NBA commerce rumors: Lakers-Jazz speak Westbrook, Blazers wish to purchase, newest OG Anunoby buzz

The 2023 NBA commerce deadline has the potential to be bonkers. The championship image feels broad open with no apparent favourite on the high of the league, and the standings in each conferences are so bunched collectively that one good or unhealthy week may make or break a season.

With the 2023 NBA commerce deadline approaching Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, at 3 p.m. ET, rumors are beginning to warmth up. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly trying to make one other transfer after including ahead Rui Hachimura in a take care of the Wizards late final month, whereas the entire league is seemingly hanging on if the Raptors will commerce OG Anunoby. In the meantime, the Utah Jazz appear like they’re able to be sellers after a sizzling begin to the season.

Listed here are the newest commerce deadline rumors from NBA newsbreakers, with the Lakers, Jazz, Path Blazers, Grizzlies, and Pelicans all within the combine.

Lakers and Jazz are speaking Russell Westbrook commerce

The Jazz have been by no means purported to be aggressive this 12 months after buying and selling Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell over the offseason, however a 10-3 begin made Utah the most effective story of the beginning of the season. The Jazz didn’t simply purchase draft picks by buying and selling their superstars — in addition they obtained a bunch of high quality veteran function gamers. Lauri Markkanen even changed into a shock All-Star. Whereas Utah presently sit one-game over .500 at 27-26, it sounds just like the Jazz are able to deal and prioritize their draft place.

The Lakers and Jazz are having “exploratory conversations” that might ship Russell Westbrook to Utah and a number of function gamers to LA, in response to Chris Hayes of Bleacher Report. How does Westbrook and two first spherical draft picks for Mike Conley, Malik Beasley, and Jared Vanderbilt sound?

The Lakers have been dangling Westbrook’s expiring contract with two future first rounders to improve the roster. The query for the Lakers is whether or not they’re higher off saving their cap house for the free company class, and retaining their picks to finally go star looking somewhat than settling for function gamers. Re-signing Hachimura would minimize into the Lakers cap house, and naturally LA doesn’t know what number of nice seasons they may hold getting out of LeBron James, who’s now 38 years outdated.

Conley may give the Lakers a secondary ball handler to interchange Westbrook, Beasley is without doubt one of the league’s greatest bench shooters, and Vanderbilt is a monster rebounder who doesn’t shoot however may fortify the defensive inside a bit. Utah may additionally sub in Kelly Olynyk or Rudy Homosexual and pull off the same deal.

Is any such commerce actually going to save lots of the Lakers? If not, is it actually price two first spherical picks? The strain would actually be on LeBron and Anthony Davis proper now to go on a run if the Lakers pull the set off.

The Blazers wish to be consumers, concentrating on Jared Vanderbilt

Portland can be the primary crew out of the play-in event within the West if the season ended at this time, and the group is seemingly eyeing a deal that might push them into the postseason. The Path Blazers are in “shopping for mode,” in response to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. One title on their checklist, in response to insider Shams Charania, is Utah’s Jared Vanderbilt.

Portland is presently within the backside half of the league in rebounding. Vanderbilt would definitely assist in that division.

Windhorst additionally mentions the Blazers may very well be inquisitive about OG Anunoby, with high-flying rookie Shaedon Sharpe being one title that might intrigue Toronto. Sharpe, the No. 7 choose within the draft, is a bonkers athlete who is barely 19 years outdated. His flashes this 12 months have been tremendous engaging, however he’s most likely nonetheless a number of years away from making a successful affect on the courtroom.

Grizzlies, Pelicans inquisitive about OG Anunoby commerce

Right here’s the newest from Haynes on curiosity in Anunoby from New Orleans and Memphis.

The Grizzlies and Pelicans are each flush with surplus draft picks. Memphis is seen as a top-2 contender to achieve the NBA Finals out West together with the Denver Nuggets, and may very well be trying to make an all-in push for another piece. In fact, the Grizzlies have lengthy most popular to construct their crew by way of the draft, and giving up a bunch of future picks for Anunoby simply doesn’t appear to match Memphis’ MO.

The Pelicans have been the most effective groups within the West when Zion Williamson was wholesome; now they’re simply attempting to remain out of the play-in combine. Anunoby would give them one other lengthy and powerful wing who can shoot round Williamson and Brandon Ingram. The Pelicans actually have the draft capital to make an enormous transfer due to proudly owning the Lakers’ picks from the Davis commerce.