The Warriors don’t have the assets to outbid some teams like the New York Knicks or Oklahoma City Thunder, but they could make several moves ahead of the February trade deadline. It’s now or never in the Bay area.

We know Andrew Wiggins might be the odd man out, and Chris Paul’s expiring contract could be a nice salary-filler for most deals. Add guys like Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and a couple of picks to the mix, and the Warriors do have something to work with.

Then again, they need to be extremely cautious about the players they bring back. Their NBA championship window could be closing right before their eyes, and they have to make some major tweaks to their rotations to prevent that from happening.

Stephen Curry and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.

NBA Trade Rumors: Potential Targets For Golden State

With that in mind, the first thing to consider is that the Warriors might not be able or willing to trade for a star player. Instead, they’re more likely to make several roster-shaking moves to test their luck ahead of the second half of the campaign. Here, we’ll mention three of the biggest names they could realistically pursue.

3. Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith doesn’t get enough press, but he’s tailor-made for Steve Kerr’s system. He’s not a high-usage guy offensively, but he’ll gladly stay in the corner and knock down shots from beyond the arc or finish plays at the rim as a slasher.

He also happens to be one of the best and most underrated wing defenders in the league. Finney-Smith can hold his own and guard multiple positions, and the Warriors could desperately use another stopper.

2. Dejounte Murray

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly considering blowing up their roster, and Anthony Slater of The Athletic revealed that the Warriors were keeping tabs on their lanky point guard. To make things even better, they could also pursue Clint Capela to address their need for size.

Dejounte Murray of the Atlanta Hawks.

Murray hasn’t played the same level of defense in Atlanta from his days in San Antonio, but he’s proven to be an above-average defender. He can also create his own shot or facilitate for others and fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis.

1. Jerami Grant

The Portland Trail Blazers won’t be good for years, but they do have a bright future. Simply put, they have no use for an aging player taking a big chunk of their salary cap, which is why they should look to move Jerami Grant as soon as they can.

The Warriors have been linked to Pascal Siakam way too often, but they might not be able to get him, so they could pursue the closest thing to him. The only issue is that they would have to absorb big money for years.

The Blazers have been unable to build a true supporting cast around the 7x All-Star, which is why he has constantly been the subject of trade rumors. Dame has been very loyal to Portland, but the team cannot keep on wasting his talent.

Therefore, if they don’t want to lose him, they must try and bring more partners, while keeping those players who can be useful. It may not be easy though, since Jerami Grant, for instance, is reportedly seeking a lucrative deal to stay.

Rumor: Jerami Grant looking for five-year, $150m contract to re-sign with Blazers

(Via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype)

“Speaking of veterans, Blazers forward Jerami Grant is expected to command $30-plus million annually in free agency, according to several NBA executives who spoke to HoopsHype.

Multiple teams with cap space are expected to have interest in Grant, including the Detroit Pistons most notably, and could make a run at Grant, one of the top free agents on the market. Multiple executives around the league believe Grant could command a five-year, $150 million contract from Portland to remain long-term.”

Of course, losing Grant would put the Blazers in a tough spot if they want to build a competitive team around Lillard. However, Grant’s demands may be too high. The forward will explore his options in free agency, so the Blazers will have to make an effort if they want him back.

This offseason, they will beone of the teams to watch as they’re expectedto land a star partner for Lillard after trading CJ McCollum to the Pelicans. That deal could be benefitial, though, as it created a $20.9m trade exception ahead of next season.

That gives the Blazers another way to land a big-name player besides their No. 7 overall pick in the upcoming draft. Of course, they could also explore free agency, but that might be the least likely option for the team.

Rumor: Blazersmore likely to land another star via trade than free agency

The Blazers have different routes to try and help Lillard by signinganother star. But according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the team would much rather try and trade for Jerami Grant or OG Anunoby than create cap space to afford free agent Zach LaVine.

(Via Bleacher Report)

“There’s a possibility Portland looks to create cap space to land a maximum-salary free agent such as Zach LaVine, but all indications point to the Blazers guaranteeing Josh Hart’s $12.9 million for next season, which would likely negate a major free-agency signing. The deadline to guarantee Hart is June 25, two days after the NBA draft and nearly a week before free agency begins July 1.

“Picking up Hart’s money would require the Blazers to renounce their rights to free agents Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons in order to still create space for a major free-agent acquisition like LaVine. But Portland’s most likely route to acquiring a splashy counterpart for Lillard is via trade exception, and Anunoby would be a home run addition in that scenario.”

While LaVine could be a very interesting addition, it would also imply to make signifcant changes to the composition of the roster.Only time will tell, but it seems that Grant or Anunobyaremore likely targets for Portland.

The Draft always sets the stage for some massive moves. Throughout the years, we’ve seen multiple blockbuster trades go down and several All-Stars switching sides ahead of the upcoming campaign.

This year won’t be the exception to that trend, as we can be sure that there’ll be multiple transactions worth noting. With that in mind, we’ll take a look at three borderline stars who could be on the move during the Draft.

NBA News: Three Stars Who Could Be Traded During The Draft

Rudy Gobert

Rudy Gobert was one of the main reasons why the Utah Jazz made the playoffs. He’s also one of the biggest reasons why they were exposed again. Both arguments are true and can coexist. His fit next to Donovan Mitchell is questionable, to say the least.

But there are multiple teams who could certainly use one of the league’s finest rim protectors. Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, and Charlotte Hornets could and should all be interested in acquiring his services.

Pascal Siakam

Just when it seemed like he was ready to break out as a two-way superstar, Pascal Siakam went through some regression. Still, he bounced back and proved that he couldbe a second or third leading scorer while also playing top-notch defense.

The Toronto Raptors have refused to go all-in on a rebuild. But most of their roster is quite young and Siakam could gauge plenty of interest in the trade market. The feeling around the league is that he could be had at the right price.

Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant was involved in countless trade rumors last season. He even sat out before the trade deadline, just to stay with the Detroit Pistons. Also, he was never interested in engaging in buyout talks or joining a team where he wouldn’t be one of the primary scorers.

Grant isn’t a superstar but is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He can switch and guard multiple positions while also putting up 20+ pointsany given night. The Pistons won’t compete for the time being and need minutes for their youngsters.

However, Rob Pelinka has little-to-no assets to work with right now. Talen Horton-Tucker, albeit promising, doesn’t have a big contract that could land an All-Star in return, Kendrick Nunn has yet to play due to injury, and their 2027 first-round pick won’t cut it out on its own.

That’s why it’s unlikely that the Lakers pull off a blockbuster move ahead of the deadline, even despite their interest in Jerami Grant. But more than that, it seems like that interest wasn’t mutual, as Grant isn’t interested in joining forces with James and Anthony Davis.

NBA Rumors: Jerami Grant Doesn’t Want To Play With LeBron James And Anthony Davis

“I’ve actually heard Lakers have passed on Jerami Grant. He doesn’t want to play a tertiary role behind Bron/AD,” said Eric Pinus of Bleacher Report.

Grant Wants To Be A Primary Scoring Option

Apparently, the former Nuggets forward doesn’t want to join a team where he’s not one of the primary scoring options, even though he’s never been the most prolific or explosive scorer in the league:

“For any team to sign off on a trade for Grant, they’ll need assurances of his plans to re-sign this offseason, just like (Aaron) Gordon did in Denver.Grant also has little interest in joining a new situation where he doesn’t feature as a primary offensive option, sources said,” Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report explained.

Wizards Will Be Very Aggressive To Trade For Grant

Grant’s next stop could be in the nation’s capital, as the Washington Wizards have reportedly put him and Domantas Sabonis at the top of their wish list as the trade deadline continues to zoom in:

“Several league personnel view Washington as a favorite to land Grant.He hails from the D.C. area, his father Harvey played for the franchise from 1988-93 and again from 1996-98,” Fischer added. “The Wizards’ first-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr. also coached Grant as an assistant with the Nuggets.”

“Despite general manager Tommy Sheppard’s contract extension,Washington’s front office is still under a dose of pressure to build the best complementary roster it can aroundBradley Bealahead of the NBA All-Star guard’s contract extension this summer,” Fischer concluded.

The Lakers, on the other hand, are most likely stuckwith the roster they put together before the start of the season. They don’t have valuable trade assets and no one will absorb Russell Westbrook’s contract with the way he’s been playing.

Grant has proven that he can put up 20+ points a night and is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. But he doesn’t fit the Pistons’ timeline and would be better off playing for a contender.

The Knicks, Lakers, and other teams have expressed their interest in the former Sixers player. Nonetheless, it seems like the Washington Wizards are leading the race to acquire his services.

NBA Rumors: Washington Wizards Lead The Race For Jerami Grant

(via Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report)

“Several league personnel view Washington as a favorite to land Grant. He hails from the D.C. area, his father Harvey played for the franchise from 1988-93 and again from 1996-98. The Wizards’ first-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr. also coached Grant as an assistant with the Nuggets.

Despite general manager Tommy Sheppard’s contract extension, Washington’s front office is still under a dose of pressure to build the best complementary roster it can aroundBradley Bealahead of the NBA All-Star guard’s contract extension this summer.”

Grant Wants To Be A Primary Scorer

The only issue with going to Washington is the fact that Grant reportedly wants to be the team’s go-to guy, which isn’t going to happen with Bradley Beal in town. Per the report, that’s also why he left the Denver Nuggets:

“For any team to sign off on a trade for Grant, they’ll need assurances of his plans to re-sign this offseason, just like (Aaron) Gordon did in Denver. Grant also has little interest in joining a new situation where he doesn’t feature as a primary offensive option, sources said,” Fischer added.

While a solid scorer from all three levels, Grant is nowhere near the offensive threat Beal is, nor he’ll ever be. But he’ll be a major addition for any team that finds the way to win his sweepstakes.

Some teams can still make a late push to reach the playoffs, while others are just likely to part ways with their veterans, tank their way through the season and plan ahead to the upcoming NBA Draft.

With that in mind, teams that want to compete and get better right away will work around the clock to try and get a deal done. That’s why today, we’re going to talk about the top NBA trade rumors of the week.

NBA Trade Rumors: Biggest Rumors Of The Week

4. Boston Celtics Looking To Trade Marcus Smart And Al Horford

The Boston Celtics have vastly underperformed this season, so it’s only natural to think that Brad Stevens is looking to make a major shake-up. That means letting go of Marcus Smart’s top-notch defense, per Adrian Wojnarowski:

“It’s to build around Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum, not to break those two up,” Woj said on ESPN’sNBA Today. “The hard part for Boston is what are the other tradeable assets that they’re willing to move on from? They don’t want to trade Robert Williams, their young center. That’s a player that they really see at the center of what they’re doing moving forward.

“But I think Marcus Smart, some of the young players on the roster, second- and third-year guards/forwards, I think they’re seeing what the value for those players out there,” Woj added. “Josh Richardson, but I’m not sure. Dennis Schroder — that’s a player I think if they can keep building up his value. … I think those are all players available on the marketplace.”

On top of that, the Celtics will also look to move Al Horford just half a season after trading for him. They’ve been getting killed on the glass all year long and now want an upgrade at the center spot:

“After spending the 16th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft to acquire Al Horford in the offseason, the Boston Celtics are exploring trading him as they pursue another center, league sources told The Athletic,” reported Jared Weiss.

3. Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards Want Domantas Sabonis

The Indiana Pacers have made Domantas Sabonis available in trade talks and he has no shortage of suitors. Even so, just a couple of teams are reportedly willing to meet the Pacers’ steep price for the Lithuanian big man: Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards

“Expect Washington to approach the trade deadline aggressively with their sights set on Indiana Pacers star big man, Domantas Sabonis,” wrote Wizards beat writer Quinton Mayo. “Sabonis has received a ringing endorsement from Beal, and others, within the Wizards organization due to his skill set, possible fit within head coach Wes Unseld Jr.’s system, contract flexibility, and age, sources tell me. Sabonis, 25, is currently in year two of a 4-year, $74.9 million contract. Hachimura and/or Avdija would have to be included in said deal, I’d imagine, as well as cap fillers, and some draft capital.”

“The Kings were not willing to entertain the thought of trading De’Aaron Fox last summer when they started surveying the market for a transformational move to alter the course of the franchise, but the situation in Sacramento has changed,” reportedJason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee.“A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings have stepped up their pursuit of Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis and they are willing to include Fox in those discussions. Fox was so far off the table he wasn’t discussed when the Kings approached the Philadelphia 76ers about Ben Simmons last summer, sources with knowledge of the talks told The Bee, but now Fox is reportedly part of those conversations as well.”

2. The Chicago Bulls Are A Dark Horse To Land Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant has been linked to nearly every single contender in the NBA over the past couple of weeks. His defensive versatility and ability to generate his own offense are appealing enough for teams to pick up the phone.

But after it was reported that the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers were poised to be the most aggressive suitors,Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report states that the Chicago Bulls are the team to keep an eye on:

“The Jerami Grant sweepstakes will be pricey. That shouldn’t scare off the Bulls from making a serious push to win it,” Buckley wrote.

“They have a glaring hole on the wing with Patrick Williams, Derrick Jones Jr. and Javonte Green all lost to injury, but even when they were full strength, that was the most obvious area to upgrade. Grant is more or less the player they hope Williams might one day become: long, athletic, versatile at both ends and easy to slot alongside stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan,” he added.

“Grant, who shares a history with both Bulls coach Billy Donovan and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, would likely cost the club [Patrick] Williams, [Derrick] Jones and the lottery-protected first-rounder owed to them by the Portland Trail Blazers, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. That’s a steep price, but not if the trade proves to be Chicago’s key to escaping the East,” Buckley concluded.

1. Talen Horton-Tucker Is Now Available In Trade Talks, Los Angeles Lakers Eyeing A Big Move

The Los Angeles Lakers refused to include Talen Horton-Tucker in any trade package last season and during the summer, but that stance has changed. They know they don’t have any valuable assets and their only way to upgrade their roster is to part ways with the promising guard:

“Meanwhile, the Lakers are trying to find help, though their options appear limited,” reported Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “According to people with knowledge of the situation, the team is shopping 21-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker in trade discussions.”

Moreover, the Lakers are swinging for the fences and trying to land a top-notch player ahead of the deadline. Even so, that seems unlikely at this point given the shortage of valuable assets they have:

“The Lakers have explored several trades ahead of the February 10 trade deadline. Sources indicate they have looked at players like Ben Simmons, Jerami Grant, Myles Turner and Harrison Barnes, among others,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Eric Pinus.

Rob Pelinka made plenty of moves during the offseason and filled the roster with veterans. However, they’ve struggled to stay on the court and haven’t exactly been very good when healthy anyway.

With that in mind, the Lakers have been tied to Detroit Pistons’ forward Jerami Grant, who’s likely to be traded before the deadline as he looks to join a contender. For that,Nihad Žunić of ClutchPoints explains how they can get it done.

NBA Rumors: Lakers Could Offer Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, For Jerami Grant

(Transcript via ClutchPoints)

“This trade depends on whether the Pistons think they can really get more out of Grant. The Lakers cannot offer much more, as they are spending most of their cap on LeBron, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. However, this offer is still very good for both squads. The Lakers get a capable scorer who will put up points and help LeBron get the squad where they need to be. The Pistons will get some solid rotational pieces and a potentially great player in Horton-Tucker.”

Horton-Tucker fits the Pistons’ timeline and is cheaper and younger than Grant, so that makes sense for them. Grant, on the other hand, could give the Lakers a versatile defender and another scoring threat.

Shannon Sharpe Warns The Lakers Not To Trade For Grant

Nonetheless, Lakers fan and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe isn’t so sure about Grant. Per the NFL Hall of Famer, he may not be ok with taking a step back to LeBron, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis:

“Here’s the thing about Jerami Grant. He left Denver because he didn’t want to be third filler for Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray,”Sharpe started.“He left for the same money to go Detroit and be top dog.”

“Is he going to be okay being fourth dog when he didn’t want to be third dog?”Sharpe added.“Those are the things the Lakers need to ask themselves. (…) Is he going to be okay? Bron, AD, Russ, Jerami Grant when he didn’t want to be Joke, Murray, Jerami Grant.”

Even so, that’s a risk the Lakers just need to take. They’re playing like a first-round exit at best and the clock is ticking on them.

The Detroit Pistons and the forward are simply movingin different directions. While the Pistons need to face rebuild, Grant can’t waste more of his time waiting to belong to a stronger team. He looks ready to be part of it.

Therefore, he became an interesting target for many teams who need offensive help. The Los Angeles Lakers have been linked with him before, but it was reported they would face competition. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the New York Knicks are one of those teams.

NBA Trade Rumors: Jerami Grant draws interest from Lakers, Knicks, among others

“Several playoff teams are pursuing Pistons star forward Jerami Grant: The Wizards, Knicks, Blazers and Lakers among others, sources said. Grant is sidelined due to a UCL injury in his right thumb but Detroit will have a vast group of suitors for the 27-year-old. Grant, who is eligible for a four-year extension worth up to $112 million this NBA offseason, is one of the most sought-after players this trade season.“

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see any of these teams being linked with a move for the Pistons forward. Washington, New York, and Los Angeles all want to strengthen themselves to fight for a playoff spot in the second half of the season. Portland too, but they have more work to do.

It remains to be seen how they’ll try to pull it off, as Charania notes that there are even more teams who are chasing the Pistons star. Whether it is to any of the aforementioned teams,Grant will likely be on the move before Feb. 10. At this point of his career, it seems like it would be better for him to be somewhere else while Detroit could benefit from what Grant would attract in return.

The Detroit Pistonsare leaving a lot to be desired this season and a rebuild looks inevitable. Changes will probably be made aroundfirst overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, Cade Cunningham,Meanwhile, it looks like the Pistons and Grant arewasting their time by continue being tied to each other.

At 27 years of age, it could be the right moment for him to begin a new chapter, while the Pistons could get something interesting in return. The Los Angeles Lakerswere linked with Grant, but other title contenders are inquiring about him as well, according toJames Edwards IIIof The Athletic.

NBA Trade Rumors: Title contendersjoin Lakers in pursuit of Jerami Grant

(Transcript via Fadeaway World)

“For the Pistons (6-28), who are currently the league’s worst team, it isn’t expected to be a busy deadline period. However, there appears to be a significant deal to be made. Detroit, if active, will be sellers at the deadline. This is a rebuilding team with eyes on the future, so there is truly only one player who seems like an obvious trade candidate who would bring an intriguing return.

“Grant came to Detroit a season ago to spread his wings as a player (among other reasons, too). He’s done that. The 27-year-old has turned heads with the Pistons, showing that he is capable of providing more offensively than he was able to show in his previous stops. Teams with championship aspirations are routinely calling Detroit about Grant’s services, sources tell The Athletic.

“And while the Pistons are happy with what Grant provides both on and off the court to the organization, the franchise is currently in the business of capitalizing on its small asset pool, of which Grant takes up the most real estate.“

Grant looks like a really plausible target before the deadline, if and always thePistons consider what they get in return worth the trade. That might be the difficult part for the Lakers. Andif other teams with title aspirations are keeping tabs on him, their chances of landing Grant would decrease even more.

The worst part about this Lakers roster is the fact that they don’t have too many tradeable assets. Moving Westbrook’s mammoth deal is complicated and Anthony Davis is, obviously, off-limits.

Even so, the Lakers are reportedly interested in working on a deal to land Detroit Pistons forward Jerami Grant. However, Shannon Sharpe believes he’s not the kind of player they need right now.

NBA News: Shannon Sharpe Urges The Lakers Not To Trade For Jerami Grant

Sharpe addressed the Lakers’ interest in Grant on his show Undisputed. He claimed that he left the Denver Nuggets because he wanted to be a team’s first-scoring option, and doubted he’ll be ok with taking the backseat to the Lakers star.

“Here’s the thing about Jerami Grant. He left Denver because he didn’t want to be third filler for Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray,” Sharpe said. “He left for the same money to go Detroit and be top dog.”

“Is he going to be okay being fourth dog when he didn’t want to be third dog?” Sharpe added. “Those are the things the Lakers need to ask themselves. I get it, you get a young guy, 27, in the rotation he could score points, he’s good from the three-point line, he’s an okay defender, not great, but he’s okay. But those are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself. Is he going to be okay? Bron, AD, Russ, Jerami Grant when he didn’t want to be Joke, Murray, Jerami Grant.”

LeBron James Calls Out His Teammates Amid Lakers’ Tough Stretch“

Even if it’s not Grant, it’s clear that the Lakers need to bring in some new players. LeBron James is far from satisfied with the team’s poor effort and careless basketball, and that means someone’s getting traded soon:

“There’s a difference between careless turnovers and attack turnovers,” LeBron said after the loss to the Grizzlies. “We gotta cut down on our careless turnovers — the ones that’s just unforced. We’re gonna have attack turnovers, which is OK. We have a lot of attackers and we understand that. But, the careless turnovers, where, literally, you just turn the ball over and there’s no pressure or there’s no reason for it, those are the ones that get us in trouble.”

The Lakers could only try and work out on deals involving Talen Horton-Tucker, Malik Monk, and maybe Kendrick Nunn, so the chances of landing a big-name player are pretty slim. But they’ve got to do something, and they’ve got to do it now.