Teams bracing for potential Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell trade demands

Source: Howard Beck @ Sports Illustrated

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA

CJ McCollum still hasn’t spoken with Zion Williamson since joining the Pelicans.

➡️ https://t.co/IGp6Zw7sfW pic.twitter.com/fJEr3jmkpL – 12:10 PM

Just catching up, Haynes drafted Dame in the NBA 75 all-time draft. That’s pretty funny. – 1:08 AM Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears

2021 @MLB Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso earned a $1 million winner’s prize. Sure a similar prize from some willing sponsor could make the likes of Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Zach LaVine, Aaron Gordon and perhaps other stars think about it. – 11:22 PM Kellan Olson @KellanOlson

The fact that it can even be confidently suggested to put the 3-point contest on last means Ant, Ja and Zion need to do the dunk contest next year – 11:08 PM Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchell

Get @Ja Morant in here next year🤷🏾‍♂️ – 10:57 PM Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchell

Man @Zach LaVine and @Aaron Gordon yall messed it up for the rest of us 😂😂 – 10:54 PM Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchell

Hold on now Obi! – 10:24 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13

CJ McCollum said he hasn’t spoken to Zion Williamson since the trade. McCollum praised Zion’s ability to score at the basket and said he looks forward to welcoming Zion when he rejoins the team. nola.com/sports/pelican… – 10:19 PM Donovan Mitchell @spidadmitchell

Naaaa not the timbs 😂😂😂😂@Cole Anthony – 10:16 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13

Asked CJ McCollum about his conversations w/ those close to Zion: “Just continuing to work on my game and continuing to do all I can to help the team. And then when he comes back, I look forward to welcoming him back.” – 10:10 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13

To recap Zion news:

– Sept. 27: Says he’ll be ready for season opener

– Dec. 2: Team says he’s dealing w/ soreness

– Dec. 16: Has injection to promote healing, per team

– Jan. 5: Pelicans say he’s rehabbing away from team

– Feb. 10: Griff says he doesn’t know when Zion returns – 9:28 PM Christian Clark @cclark_13

CJ McCollum — the president of the NBA Players Association — says he hasn’t spoken directly to teammate Zion Williamson.

McCollum tells TNT broadcast crew, “I know about as much as you do right now. But I’m going to get to the bottom of it.” pic.twitter.com/KXfBBn5tym – 8:08 PM

Eric Walden @tribjazz

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is known for giving away his sneakers to fans pregame. This is partly practical, but also a callback to when an NBA player made a big difference to a then-teenage Don by throwing some sneakers his way. sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 6:28 PM David Morrow @_DavidMorrow

Sort of alarming how the broadcast continues to call Jabari Smith “the future No. 1 overall pick” as if this is a Cade/Zion/KAT/AD year. Jabari could be 1, could just as easily be 2 or 3. – 4:06 PM Sarah Todd @NBASarah

Donovan Mitchell misses All-Star practice with illness https://t.co/49YsHifESr pic.twitter.com/EHisU5Doxx – 2:38 PM

Donovan Mitchell (non-COVID illness) will not participate at today’s All-Star Game practice. – 12:14 PM Ryan Miller @millerjryan

Donovan Mitchell will not participate in the All-Star practice today due to a non-COVID illness – 12:13 PM Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba

Donovan Mitchell Will not be at practice. He will miss with a non-Covid illness – 12:12 PM Sarah Todd @NBASarah

Donovan Mitchell will not be at all star practice (non Covid illness) – 12:12 PM Damichael Cole @DamichaelC

Tyrese Haliburton and Desmond Bane win the Clorox Clutch challenge with a time of 39.1. The next closest was 49.7. Haliburton made the first four shots and Bane nailed the dagger Damian Lillard playoff shot. – 10:44 PM Eric Walden @tribjazz

“There’s no way we should have lost this game,” Donovan Mitchell said. “Credit to them — you’ve gotta give credit where credit is due. But we let this game slip.”

Actually, the Utah Jazz had A LOT to say about what went wrong in their loss to the Lakers. sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 11:31 AM Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel

Wonder where Luka Doncic’s 49-point game ranks vs New Orleans? Most points scored against the Pelicans franchise in a game:

54 – Damon Stoudamire

53 – Stephen Curry

50 – Damon Lillard, Kobe Bryant

49 – Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic

48 – Russell Westbrook, Vince Carter – 10:18 PM Kurt Helin @basketballtalk

Report: Pelicans tried to trade up for No. 2 pick in 2019 NBA Draft, pair Zion Williamson and Ja Morant nba.nbcsports.com/2022/02/17/rep… – 9:14 PM

More on this storyline

But an accurate assessment, post-deadline, of Lillard’s commitment to the only team he’s played for over his 10 seasons in the league? For those still wondering, or holding out hope that he wants out of Portland? Especially after the organization completely revamped the roster? That we can provide with 100 percent certainty. Because we asked him for an update. “I’m loyal to what I believe,” Lillard tells Complex Sports. “I do love living in Portland. I do love playing for the Trail Blazers. But I’ve built this. I’ve been part of this for 10 years. I’ve been part of the change here and us being a successful franchise. I know what means something to me in my heart. And that’s winning a championship here.” -via complex.com / February 18, 2022 His future has been up in the air since last offseason when he sounded tired of not getting out of the first round of the playoffs and hinted he wanted to play somewhere he could compete for a title. However, Blazers insiders feel the Lillard is likelier to want to stay one more season now that blazers GM Neil Olshey was let go. -via New York Post / February 14, 2022 Some league executives think Lillard might want to see how Portland rebuilds around him, but that’s very much an uncertainty. -via New York Post / February 14, 2022

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Teams bracing for potential Zion Williamson, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell trade demands