The last two days before Thursday night’s NBA draft were highlighted by Fasts. Boston, Los Angeles and Washington agreed in principle to send Kristaps Porziņģis to the Celtics, Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers and Marcus Morris, Danilo Gallinari, Amir Coffey and draft capital, including the Los Angeles No. 30, to the Wizards . But the medical for Brogdon ultimately saw the Clippers pull out of the three-team trade, league sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports, forcing the Celtics and Wizards to find another route to bring Porziņģis to Boston to redirect.
The end result: A new three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, sending the number 25 and a first-rounder to Boston for 2024 from Golden State in exchange for Celtics mainstay Marcus Smart. Grizzlies reserve point guard Tyus Jones travels to Washington, with Boston and Mike Muscala also number 35 alongside Gallinari.
As Yahoo Sports reported earlier this week, Memphis had attempted to trade Jones for a starting XI job with a goal of increasing the winger’s defensive prowess. Smart, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, gives the Grizzlies that kind of premier lockdown plague on the touchline, as well as a backup starter for Ja Morant while the Memphis All-Star Guard serves a 25-game suspension. Sources say the Grizzlies have given up several first-round picks to pursue various wingers like Mikal Bridges going back to the February close. Magic swingman Franz Wagner is believed to be another young player Memphis has been targeting in recent months. Sending off two late first-rounders for Smart — the Warriors are certainly looking to be among the best in the West next season — seems like a strong middle ground between minor improvement and a home run swing for the Grizzlies while Smart has three years left Zeit has a value contract with an average annual salary of $19 million.
The Memphis Grizzlies agreed to a deal to sign Marcus Smart on Wednesday night. (Photo by Stephen Nadler/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Boston has been actively involved in Brogdon and Smart talks across the league, sources say, with the aim of clearing the backcourt deadlock and strengthening the frontline with the often-injured Robert Williams and aging Al Horford. The Celtics laid the groundwork for possible opportunities to scoop the No. 35 plus Payton Pritchard for a later first-round pick, sources said, but Boston was clearly aggressive and prioritizing bigger moves to improve a rival roster, and you can’t get that much taller than a 7-foot-3 center that quietly regained All-Star form for much of the 2022-23 season. The Celtics eventually got the pick in the 20s, which they also had their eye on. In discussions with league staff, Brogdon seemed the one most likely to move to Celtic and there he was in the original Porziņģis frame with the Clippers. It remains to be seen if the Celtics will continue to consider Brogdon trades after nearly defeating the veteran guard, or if his health will prevent a move there at all. Maybe Boston can use one of the extra picks from Memphis to ease a later switch.
The Wizards have already begun contacting opposing teams about a trade deal with Monte Morris, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Morris started last season as a point guard alongside Bradley Beal after joining from Denver as part of the 2022 offseason deal that brought Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the champion Nuggets. There’s also a chance that this Boston-Memphis deal, and any subsequent deal centered around veteran baller Chris Paul, could be included in the Beal blockbuster with Phoenix agreed last weekend. Phoenix and Washington have scheduled that trade talk to take place and conclude on Friday, sources said. Beal, reserve guard Jordan Goodwin and former second-round pick Isaiah Todd are expected to fly to Phoenix and complete their physicals.
Could it be that if the Clippers don’t get Brogdon, Los Angeles will return to talks about Paul? The Wizards have told teams they don’t want to enter any long-term cash in swap scenarios this offseason, sources said, and Marcus Morris’ $17 million expiring salary was already at stake in the first three-way game between Porziņģis and Boston. Morris plus Robert Covington and his own expiring contract still add up for Paul.
With all the clamor surrounding Paul George’s Trade bid in Los Angeles, don’t expect the Clippers to part ways with the eight-time All-Star. Portland has indeed expressed an interest in putting together a No. 3 package for George, sources say, but those talks with Los Angeles have not met. There have certainly been rumors of New York’s interest in signing George should the Clippers really make him available, but Los Angeles have plans to further strengthen their roster with the addition of George and Kawhi Leonard – as evidenced by the team’s attempt at Brogdon to bring into the squad.
Another trade in the Eastern Conference appeared to derail Tuesday night as it neared the finish line. The Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks made progress on a deal that would have sent De’Andre Hunter to the Pacers, league sources told Yahoo Sports, but talks ultimately fell through. Further details of the framework are not yet known, but with the Hawks constantly looking for deals that could help Atlanta from 15th place into the top 10 of this draft, in these discussions the Pacers were unwilling to trade the No. 7 for Hunter, said sources. Indiana has been scouring the market for starting forwards and has contacted the Warriors about acquiring Jonathan Kuminga, sources said, and it’s emerging as a potential free-agent target for several veterans including Harrison Barnes, Kyle Kuzma and Grant Williams.
The Hawks went on to be described as one of the most active teams in the trading conversation surrounding the NBA. Hunter, John Collins and All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, as well as starting center Clint Capela, continue to be mentioned by team staff as possible trades, with Hunter appearing to be involved in most of the Hawks’ opportunities on draft night. Sources say there’s still a chance Dallas could send the No. 10 to Atlanta for the No. 15 pick, depending on what players are available. However, the Mavericks could defy expectations and stay in 10th place if Villanova product Cam Whitmore or UCF forward Taylor Hendricks slip into that pick.
Atlanta has also kept up the pursuit of Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, according to league sources. The Hawks have tried several creative packages to sign the Toronto All-NBA talent, including at least a three-team scenario. Opposing front offices still believe that the Raptors’ high rating of their players like Siakam and OG Anunoby is the biggest impediment to a potential trade with either Raptors. Toronto is also one of several teams midway through the first round that could move up or down in Thursday night’s draft order. Every year, teams consider moving both ways on the draft board, but this June there seems to be an inordinate amount of front offices preparing to move either way, depending on how the selection pans out. For example, Toronto has been in talks with Orlando to jump from No. 13 to No. 11, while the Raptors have also called teams like Golden State at No. 19 and Brooklyn, with No. 21 and No. 22 picks, for a relegation, according to sources, according to The Board.
More notes from around the league
Put the Lakers in a similar trading variance category. There has been talk in Los Angeles of moving up to the lottery, with some competing staffers believing the target is Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin. The Lakers have also been in preliminary talks with several teams to trade the No. 17 and salary from Malik Beasley and/or Mo Bamba in exchange for experienced talent and possibly a later draft pick. A few names to keep an eye on: Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr., Pacers guard Buddy Hield and Brooklyn swingman Dorian Finney-Smith, sources said.
According to sources, Brooklyn has spoken to various teams about Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. The Nets are looking for a pick and player for Finney-Smith and a first-round pick for O’Neale, similar to what Brooklyn inherited from the Jazz before last June’s draft.
According to league sources, Houston has made the No. 20 available in trade talks and has made various offers to move the pick. It’s unclear at this time which direction the Rockets favor on their return.
Portland are also evaluating trades with the No. 23 pick and are always looking to improve the roster around Damian Lillard.
The Pacers still hold the No. 26, 40 and 55 picks and will be looking for opportunities to move up in the first round, sources said. Indiana traded Denver back Wednesday, sending the numbers 29 and 32 for a first-round pick of 2024 and the 40th pick. Sending those picks to the Nuggets appears to have distanced Indiana and Atlanta even further from a potential Hunter trade.