Bucks' deal for Redick headlines quiet NBA trade deadline
J.J. Redick went from Orlando to Milwaukee in a multi-player deal. (Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
The trade deadline has come and gone. The biggest name traded? J.J. Redick, who went from Orlando to Milwaukee.
Just as notable was the list of players not traded. Despite weeks of rumors, Josh Smith remained in Atlanta, pushing the Hawks' decision on the 27-year-old soon-to-be free agent to this summer. Other big names who stayed put included Utah's Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap; Boston's Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce; the Lakers' Dwight Howard; Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis; Toronto's Andrea Bargnani; and Charlotte's Ben Gordon.
Here's a list of all the trades from the past two days:
• The Magictrade J.J. Redick, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith to the Bucks for Tobias Harris, Beno Udrih and Doron Lamb.
• The Wizardstrade Jordan Crawford to Celtics for Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins.
• The Bobcats trade Hakim Warrick to the Magic for Josh McRoberts.
• The Knickstrade Ronnie Brewer to the Thunder for a 2014 second-round pick and cash considerations.
• The Thundertrade Eric Maynor to the Trail Blazers for the draft rights to Giorgio Printezis and a trade exception.
• The Heattrade Dexter Pittman to the Grizzlies for the rights to Ricky Sanchez and a trade exception.
• The Hawks trade Anthony Morrow to the Mavericks for Dahntay Jones.
• The Sunstrade Sebastian Telfair to the Raptors for Hamed Haddadi and a protected second-round pick.
• The Warriorstrade Jeremy Tyler to the Hawks for a second-round pick and trade Charles Jenkins to Sixers for a second-round pick.
• The Kingstrade Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt to the Rockets for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich, Toney Douglas and cash considerations.
• The Rockets trade Marcus Morris to the Suns for a 2013 second-round pick.
For a full recap and analysis of the trade deadline, see below.
4:01 p.m.: Warriors cut salary in two trades
The Warriors dipped below the tax line with two deals, sending Jeremy Tyler to the Hawks and Charles Jenkins to the Sixers.
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/304696474124570626
3:29 p.m.: Jazz stand pat
With a major logjam in the frontcourt, the Jazz were expected to be active at the trade deadline. But Utah was surprisingly quiet, keeping Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, both of whom will be free agents this summer.
3:27 p.m.: Thunder get Brewer from Knicks
The Thunder have received swingman Ronnie Brewer from the Knicks in exchange for a second-round pick, per multiple reports.
http://twitter.com/NYPost_Berman/statuses/304687763272372225
http://twitter.com/FisolaNYDN/statuses/304687932361564161
3:13 p.m.: Bobcats send Warrick to Magic
The Bobcats have traded Hakim Warrick to the Magic for Josh McRoberts, according to the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell.
http://twitter.com/rick_bonnell/statuses/304682440553807873
3:03 p.m.: Josh Smith to stay in Atlanta
According to multiple reports, Josh Smith will stay in Atlanta. Smith, the most high-profile player on the block, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304682683194298368
http://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/statuses/304682576071778304
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304683415440072707
The Hawks did, however, trade Anthony Morrow to Dallas for Dahntay Jones, per ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst.
http://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/statuses/304683334750064641
Reports are that the Hawks pulled out of a possible three-team trade as the last minute.
http://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/statuses/304686536467816448
2:58 p.m.: Magic trade Redick to Bucks in three-team deal
The Bucks have acquired J.J. Redick from the Magic, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Milwaukee will receive Redick, Gustavo Ayon and Ish Smith; the Magic will receive Doron Lamb, Beno Udrih and Tobias Harris.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304681393089282048
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304682496325451777
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304683735884894208
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304683993876553730
Rob Mahoney's take: One can only hope that this deal comes as a precursor to Monta Ellis' Milwaukee exodus, but one can never be sure of the Bucks' cross-wired motivations. We've seen the Bucks make moves in the past that seemed to move in several directions at once, and though this summer affords GM John Hammond a chance to start with a relatively clean slate, it seems possible that Milwaukee would attempt to re-sign both Ellis and the newly acquired J.J. Redick when they hit the open market this summer.
Still, Hammond has pawned off a few decent rotation types to acquire the Bird rights of a single, more finished player in Redick, along with some serviceable roster filler in Ish Smith and Gustavo Ayon. It doesn't hurt that Redick makes far more sense as a component of the Bucks' reboot than Ellis ever could, but let's not pretend that the arrival of a good player on an expiring deal is some dream scenario for Milwaukee. Even if the Bucks are able to convince Redick to stay beyond this season, they'll have to pay him a competitive wage that could complicate their long-term financial outlook. Rebuilding a team isn't just about finding the right players, after all, but committing to them at the right time; this isn't necessarily the best time for Milwaukee to be paying high on a solid role player, even if doing so is preferable to breaking the bank for Ellis.
2:57 p.m.: Nets officially out of Smith derby
Despite their best efforts, the Nets are reportedly out of the Josh Smith derby, reports David Aldridge of NBA.com.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304681047625449473
2:51 p.m.: Magic discussing three-team trade?
J.J. Redick may yet be traded. Joshua Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the Magic are working on a three-team trade that would include Redick and the Bucks.
http://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/statuses/304678930835726336
http://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/statuses/304679454003838976
2:49 p.m.: Thunder send Maynor to Blazers
The Thunder are sending backup point guard Eric Maynor to the Trail Blazers, according to multiple reports.
http://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/304679772900966400
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304682195203801088
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304687699489591296
Rob Mahoney's take: Eric Maynor has been injured and ineffective since the 2011 playoffs, but even with those asterisks he immediately becomes the best player on Portland's bench. That says far more about the Blazers than it does about Maynor, but as Portland's newest import inches back toward his previous form, he'll give the Blazers a decent option behind standout rookie Damian Lillard.
A move of this ilk seemed inevitable from Oklahoma City's perspective, as the Thunder have no need -- and clearly had no interest -- in paying Maynor as a restricted free agent this summer. Instead, they've come to rely on the slightly more inconsistent Reggie Jackson, an impressive athlete still feeling his way through the NBA game. The drop-off has ultimately been negligible, and thus the Thunder shave some salary and unload a player who had no place in their long-term plans.
2:46 p.m.: Bargnani staying in Toronto
The Raptors said earlier this week that they expected former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani to stay with the team until this summer. That prediction appears to be reality, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304678008868978688
2:37 p.m.: Spurs trying to find landing spot
With a logjam in the frontcourt, the Spurs are still trying to find a landing spot for DeJuan Blair, reports CBSSports.com's Ken Berger.
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304676238008668160
2:32 p.m.: Warriors to stand pat
Despite earlier discussions regarding backup big man Jeremy Tyler, the Warriors will not make any moves, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.
http://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/304674773408043008
2:08 p.m.: Smith talks continue
The Bucks and Hawks are still discussing a possible trade for Josh Smith, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Wojnarowski reported earlier in the day that Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh were among players discussed for Smith and Devin Harris.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304669002402250753
USA Today Sports' Sam Amick confirms Wojnarowski's report and adds that the Suns aren't expected to land Smith.
http://twitter.com/sam_amick/statuses/304670558522576896
NBA.com's David Aldridge notes that the Nets are in talks, but that the Bucks appear to be the favorites.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304672711303655424
2:03 p.m.: Toronto acquires Telfair
The Raptors got the guard they needed, acquiring Sebastian Telfair from the Suns for Hamed Haddadi and a second-round pick, reports ESPN.com's Chris Broussard.
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304666779807006720
http://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304668439157559297
Rob Mahoney's take: This was a natural move, given that rookie guard Kendall Marshall had recently overtaken Telfair as Phoenix's backup point guard. Telfair had a quietly dependable season for the Suns last year, but has seen his play regress along with the general quality of Phoenix's roster this season. That -- along with his $1.6 million expiring deal -- made him imminently tradable, and it just so happened that the Raptors were in the market for an extra ball-handler after dealing steady playmaker Jose Calderon. Telfair doesn't exactly fill that void, but he'll lift the burden from an overextended John Lucas III and round out Toronto's bench for the year.
1:58 p.m.: Nuggets not expected to make a deal
The Nuggets had been shopping third-string center Timofey Mozgov, who was acquired in the deal for Carmelo Anthony in 2011, but CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports that the team will stand pat the deadline.
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304666401870860288
1:48 p.m.: Heat send Pittman to Grizzlies
The Heat have traded backup center Dexter Pittman to the Grizzlies for a second-round pick and a trade exception, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.
http://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/304663418969923584
http://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/304664191590100993
http://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/statuses/304664788947054593
1:45 p.m.: First deal of the day
We have the first deal of the day. According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, Jordan Crawford has been traded to the Celtics. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Wizards will receive Leandro Barbosa (who has an expiring contract and is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury) and Jason Collins.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304663058117193728
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304666977874632706
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304687001058283521
Rob Mahoney's take: As much as I understand the Wizards wanting to unload Jordan Crawford, I'm not grasping what about him is so rotten that they would just give him away. Crawford is owed a paltry $1.2 million this season and $2.2 million next year, after which Washington could have decided whether he was worth fighting for in restricted free agency (hint: he's not). In the meantime, the Wizards would have a shot-happy bench player whom they could choose to use or not. Instead, they'll have the expiring contract of a player who has been ruled out for the season, a marginally decreased payroll and the same nonexistent amount of cap room they had previously. The sole gain here is a more permanent cure for Crawford-induced headaches, but is ditching an asset -- even a marginal one -- really so preferable to buying some extra Tylenol?
1:28 p.m.: Smith claims he didn't ask for the max
The Josh Smith trade saga has been months in the making, but the rumors really started to pick up after Smith claimed he was worth a max contract as a free agent this summer. But Smith is now claiming he never asked for the max, per NBA.com's Sekou Smith.
http://twitter.com/SekouSmithNBA/statuses/304658234822778880
Sekou further quotes Josh Smith in saying that "Atlanta will be on my list in free agency." With no trades on the immediate horizon, it appears the Hawks forward is keeping all his options open.
1:20 p.m.: C's, Wiz talking Melo for Crawford
The Wizards have been shopping Jordan Crawford all day, and they might finally have a buyer in the Celtics, says Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304656780108107776
1:10 p.m.: CBA impacting deadline
The forthcoming luxury tax restrictions are casting a large shadow over the trade deadline, according to several reports.
http://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt/statuses/304652664896106496
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304653652386250752
Rob Mahoney's take: The revised collective bargaining agreement can't stop the truly committed teams from piling up salary, but it does make the luxury tax threshold -- which many teams around the league are over or nearing -- a bit more fearsome. Taxpaying teams are hindered in the offseason, as tools like the mid-level exception and the sign-and-trade now come with a hitch for those that cross a certain line in terms of overall salary. But even more gruesome is the "repeater tax," a compounding penalty that applies to teams that fall above the tax line in three out of four consecutive seasons. The repeater tax won't actually be levied until 2014-15, but this season is still in play as teams grow wary of that "three-out-of-four" criteria, effectively deterring borderline teams from making moves that would put them over the tax line.
On a related note, this could also serve to explain why draft picks are being clutched more tightly at this year's deadline, despite the fact that some of the picks in play are reportedly in the late 20s. With teams around the league more cost-conscious than ever, the notion of picking up a potential role player on a rookie-scale deal is an incredibly attractive one -- even if selecting in that range in the draft rarely produces star-level NBA talent.
1:05 p.m.: Clippers unlikely to shake it up
The Clippers were one of the more active teams in the weeks leading up to the deadline, but reports now say they're unlikely to make a move before 3 p.m. ET.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304652352143646721
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304653044438667265
Rob Mahoney's take: Precious few teams are able to boast the record and synergy of the Clippers, who have spent large chunks of the season playing at league-best levels. There are surely deals out there if they decided to move Eric Bledsoe or DeAndre Jordan, but for the moment both are important elements of L.A.'s rotation and valued assets for a team rife with aging veterans.
1:00 p.m.: Redick staying in Orlando?
The field for J.J. Redick has been narrowing all afternoon, and now Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says there's a strong possibility Redick stays in Orlando.
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304651679951896576
12:46 p.m.: Deals that won't happen
Much of the focus today is on the guys who will be traded, but several reports have emerged on guys who will be staying put, including Monta Ellis, who CBSSports.com's Ken Berger says is "unlikely" to be moved in a deal for Josh Smith.
https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304647347604967425
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304647778745864192
https://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304647795816681472
http://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304652320455684096
12:37 p.m.: Hawks to hold on to Smith?
Reports indicated that the Hawks were intent on dealing Josh Smith before the 3 p.m. ET deadline, but ESPN.com's Chris Broussard is hearing that the probability of a Smith deal has declined.
http://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304644829063827458
The Nets still believe they're in the running for Smith's services, says the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.
http://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/statuses/304645792373800960
12:32 p.m.: Spurs fall out of Redick derby
The stars seemed to be aligning for a J.J. Redick-to-San Antonio trade, but Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski says the Spurs have fallen out of the race for the sharpshooter.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304644308563263488
Judging by earlier reports, that would leave the Sixers, Pacers and Bucks as potential Redick suitors. But Sam Amick of USA Today Sports says don't rule out Redick staying in Orlando.
http://twitter.com/sam_amick/statuses/304643292014977025
12:20 p.m.: Wizards' Crawford drawing interest
The Wizards seem unlikely to make the postseason, but that reportedly won't keep them from dealing. According to a report from USA Today Sports' Jeff Zillgitt, Washington is discussing guard Jordan Crawford with several teams.
https://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt/statuses/304640457730822145
Rob Mahoney's take: Jordan Crawford is a nonessential piece for a Washington team that already has its core prospects in John Wall and Bradley Beal. Dallas and Boston both make sense as trade partners looking to add younger pieces at minimal cost. Crawford is primarily a volume scorer at this point, averaging 18.1 points on 16.2 field goal attempts per 36 minutes. The Mavs and Celtics are undoubtedly well aware of this and would be banking on the potential to reform some of Crawford's worrisome offensive habits in order to make him a more helpful player.
12:13 p.m.: Race for Redick narrowing
We outlined the potential suitors for J.J. Redick below, but according to several reports, that list is getting shorter.
http://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304639650570588160
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304639804614774784
Going off earlier reports, that leaves the Spurs, Sixers and Pacers as contenders for Redick's services. Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported earlier that the Spurs are legitimately in on Redick, further connected the dots with this tweet:
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304639127259844608
12:04 p.m.: Smith or bust for Nets
The Nets have been linked with several players this month, but according to a report from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski if the Nets can't land Josh Smith, then they're likely to stand pat.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304637261075578880
12:00 p.m.: Rockets won't flip Robinson
There were rumblings that the Rockets acquired Thomas Robinson from the Kings in advance of another deal, but NBA.com's David Aldridge is hearing that Houston "loves" him and won't be trading him.
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304636762863595520
11:49 a.m.: Kings won't deal Evans, Cousins
Despite reported interest from the Celtics, the Kings have no intention of moving Tyreke Evans or DeMarcus Cousins, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears.
https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/304633717689819136
Evans, 23, was the 2010 Rookie of the Year; Cousins, 22, was the No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft. Though Evans will be a restricted free agent this offseason, the pair could serve as the foundation for a Kings team in transition. A Seattle group is expected to purchase and move the Kings to Seattle at the beginning of next season.
11:37 a.m.: Kings' Evans on the move?
The Kings have already made one surprising move this week. Could another be forthcoming? According to a report from ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Celtics are actively pursuing the Kings' Tyreke Evans, the 2010 Rookie of the Year.
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/statuses/304629310491328512
Shortly after that tweet, however, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reported that Evans would not be moved.
https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/statuses/304630831861862400
11:24 a.m.: Spurs legitimately in on Redick
Several teams are chasing Magic sharpshooter J.J. Redick, but the Spurs could be emerging as a serious threat to land him, says Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304626267431514113
Rob Mahoney's take: The Spurs don't have any pressing need for another perimeter shooter, but why miss out on a viable fit who is very much attainable? Redick, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green would set up the Spurs with a fantastic core of role players to rotate in alongside Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, and the acquisition of Redick's Bird rights would give San Antonio a good shot at re-signing him for the long haul. San Antonio is still an unlikely landing spot, given the poor value of its first-round pick and minimal trade assets, but the team would be a great fit for Redick.
11:17 a.m.: Knicks to stand pat?
According to reports, the Knicks are likely to stay quiet at the deadline, meaning no trade of Iman Shumpert, who was the subject of rumors earlier this month. But ESPNNewYork's Ian Begley says the Knicks could still make a move, just not a trade.
https://twitter.com/IanBegley/statuses/304623943371870208
10:50 a.m.: Phoenix, Milwaukee emerging as Smith favorites?
We outlined the Bucks' interest in Josh Smith below. The latest report from Yahoo! Sports Adrian Wojnarowski suggests they aren't the only ones involved, though.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304617264366383106
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard says that, contrary to prior reports, Monta Ellis will not be involved.
http://twitter.com/Chris_Broussard/statuses/304615010380947457
10:41 a.m.: Redick rumors
Impending free agent J.J. Redick has generated plenty of interest in the weeks leading up to the deadline, and he remains a hot commodity, according to several reports.
https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/statuses/304615641384624129
http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt/statuses/304616730951561216
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304618182436585473
Reports out of Orlando suggest that the rebuilding Magic will look to deal him.
https://twitter.com/MagicInsider/statuses/304613301084631040
http://twitter.com/JoshuaBRobbins/statuses/304616863558664192
Rob Mahoney's take: It's not surprising that there's an extensive market for Redick, who works well playing any style and fits on just about any roster. He's a low-maintenance offensive piece who is efficient with his touches and can immediately help to space the floor as he picks up the schematic basics of a new team. He's also a much better defender than most understand. He's not a star, but he's an ideal role-playing wing with no salary obligations beyond this season.
10:16 a.m.: Bucks continue to push for Smith
The Bucks have been linked to Josh Smith over the last few days, and, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Hawks and Bucks are now "seriously" negotiating.
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304609860551573504
Ben Golliver broke down the cons of a Milwaukee trade on Wednesday: "The Hawks would ideally find a way to get an additional younger asset and/or pick(s) in a Smith deal. Ellis’ shooting inefficiency cuts deeply into his value as a player and he’s not a long-term fit in Atlanta with Lou Williams already in the fold (although he’s currently injured)."
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com also reports that the Bucks are in on Smith, which could lead to another move as well.
https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/status/304611217970978816
https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/status/304611422963372032
9:55 a.m.: Guards on the move
Several guards could be on the move prior to the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
• In need of another ball-handler, the Raptors have emerged as the favorite for Sebastian Telfair, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
• The Mavs have been reluctant to add future salary but are reportedly interested in the Bucks' Beno Udrih, who has a $7.3 million expiring contract, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
• One guard who might not be on the move: Ben Gordon. CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports that the Nets have "pulled the plug" on talks for Gordon.
• The Pacers are shopping D.J. Augustin, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
9:20 a.m.: Smith to Rockets?
The Rockets aren't done dealing, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/statuses/304593656944410624
But Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski says the price for Smith, the most high-profile player currently on the block, is too high right now.
https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/304587050286448640
Rob Mahoney's take: Houston is certainly the most intriguing destination for Smith still in play. The Rockets provide the most natural fit for Smith and have the potential to furnish the Hawks with good, cheap assets. Atlanta seems to be looking to get a return on Smith without compromising its future cap space, and Houston could offer some combination of the newly acquired Thomas Robinson (who can be flipped immediately because the Rockets are under the salary cap), Donatas Motiejunas, Terrence Jones and Royce White -- all of whom are in the first year of their rookie deals.
That said, Houston's cap space puts GM Daryl Morey in a unique negotiating position. The Rockets will have a chance to make a run at Smith in free agency, and thus Morey can drive as hard a bargain as he pleases. If they land Smith, then they'll have an upper hand in their attempts to re-sign him this summer via Bird rights. If not, then the Rockets' season goes on, and they'll circle back to Smith in a few months.
9 a.m.: Deadline storylines to watch
The ever-active Rockets made the first moves of deadline week on Wednesday night, acquiring Thomas Robinson from the Kings in a six-player deal and sending Marcus Morris to Phoenix for a second-round pick. What's in store for Thursday? Here are some key questions that will shape deadline day:
• Where will Josh Smith land? The Hawks are committed to dealing the soon-to-be free-agent forward, as SI.com's Chris Mannix reported. But ESPN.com reported early Thursday that the Hawks were struggling to find a deal they liked for the 27-year-old, who believes he deserves a max contract this summer. Brooklyn, Boston and Milwaukee have been among the teams linked to Smith. CBSSports.com reported that Smith would be open to re-signing with Milwaukee if traded there. (Meanwhile, the Bucks are not dealing Brandon Jennings, according to ESPN.com.)
• What will the Celtics do? Boston reportedly told Rajon Rondo that he won't be traded, but the Celtics have been active exploring their options amid season-ending injuries to Rondo, Jared Sullinger and Leandro Barbosa. Yahoo! Sports reported that the Celtics and Nets discussed a deal for Paul Pierce, while Boston and the Clippers have had talks about Kevin Garnett, who must give his consent to be traded. Here's how Steve Bulpett of the Boston Heraldcharacterized the Celtics-Clippers situation:
Sources were saying again [Wednesday] that while no hard bargaining has taken place, the Clips are aware it would cost them Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan to get Garnett and a greater chance at the 2013 NBA championship.
• Will Utah deal a big man? Jazz starters Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap will be free agents in July, and Utah has young, promising big men Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter played behind the two vets. Many around the league have long anticipated that at least one of Jefferson or Millsap would be dealt this season, but the Jazz have won 12 of 17 and are a half-game behind Golden State for sixth in the Western Conference.
• What happens with J.J. Redick? The Magic shooting guard, in the midst of a career year, will be a free agent in July. Several teams are reportedly interested, from championship-contending San Antonio to playoff-contending Milwaukee to lottery-bound Minnesota. Orlando is said to be looking for a first-round pick as part of a package for Redick, who is making $6.2 million.
• Will the Lakers do something big? Short answer: No. At least that's the word from GM Mitch Kupchak, who is on record saying the team won't be trading Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol before the deadline.
8:45 a.m.: Deadline primer
To get you ready for the deadline, here's a look at SI.com's recent trade coverage:
• Rob Mahoney examined the wish lists for the top teams in the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference and assessed the puzzle that is Monta Ellis, one of the names on the block.
• Ben Golliver separated fact from fiction and examined the possible destinations for Hawks forward Josh Smith.
• Here was the trade buzz from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and early Thursday.
• Chris Mannix weighed in on the potential buyers and sellers.
• Ian Thomsen evaluated the development of Orlando shooting guard J.J. Redick, who has blossomed into a solid shooting guard and attractive trade chip.
some of the biggest in-season trades in NBA history
