NBA trade rumors: Trae-Wemby match, Warriors' preference, Murray asking price, more
NBA trade rumors: Trae-Wemby match, Warriors’ preference, Murray asking price, more
NBA trade rumors: Several contenders in market for Clint Capela
The Atlanta Hawks are expected to sell like crazy at the NBA trade deadline, which is less than a month away. In addition to the buzz picking up around All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray, the Hawks will consider offers for 29-year-old center Clint Capela.
In 36 games so far this season, Capela has averaged 11.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks on .573/.000/.656 splits. Four suitors have emerged in the Capela sweepstakes, per Brett Siegel of Clutch Points — the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Sacramento Kings.
All four are logical fits, to varying degrees. Capela has been a full-time starter since 2016-17, back in his Rockets heyday when he was catching lobs from James Harden and Chris Paul. Now, it would appear a move to the bench is possible, if not inevitable. The Hawks are prepared to clear the runway for Onyeka Okongwu at the five spot, while all four teams listed above have established starting centers.
In the case of Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Houston, those starters are All-Star quality. There’s a chance the Lakers would pair Capela and Anthony Davis in the starting five, but there’s little chance Capela would share the floor with Domantas Sabonis or Alperen Sengun. At least not regularly. The Knicks have unearthed a gem in Isaiah Hartenstein, but Mitchell Robinson is expected to miss most, if not all of the remaining regular season. Capela would serve as a suitable stopgap who fits a similar archetype.
Despite injuries and age-related doubts starting to crop up, Capela can still impact winning on both ends. He’s a hard worker on the glass and in the paint, with enough vertical pop to deter drives and swat shots. On offense, there are few more polished rim-runners in the NBA.
NBA trade rumors: Dejounte Murray asking price is revealed
The Hawks are ready to move on from Dejounte Murray after one season and change of their backcourt experiment. Despite the inconsistent effort and terminally doomed fit in Atlanta, Murray should have immense value around the league. A tall, two-way guard in his prime is the dream addition for a number of teams.
Atlanta is asking for two first-round picks in exchange for Murray, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. The Hawks acquired Murray from the San Antonio Spurs roughly 18 months ago in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks, and a pick swap.
Interestingly enough, the Spurs have been dubbed a potential suitor for Murray. Other teams floating around the rumor mill are the Lakers, Knicks, and Brooklyn Nets.
In 38 games to date, Murray has averaged 21.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on .469/.391/.821 splits in 34.6 minutes. He is experiencing his best 3-point shooting season to date, both in terms of volume (6.1 3PA) and efficiency. Murray took a backseat to Trae Young offensively upon his arrival in Atlanta, but he averaged 9.2 assists and led the NBA in steals (2.0) during his last season with the Spurs.
Murray getting traded feels like an inevitability at this point. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2028 at an annual average of $28.5 million. He would prefer to join a contender, per The Ringer, but it’s clear the market extends to all corners of the NBA. Murray has regressed defensively during his tenure with Atlanta, but prime-aged guards with his athleticism, playmaking chops, and two-way reputation tend to garner extra leniency. His contract is reasonable, too, and Murray has several years of team control left.
NBA trade rumors: Warriors don’t want to part with Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody
The Golden State Warriors have been connected to several potential trade candidates, including Toronto Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam. Still, as Golden State looks to resurrect its season and potentially offload Andrew Wiggins’ albatross contract, the team’s young rotation pieces are viewed as extremely hard to get.
According to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the Warriors are not actively including Jonathan Kuminga or Moses Moody in trade talks.
“I don’t think the Warriors have ruled out moving [Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody], but my impression, at least currently, is that they aren’t actively including them in potential trade packages either. League sources believe new general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. values both at a very high level and would love to hold onto them if he can, even if he also understands one or both may need to be the mechanism to facilitate much-needed changes with the slumping Warriors.”
The so-called ‘two timelines’ conundrum in Golden State has never been more of an issue. Stephen Curry is still playing MVP-level basketball and the Warriors have an obligation to win so long as he’s around. Even so, the Warriors are currently 18-21, which makes them the No. 12 seed in the West. The rest of Golden State’s veteran core has vastly underperformed. Meanwhile, the youth is thriving.
Both of Golden State’s rookies, Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, have emerged as viable starters. Kuminga is itching for an expanded role and he continues to produce accordingly when provided the opportunity. That said, Steve Kerr has maintained a short leash with the 21-year-old as the Warriors prioritize experience. Moody, also 21, pops on a regular basis, but he is only averaging 18.0 minutes per game. Of Golden State’s top young prospects, Moody has continually drawn the short stick despite evidence to support a more consistent role.
The Warriors are right to value their young talent, especially if the vets are on an unstoppable decline. That said, Golden State won’t be able to acquire Siakam or another impact piece unless valuable assets are included. If the goal is to maximize Curry’s title window, the Warriors will at least need to consider offloading Kuminga and Moody. The only alternative is to trade the vets and embrace the upstart portion of the roster, but Golden State’s front office and coaching staff aren’t that brave.
NBA trade rumors: Spurs’ dream Hawks trade target is Trae Young
The Spurs are connected to Dejounte Murray. Atlanta’s point guard told reporters he is open to a reunion.
“Pop is like a father to me, I would welcome [a trade]. But right now, I’m a Hawk, I’m going to stay professional and play the right way.”
That said, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has another Spurs trade candidate in mind. He believes San Antonio should view Trae Young as the prize trade candidate from Atlanta’s roster.
“San Antonio would be a dream fit for Young. Wembanyama and Young are both elite while being on opposite ends of the physical spectrum, making them a diverse duo that teams wouldn’t want to switch screens against. Trae is one of the league’s best at feeding easy shots to bigs, which would allow Wemby to score off of rolls and cuts on a regular basis. This season, Young has also embraced playing with more off-ball movement under Quin Snyder. If he was paired with a big with playmaking skills (like Wembanyama), then he could become even more potent in handoff and two-man actions. Together, they could be one of the league’s most powerful duos on offense. And on defense, Young is playing harder than ever; he’s small and will be targeted in the playoffs, but there’s no better antidote for a weaker defender than to have Wembanyama protecting the paint.”
The Hawks are not presently inclined to deal Young, but a lot can change in the coming weeks and months. If Young gets impatient with the Hawks’ direction (or lack thereof), a trade request is not hard to fathom. Young is in the middle of arguably his best individual season to date, averaging 27.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 10.9 assists on .421/.356/.854 splits in 36.4 minutes.
While there are concerns about Young as a postseason engine, he is one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the NBA. He can generate advantages with the precision of a heat-seeking missile, manipulating defenders with airtight handles and posing a legitimate scoring threat anywhere within 40 feet of the rim. Young is one of the NBA’s most creative passers. At 25 years old, he is a two-time All-Star with a conference finals appearance under his belt.
A lot of questions about Young’s ceiling are mitigated next to Wembanyama, who can cover for defensive lapses and work effortlessly out of two-man actions. At 19 years old, Wemby is rapidly scaling up on offense while operating as one of the league’s premier rim protectors. The two are tremendous complements on paper, and Young might benefit from Gregg Popovich’s rigorous teachings.
The Spurs probably can’t get Young at the Feb. 8 deadline, but perhaps San Antonio should hang on to its assets and wait for Young’s eventual falling out in Atlanta.