling off a deal difficult. He’s owed about $85 million over the next two seasons and has a $46 million player option in 2023, when he’ll turn 35.
That said, a team that thinks it’s right there—like, ahem, the Clippers—might bite the bullet. Expect a deal for Westbrook to involve Lou Williams and Landry Shamet, as well as other assets.
Onyeka Okongwu Shooting up Draft Boards?
Onyeka Okongwu, former teammate of Ball at Chino Hills in California, was superb at USC during his lone campaign in the Pac-12. The 19-year-old is a versatile big who absolutely locks down at the rim and has drawn comparisons to Bam Adebayo.
Sounds pretty good, right? He will be.
Per Windhorst, more and more teams are falling in love with Okongwu.
“A player who I’ve heard a lot moving up a lot of executives’ big boards is Onyeka Okongwu from USC, who I’ve heard moving into the top three-to-five,” Windhorst said Monday on The Jump.
Okongwu has long been considered a lottery pick, but getting up that high would be a massive shift. If he gets into the top three, it would be a huge shake-up. Ball, Edwards, and Wiseman have long been considered the consensus trio going first.
Celtics Moving Into the Lottery?
It was a tough season for Boston. After earning the No. 3 seed in the East, they outlasted Toronto in an epic semifinal series, then fell to a red-hot Miami team in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Despite Boston possessing one of the most talented rosters and best coaches in the game, the Celtics just can’t seem to get over the hump. Could this year’s draft make the difference?
The last time they had a top pick, they used it on Jayson Tatum. And it seems Danny Ainge is intent on getting back up near the top of the board. Boston has three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 26, and 30), but the Celtics have reportedly been trying to curate a package that allows them to get up into the lottery.
It seems they’re specifically eyeing Atlanta’s No. 6 pick, per O’Connor. Atlanta wants veterans in return, per Keith Smith.
If Boston gets the No. 6 pick, the Celtics could go after FSU’s Patrick Williams, who has drawn comparisons to Kawhi Leonard. Imagine another super versatile wing in that system—sheesh!
Lakers Looking at Serge Ibaka?
As mentioned in the intro, the Lakers are favored to win the 2021 NBA title after the 72-game regular season. They’re currently at +325.
But they know they’ll face plenty of competition, and they’re hungry to improve. One way they could do so: adding veteran big Serge Ibaka, who was a difference-maker for the Raptors in the past two postseasons.
Ibaka is one of the most well-known free agents on the market and might be willing to take a pay cut to play for a shot at a second ring. LA could have the full mid-level exception available to offer to him. Per Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, Ibaka is looking at a number of contenders.
“One target is Raptors big man Serge Ibaka, according to executives around the league...the Raptors are still the favorite to keep Ibaka,” Deveney reports. “But if he leaves, he would only do so to have a chance at a championship—teams like the Celtics, the Clippers, the Heat, the Mavericks and the Trail Blazers are among those interested in Ibaka. The Lakers, though, would offer him the best chance at another ring.”
Ibaka could be a rich man’s Markieff Morris next to Anthony Davis, giving AD and LeBron some help with floor-spacing and on the boards. Free agency will start just two days after the draft, so keep your eyes on Ibaka. He’s one of those ‘not a star, but still very important’ veterans who could well shape the title race.
Warriors, Hornets Want Wiseman?
Wiseman was the No. 1 prospect in his class and showed why during a brief stint at Memphis. The 7’1” center from Nashville looks like a rich man’s Hassan Whiteside or DeAndre Jordan. He’s a dominant athlete with top-level defensive abilities and has vast potential as a scorer, too.
According to Windhorst, the Warriors—who will get Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson back from injuries -- are set on Wiseman. They’ve acknowledged they need more size.
“Wiseman, from what I understand, is Golden State's guy,” Windy said Monday. He’d certainly be an improvement at the 5 from Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney.
However, Charlotte also reportedly wants Wiseman.
“The big thing for Golden State is what Charlotte does,” Windy added. “Charlotte is very interested in James Wiseman, and could move up to No. 1 to take him.”
The Hornets need big-man help, with Cody Zeller entering his final year and Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez entering free agency. Per Windhorst, if Charlotte does make that move, Golden State will likely move back. So it seems it’s Wiseman or bust for Bob Myers.
