Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, a lot of focus has been on whether or not the Philadelphia 76ers will deal disgruntled star Ben Simmons. The two sides have been at a stalemate since the offseason after Simmons requested a trade.
With that looming, other teams are already making moves for the stretch run of the 2021-22 season.
Follow Yahoo Sports for the latest deals, rumors and news ahead of Thursday’s deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
Report: Mavericks trade Kristaps Porzingis to Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie
Here’s a deal no one expected: the Dallas Mavericks have traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon. In return, Spencer Dinwiddie is headed to Dallas.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Dinwiddie is just part of the return. Davis Bertans is going to the Mavs while the Wizards are sending a second-round pick to Dallas.
The Wizards, who were mighty busy in the hours leading to the deadline, recently lost Bradley Beal for the season due to a wrist injury that required surgery. Porzingis has missed the last five games due to a right knee contusion, but recently said on Instagram that he’s close to returning.
Click here for a complete breakdown of the trade.
Sources: 76ers trade Ben Simmons for James Harden
Philadelphia Sixers star Ben Simmons and executive Daryl Morey both know what led them to this point. Neither wanted to concede defeat, and eight months later we are left to wonder who won Thursday’s trade.
The Sixers traded their 25-year-old three-time All-Star, along with Seth Curry, to the Brooklyn Nets for one-time MVP James Harden, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes. Brooklyn also gets Andre Drummond and two first-round picks, and Paul Millsap is headed to Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.
The Nets will have their choice of Philadelphia’s first-round pick this year (currently No. 22) or next, per Wojnarowski. Brooklyn also receives a top-eight protected first-round pick from the Sixers in 2027. If it does not convey, the pick is also top-eight protected in 2028 before converting to two second-rounders in 2029.
Story continues
Click here for a complete breakdown of the trade.
The Houston Rockets are trading Daniel Thies to the Boston Celtics, according to Adrian Wojanrowski of ESPN. The Celtics are reportedly sending Dennis Schroder, Enes Freedom, and Bruno Fernando to Houston.
After reporting the initial trade, Woj tweeted that the Rockets might look at buying out one or both of Freedom or Fernando. A few minutes later, he tweeted that the Rockets are reportedly waiving Freedom.
Theis, 29, has been in the NBA for seven seasons. With Houston this season, he’s averaged 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The 28-year-old Schroder is a nine-year veteran who has averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 assists in 49 games with the Celtics.
Torrey Craig is reportedly headed back to the Phoenix Suns. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Indiana Pacers are trading Craig to the Suns for Jalen Smith and a future second-round pick.
Craig spent the the second half of the 2020-2021 season with the Suns, serving as a reserve during their playoff run. He signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Pacers in the offseason and this season has averaged 6.5 points, 1.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. Smith was the 10th overall pick in the 2020 draft, and has appeared in 56 games over two seasons with the Suns. He’s averaging 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
The Washington Wizards are getting busy. According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, the Wizards are trading Montrezl Harrell to the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange, the Hornets are sending Ish Smith, Vernon Carey, and a second-round pick.
The Wizards are also trading Aaron Holiday to the Phoenix Suns, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. There’s currently no information on what the Suns are sending to the Wizards.
Sources: Celtics trade Josh Richardson to Spurs for Derrick White
The Boston Celtics are sending Josh Richardson and their top-four protected first-round pick this season to the San Antonio Spurs for guard Derrick White, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
The Spurs also receive late 2019 lottery pick Romeo Langford in the deal, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Celtics needed a facilitator for All-Star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and found one in White, a 27-year-old in the first season of a four-year, $70 million contract. White averaged 14.4 points (43/31/87 shooting splits), 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 30.3 minutes over 49 games in San Antonio this season.
Richardson, 28, is under contract for $11.6 million next season. He was enjoying a solid season for the Celtics, averaging 9.7 points (44/40/86 splits) in 24.7 minutes per game off the bench. Outside of a few bright spots, Langford has largely been limited by injury, opportunity and production in three seasons.
Celtics get under luxury tax, trade Bol Bol to Magic
The Boston Celtics made a move to get under the luxury tax and open two roster spots ahead of the trade deadline, sending Bol Bol and PJ Dozier to the Orlando Magic, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The two teams will swap future second-round picks, and the Celtics will send the Magic cash in the deal.
Orlando will waive veteran guard E’Twaun Moore in the process, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported.
Boston acquired Bol and Dozier for Juancho Hernangomez in another cost-cutting move last month.
Sources: Mavericks emerge as favorite for Goran Dragic in buyout market
The Dallas Mavericks are the frontrunners to sign one-time All-Star Goran Dragic once he secures a contract buyout from the San Antonio Spurs, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
The Toronto Raptors traded Dragic’s $19.4 million expiring contract to the Spurs for veteran forward Thaddeus Young and this year’s lottery-protected first-round pick, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The full details of the deal:
Dragic played just five games for the Raptors after he was traded over the summer in the deal that sent Kyle Lowry to the Miami Heat. He left Toronto for personal reasons in mid-November. The 35-year-old has long been linked to the Mavericks because of his ties to Slovenian national teammate Luka Doncic. Veteran NBA writer Marc Stein cautioned that a buyout “may not be immediate” and Dragic will have other suitors.
The Raptors added another versatile forward to a lineup full of them. The 33-year-old Young, who made his desire to play for a competitive team clear to San Antonio, will join Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt for a Toronto team that has won seven straight games and moved into sixth place.
For their troubles, the Spurs receive a first-round pick from Toronto currently slotted in the No. 20 spot.
Bagley, DiVincenzo and Ibaka part of four-team trade
A four-team trade involving the Los Angeles Clippers will send Serge Ibaka to the Milwaukee Bucks, Donte DiVincenzo to the Sacramento Kings and Marvin Bagley III to the Detroit Pistons, per multiple reports.
The full details, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
Ibaka was working on a $9.7 million expiring salary for the Clippers. He gives the defending champion Bucks some frontcourt depth in the absence of starting center Brook Lopez, who has not played since the season opener and undergoing back surgery in early December. Ibaka also missed the second half of last season and the start of this season with a back injury. He has averaged 7.7 points (on 53/38/71 shooting splits) and 4.8 rebounds in 16 minutes per game for the Clippers since returning just before Christmas.
Bagley, the second overall pick in the 2018 draft ahead of All-Stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young, has been dissatisfied with the Kings almost from the moment he arrived. Injuries have limited Bagley to 148 games in three-plus seasons in Sacramento, and his performance in those games has further limited his minutes. He has averaged 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 21.9 minutes over 30 games for the Kings this season.
Bagley’s father, a vocal advocate for his son against the Kings on Twitter, was apparently a fan of the deal:
Bagley, who turns 23 years old next month, is still an intriguing prospect and will get a fresh slate with a developing Detroit core that includes Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes.
DiVincenzo, Villanova’s hero in the 2018 NCAA national championship game, has been a productive role player for the Bucks when healthy. He missed most of Milwaukee’s title run last season with a severe left ankle injury suffered in Game 3 of a first-round series against the Miami Heat. The 25-year-old did not return until this past Christmas and has struggled to consistently find his footing in 17 appearances since.
Jazz reportedly adding Nickeil Alexander-Walker in 3-team trade
The Utah Jazz are adding Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and San Antonio Spurs forward Juancho Hernangómez to the roster as part of a three-team deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday.
The Trail Blazers will send Tomáš Satoranský to the Spurs. Alexander-Walker and Satoranský were traded to Portland a day prior in the deal that sent guard CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Jazz will send forwards Joe Ingles and Elijah Hughes to the Blazers, per the report. Both the Spurs and Blazers will receive second-round picks from the Jazz.
Domantas Sabonis on move to Kings as Pacers get Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield
The Indiana Pacers are trading two-time All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for a package that will include second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton, the teams announced Tuesday.
Sacramento also sent sharpshooter Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson’s expiring contract to Indiana, while the Kings return Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb and a 2023 second-round pick from the Pacers.
More on this trade: Report: Kings trade Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield for Pacers star Domantas Sabonis
Indiana reportedly sent center Domantas Sabonis to Sacramento ahead of the NBA trade deadline. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Trail Blazers reportedly send CJ McCollum to Pelicans
The Portland Trail Blazers’ fire sale is in full swing. They are reportedly finalizing a deal to trade guard CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, seven players are involved with the deal. In addition to McCollum, the Blazers are sending Larry Nance and Tony Snell to the Pelicans. The Pelicans are sending Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Didi Louzada to the Blazers, along with a protected first-round draft pick and two second-round picks.
More on this trade: Report: Blazers finalizing deal to trade CJ McCollum to Pelicans
Cavaliers acquire Caris LeVert, send Ricky Rubio to Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t wait until the deadline to make a move to bolster their surprising run.
On Sunday, hours before the Cavaliers faced the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland acquired guard Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick. The Pacers received Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract, a 2022 first-round draft pick and two second-round picks.
Rubio suffered a torn ACL in December and will miss the rest of the season. Rubio will be a free agent this offseason and could choose to re-sign with the Cavaliers or another team.
More on this trade: Cavaliers acquire Caris LeVert from Pacers for Ricky Rubio, picks
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t wait until the NBA trade deadline to make a move, adding guard Caris LeVert to their surprising run. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Clippers add to supporting cast with Kawhi Leonard’s status this season in doubt
The Los Angeles Clippers are still without their two biggest stars — Kawhi Leonard (ACL) and Paul George (UCL) — but bolstered their bench by acquiring Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
The Trail Blazers received Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round pick in the deal.
Powell and Covington each played 24 minutes in the Clippers’ loss Sunday. Powell was the team’s leading scorer with 28 points, while Covington added 13.
More on this trade: Clippers acquire Norman Powell, Robert Covington from Blazers for Eric Bledsoe, others, per report
