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BREAKING: Nets Trade Kevin Durant to Suns in Huge NBA Blockbuster Deal

As the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade dealing gets closer, DallasBasketball.com keeps you up to date on all the rumors, reports and speculation involving the Dallas Mavericks and the rest of the league.

FEB 9 KD GOES TO THE DESERT

According to multiple reports, the Brooklyn Nets are trading superstar Kevin Durant to the Phoenix suns in what is their second blockbuster deal in less than a week.

The details:

The Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, and Irving had a fabulous debut for his new team on Wednesday night as the Mavs beat the Los Angeles Clippers on the road without Luka Doncic, 110-104. Perhaps that was the final straw for Durant.

FEB 7 LEBRON MAKES HISTORY ... IN DIRK FASHION

The NBA has a new all-time leading scorer, and his name is LeBron James.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar needed 36 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's longstanding record. With 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter, James finally set the record ... and it was done with a move Dallas Mavericks fans are very familiar with.

When the moment of truth arrived, James pulled out the move he borrowed from Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki – the one-legged fadeaway. Although the Lakers ultimately lost to the Thunder when the dust settled, it was still surreal to watch such an iconic moment in NBA history unfold in Los Angeles.

Nowitzki, surely noticing how James broke the record, congratulated "The King" on his crowning achievement.

FEB KYRIE A MAV FOR A DAY?! Could Kyrie Irving be on the move … before he even moves?

Respected NBA beat writer Brad Townsend writes that he’s “Thinking out loud” as he wonders …

“While waiting on Brooklyn as it attempts to expand the trade and/or move (Spencer) Dinwiddie elsewhere, I wonder what offers the Mavs might be getting for (Kyrie) Irving. And if so, are they listening?”

Wait … what? 

The Mavs didn’t trade for Kyrie to be a Mav? Checked with Luka Doncic to get approval? Took risks and moved mountains to make Kyrie to Dallas happen … 

But Kyrie to Dallas might not really happen?

We suspect the always-astute Brad is just having some fun here. But just in case …

Kyrie is on his way to Dallas to take his physical. That suggests the plan is for him to be a Mav … and to join the team in California by Tuesday.

Additionally, if the Nets want to keep dealing the guys they got in the deal? They can do so. But that would have nothing to do with Dallas. deal. They can after the trade call goes through swap ‘em out. Yes, Brooklyn can still trade those guys individually after the Kyrie trade call goes through. But they just can’t be packaged together with other players.

It all seems needlessly complex. But hey, if LeBron is still pouting about the Mavs out dueling the Lakers for Kyrie? Sure! Call the Lakers!

FEB 5 ANOTHER TRADE?

Kyrie Irving is coming to the Dallas Mavs, with his new club prepared to test-drive the idea for now ... And his new club also "still trying'' for another trade, an NBA source tells DallasBasketball.com.

Yes, the Mavs are betting on Kyrie in this Sunday pre-deadline deal, having given up Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick, and multiple second-round picks (with Markieff Morris also heading to Dallas).

But another deal? What could it be? Here's our best educated guess so far ... with more to come.

FEB 5 KYRIE TRADED TO MAVS

According to multiple reports, the Brooklyn Nets are trading star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Dallas Mavericks for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Mavs are also receiving Markieff Morris in the deal and sending a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Nets.

Stay tuned to DallasBasketball.com for more details and reactions. ... 

FEB 4 MAGIC ON KYRIE

One possible landing spot for Kyrie Irving, who wants out of Brooklyn? The Los Angeles Lakers.

"Personally, I’d love to see Kyrie in the purple and gold," Magic Johnson said on Friday afternoon.

So, it seems, would LeBron James, given his tweet reminding the world of how he and Kyrie became champions in Cleveland.

The Lakers have interest in Irving, as do the Dallas Mavericks ...

FEB 3 MAVS FRONT OFFICE SPLIT ON KYRIE TRADE?

Although the Dallas Mavericks might have legitimate interest in trading for Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving, apparently not every member of the front office is on board with taking that risk ... at least not yet.

According to a report from Tim Cato of The Athletic, some key members of the front office are expressing some hesitation when it comes to the idea of an Irving trade due to his questionable long-term fit next to Luka Doncic.

Dallas’ first question is whether Irving would be willing to commit to the franchise for longer than this season. Then, the team must contemplate whether it would be interested in committing to him. Some members of the team’s front office have hesitation that Irving would be a compatible long-term locker room fit for Dončić given their drastically different off-court personas, several team sources tell The Athletic.

For a team that desperately needs more star talent around Doncic, this might be a situation where beggars can't be choosers ... especially if the cost of adding Irving doesn't include giving up anymore future first-round picks. Teams have to take gambles for a chance to win big sometimes, and this might be one of those times where a gamble makes sense for Dallas. We'll see if the front office members can come to an agreement with each other in the coming days leading up to the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

FEB 3 IRVING REQUESTS TRADE FROM NETS

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving has requested to be traded ahead of his impending free agency. The two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term contract last offseason, sparking what became a summer of chaos. 

Irving's agent, his stepmother Shetellia Riley Irving, recently released a statement expressing her clients' desire to receive a contract extension — exclaiming "the ball is in the Nets' court." It was reported that Brooklyn didn't feel pressured 

In the offseason, Irving provided the Nets with a list of destinations that he'd consider in a sign-and-trade, including Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Dallas Mavericks. A lot has changed around the NBA at this point. 

Irving is earning $36.5 million in the final year of his current contract with a 15 percent trade kicker. The Mavs are limited in short-term trade assets they can offer, but do have numerous contracts that could be utilized in salary matching for a hypothetical trade. For now, it remains to be seen what the Nets would seek in return for a midseason trade. 

FEB 1 WARRIORS LIKE THYBULLE, MANY WANT BOGDAN

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey, the Golden State Warriors have had "internal discussions" about trading for Philadelphia 76ers' Matisse Thybulle. The Sacramento Kings are also interested in the 6-5 guard.

Meanwhile, according to The Athletic's Sam Amick, 'half the league' is trying to pry Bogdan Bogdanovic away from the Atlanta Hawks.

But league sources say the Hawks have no shortage of trade interest in Bogdan Bogdanović as well — as in “half the league is calling” type stuff. The 30-year-old guard has a player option for $18 million next season, so most teams would understandably view him as a short-term rental (with the hopes of re-signing him if he opts out).

Although the Dallas Mavericks haven't been linked to Atlanta's Bogdanovic yet, it would make a lot of sense if they were one of the teams interested in trading for him. Dallas has also been linked to John Collins frequently in the past, and his price has reportedly dropped significantly ahead of the deadline ... so maybe the Mavs and Hawks can do business again for the first time since the 2018 NBA Draft? We'll find out soon enough.

FEB 1 SHOULD MAVS PUSH HARD FOR PASCAL SIAKAM?

The Toronto Raptors have been the subject of numerous trade rumors ahead of the Feb. 9 deadline. Most of those rumors have involved Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., but what about the biggest prize on Toronto's roster, Pascal Siakam?

On the latest episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, Dalton Trigg discusses how realistic it is for Dallas to make a run at Siakam and explains why he'd be a seamless co-star fit next to Luka Doncic. You can listen to the entire episode below, and the trade discourse begins at the 12-minute mark:

JAN 30 JAZZ WANT MAVS' DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH

According to a report from Shams Charania, the Utah Jazz are making a run at Dallas Mavericks veteran Dorian Finney-Smith.

The Jazz are expressing strong interest in Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith, as teams have gotten the impression that Dallas would be open to moving the 29-year-old in the right deal for a star-caliber player, sources say. The Mavericks have an incredibly high price threshold for teams reaching out about Finney-Smith, rival executives say.

In addition to Charania's report, multiple league sources tell DallasBasketball.com that Jazz guard Malik Beasley is a name to watch in a potential deal for Finney-Smith. The Mavs value Finney-Smith highly due to his two-way versatility, locker room presence and team-friendly contract, so it would take a lot more than just Beasley for the Jazz to pry him away.

Would Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and a first-round pick be enough to get a deal done?

JAN 28 MYLES TURNER STAYING IN INDIANA

Year after year, Indiana Pacers big man finds himself in numerous NBA trade rumors, and yet, he always stays right where he's at when the dust settles.

That is the case yet again, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Saturday that Turner and the Pacers have agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $58 million. In addition to the extension, Turner also renegotiated his 2022-23 salary that will give him an additional $17.1 million this season.

Although Turner is off the trade market less than two weeks before the deadline arrives, this news doesn't necessarily impact anything the Dallas Mavericks might do, as there had been reports of them not having much interest in Turner – likely due to the amount of money he was seeking.

JAN 26 D'LO LINKED TO MAVS The Timberwolves don't quite seem to know what to do with D'Angelo Russell. But one source tells B/R, "I don't think the Wolves reinvest in Russell.'' ...

Which has B/R saying "various NBA sources'' have included the Heat, Suns, Clippers and yes, the Mavericks, as possible trade partners.

Russell is playing 33 minutes per game and averaging 17.6 points in Minny.

JAN 23 LAKERS TRADING FOR HACHIMURA

Just a few hours after the Dallas Mavericks were linked to the Washington Wizards in regards to trade interest in Rui Hachimura, it appears that the versatile big man is on his way to Hollywood.

According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Lakers are in the final stages of adding Hachimura via trade from the Wizards. The reported trade package from L.A. will be Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks.

The Wizards and Hachimura were unable to workout a rookie contract extension, and therefore, it was time to find him a new home. The deal is expected to be completed later on Monday.

JAN 21 SHANNON SHARPE AND LAKERS FIGHT? Fox Sports has a reputation for staged on-air fights between its blowhard personalities.

But this looked pretty sincere.

Fox host and NFL legend Shannon Sharpe had to be separated from Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant’s father, Tee, at halftime of a game between Memphis and the Lakers on Friday ... a confrontation that caused the two to eventually be broken up by security.

Assorted Grizzlies got involved in the conflict with Sharpe, who was sitting courtside and, he admitted, talking trash to the Grizzlies regarding LeBron James.

“They didn’t want this smoke,” Sharpe told ESPN after the incident. “They do all that talking and jockeying and I ain’t about the jockeying. It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said ‘F–k’ me I said, ‘F–k’ you back. He started to come at me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.’

“And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.”

Sharpe and Tee Morant eventually exchanged a hug at the end of the third quarter. Oh, and the Lakers won, 122-121.

But this is Hollywood. Who cares about that?

JAN 19 Why a Mavs trade for Russell Westbrook makes sense...

The Dallas Mavericks are slumping hard, to put it nicely. After Wednesday's home loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas has dropped four of its last five games and has given up at least 130 points over its current three-game losing streak.

If the Western Conference wasn't such a mess this season, the Mavs would be in bigger trouble than they are. However, even though Dallas is barely hangin onto the fifth seed in the West despite all the recent losing, changes are still needed.

The Mavs have been linked to many names on the trade market as the Feb. 9 deadline nears, but could a deal for Los Angeles Lakers' Russell Westbrook make the most sense?

It's been well-documented that Jeanie Buss isn't a fan of trading future draft picks to improve this current version of the Lakers, who currently sit outside the play-in tournament range in the West with a 20-25 record. However, if Buss would be willing to part with just one of the Lakers' future picks, they could potentially improve their roster now.

For the Mavericks' side, adding Westbrook might not affect winning or losing either way, but they do still need a true third ball-handler to go alongside Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie. With that in mind, here's the trade proposal we have in mind:

Mavs receive: Russell Westbrook, 2027 first-round pick

Lakers receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Davis Bertans

This trade could potentially make the Mavs worse for the short-term future, but there's also a chance that it opens up more lucrative trade opportunities going forward. They'd just have to stomach taking a step back this season. In a year where a near-.500 record is good enough to land you in the West's top-five teams, that might be easier said than done, though.

JAN 18 Doncic wants change? Does potential Knicks trade move the needle?

Ahead of the Dallas Mavericks' nationally televised meeting with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, there were a couple of interesting tidbits that came up in the NBA trade rumor mill. The first interesting information came from ESPN's Tim MacMahon, who is reporting that Mavs star Luka Doncic is finally starting to make his want for roster change known to the front office.

Sources said Doncic, who hasn't shown a desire to be involved in personnel matters in the past, has strongly indicated he wants the Mavs to upgrade before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Mavs owner Mark Cuban might think it's disrespectful for the fan base to constantly suggest that Doncic needs more help, but this latest report seems to indicate that Doncic is on the same wavelength as the fans ... and anyone else with eyes who have watched the Mavs play when Doncic rests.

Elsewhere, Marc Stein is reporting that the Mavs have joined a small list of teams who are considered to be trade suitors for New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish.

The Knicks have redoubled their efforts to find a new home for Reddish with essentially three weeks to go until the deadline, sources tell The Stein Line, with the Dallas Mavericks having joined the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers on the list of known potential trade partners.

Sources say that the Knicks, though, are angling for Dallas to send Thibodeau favorite Reggie Bullock to New York in a Reddish deal, who is likewise held in high regard by the Mavericks.

Given that 1) Bullock has had a career-worst season so far, and 2) the Mavs could use an influx of young talent with upside, it would make sense for Dallas and New York to execute a trade involving those two players – especially since the Knicks have eyes for Bullock that other teams probably don't.

That kind of trade could be a step in the right direction for Dallas, but it likely wouldn't be roster upgrade Doncic has in mind. We'll see if the Mavs' front office can pull off a big trade in the coming days and weeks to satisfy what its superstar desires.

JAN 17 Clippers want Mike Conley? Jazz have other trade ideas?

Ahead of the NBA's Feb. 9 trade deadline, it appears that the Utah Jazz are being active after tumbling from the top of the Western Conference standings to the play-in tournament range. According to Marc Stein, the Los Angeles Clippers have interest in taking veteran point guard Mike Conley before the deadline, if possible.

The Clippers, league sources say, are exploring trade options to fortify their frontcourt beyond Ivica Zubac, but that’s not all. Sources say they also have trade interest in Utah’s Mike Conley Jr. amid a rising belief leaguewide that the Jazz — who have tumbled to No. 9 in the West at 22-24 after their great start — could become a much-needed seller at this deadline. The Clippers’ backcourt depth just took a hit with the news that John Wall is out for at least two weeks with an abdominal strain.

Aside from the Conley rumbles, the Jazz appear to be active elsewhere, as they're apparently trying to find a way to land Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins in what could potentially be a three-team trade between Utah, Atlanta and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stein explains:

As part of the Cavaliers’ ongoing search for wing upgrades, league sources say, they have weighed pursuing a three-way trade scenario that would land Atlanta’s John Collins with the Jazz and bring Utah’s Malik Beasley to Cleveland. The Jazz have well-chronicled interest in Collins but, to this point, have given the Hawks pause by seeking additional draft compensation for taking on Collins, who still has three seasons left on his five-year, $125 million contract after this one. Caris LeVert’s $18.8 million expiring contract is the Cavaliers’ most obvious trade chip.

The Dallas Mavericks have been connected to the Cavs recently in trade rumors regarding Tim Hardaway Jr. Only time will tell if that kind of deal will materialize, or if Cleveland finds a way to add a younger wing upgrade on a better contract instead.

JAN 15 LaVine is trade eligible; Could Mavs and Bulls make a deal?

As of today, Jan. 15, Chicago Bulls star shooting guard Zach LaVine is now eligible to be traded. The Bulls haven’t yet made it known if they’re open to trading LaVine or not, but there’s been enough smoke this season to the point where we wouldn’t be shocked if he’s wearing a different jersey by the NBA’s Feb. 9 trade deadline.

Some of that smoke has involved the Dallas Mavericks, who desperately want to get superstar Luka Doncic more help as they try to build a championship-contending roster around him. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon during an episode of the Lowe Post podcast, there are people within the Mavs’ front office who are fans of LaVine’s game.

“I just know that there are fans of him that hold prominent positions within the Mavericks,” said MacMahon. “Again, I’m not sitting here and telling you there’s some great consensus. I think there’s enough fans of him where I wouldn’t totally rule it out.”

As long as Mavs 3-and-D wings Josh Green and Dorian Finney-Smith have been out, one might entertain the theory that Dallas has been extra cautious with them with potential trades on the table. That’s not to say Green and Finney-Smith haven’t truly been hurt this whole time, but why rush them back if they could be key pieces to a blockbuster trade?

Despite averaging 23.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 46.4/39.2 shooting splits, LaVine and the Bulls have struggled to stay in the NBA’s play-in tournament range. They’re currently 19-24 on the season and have lost three consecutive games. It might be time for Chicago to blow things up, and the Mavs will surely be listening when and if that time comes.

JAN 14 Could Mavs get D-Rose?

Ever since losing Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks last summer, the Dallas Mavericks have failed to add a third ball-handler capable of filling some of the void that was created by his departure. However, with the Feb. 9 trade deadline looming, could Dallas finally address that need by dealing for one of Brunson’s Knicks teammates?

According to a report from NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Knicks are apparently willing to ‘do right’ by 15-year veteran and former MVP Derrick Rose before the deadline.

Sources say that New York is open to finding a new home via trade for former MVP Derrick Rose but only if it can, as one insider put it, "do right by" the longtime Thibodeau favorite. Rose's role has been reduced sharply this season with the likes of Quickley, Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride emerging.

In theory, one way for the Knicks to do Rose a solid would be to send him to the Mavs, where he would have a larger role on a team completing for home-court advantage in the Western Conference. Given that New York has fond memories of Reggie Bullock, a straight-up swap for Rose would make sense for both sides.

It remains to be seen if the Knicks’ willingness to do Rose a favor would trump any hard feelings they might have toward the Mavs after last summer’s drama … but it’s something we’ll be keeping an eye on.

JAN 13 Collins price lowered; Mavs-Knicks trade idea

Earlier this week, one report stated that the Atlanta Hawks were looking to get a return similar to what the Utah Jazz got for Rudy Gobert last summer when it comes to potentially trading John Collins. According to a report from USA Today on Friday, that might not be the case after all.

The Hawks are willing to move forward John Collins for a shooting big, which is … what Collins is. Or used to be. Collins shot 40.1% on 3-pointers in 2019-20, 39.9% the following season and 36.4% last season. But he’s just at 22.9% this season.

There is a market for Collins, and that includes Utah, Brooklyn and Dallas.

If the Dallas Mavericks can’t come to terms on a contract extension with versatile big man Christian Wood before the Feb. 9 trade deadline, perhaps making a play for Collins would make some sense. 

Or … if the Mavs could find a way to add Collins and another piece from Atlanta — like Bogdan Bogdanovic — without giving up Wood, that would be even more ideal.

Meanwhile, the reported trade price for New York Knicks forward Cam Reddish is apparently two second-round picks. A straight-up trade for Mavs forward Reggie Bullock would work financially, and that might actually be a deal the Knicks would be interested in doing given coach Tom Thibodeau’s admiration for Bullock.

JAN 12 No Mavs interest in Myles Turner?

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner has been in trade rumors for several years now, but he has yet to be shipped out of the Hoosier State

The Dallas native has been linked to the Mavericks in the past but no deal ever surfaced to land him on his hometown team.

In a report on Thursday from Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Mavericks’ interest in Turner has apparently 'dissipated'. 

"The trade chatter surrounding Turner has indeed seemed to cool. For years, the Hornets presented a likely landing spot. But now, Charlotte does not appear very keen on upgrading its roster ahead of the deadline. The interest from Dallas and New Orleans in recent seasons has also dissipated, sources said,” Fischer wrote.

With Dallas' focus more set on another star or more quality playmakers to place alongside Luka Doncic, the desire for Turner, who is on an expiring contract, makes sense, but it doesn't mean he couldn't end up back in the DFW in the future.

JAN 11 Tim Hardaway Jr. to Miami Heat?

The Tim Hardaway Jr. rumors continue to stack up with the Feb. 9 trade deadline looming. Today, the latest rumor involving the Dallas Mavericks’ veteran shooting guard links him to the Miami Heat.

“According to multiple sources, the Miami Heat & Dallas Mavericks have had initial conversations on a deal involving Tim Hardaway Jr.,” The Basement Sports’ Adam Borai tweeted.

“This isn't the first time Hardaway Jr has been linked to Miami. He's definitely a name to watch as the deadline approaches.”

Borai also mentions that Miami has eyes for Mavs players like Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney-Smith. Given that the Mavs were runners up to Kyle Lowry in 2021 free agency, we could see them potentially trying to work out a deal to obtain him now despite his down season with Miami.

However, this all could just be posturing and a leverage attempt in talks the Mavs have had with other teams involving Hardaway. As is the case with many rumors during trade season, they need to be taken with a grain of salt.

JAN 10 Hawks’ Steep Collins Price; Lakers as Wood Suitor?

According to one report, the Hawks’ asking price for John Collins might be in the "Rudy Gobert or Donovan Mitchell range'' from last summer.

We discussed the idea of the Mavs pursuing Collins if they can’t reach a contract extension agreement with Christian Wood before the trade deadline, but if that’s truly the Hawk’s asking price, it’s safe to say that you can count Dallas out there.

Speaking of Wood’s contract extension, if an agreement can’t be made, could the Lakers be a trade option for him? Sports Illustrated’s Howard Beck offers his thoughts here.

JAN 10 Mavs Interested in Knicks’ Quickley?

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto dropped another Mavs trade rumor tidbit on Tuesday, as he linked Dallas to New York Knicks’ Immanuel Quickley.

“Another Knicks player whose name has circulated in the rumor mill this season is Immanuel Quickley. Several teams, including the Bucks, Mavericks, Wizards, and others, have expressed interest in Quickley, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote.

JAN 9 Mavs 3-Team Trade Idea … Could It Work?

Last week, Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer reported that the Mavs, among other teams, were in pursuit of Pistons’ veteran Bojan Bogdanovic.

“At this juncture, the Pistons are seeking at least one first-rounder and either a young player with upside or additional draft capital, sources said, plus Cleveland has company in Dallas, Phoenix and the Lakers, among other teams in pursuit of Bogdanovic,” Fischer wrote.

Pairing this report with what we think we know about Tim Hardaway Jr.’s availability and the Cavs’ interest in him, we constructed a hypothetical 3-team trade that could potentially work for all teams involved.

Mavs receive: Bojan Bogdanovic

Cavs receive: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Pistons receive: Caris LeVert, Frank Ntilikina, two second-round picks

JAN 8 Mavs’ Hardaway is Available; Cavs Pursuing?

We now have multiple reports linking Mavs veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Cavs. The first was a report from Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor. The latest was from Marc Stein, who confirmed Fedor’s report and offered an idea of what a potential Mavs-Cavs trade could look like.

“League sources have reaffirmed to me that Hardaway is indeed available and that it’s essentially up to the Cavaliers if they are prepared to take on the two years and $34.1 million left on Hardaway's contract beyond this season,” Stein wrote in his newsletter.

“Caris LeVert’s expiring $18.8 million contract is the simplest match for Hardaway, who has emerged from a very slow start to shoot 40.5% from 3-point range in 21 games entering Sunday’s play since Mavericks coach Jason Kidd moved him into the starting lineup.”

JAN 5 Mavs Pegged as Potential Zach LaVine Suitor

We already knew the Mavs had interest in Bulls star Zach LaVine in the offseason when NBA reporter Marc Stein wrote that Dallas was considering making a sign-and-trade offer before he signed his new deal with Chicago.

Now, according to a report from HoopsHype, it looks like the Mavs could be a player for him at the trade deadline.

“If the Chicago Bulls make Zach LaVine available before the trade deadline, rival executives are keeping an eye on several teams who could have interest in trading for him, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Miami Heat,” Michael Scotto wrote.


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